By Norman Ford · Updated October 2026
LTL freight cost estimator
RESULT · LTL ESTIMATE
| Hundredweights (cwt) | 12.00 |
|---|---|
| Linehaul after discount | $357.00 |
| Fuel surcharge | $99.96 |
| Accessorials | $0.00 |
| Estimated total | $456.96 |
| Density (for classing) | 22.5 lb per cubic ft |
Show the math
- cwt = weight / 100
- Linehaul = cwt x base rate x (1 - discount), or the minimum if higher
- Fuel surcharge = linehaul x FSC %
- Density = weight / (L x W x H / 1,728)
Run a 26 ft box truck or larger and want truckload freight instead? Our desk finds and negotiates loads at 5% of gross.
Start dispatchThis LTL freight cost estimator returns an estimated less-than-truckload cost from the weight, the base rate per hundredweight, the discount, the minimum charge, the fuel surcharge and accessorials, plus the shipment's density.
LTL pricing confuses most people who meet it for the first time. A quote combines a tariff base rate, a discount that can be very large, a minimum charge, a fuel surcharge and a list of accessorials. This estimator breaks those pieces apart so you can see how a quote is built and check one you have received.
How it works
- Hundredweights (cwt) = weight / 100
- Linehaul = cwt x base rate x (1 - discount), or the minimum charge if that is higher
- Fuel surcharge = linehaul x fuel surcharge percent
- Total = linehaul + fuel surcharge + accessorials
- Density = weight / (length x width x height / 1,728)
The base rate is the number that matters most, and it depends on the freight class, weight break, lane and carrier. This tool does not guess it. Enter the base rate from the carrier's tariff or a quote. The default is an EXAMPLE only.
A worked example
A shipment weighs 1,200 pounds on one 48 x 40 x 48 inch pallet. The carrier's base rate for its class and lane is, in this EXAMPLE, $85 per hundredweight, with a 65% discount, a $120 minimum and a 28% fuel surcharge.
- cwt: 12
- Base: 12 x $85 = $1,020; after the 65% discount, $357
- Fuel surcharge: $357 x 28% = about $100
- Total: about $457 before accessorials
- Density: 1,200 / 53.3 cubic feet = about 22.5 pounds per cubic foot
Add $75 for a liftgate at delivery and the estimate becomes about $532.
Freight class and density
Freight class is set by the National Motor Freight Classification, using factors such as density, handling, stowability and liability. Density is a large part of it for many commodities: denser freight generally falls in a lower class and costs less per hundredweight. The estimator shows density so you can check it against your class. It does not assign a class; your carrier or the classification does that.
Accessorials that add up
Liftgate service, residential delivery, limited access locations, inside delivery, appointments and notify-before-delivery requests are common accessorials. Each one has its own charge in the tariff. Put the real delivery details on the bill of lading so the quote matches the invoice.
LTL vs a dedicated truck
For larger shipments, a full or partial truckload can cost less than LTL and avoid the extra handling at terminals. A 26 ft box truck or larger running a dedicated load picks up and delivers direct. The economics of running that truck are a different calculation; the trucking cost per mile calculator and the trip fuel cost calculator show the carrier side.
Ways shippers lower LTL cost
- Measure and weigh accurately. Reweighs and reclasses after inspection are a common source of surprise charges.
- Pack for density. Stacking efficiently and avoiding wasted pallet space can raise density and may lower the class.
- Reduce accessorials. If the receiver has a dock, liftgate service may not be needed. Business deliveries usually cost less than residential ones.
- Consolidate. Several small shipments to the same area can cost more than one combined shipment.
- Compare quotes. Different carriers have different tariffs and discounts for the same lane.
When LTL stops making sense
As shipments grow, LTL pricing can rise above the cost of a dedicated or partial truckload. Shippers moving several pallets often ask for both kinds of quote. A dedicated truck also avoids terminal handling, which can mean less damage and a faster delivery.
For carriers
If you are a carrier rather than a shipper, the costs behind your rate matter more than any LTL tariff: fuel, DEF, tires and maintenance. Our guides to DEF cost and usage per gallon of diesel and semi truck maintenance cost cover two of the lines that are easy to miss.
Where we fit
We are a dispatch desk for carriers, not an LTL broker or carrier. We find and negotiate loads for 26 ft box trucks and larger across 11 equipment types. You say yes, counter or no, and the broker sends the rate confirmation to you to sign. For one-truck operations, the owner-operators page lays out the details.