In plain English
In an LTL move, line haul is the part where freight rides a large trailer between terminals, possibly through a hub. In truckload shipping, line haul is the main per-mile portion of the price, apart from fees like fuel and accessorial charges.
A line-haul driver usually runs between cities; a local driver does the pickup and delivery.
Why it matters when you ship
It helps to read a quote: the line-haul charge is the base for the distance, and other lines on the quote, such as fuel and accessorials, are added on top.
Example
A shipment from Dallas to Chicago has a local pickup in Dallas, a line haul of roughly 920 miles between terminals and a local delivery in Chicago.
Related terms
Line haul: common questions
What is the difference between line haul and pickup and delivery?
Line haul is the long-distance leg between terminals. Pickup and delivery are the short local legs to and from the shipper and consignee.
Cite this page
Cite as: Transportli, “Line Haul: Meaning in Trucking and LTL”, https://transportli.com/glossary/line-haul/, updated November 11, 2026.
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