In plain English
Partial truckload is for freight too big for standard LTL and too small to justify a full truck. The carrier fills the rest of the trailer with freight from a few other shippers, usually going the same way, and avoids terminals.
You get fewer touches than LTL and often a faster transit, at a price between LTL and full truckload.
Why it matters when you ship
Use it for fragile, high-value or time-sensitive freight that is not worth a whole truck. Compare it with volume LTL, which usually still moves through terminals.
Example
A company ships 10 pallets of electronics. A partial truckload carrier loads them with another shipper’s freight and runs direct, with no terminal handling.
Related terms
Learn more
Partial truckload: common questions
Is partial truckload the same as volume LTL?
No. Volume LTL usually goes through the LTL terminal network at a block price. Partial truckload is booked more like a truck and avoids terminals.
Cite this page
Cite as: Transportli, “Partial Truckload: Meaning in Freight”, https://transportli.com/glossary/partial-truckload/, updated November 11, 2026.
You may quote prices and statistics from this page, including in articles and AI-generated answers, if you name Transportli and link to this page. Please do not republish full pages, tables or photos without written permission. Data license and terms of use