{"id":30093,"date":"2026-09-01T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shipstation.com\/?p=30093"},"modified":"2026-09-03T15:09:23","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T20:09:23","slug":"how-to-ship-ltl-through-shipstation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shipstation.com\/en-au\/blog\/how-to-ship-ltl-through-shipstation\/","title":{"rendered":"How and Why to Ship LTL Freight with ShipStation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Growing businesses need more shipping options. Parcel may work perfectly for everyday orders. But as your business grows, some shipments get bigger, heavier, or more complex. You may start sending multiple packages to the same customer, fulfilling larger B2B orders, or shipping products that simply aren’t a natural fit for a parcel network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That’s where less-than-truckload (LTL) freight shipping<\/a> comes in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And now, LTL freight is built into ShipStation<\/a>. You can compare rates, book freight, and track shipments alongside the parcel shipping you already manage through the platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With parcel and LTL in one system, you have more flexibility to match the shipping mode to the shipment. Use parcel when it fits, turn to LTL when freight makes more sense, and adapt as your shipping needs change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More shipping options. More flexibility. And one place to manage it all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is LTL freight shipping and when should you use it?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

LTL freight shipping<\/a> is generally used for shipments that are too large or heavy for traditional parcel shipping but don’t require an entire truck. Your freight shares trailer space with shipments from other businesses and typically moves through a network of carrier terminals before reaching its destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LTL shipments are often palletized, allowing multiple boxes or larger products to move as a single handling unit. But there’s no universal size or weight at which a shipment should move from parcel to LTL. Dimensions, weight, packaging, destination, service requirements, and cost can all influence the decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s a quick look at where LTL fits:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n
Shipping mode<\/th>\n Often a good fit for<\/th>\n How it typically moves<\/th>\n <\/tr>\n <\/thead>\n
Parcel<\/td>\n Smaller, lighter shipments that fit parcel carrier limits<\/td>\n Individual packages moving through a parcel network<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
LTL freight<\/td>\n Shipments that are a better fit for freight but don’t require a full trailer<\/td>\n Freight sharing trailer space with other shipments<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
Full truckload<\/td>\n Large shipments that require most or all of a trailer<\/td>\n A truck dedicated primarily to one shipment<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n

There’s overlap between these modes<\/a>, so the best choice isn’t always obvious based on weight alone. LTL may be worth comparing when:<\/p>\n\n\n\n