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LTL Freight Rate Estimator — Less-Than-Truckload Cost Calculator

Estimate LTL freight costs by weight, freight class and lane distance. Use for budgeting, carrier comparison and shipper quoting before getting live rates.

Quick answer: LTL rates = Base rate (from class/weight tariff) × Distance factor − Carrier discount. A 500-lb Class 70 shipment on a 500-mile lane typically runs $180–$280 after discount.

🚚 LTL Freight Rate Estimator

Typical: 50–75%. Ask your carrier.
Estimated Total Cost
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Gross Linehaul
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Net After Discount
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How to Use This Calculator

  1. Enter weight and freight class — use the Freight Class Calculator if you're unsure of your NMFC class.
  2. Enter lane distance — origin to destination miles — use Google Maps or a mileage tool for accuracy.
  3. Enter your carrier discount — from your pricing agreement. No contract? Start with 50% and negotiate up.
  4. Use as a benchmark — this estimate helps you evaluate carrier quotes and spot outliers.

Worked Example

650-lb Class 85 shipment, 800 miles, 62% discount, 27% FSC.

  1. CWT: 650 ÷ 100 = 6.5 cwt
  2. Gross linehaul: 6.5 × $35 × 1.18 = $268.45
  3. Net after 62% discount: $268.45 × 38% = $102.01
  4. FSC (27%): $27.54
  5. Total: $129.55

At $129.55 all-in, this is a well-discounted rate. A shipper without a pricing agreement might pay $215–$250 for the same shipment. Negotiating carrier discounts is the single biggest lever for LTL cost reduction.

Frequently Asked Questions

LTL carriers publish base rates in a tariff (most use the CZAR-B or similar standard tariff). These base rates are per CWT by freight class and distance band. Carriers then apply a discount to the base rate — typically 50–80% for volume shippers. The net linehaul plus a fuel surcharge gives the all-in cost.

For small shippers (under $50K/year freight spend): 50–60% discount is typical. Mid-size shippers ($50K–$500K/year): 60–72%. Large shippers (over $500K/year): 70–80%+. The discount is off the published tariff — a 70% discount doesn't mean 70% off market price, since the base tariff is intentionally inflated.

Freight class is the primary pricing variable in LTL. Class 50 (dense, easy to ship) might rate at $14/CWT base; Class 500 (extremely light/valuable/hazardous) at $260/CWT. A misclassified shipment can be 2–3× more expensive than it should be. Always verify your NMFC class using the Freight Class Calculator.