An LTL freight quote is a carrier’s price to move a specific less-than-truckload shipment, usually one to six pallets, between two ZIP codes. You get one by entering the pickup and delivery ZIP codes, the location type at each end, the weight, dimensions and freight class of every handling unit, and any accessorial services. The quote is only as accurate as those inputs, so the work is in getting them right before you request it.
This guide covers what goes into an LTL freight quote, how to read and compare several quotes side by side, and why a quoted price can change after pickup. It doesn’t list price figures, because LTL pricing depends on the lane, class, weight and each carrier’s tariff on the day you ship.
Table of Contents
- What is an LTL freight quote?
- What information do you need for an LTL freight quote?
- How does freight class change an LTL freight quote?
- How do you get an LTL freight quote online?
- How do you compare LTL freight quotes from different carriers?
- Why does an LTL freight quote change after pickup?
- What is the difference between a standard LTL quote and a volume quote?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Sources
What is an LTL freight quote?
An LTL freight quote is a price for one shipment that shares trailer space with other shippers’ freight. LTL usually covers shipments too heavy or bulky for a parcel carrier but too small to fill a truck, and it moves through a carrier’s network of terminals rather than straight from door to door. Our guide to LTL freight and logistics explains how that terminal network works.
A typical LTL quote shows the carrier, a quote or reference number, the service level, an estimated transit time in business days, and a total that combines the base charge, the fuel surcharge and any accessorials you selected. Quotes also carry an expiration window and the assumptions they were built on, such as the freight class and the pickup date.
An LTL freight quote is narrower than a general freight quote, which can also cover full truckload, intermodal or expedited moves. If you’re still deciding which freight mode fits, start there.
What information do you need for an LTL freight quote?
Carriers build an LTL quote from the lane, the freight’s class and weight, the trailer space it takes and the handling needed at each end. Gather these details before you start:
| Quote input | What to enter | Why the carrier needs it |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup and delivery ZIP codes | Full 5-digit ZIP codes for both ends | Sets the lane, the serving terminals and the transit time |
| Location type | Business with a dock, business without a dock, residence, or limited-access site | Decides the equipment and accessorials needed |
| Handling units | Number of pallets, crates or loose pieces, and whether they can be stacked | Non-stackable freight takes more trailer space |
| Dimensions | Length, width and height of each loaded unit, in inches | Used to calculate density and space |
| Weight | Total weight per unit, including the pallet and packaging | A core pricing input; carriers can reweigh |
| Freight class or NMFC item | The commodity’s NMFC item and class | One of the main drivers of LTL pricing |
| Accessorials | Liftgate, inside delivery, residential, limited access, appointment, notify | Each is a separate service that must be ordered |
| Special handling | Hazardous materials, high value or temperature control | Affects which carriers will quote and the paperwork |
Pallet measurements cause the most errors. Measure the loaded pallet at its widest points, including any overhang, and round up to the next inch. Most U.S. freight moves on 48 x 40 inch pallets, and our standard pallet sizes guide lists the other common footprints. The full checklist, with examples, is in our freight shipping quote guide.
How does freight class change an LTL freight quote?
Freight class is a rating from the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC), published by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA). There are 18 classes from 50 to 500, and carriers price lower classes (dense, sturdy freight) below higher ones (light, bulky or fragile freight). A wrong class on the quote is the most common reason the final bill differs from it.
The NMFC changed significantly when NMFTA Docket 2025-1 took effect on July 19, 2025. Many commodities moved to density-based classification, generic item descriptions were consolidated, and the general density scale grew from 11 to 13 subprovisions, adding classes 50 and 55 for very dense freight. A class taken from an old bill of lading may no longer be right.
To find the class for a density-rated item, divide the weight in pounds by the volume in cubic feet. Our freight class calculator guide walks through the math, and the LTL class chart shows which density range maps to which class.
How do you get an LTL freight quote online?
Online quoting is the fastest route, because one set of shipment details returns prices from several carriers at once. With your details ready, it takes a few minutes:
- Enter the lane. Add the pickup and delivery ZIP codes and pick the location type for each end.
- Describe each handling unit. Enter weight, dimensions, freight class and whether it can be stacked.
- Add every accessorial. Choose liftgate, residential, inside delivery or appointment wherever they apply, at pickup and at delivery.
- Compare the results. Line up total price, transit time and carrier for the same shipment.
- Book and document. Book the carrier you choose, print the bill of lading, label each pallet and have the freight ready at the pickup window.
You can run these steps in the free PalletPath LTL quote tool. PalletPath is ParcelPath‘s LTL freight service, and its carrier options include ABF Freight, TForce Freight, Oak Harbor Freight Lines, FedEx Freight Priority and Roadrunner. Like ParcelPath’s parcel shipping, it has no subscription or contract.
How do you compare LTL freight quotes from different carriers?
Compare total delivered cost and service, not the headline number. Two quotes are only comparable when they were built from the same weight, dimensions, class and accessorials, and when each total includes fuel and every add-on. Check these points on every quote:
| What to check | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Total charge | Base charge, fuel surcharge and accessorials all included |
| Transit time | Business days from pickup, and whether the date is guaranteed or estimated |
| Service level | Standard, guaranteed or expedited, and any time-definite option |
| Class and weight used | Match what you entered, so the carrier isn’t quoting a different shipment |
| Carrier coverage | Direct service to both ZIP codes or a handoff to a partner carrier |
| Liability | The carrier’s liability limit for your commodity, and whether you need extra coverage |
| Expiration | How long the quote is valid and which pickup date it assumes |
Carrier reputation matters as much as the number: a missed delivery or a damage claim can cost more than any savings on the quote. Our rankings of the top LTL carriers by revenue and the wider list of freight shipping companies help you judge the carriers behind each quote. To see how each line on a quote is calculated, read our explainer on how LTL freight rates are calculated.
Why does an LTL freight quote change after pickup?
An LTL freight quote changes after pickup when the freight that shows up differs from the freight that was quoted. Carriers weigh and measure shipments at their terminals, and when the results don’t match the bill of lading they issue a correction. The usual causes are:
- Reweigh: the actual weight is higher than the declared weight.
- Reclass: the measured density or the commodity description points to a different class.
- Undeclared accessorials: the driver needed a liftgate, made a residential delivery or waited at a limited-access site that wasn’t on the quote.
- Address problems: a wrong or incomplete address that triggers a reconsignment or redelivery.
The fix is to quote the real shipment: weigh the loaded pallet, measure it at its widest points, check the class against the current NMFC, and ask the receiver whether they have a dock and a forklift.
What is the difference between a standard LTL quote and a volume quote?
A standard LTL quote prices a shipment against the carrier’s tariff and any discount on your account. Larger LTL shipments, often six or more pallets or a big share of a trailer, can instead get a volume (spot) quote, which the carrier prices from how much space it has on that lane that day.
Shippers with steady weekly volume can also negotiate contract pricing with one or more carriers. Small and occasional shippers usually get competitive pricing by comparing several carriers on one quote request instead of signing a contract.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to get an LTL freight quote?
To get an LTL freight quote, you need the pickup and delivery ZIP codes, the location type at each end, the number of handling units, the weight and dimensions of each one, the freight class or NMFC item, and every accessorial you need, such as liftgate or residential delivery. Missing or estimated details are the main reason a final freight bill differs from the quote.
How long does it take to get an LTL freight quote?
An online LTL freight quote comes back in seconds once you enter the shipment details, and multi-carrier tools return several carriers’ prices at the same time. Quotes requested through a carrier’s sales team, or volume quotes for large shipments, can take longer because someone has to price them by hand. Having measured weights and dimensions ready is what speeds the process up.
Why is my LTL freight bill higher than the quote?
An LTL freight bill comes in higher than the quote when the carrier finds a different weight, density or class at its terminal, or when the driver performs a service, such as a liftgate or residential delivery, that wasn’t on the quote. Carriers then issue a correction. Weighing and measuring the loaded pallet and listing every accessorial prevents most of these adjustments.
Does an LTL freight quote include liftgate service?
An LTL freight quote includes liftgate service only when you add it as an accessorial. Standard LTL pricing assumes freight moves between businesses with loading docks. If the pickup or delivery site has no dock or forklift, select liftgate when you request the quote, or the carrier will bill it afterward at its tariff charge.
How is freight class used in an LTL freight quote?
Freight class tells the carrier how dense, fragile and easy to handle your shipment is, and it’s one of the main inputs to the LTL price. Classes run from 50 to 500 under the NMFC. Since NMFTA Docket 2025-1 took effect on July 19, 2025, many items are classed by density on a 13-step scale.
Sources
- NMFTA: NMFTA Implements Historic NMFC Changes
- NMFTA: Docket 2025-1 Notice of Disposition (effective July 19, 2025)
- NMFTA: 2025 NMFC Changes for LTL Shipments
Part of our Freight Quote guide. Related: Freight Shipping Quote, Freight Calculator, How to Get Accurate Freight Shipping Quotes.
