What it costs to ship a pallet by LTL freight

How much does it cost to ship one pallet LTL?

It depends on five things: the pallet's freight class (now set largely by density), its weight, the distance and lane, any accessorials such as a liftgate or residential delivery, and the fuel surcharge. Rates and fuel surcharges change often, so compare all-in quotes taken on the same day. An accurate quote needs real dimensions, weight and site details.

Two pallets with the same footprint can price very differently. A pallet of dense canned goods and a pallet of loose pillows take the same floor space on a trailer, but they are not the same freight to a carrier. That is why the quote request matters more than the carrier you pick.

What goes into an LTL price?

LTL freight moves through a terminal network. Your pallet is picked up by a local truck, taken to a terminal, loaded onto a linehaul trailer, and may be handled again before final delivery. The price reflects that.

Freight class and density

The National Motor Freight Classification is published by the NMFTA. It has 18 classes, from 50 to 500. Since the 2025 changes, most commodities are classed by density rather than by product description. Density is weight divided by volume, in pounds per cubic foot. The more weight you put in a given space, the lower the class and the cheaper each pound moves.

Accessorials

On a short lane, accessorials can cost more than the line haul. Typical ones on closeout freight are liftgate at either end, residential or limited-access delivery, a delivery appointment, and re-delivery when nobody was there to receive. Each carrier lists these charges in its tariff, and they vary a lot between carriers, so ask for them line by line on the quote.

How to get an accurate LTL quote

Follow these steps before you ask anyone for a price.

1. Get the real dimensions. Length x width x height in inches, measured at the widest points, including the pallet itself and anything hanging over the edge.
2. Get the real weight. Scale weight including the pallet and wrap. Not the product weight from a spec sheet.
3. Ask whether it is stackable. Can another pallet sit on top without crushing it? Be honest.
4. Describe the pickup site. Dock-high door or ground level, forklift on site, business hours, appointment needed.
5. Describe the delivery site. Business with a dock, business without a dock, residential, storage unit, farm, construction site. Each can carry a different charge.
6. List the services. Liftgate, appointment, call-ahead, inside delivery.
7. Declare anything special. Hazmat, lithium batteries, aerosols, fragile glass, temperature needs.
8. Compare all-in prices. Line haul plus accessorials plus fuel, from at least two sources.

Closeout loads are often sold where they sit, so you, the buyer, are usually the one asking these questions. Ask the seller for pallet dimensions and weights when you ask for the manifest. A good seller has them.

Worked example: density on one pallet

Illustration only, not market prices. Dimensions and weights are hypothetical.

Pallet A. A clean pallet measuring 48 x 40 x 60 in, weighing 600 lb.

• Volume: 48 x 40 x 60 = 115,200 cubic inches.
• Cubic feet: 115,200 ÷ 1,728 = 66.7 cu ft.
• Density: 600 ÷ 66.7 = about 9.0 lb per cu ft.
• Class: look up 9.0 lb per cu ft on the current NMFC density scale, or ask the carrier which class it falls in.

Pallet B. The same 600 lb of goods, but cartons hang 2 in over each side, so the carrier measures 52 x 44 x 60 in.

• Volume: 52 x 44 x 60 = 137,280 cubic inches.
• Cubic feet: 137,280 ÷ 1,728 = 79.4 cu ft.
• Density: 600 ÷ 79.4 = about 7.6 lb per cu ft.
• Class: look up 7.6 lb per cu ft on the same scale, and compare it with Pallet A.

Same product, same weight. The overhang alone added about 19% to the measured volume and pushed density down. Depending on where the class breaks fall, that can move the pallet to a higher class and a higher price. If you declare Pallet A and the carrier measures Pallet B, you get a reclass bill after delivery.

Now say the all-in price for Pallet A is P and the pallet holds 400 units. Freight per unit is P ÷ 400. If you rebuild an untidy pallet into a clean one and the class drops, the saving divides across those same 400 units. That is how a few inches of overhang turn into cents per unit, and how cents per unit turn into margin on a closeout pallet.

How to cut LTL cost

• Build clean pallets. No overhang, square sides, flat top. Rewrap pallets that have shifted.
• Keep height sensible. Carriers cap pallet height and charge more for tall or non-stackable freight. Ask the carrier for its height limit before you build the pallet.
• Consolidate. Two half-full pallets cost more than one full one. Combine where the goods allow.
• Ship dock to dock. If a friend's business or a local warehouse has a dock, delivering there and collecting with your own van can remove liftgate and residential charges.
• Pick up at the terminal. Some carriers let you collect from their terminal, which can save the delivery accessorials. Ask first.
• Book accessorials up front. A liftgate booked before pickup costs less than a failed delivery and a re-delivery.
• Look at volume. Past a handful of pallets, compare against volume LTL and a partial truckload. What a full truckload costs explains when that switch pays.

Reweigh and reclass surprises

LTL carriers check freight at their terminals. Many have dimensioners and scales on the dock. If the measured dimensions or weight differ from the bill of lading, they adjust the class and weight and bill the difference, often with an inspection fee. The report usually arrives with the invoice, after delivery, when you can no longer remeasure the pallet.

How to protect yourself:

1. Photograph each pallet next to a tape measure before pickup, showing all three dimensions.
2. Record scale weight if a scale is available, and keep the ticket.
3. Put the correct dimensions, weight, piece count and class on the bill of lading.
4. When a reclass arrives, ask the carrier for the inspection record, including photos. Compare it with your own.
5. Dispute in writing if the evidence supports you. A dated photo next to a tape measure is the evidence most likely to get a charge reversed.

Mistakes to avoid

• Guessing the weight. "About 500" on the BOL is how reweigh charges start. Weigh it or get the number from the seller.
• Measuring the pallet, not the freight. The carrier measures the outermost point. So should you.
• Calling a home business "commercial". If there is no dock and the address is residential, the carrier will find out at delivery and bill for it.
• Forgetting the delivery liftgate. You booked a liftgate at pickup because the seller has no dock. You also need one at delivery if you have no dock.
• Declaring stackable freight that is not. Crushed cartons on a pallet you marked stackable are hard to claim.
• Comparing line haul only. One quote without fuel and accessorials is not comparable to another with them.
• Shipping one pallet at a time from the same seller. If you buy regularly, consolidating several pallets into one shipment often costs less per pallet.

How LTL fits the bigger picture

LTL is the starting mode for most new buyers because it suits a few pallets at a time. As volume grows, the questions change to how much fits on a trailer and whether to book the whole truck. Read how many pallets fit in a trailer or container for space and weight limits, and the freight and logistics guide for pickup terms, receiving and claims. Then add freight to your landed cost before you make an offer on any load.

If you buy pallets regularly, request access to Skyline Dealz Marketplace for alerts on loads that match what you buy, and ask for pallet dimensions and weights so you can quote freight before you offer.