Less Than Truckload Freight
Not every shipment needs a whole trailer. Less-than-truckload (LTL) service lets you pay for the space your freight actually uses, sharing the trailer with other shippers' goods. SENA Logistics coordinates LTL freight through qualified carriers and helps you prepare the details that keep pricing and transit predictable.
How LTL shipping works
In LTL shipping, your freight shares trailer space with shipments from other shippers. Each shipment is picked up, consolidated at a terminal, routed through a carrier's network, and delivered — often with freight handled at more than one point along the way.
Shared space is what makes LTL economical for smaller shipments. It also means more handling, so preparation matters: how freight is palletized, labeled, and described affects both the rate and how smoothly it moves.
SENA Logistics arranges LTL transportation through qualified motor carriers. We do not own trucks or operate as a motor carrier — we coordinate the carrier and keep you informed.
LTL typically fits when
- Shipment is too large for a parcel carrier
- Freight is palletized or stackable
- You don't need a full trailer's worth of space
- The load can absorb some terminal handling
- Transit time has a little flexibility
- Cost per shipment matters more than speed
What affects an LTL rate
LTL pricing is built from several inputs. Understanding them helps you plan shipments and catch problems before they become charges.
Weight
LTL rates are typically priced by weight tiers. The billed weight is the greater of actual weight or dimensional weight — so compact, heavy freight often prices most favorably.
Dimensions
Length, width, and height determine how much trailer space the shipment occupies, which feeds into both density calculations and dimensional weight.
Freight class
The National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) assigns a class based on the commodity, its density, handling characteristics, and stowability. Class directly affects the rate.
Handling & accessorials
Liftgate service, residential delivery, inside pickup, appointment scheduling, and detention can add charges. Declaring them upfront keeps the invoice closer to the quote.
Preparing palletized freight for pickup
Freight that is easy to handle and accurately described moves more smoothly and is less likely to pick up surprise charges.
What we need to quote LTL freight
LTL quotes depend on details that are easy to overlook. Providing these upfront lets us source accurate carrier pricing instead of revising it later.
Ready to get started?
Send the shipment details and SENA Logistics will review your freight requirements and help determine available options.
Request a Freight QuoteCommon shipper questions
When should I choose LTL over full truckload?
When your shipment doesn't need a whole trailer. As a rough guide, freight under roughly 10,000 pounds or occupying a small portion of a trailer is often more economical as LTL. The exact crossover depends on the lane and commodity, so it is worth comparing both.
What is a freight class, and who sets it?
Freight class comes from the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC), which categorizes commodities by density, handling, stowability, and liability. Carriers use it to price LTL freight. An inaccurate class is one of the most common causes of reclassification charges after delivery.
Can I get an exact LTL rate from a weight and dimensions alone?
Those details get you close, but LTL pricing also depends on the freight class, lane, accessorials, and the carrier's current pricing. Sending complete shipment details produces a more dependable quote than weight alone.
What are accessorial charges?
Accessorials are services beyond standard dock-to-dock transport — liftgate, residential delivery, inside pickup, appointment scheduling, or detention, for example. They are legitimate charges when the service is needed. Declaring them at quote time avoids surprises on the invoice.
Preparing an LTL shipment
LTL pricing depends heavily on density and freight class, so the figures you supply matter. These resources help you work them out before you request options.
Freight Density Calculator
Work out pounds per cubic foot from the outside dimensions of your packaged units.
Freight Classification Guide
How NMFC item numbers, freight class, density, and handling fit together.
How to Prepare Palletized Freight for Pickup
Packaging, stability, measuring, and the inspection checks to run before pickup.
Common Freight Accessorial Charges
Liftgate, limited access, detention and what to confirm before accepting a quote.
FTL vs. LTL: Which Service Is Right?
How full truckload and less-than-truckload differ, and how to compare them.
Need LTL freight covered?
Send the shipment details and SENA Logistics will get to work on your freight.