LTL
LTL shipping with the carriers compared for you
Less-than-truckload moves a few pallets at a time on a shared trailer, so you pay for your share of the truck. We price each shipment across national and regional carriers and show price and transit time side by side.
Why ship LTL with Mainspring
Tier 1 pricing from more than 50 LTL carriers
Every LTL quote is priced on Tier 1 rates with more than 50 carriers. The rates come directly from each carrier's own system by API, so the price on screen is the carrier's real-time price for your shipment, not an estimate from a rate table.
We combine Tier 1 tariff-based pricing with dynamic rates, the prices carriers adjust by lane and by day. You see both side by side and take the better one, so each shipment moves on its best available price.
Support that continues after the quote
Quoting and dispatch are only the start. Every shipment is backed by an experienced operations team that stays with it until it is delivered and billed correctly.
- Pickup and transit monitoring
- Escalation support when a shipment is at risk
- Invoice auditing
- Dispute resolution
- Claims support
What we handle
Standard LTL
Palletized or crated freight, typically one to six pallets.
- National and regional carriers on one screen
- Price and transit days shown together
- Bill of lading and labels created when you book
Volume and partial
Shipments too big for standard LTL pricing and too small for a full truck.
- Typically six pallets or more
- Spot-priced by the space the freight takes
- A good fit for heavier, denser freight
Special services
The extras that change a price, quoted up front so they do not show up on the invoice later.
- Liftgate, residential and limited-access delivery
- Appointment and notify-before-delivery
- Guaranteed and time-critical service, hazardous materials
LTL is the right call when
- The shipment is roughly 150 to 10,000 lb
- It takes up less than half a trailer
- The freight is packaged to be handled at carrier terminals
- A delivery window of a few days works
What to have ready for a quote
- Pickup and delivery ZIP codes
- Pallet count, with dimensions and weight for each
- A description of the freight (and its freight class, if you know it)
- Any special services at pickup or delivery
LTL questions
What is freight class, and do I need to know mine?
Freight class is the rating LTL carriers use to price a shipment, driven mostly by density: weight compared with the space the freight takes. If you do not know yours, give us accurate dimensions and weight and we will work it out with you.
Why did my last LTL invoice come in higher than the quote?
Almost always because the weight, dimensions or class on the bill of lading did not match what the carrier measured, or a service such as a liftgate was added at delivery. Accurate details at quote time are the fix, and we help you get them right.
Can I choose the carrier?
Yes. You see every carrier that priced the shipment and pick the one that fits, whether that is the lowest price or the fastest transit.
LTL guides
LTL vs. Truckload: How to Choose
Use LTL when a shipment is roughly 1 to 6 pallets or 150 to 10,000 lb and can be handled at carrier terminals.
Read more →Freight Class Explained: Density, NMFC and How to Estimate Yours
Freight class is the rating LTL carriers use to price a shipment.
Read more →LTL Accessorial Charges: What They Are and How to Avoid Surprises
Accessorials are charges for services beyond a standard dock-to-dock LTL move.
Read more →What Is a Bill of Lading (BOL)?
A bill of lading (BOL) is the document that travels with a freight shipment.
Read more →Tariff vs. Dynamic LTL Pricing
Tariff-based LTL pricing applies an agreed discount to a carrier's published rate base, so the price for a lane, weight and class stays stable.
Read more →How to File a Freight Claim
To file a freight claim, note the damage or shortage on the delivery receipt before signing, keep the freight and packaging, photograph everything, and submit a written claim to the carrier with the bill of lading, delivery receipt, invoice showing value and proof of damage.
Read more →Industries that ship LTL
Manufacturing and industrial
Parts, components and smaller outbound orders across more than 50 carriers.
See how we ship it →Food and beverage
Dry, shelf-stable pallets to distributors and retailers.
See how we ship it →Retail and e-commerce
Replenishment to stores and distribution centers, with appointments and special services quoted up front.
See how we ship it →Building materials and construction
Smaller orders to dealers and distributors, with liftgate and limited-access delivery quoted up front.
See how we ship it →Furniture, appliances and home goods
Replenishment to retailers and warehouses, and the linehaul to delivery hubs.
See how we ship it →Consumer packaged goods
Palletized orders to retailers and distributors, priced across more than 50 carriers.
See how we ship it →Other ways we move freight
Truckload
Dry van, flatbed and refrigerated trucks, dedicated to your freight.
Learn more →Reefer LTL
Frozen and refrigerated pallets without paying for the whole trailer.
Learn more →Final Mile
Delivery into the home or business, from the curb to fully assembled.
Learn more →International
Air, ocean and cross-border freight, door to door or port to port.
Learn more →Ready to price a LTL shipment?
See live rates on screen now, or tell us about your freight and a person will reply.