What is Partial Truckload Shipping?
Partial truckload (PTL) shipping is a freight service where your shipment occupies a portion of a truck trailer — typically 6–18 linear feet or 5,000–20,000 lbs. PTL fills the gap between LTL and FTL: faster and less damage-prone than LTL, cheaper than FTL for loads that don't fill a full trailer.
PTL vs LTL vs FTL at a glance
| Type | Truck Space | Speed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| LTL | Small (1–6 linear ft) | Slower (2–7 days) | Lowest per lb |
| PTL | Medium (6–18 linear ft) | Faster (1–4 days) | Moderate |
| FTL | Entire truck | Fastest (1–2 days) | Highest total |
When to use PTL
- ✓Your shipment is 5,000–20,000 lbs or 6–18 linear feet
- ✓Your freight is fragile, high-value, or damage-sensitive
- ✓You need faster transit than LTL provides
- ✓Your freight is oversized or non-standard
- ✓You're shipping furniture, appliances, or large retail items in Ontario
Need large-item delivery in Ontario?
GoGedit provides PTL-style delivery for furniture, appliances, and commercial freight across Ontario.
Frequently asked questions
What is partial truckload shipping?
Partial truckload (PTL) shipping is a freight service where your shipment occupies a portion of a truck trailer — typically 6–18 linear feet or 5,000–20,000 lbs. PTL fills the gap between LTL (less-than-truckload) and FTL (full truckload), offering faster transit and lower damage risk than LTL at a lower cost than FTL.
What is the difference between PTL and LTL?
LTL (less-than-truckload) is for smaller shipments under 5,000 lbs that move through multiple terminals with 3–6 handling points. PTL is for larger shipments (5,000–20,000 lbs) that move more directly with 1–2 handling points. PTL is faster and has 5–10x lower damage rates than LTL.
What size shipments use PTL?
PTL is designed for shipments between 5,000–20,000 lbs or 6–18 linear feet of trailer space — typically 6–18 standard pallets. Common PTL shipments include furniture sets, appliance orders, retail inventory, and manufacturing components.
Is PTL cheaper than LTL?
For shipments over 5,000 lbs, PTL is usually cheaper than LTL when you factor in the full cost including accessorials and damage claims. For smaller shipments under 2,000 lbs, LTL is typically cheaper.
What industries use partial truckload shipping?
The industries that benefit most from PTL are furniture retailers, appliance dealers, building materials suppliers, industrial equipment manufacturers, e-commerce businesses selling large items, and retail distributors. These industries have freight that is fragile, oversized, or in the 5,000–20,000 lb range.