What are you looking for?

Explore our services and discover how we can help you achieve your goals

Search across all pages, posts, and content. Use arrow keys to navigate results.

What is LTL Shipping?

In the freight world, not every shipment fills an entire trailer. Yet businesses still need reliable, cost‑effective transportation for freight that’s too large for a parcel but too small for a full truckload. Imagine a supply chain where every partially filled trailer moved alone — capacity wasted, costs inflated, and efficiency lost across the network. It’s a scenario that would strain budgets, slow operations, and limit shippers’ flexibility everywhere.

To prevent this, the multi‑billion‑dollar LTL market relies on a shared‑space model that keeps freight moving efficiently: Less‑Than‑Truckload shipping.

LTL allows multiple shippers to share trailer space, consolidating freight based on destination, density, and service requirements. This approach reduces cost, optimizes capacity, and supports the fast‑paced demands of modern distribution.

 

Freight rate calculator
Shipping option
Pickup/delivery information
Shipment information
Pickup/delivery information
Shipment information

limit of 70 characters

7500+ Daily Shippers
23,000+ Vetted Carriers
8 U.S. & Mexico Offices
1M+ Shipments Managed
  • 2025 awards Transport Topics Top Freight Brokerage Firm
  • 2025 awards FreightWaves FreightTech 2025
  • 2025 awards Inbound Logistics Green Partner
  • 2025 awards Transpor Topics Top 100 Logistics Company
  • 2025 awards Smartway Partner
  • 2025 awards Food Logistics rockstars of the Supply Chain
  • 2025 awards Great Supply Chain Partner
  • 2025 awards Florida Top 3PL
  • 2025 awards SupplyChainBrain 100 Great Supply Chain Partners
  • 2025 awards Bronze Ecovadis Sustainability Rating
  • 2025 awards Hispanic Business Enterprise
  • 2025 awards Supply & Demand Chain Executive Women in Supply Chain
  • 2025 awards Logistics Management Quest For Quality

What is LTL Shipping?

When it comes to shipping, not every load needs an entire truck. That’s where LTL shipping (Less-than-Truckload) comes in. If you’re looking to move smaller shipments—anything from 150 to 15,000 pounds—LTL shipping is the perfect solution. Rather than paying for a full truck, you share the space with other shipments. This means you’re only paying for the portion your freight occupies, which cuts costs and keeps your budget in check.

While less-than-truckload may take a bit longer due to extra stops as the truck picks up and drops off other shipments, it’s a great way to save on transportation costs without sacrificing efficiency. You get all the benefits of a truckload shipment without having to fill the entire truck. Simple, right?

Managed Logistics That Drives Performance

BlueGrace brings decades of LTL expertise to help shippers move freight with accuracy and control. Our technology centralizes quoting, tracking, and documentation, giving businesses real‑time visibility into every shipment. Cost discipline is built into the process, supported by data‑driven routing, carrier optimization, and proactive exception management.

Dedicated LTL specialists oversee each stage of the shipment lifecycle, ensuring freight moves efficiently, predictably, and with complete transparency.

+ System Integrations

% On-Time Delivery

What Our Clients Are Saying

Our clients consistently highlight the reliability, transparency, and cost-saving impact of partnering with BlueGrace. From small businesses to large enterprises, companies across the country trust our team to manage their LTL shipments efficiently, ensuring on-time delivery and reducing freight expenses. These testimonials reflect not just satisfaction with our services, but confidence in a logistics partner that understands their unique shipping challenges.

Sarah Thompson
Operations Manager, GreenLeaf Supplies

“BlueGrace has completely transformed the way we handle LTL shipments. Their team helped us reduce freight costs by 12% while improving delivery times, and the visibility into every shipment gives us peace of mind. They truly act as an extension of our operations team.”

infinia infinia infinia infinia infinia
David Ramirez
CEO, Horizon Electronics

“We rely on BlueGrace for all of our nationwide LTL shipments. Their personalized support and intelligent routing solutions have made our supply chain much more efficient. The real-time tracking and proactive communication set them apart from any other provider we’ve worked with.”

infinia infinia infinia infinia infinia
Emily Chen
Logistics Coordinator, Summit Retailers

“Partnering with BlueGrace has been a game-changer. Their team understands our business needs, provides cost-effective solutions, and ensures every shipment arrives on time. We finally have a freight partner we can trust, and it shows in our operational performance.”

infinia infinia infinia infinia infinia
bluegrace

Technology That Supports Better Freight Decisions

International freight data is only useful if it informs action.BlueGrace leverages BlueShip®, our transportation management technology, to support:

  • Centralized shipment visibility
  • Performance tracking by carrier and lane
  • Cost analysis across ocean, air, and domestic modes
  • Integration with existing ERP and TMS environments

 

Rather than replacing your systems, BlueShip® complements them—giving log

Integrated Visibility and Execution

LTL performance depends on more than just moving freight from point A to point B. Missed pickups, reclassifications, and unexpected accessorials can disrupt downstream operations, inflate costs, and create service variability across your network. The difference comes from having disciplined processes and accountable oversight guiding every shipment.

BlueGrace strengthens LTL operations with:

  • Centralized visibility that tracks each milestone from pickup through final delivery
  • Exception management that quickly addresses delays, damages, or carrier deviations
  • Clear communication between shippers, carriers, and support teams to keep freight moving predictably

This level of coordination reduces uncertainty, improves service consistency, and gives supply chain leaders the control they need to keep LTL running smoothly.

A collage featuring a smiling professional man in glasses working at a desk, partially overlapping an image of a white semi-truck trailer parked outdoors during a golden sunset.

Proven Results

M+

Shipments

%

Cost Savings

%

On-Time Delivery

Even with these challenges, LTL remains one of the most efficient and cost‑effective ways to move mid‑sized freight—especially when supported by the right visibility, planning, and carrier strategy.

A dark blue-tinted abstract digital landscape featuring a wave of glowing blue particles and light bokeh against a deep blue background.

How to Maximize the Benefits of LTL Shipping

To get the most out of your LTL, partnering with a trusted expert can make all the difference. With the right guidance and technology, you can reduce shipping costs, minimize claims, and improve delivery times, giving your business a competitive edge.

With BlueGrace as your LTL shipping partner, you receive:

  • Access to Premium LTL Capacity: Tap into a wide network of reliable carriers and blanket rates, ensuring cost-effective and dependable service for your shipments.
  • Enhanced Freight Visibility: Stay on top of your shipments with real-time tracking, allowing you to monitor progress and make informed decisions to avoid delays.
  • Scalable and Stable Network: Whether shipping small loads or handling high volumes, having a flexible network can help navigate common challenges such as service disruptions or seasonal price spikes.
  • Increased Productivity with Less Complexity: Integrating technology with your systems allows for a more efficient and streamlined process, reducing complexity and improving the efficiency of your LTL shipping.

Navigating the complexities of LTL can be challenging, but with the right tools and expertise, you can simplify the process and improve your logistics efficiency. With the support of experienced professionals and advanced technology, you can optimize your LTL shipping to reduce costs, minimize risks, and enhance overall performance. Contact us today for a free quote!

LTL Shipping FAQs: Everything You Need to Know

LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) shipping with us allows you to move freight that doesn’t require a full trailer by sharing space with other shipments. You pay only for the portion of the trailer your freight uses, helping control transportation costs.

LTL shipping is ideal when your freight is too large for parcel but not large enough to justify a full truck. It provides a cost-effective option while still leveraging professional carrier networks.

LTL sits between parcel and full truckload shipping. It’s commonly used for regional distribution, replenishment freight, and shipments moving between warehouses, distribution centers, and retail locations.

We are a third-party logistics (3PL) provider, not a carrier. We partner with a broad network of national and regional LTL carriers to secure competitive rates and reliable service.

LTL freight usually includes palletized, crated, or shrink-wrapped goods such as retail products, industrial equipment, automotive parts, food products, and packaged materials.

Freight class categorizes shipments based on density, handling, liability, and stowability. Accurate classification is critical because it directly impacts your LTL rate and billing accuracy.

LTL shipments move through carrier terminals where freight is consolidated and reloaded. These additional handling points can extend transit times compared to direct full truckload moves.

We leverage carrier relationships, volume purchasing power, and transportation technology to optimize carrier selection, lane pricing, and service levels.

Yes. We provide shipment visibility through integrated tracking tools, allowing you to monitor pickup, in-transit status, and delivery updates in one place.

Beyond booking, we provide carrier management, cost analysis, freight optimization insights, and support through our logistics experts and technology platform.