Standard freight
Partial Truckload (PTL) Shipping
The middle lane between LTL and a full truck — fewer touches, no freight class, and you pay only for the space you use.
Get a freight quoteWhat is partial truckload?
Partial truckload, or PTL, is the mode for shipments that are too large for less-than-truckload economics but too small to justify a whole trailer — roughly 6 to 18 pallets, or 5,000 to 27,000 pounds. The freight shares a trailer with one or two other shipments rather than passing through a terminal network.
That structure changes everything about the move. Your pallets are loaded once and stay put until delivery, so there is no class-based pricing, no reweighing, and far less handling damage. RS Group quotes PTL out of Atlanta and matches it to the right carrier across our 34,000-carrier network.
Why ship PTL with RS Group
PTL exists to close the gap LTL and FTL leave open. We make sure your freight lands in that gap instead of overpaying on either side.
- No freight class — pricing is based on space and weight, not a reclassed NMFC code.
- Fewer touches — loaded once, delivered once, with no terminal cross-docking in between.
- Lower damage risk than LTL because your pallets are not handled at every hub.
- Often cheaper than FTL when you do not need the whole trailer.
- A 34,000-carrier network so we can place 6–18 pallet loads even in tight markets.
When partial truckload is the right call
PTL is not always the answer, but when these conditions line up it usually wins on cost and on care:
- You have 6 or more pallets but not enough to fill a 53-foot trailer.
- Your freight is fragile or high-value and you want to minimize handling.
- Your shipment would be reclassed into an expensive LTL freight class.
- You can flex a day or two on transit in exchange for a lower rate.
- You ship oversized or unstackable pallets that LTL terminals penalize.
Frequently asked questions
How is PTL different from LTL?
LTL freight moves through a hub-and-spoke terminal network and is priced by freight class, so it is handled and sometimes reweighed at every stop. PTL rides a dedicated trailer with only one or two other shipments, is priced by space and weight, and is loaded once and delivered once. For mid-size loads that means fewer touches and, often, a lower bill.
How many pallets make sense for PTL?
PTL generally makes sense from about 6 pallets up to roughly 18, or anywhere from 5,000 to 27,000 pounds. Below that, LTL is usually cheaper; above it, a full truckload is often the better value. We will run both numbers and tell you which mode wins your lane.
Will my freight be reclassified or reweighed?
No. Because PTL is priced on the space and weight your pallets occupy rather than a freight class, there is no NMFC reclassification and no terminal reweigh — the surprise re-rate that catches many LTL shippers off guard simply does not happen.
Ready to move your freight?
Tell us about your shipment and one team handles the rest — every mode, one point of contact.