The short answer
A freight quote is a price from a carrier for moving your freight between two places, based on weight, size, distance and service. On our platform a typical LTL shipment (median 350 lb) gets a cheapest quote of $384 to $566 depending on distance. A Sprinter van runs about $1,092 to $1,336 for 501 to 1,000 miles. A full dry van truckload averages $2.33 to $4.18 per mile depending on trip length. Enter your ZIP codes above to see which mode and which price fit your shipment.
Choose your freight mode
Which freight quote do you need?
The right mode depends on how much you are shipping and how fast it has to get there. Pick one and the form above fills in for you.
Pallets, crates and boxes
Freight that does not fill a trailer. You pay for the space you use and the carrier fills the rest of the truck with other shippers’ freight.
- Best for
- 1 to 6 pallets
- Typical cheapest quote
- $384 to $566
- Typical transit
- 1 to 5 days
Van or box truck
A dedicated vehicle for your freight alone, driven straight from pickup to delivery. Used for urgent, fragile, high-value or oddly sized loads.
- Best for
- Urgent or special loads
- Sprinter van, 501 to 1,000 mi
- $1,092 to $1,336
- Box truck, per mile
- $1.71 to $3.66
A whole trailer
A full dry van, flatbed or refrigerated trailer for your freight only. It makes sense when you fill most of a trailer or need no terminal handling.
- Best for
- 10+ pallets or heavy loads
- Dry van, per mile
- $2.33 to $4.18
- Equipment
- Van, flatbed, reefer
Not sure which one fits? Read LTL vs. FTL: differences, cost and how to choose, or go straight to our LTL freight quote page.
Real prices
What freight quotes cost, from real data
These are not list prices. They come from 276 real LTL lanes with 1,378 quotes, our own van and box truck price card, and 41 truckload market rate lookups.
LTL freight by distance
Cheapest quote per lane, median shipment about 350 lb
| Distance | Lanes | Cheapest quote | Per mile | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 300 miles | 27 | $390 | $2.43 | 1 day |
| 300 to 800 miles | 68 | $384 | $0.63 | 2 days |
| 800 to 1,500 miles | 84 | $465 | $0.43 | 3 days |
| Over 1,500 miles | 97 | $566 | $0.24 | 5 days |
Price per mile falls from $2.43 to $0.24 as the trip gets longer, because pickup, delivery and handling cost the same however far the freight goes.
LTL freight by weight
Cheapest quote per lane, all distances
| Weight | Lanes | Cheapest quote | Per 100 lb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 150 lb | 60 | $440 | $704 |
| 150 to 299 lb | 54 | $412 | $190 |
| 300 to 599 lb | 73 | $395 | $99 |
| 600 to 999 lb | 37 | $556 | $82 |
| 1,000 to 1,999 lb | 28 | $549 | $42 |
| 2,000 lb or more | 24 | $835 | $28 |
Heavier shipments cost more in total but far less per pound: $704 per 100 lb under 150 lb against $28 at 2,000 lb or more.
Expedited van and box truck
Door to door, one vehicle, your freight only
| Trip | Sprinter van | Box truck per mile |
|---|---|---|
| Local, up to 150 mi | $183 to $360 | $1.71 to $2.44 |
| 151 to 500 mi | $427 to $848 | $2.07 to $2.93 |
| 501 to 1,000 mi | $1,092 to $1,336 | $2.44 to $3.66 |
| 1,001 to 2,500 mi | $1,580 to $2,257 | $2.44 to $3.66 |
From our Sprinter van price card and box truck loads. Box truck loads have a $350 minimum. See the Sprinter van delivery page to price your own trip.
Full truckload, dry van
Typical rate per mile, 90-day contract average
| Trip length | Median per mile | Range per mile | Typical total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 600 mi | $4.18 | $3.70 to $5.37 | $1,020 |
| 600 to 1,000 mi | $2.83 | $2.67 to $3.65 | $2,520 |
| 1,000 to 1,600 mi | $2.33 | $1.81 to $3.59 | $3,210 |
| 1,600 mi and up | $2.73 | $2.20 to $3.27 | $6,770 |
Flatbed and reefer cost more: flatbed medians run $3.42 to $5.03 per mile and reefer $2.92 to $5.05. Try the freight cost calculator for your own lane.
How we got these numbers: LTL figures are the cheapest quote on each lane (276 lanes, 47 states and Washington, D.C., median shipment about 350 lb). Truckload figures are 41 market rate lookups (17 dry van, 12 flatbed, 12 reefer) on lanes of 180 to 2,779 miles in October 2026; two lanes re-checked in November were within 3% on contract rates. Spot rates move more than contract rates and change with direction. Your price depends on your lane, freight and ship date.
How it works
How to get a freight quote
You enter your shipment once. We handle the rest.
- Enter your shipmentPickup and delivery ZIP codes, what you are shipping and roughly how much of it. It takes about a minute.
- Compare quotesSee prices and transit times from vetted carriers side by side, so you can weigh cost against speed.
- Pick and bookA freight specialist follows up within 15 minutes during business hours to confirm details and book the carrier you choose.
- Ship and deliverThe carrier you book picks up and delivers. Keep the bill of lading and check the freight when it arrives.
Have these ready
The more exact your details, the closer the quote is to the final bill.
- Pickup and delivery addresses, and whether each is a business, a residence or a site without a loading dock
- Total weight and number of pieces
- Length, width and height of each pallet or crate
- Freight class or a description of the goods. Work it out with the density calculator or the freight class calculator
- Extra services you need, such as liftgate, inside delivery or an appointment
- The date the freight is ready to ship
Avoid surprises on the final bill
Most quote changes happen after pickup, when the carrier weighs and measures the freight.
- A wrong freight class: in our test, class 100 instead of 70 raised the typical quote about 26%. See the freight class study
- A weight or size that differs from what you quoted
- A residential address or no dock when the quote assumed a business with one
- Extra services added after the quote, such as liftgate or inside delivery
What drives the price
What changes a freight quote
These numbers come from the same quotes and lookups as the tables above.
Distance
LTL price per mile falls sharply on longer trips, from under 300 miles to over 1,500.
Weight
Cost per 100 lb drops as the shipment gets heavier, from under 150 lb to 2,000 lb and up.
Freight class
The typical quote at class 100 against class 70 for the same pallets. How classes work.
Which carrier
The fifth-lowest quote was a median 28% above the lowest on the same shipment.
Liftgate
What a liftgate added in our own quote tests, for one to three pallets.
Residential delivery
What delivery to a residence added to a quote. See accessorial charges.
Direction
A dry van from Los Angeles to Dallas ($3.59 a mile) against the same lane back ($2.18). Truckload rates depend on which way the truck is heading.
Speed
Share of lanes where the cheapest LTL quote was also the fastest, or tied. Cheaper is not always slower.
Compare quotes
How to compare freight quotes
The lowest price is only one line on the quote. Check these before you book.
What to compare
Put every quote side by side on the same basis.
- Total price, including fuel and the extra services you need
- Transit time, because the cheapest quote is often, but not always, the slowest
- The service level, standard or guaranteed, and whether delivery is a firm date
- What the price assumes: the class, weight, size and address type you entered
- How long the quote is valid and how the carrier handles corrections after pickup
Red flags
A freight quote should be explainable line by line.
- A price far below every other quote for the same shipment
- No clear answer on who the carrier is or what the quote includes
- Pressure to book before the details are confirmed
- A quote that ignores your accessorials, such as a liftgate or a residential address
Transportli is a marketplace that matches shippers with independent, vetted carriers. The carrier you book performs the shipment.
Tools and guides
Free freight tools and guides
Estimate a cost, work out your freight class or learn the terms before you request a quote.
FAQ
Freight quote: frequently asked questions
What is a freight quote?
A freight quote is a price from a carrier for moving your freight from one place to another. It is based on the weight, size and type of the freight, the distance, the service you want and any extra services such as a liftgate. A quote is an offer you can book, which is different from a cost estimate.
How do I get a freight quote?
Enter your pickup and delivery ZIP codes and what you are shipping in the form at the top of this page. We compare prices from vetted carriers and a freight specialist follows up within 15 minutes during business hours. It is free and you do not need an account.
How much does freight shipping cost?
It depends on the mode, the distance and the weight. On our platform the cheapest LTL quote had a median of $384 to $566 depending on distance, for shipments with a median weight of about 350 lb. A Sprinter van costs about $1,092 to $1,336 for 501 to 1,000 miles. A full dry van truckload averages $2.33 to $4.18 per mile depending on trip length.
Is a freight quote free?
Yes. Requesting freight quotes through Transportli never costs anything and does not oblige you to book. You do not need an account.
What information do I need for a freight quote?
Pickup and delivery ZIP codes, total weight, the number of pieces and their dimensions, the freight class or a description of the goods, any extra services such as liftgate or inside delivery, and the date the freight is ready. Whether each address is a business, a residence or has a loading dock also changes the price.
What is the difference between LTL and full truckload?
LTL (less-than-truckload) moves a few pallets or crates that share a trailer with other freight, and you pay for the space you use. Full truckload gives your freight a whole trailer, so it makes sense when you fill most of it or need no terminal handling. See LTL vs. FTL for how to choose.
When should I use expedited shipping?
Use expedited shipping when time matters more than price or when the freight is fragile, high-value or oddly sized. A van or box truck is dedicated to your freight and drives straight from pickup to delivery, so you pay for the whole vehicle. See our expedited freight page.
Why can my final bill differ from the quote?
Most changes happen after pickup, when the carrier weighs and measures the freight. If the weight, size, class or address type differs from what you quoted, the carrier can rebill. In our freight class test, class 100 instead of class 70 raised the typical quote about 26%. Enter exact details to keep the quote close to the bill.
How many freight quotes should I compare?
As many as you can. On our lanes the fifth-lowest quote was a median of 28% above the lowest for the same shipment, and the cheapest quote was also the fastest, or tied, on 42% of lanes. Comparing shows you both the price spread and the speed trade-off.
Can I get a freight quote for a residence or a site without a loading dock?
Yes. Tell us the address type when you request the quote. In our own quote tests a liftgate added about $75 for one pallet and about $108 for three, and delivery to a residence added about $99 to $116. Prices vary by carrier.
Do you quote air freight, ocean freight or international shipments?
No. Transportli quotes domestic freight within the United States: LTL, expedited vans and box trucks, and full truckload.
How accurate are online freight quote calculators?
A calculator gives an estimate from typical lanes and weights, which is useful for budgeting. A live quote is a price a carrier will honor for your exact shipment. Use our freight cost calculator for a quick estimate, then request quotes for the real price.
Is Transportli a carrier or a broker?
Transportli is a marketplace that matches shippers with independent, vetted carriers. We do not move the freight ourselves. The carrier you book performs the shipment.
Ready to compare freight quotes?
Enter your shipment once and see real prices from vetted carriers. Free, with no account and no obligation.
Get my freight quoteTransportli is a marketplace, not a carrier. Rates shown on this page are from real quotes and market rate data and are not a price for your shipment. Updated November 2026.