Here's something most shippers don't realize: you might be overpaying for freight every single week.
If you're shipping loads that don't fill an entire trailer but are too big for traditional LTL, you're stuck in a frustrating middle ground. You either pay for truck space you're not using or deal with the headaches of LTL's hub-and-spoke system.
There's a better way. It's called partial truckload shipping, and it could save you real money while actually improving how your freight gets handled.
I've been in the transportation business for decades, and I've seen too many shippers either overpay or take on unnecessary risk simply because they didn't know this option existed—or didn't know how to find the right partner for it. This guide will change that.
Partial truckload sits right between full truckload (FTL) and less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping. It's designed for shipments that take up a significant portion of a trailer (typically four to five pallets or more, weighing 4,000 to 5,000 pounds or above) but don't need the entire 53-foot space.
Think of it this way: with partial shipping, your freight shares trailer space with one or two other shipments going in the same direction. Your cargo gets picked up, loaded once, and delivered directly—often without ever being touched again until it reaches the receiver.
That last point matters more than you might think.
How partial differs from LTLTraditional LTL uses what's called a hub-and-spoke system. Here's what happens to your freight:
Count those touches! Your freight gets handled at least four times—sometimes more. Every time someone touches your freight, there's a chance for damage. That's just physics and human nature. With partial truckload, your freight gets loaded once at pickup and unloaded once at delivery. That's it. Two touches instead of four or more. The damage risk drops dramatically. |
How partial differs from FTLFull truckload means you're paying for the entire trailer—all 53 feet of it. That makes perfect sense when you have enough freight to fill it. But if you're only using 8 or 12 feet of trailer space, you're paying for 40-plus feet of air. Partial shipping lets you pay for the space you actually use. The carrier fills the rest of the trailer with other compatible shipments heading in the same direction, and everyone saves money. |
To understand where partial truckload fits in the logistics ecosystem, it helps to compare it to its more well-known siblings: LTL and full truckload shipping. We broke these three shipping models down in much more detail in our other guide.
| Feature | Partial Truckload (PTL) | Less Than Truckload (LTL) | Full Truckload (FTL) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical Weight | 5,000-38,000 lbs | Under 5,000 lbs | Over 38,000 lbs |
| Typical Size | 6-18 pallets | 1-5 pallets | 20+ pallets |
| Freight Class Required | No | Yes | No |
| Number of Stops | Few | Multiple | Direct |
| Handling | Minimal | Multiple touchpoints | Minimal |
| Transit Time | Medium | Longest | Fastest |
| Pricing Structure | Based on space used | Based on freight class, weight, and dimension | Flat rate regardless of load size |
| Best For | Mid-sized shipments, fragile goods | Small shipments | Large shipments, time-sensitive freight |
In short, partial truckload shipping combines some of the best aspects of both LTL and FTL while eliminating some of their downsides.
The bottom line: Partial gives you the direct handling of full truckload at a fraction of the cost, with far less damage risk than LTL.
Partial truckload isn't for every shipment. Here's when it really shines:
Let me be straight with you about what partial truckload actually delivers, and why so many shippers prefer it for a lot of their loads over traditional LTL now.
1. Better insurance protectionThis is something most shippers never think about until they have a claim. Traditional LTL carriers bury liability limits deep in their tariffs—those 200-page documents nobody reads. If your product is damaged, they might pay you pennies per pound regardless of what your freight was actually worth. Partial shipments move under standard full-value cargo insurance. If your $100,000 shipment suffers a total loss, you're covered for the full value (assuming your carrier maintains proper coverage). That's not a small difference! It's the difference between recovering from a loss and taking a massive financial hit. |
2. Pretty significant cost savingsI wish I could give you a magic number like "partial saves 30%" or something simple. The reality is more nuanced. Your savings depend on lane, distance, seasonality, and market conditions. What I can tell you: when partial makes sense for your shipment, the savings are real and often substantial.
The key is working with a provider who can clearly show you the comparison. Good brokers don't just quote partial—they show you the dedicated option too, so you can make an informed decision. |
3. Less damage riskI've already hammered this point, but it's worth emphasizing: fewer touches means fewer opportunities for damage. For shippers who've struggled with damage claims, partial shipping can be transformative. |
Not all brokers handle partial freight well. Here's what separates the good ones from the rest:
Partial shipping works differently depending on whether you're using dry van, flatbed, or intermodal. A broker who only dabbles in partials won't have the carrier relationships or expertise to consistently find you capacity at competitive rates.
When your freight shares space with other shipments, you need absolute confidence in the carrier. Ask your broker how they vet their partial carriers. Good answers include:
If a broker can't clearly articulate their vetting process, that's a red flag.
This matters more for partial shipments than you might expect. Because your freight is sharing space with others, coordination becomes critical. You need a provider who will:
The digital-first brokers with flashy apps often fall short here. Their technology is great when everything goes right. But freight doesn't always go right, and when problems happen, you need someone who picks up the phone and solves them.
Good partial providers don't just quote you a number—they help you understand why partial makes sense (or doesn't) for your specific shipment.
They should be willing to show you the partial rate compared to what a dedicated truck would cost, whether market conditions favor partial or dedicated right now, and an honest assessment of delivery timeline tradeoffs.
If a broker just wants to push partial on everything without explanation, be skeptical.
The best partial providers aren't just brokers—they have broader logistics capabilities. Why does this matter?
Imagine your partial shipment hits a snag. The carrier is delayed, and your receiver's appointment gets missed. A broker-only operation has limited options. But a provider with their own trucks, warehouse space, and established relationships has more tools to solve your problem. They might be able to store your freight temporarily, reschedule with their own assets, or find creative solutions that a pure broker simply can't offer.
Look for providers who offer asset-based trucking, warehousing, and brokerage under one roof. That combination creates resilience and flexibility when you need it most.
If you think partial might work for your freight, here's how to evaluate your options.
Before reaching out to providers, gather the basics about your shipment: dimensions (or total linear feet of trailer space needed), weight, origin, destination, and your timeline flexibility. The more specific you can be, the more accurate your quotes will be.
Then, get multiple quotes. Don't just accept the first partial quote you receive. Talk to at least two or three providers and compare not just prices but their process, communication, and carrier vetting. The cheapest quote isn't always the best value.
When evaluating providers, ask:
Before committing major volume to a new provider, run a test shipment. See how their process works, how they communicate, and how they handle any issues that arise. One shipment will tell you more than any sales pitch.
At Badger Logistics, partial truckload has been part of our service offering for years. We've built the capabilities that matter most for shippers:
Experienced across all partial modes. We handle partial shipments in dry van, flatbed, and intermodal every day. Our team knows the nuances of each mode and can advise you on the best fit for your freight.
Rigorous carrier vetting. We require minimum 12-month operating authority, verify safety scores and insurance, and check every carrier against Carrier 411 before they touch your freight. We've been doing this long enough to know which carriers we can trust—and which ones we won't work with.
Personal service that scales. When you work with us, you get a dedicated contact who knows your business. We don't hide behind portals or automated emails. When something goes wrong—and in this industry, things occasionally do—you talk to a real person who has the authority to fix it.
Integrated logistics capabilities. We're not just brokers. Badger operates our own fleet of trucks, our own 210,000-square-foot warehouse, and a full-service brokerage. That means when you need flexibility—whether it's holding freight, consolidating shipments, or finding creative solutions—we have options that broker-only companies simply don't.
Straightforward communication. We tell you what to expect upfront, including realistic transit times and potential complications. If partial isn't the right choice for your shipment, we'll tell you that too—and explain why.
At Badger Logistics, we specialize in helping shippers identify the optimal shipping mode for each situation. Our extensive partial truckload capabilities — backed by strong carrier relationships, comprehensive service options, and transportation expertise — provide you with reliable, cost-effective solutions for your mid-sized shipments.
Whether you're looking to solve specific shipping challenges, optimize your transportation budget, or simply explore your options, our team is ready to help. Contact us today to discuss how partial truckload shipping can benefit your supply chain.