If you ship freight regularly, you’ve probably hit a moment where your load is too big for standard LTL but not big enough to justify a full truckload. That gap is where many businesses quietly overpay, and where Volume LTL comes in.
What Is Volume LTL?
Standard LTL freight consolidates multiple shippers’ cargo onto a single truck. You pay for the space your freight occupies, and the carrier fills the rest. It works well for smaller shipments, typically under six pallets or 5,000 pounds.
Volume LTL sits in the middle tier between standard LTL and full truckload. It applies to shipments ranging from six to eighteen pallets, or roughly 5,000 to 20,000 pounds. At that size, standard LTL pricing stops making sense. You’re being charged per-hundredweight on a load large enough to negotiate better terms.
Volume LTL lets you do exactly that: negotiate a rate based on your total shipment size rather than being slotted into a fixed rate table.
When Volume LTL Makes Sense
Not every shipment qualifies. Volume LTL is worth considering when:
Your load consistently falls between 6 and 18 pallets. This is the range where standard LTL pricing becomes inefficient. If you’re regularly shipping in this window, you’re likely overpaying on every load.
You ship on a predictable schedule. Carriers offer better Volume LTL rates to shippers with consistent volume because it simplifies their capacity planning. Weekly or monthly shipments with similar load profiles give you real negotiating leverage.
Your freight is dense and stackable. Volume LTL pricing rewards freight that’s easy to handle and fits efficiently in a trailer. Industrial equipment, auto parts, CPG products, and food and beverage shipments tend to perform well under this model.
You’re doing cross country shipping. The longer the lane, the more you benefit. Long-haul rates are where the gap between standard LTL and Volume LTL pricing widens most.
Why Standard LTL Overcharges You at Scale
Standard LTL uses a freight class system, a rate structure based on density, stowability, handling difficulty, and liability. It was designed for small, irregular shipments. As your load grows, the per-hundredweight rates don’t scale down the way your actual cost to the carrier does.
The carrier’s cost to move a 12-pallet load isn’t 12 times the cost of moving a single pallet, but standard LTL pricing often reflects exactly that logic.
Additionally, standard LTL shipments typically pass through multiple terminals before reaching their destination. More stops mean more handling, higher damage risk, and longer transit times. Volume LTL shipments generally move with fewer terminal touches, which benefits both cost and cargo integrity. That’s why it’s worth reviewing your shipping tier regularly, especially given the LTL pricing changes in 2026.
How to Maximize Your Savings
Savings of 20 to 30% are achievable when you shift from standard LTL to Volume LTL on the right load profiles, but getting there requires attention to a few key areas.
Get accurate freight quotes online. Compare what you’re currently paying against Volume LTL rates for your specific lanes. GoShip gives you instant quotes across both standard LTL and Volume LTL so you can evaluate real numbers before committing.
Know your exact dimensions and weight. Volume LTL pricing is sensitive to accurate measurements. Shippers who don’t weigh and measure precisely often get hit with reweigh charges that erase their savings. Measure full pallet height including wrapping, and use a certified scale.
Watch for hidden freight fees and accessorial charges. Liftgate delivery, inside delivery, and residential surcharges can add up quickly and offset your rate advantage. Always compare total landed cost, not just the base rate, when evaluating options.
Choose the right freight carriers for the lane. Not all carriers offer competitive Volume LTL pricing on every route. Comparing options specific to your origin and destination matters more than picking a carrier with a strong general reputation. GoShip’s platform gives you multiple options side by side with full freight pricing transparency.
Consolidate shipments where possible. If you’re sending multiple loads to the same destination in a week, consolidating into one Volume LTL shipment typically saves on both rate and handling.
Who Uses Volume LTL
Volume LTL is used across a wide range of industries. Ecommerce businesses use it to move replenishment inventory to fulfillment centers. Retailers rely on it for store restocks that fall below truckload minimums. Healthcare logistics operations use it for time-sensitive bulk shipments where terminal dwell time is a concern. Electronics shippers use it to reduce handling on fragile, high-value loads.
For small businesses with growing volume, Volume LTL is often the first real cost optimization lever available, well before reaching full truckload territory.
There’s no single best shipping mode. Standard LTL works for smaller, irregular shipments. Full truckload makes sense when you need a dedicated truck and have the volume to fill it. Volume LTL is the option that gets underused simply because most shippers don’t realize they qualify until they ask.If your loads consistently fall in the six-to-eighteen pallet range and you’re still pricing them as standard LTL, you’re likely overpaying on every single shipment. Run an instant freight quote on GoShip and see what Volume LTL looks like for your lanes. The numbers usually make the case on their own.