In PTL, goods are booked by weight and volume, consolidated at the carrier's hub, and moved on shared trucks with hub-to-hub transfers along the way. Transit is slower than FTL because of these consolidation and break-bulk stops, but the cost per shipment is far lower for anything smaller than a full truck.
- Best for pallets, cartons, and multi-box B2B orders too large for parcel couriers but too small for a dedicated truck.
- PTL freight is usually chargeable on the higher of actual and volumetric weight — the same principle as parcel shipping.