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LTL glossary

Pickup and Delivery (P&D): Meaning in LTL

Pickup and delivery (P&D) are the local legs of a freight move: a driver collects freight from the shipper and brings it to a terminal, or takes freight from a terminal to the consignee.

In plain English

P&D drivers run local routes from a terminal with straight trucks or short trailers. They make several stops a day, which is why LTL pickup windows are wide, often a day or part of a day.

P&D is where most accessorial charges arise, because it is where freight meets real-world locations: loading docks, residential driveways and tight sites.

Why it matters when you ship

Details of your pickup and delivery site, such as a dock, a liftgate need or a residential address, affect the price and are best given up front.

Example

A driver arrives at your dock between 1 and 5 p.m., loads three pallets and returns to the terminal at the end of the day.

Learn more

Pickup and delivery (P&D): common questions

Why is the LTL pickup window so wide?

Because P&D drivers make many stops on a route. Ask the carrier about a scheduled appointment if you need a narrower window, which may cost extra.

Cite this page

Cite as: Transportli, “Pickup and Delivery (P&D): Meaning in LTL”, https://transportli.com/glossary/pickup-and-delivery/, 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

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