Key takeaways
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Badger Logistics / Fall River Express – Midwest-focused, integrated warehousing + brokerage; great for shippers needing hands-on service and consolidation help.
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Echo Global Logistics – Huge network, strong technology (EchoShip), good for high-volume shippers.
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TQL – Dedicated Partials Department, strong carrier network, predictable pricing.
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Coyote (UPS) – Analytics-driven with UPS integration; good for companies wanting predictive visibility.
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R+L Global – Strong in specialty and high-value partials, with 22,000+ carriers.
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C.H. Robinson – Massive global broker with advanced visibility tools; best for enterprise shippers.
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Translogistics (TLI) – Northeast-focused; offers both partial and volume LTL comparisons.
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FreightCenter – Online marketplace that makes it easy to compare PTL quotes.
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PartnerShip – Good for small businesses + association members; emphasizes vetted carriers.
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Logistics Plus – Solid domestic PTL plus strong international capabilities.
Badger Logistics delivers expert partial shipping services for reliable and efficient transportation of your mid-sized freight. Learn more about our partial freight services and get a competitive rate quote to join hundreds of shippers discovering a better alternative to traditional LTL.
If you've got freight that's too big for LTL but doesn't fill an entire truck, you're in partial truckload territory. And finding the right provider for partial shipments can be surprisingly tricky.
Unlike full truckload (where any carrier with a truck can technically help), partial requires a provider with the right network, the right expertise, and often the right technology to consolidate shipments efficiently. Not every broker or carrier does this well.
We put together this list to help you find providers worth evaluating. It includes national players with massive carrier networks and regional specialists who might be a better fit depending on your lanes and service needs.
Quick refresher: what is partial truckload?Partial truckload (PTL) sits between LTL and full truckload shipping. It's typically the smart choice when:
The main advantage over LTL: your freight typically gets loaded once and unloaded once, instead of being handled multiple times through LTL's hub-and-spoke system. |
Now let's get to the list.
1. Badger Logistics / Fall River Express
Fall River, Wisconsin
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Best For: Midwest-based shippers seeking integrated logistics with personal service |
Badger Logistics offers partial truckload services through their Fall River Express brokerage division, with access to over 15,000 vetted carriers. What sets them apart is their integrated approach—combining their own asset-based trucking fleet, 210,000 square feet of food-grade warehousing, and brokerage services under one roof.
This means they can solve problems other brokers can't, like quickly warehousing a partial shipment that needs consolidation.
They specialize in dry van and flatbed partials with particularly strong coverage on routes from Wisconsin to the East Coast, Texas, and the Southeast. All carriers must have a minimum 12-month authority and pass rigorous safety vetting.
Best fit for shippers who:
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Are based in the Midwest or ship frequently into/out of Wisconsin and neighboring states.
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Run 4–20 pallet dry or flatbed shipments that often feel “too big for LTL, too small for full truckload.”
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Want one shop to handle trucking + warehousing + brokerage (e.g., food/CPG shippers needing short-term storage or consolidation).
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Value human support and consistency over a giant, anonymous national brokerage.
2. Echo Global Logistics
Chicago, Illinois
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Best For: High-volume shippers needing technology-driven solutions |
Echo is one of the largest partial truckload providers in North America, with relationships with over 6,000 partial carriers nationwide. They offer self-service quoting through their EchoShip platform and provide 24/7 support.
Echo handles dry van, temperature-controlled, and flatbed partials, plus cross-border service to Canada and Mexico. Their scale makes them a solid choice for shippers with consistent partial volume who value technology integration.
Their strength is scale + tech:
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Large sourcing team and national carrier network for partials.
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The EchoShip platform for online quoting, booking, and tracking.
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Multi-mode capabilities (LTL, FTL, PTL, intermodal, cross-border).
3. TQL (Total Quality Logistics)
Cincinnati, Ohio
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Best For: Shippers wanting dedicated partial expertise from a major broker |
TQL operates a dedicated Partials Department specifically for shipments occupying 12 to 40 feet of cargo space weighing less than 36,000 pounds.
They access over 110,000 evaluated truckload carriers and have built what they call the "TQL Partials Network" for consolidated shipments. They emphasize upfront pricing and tracking visibility comparable to full truckload service.
4. Coyote Logistics (UPS)
Chicago, Illinois
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Best For: Shippers who need predictive analytics and integration with UPS services |
Coyote is a major broker known for analytics-driven truckload and partial solutions. UPS acquired them in 2015, but in mid-2024 UPS announced a deal to sell Coyote to RXO, with a long-term capacity agreement between UPS and RXO running through 2030
They offer a marketplace covering everything from partial truckloads to intermodal transport. Their connection to UPS provides additional options for shippers who use multiple UPS services and want to consolidate their logistics relationships.
Best fit for shippers who:
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Ship nationwide partials and want predictive visibility (capacity, service issues, exceptions).
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Already work with UPS or RXO and want to consolidate more freight under a connected ecosystem.
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Have volatile demand or complex routing where forecasting and optimization matter.
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Are mid-size to large shippers that can benefit from Coyote’s scale and tech, not just spot moves.
5. R+L Global Logistics
Wilmington, Ohio
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Best For: Shippers needing specialty services alongside partial capacity |
R+L Global provides partial truckload services for both dry van and flatbed freight, backed by a network of over 22,000 carrier partners.
They also offer specialty truckload services for high-value freight, electronics, and even flammable goods. Their air-ride trucks can be valuable for damage-sensitive partial shipments.
6. C.H. Robinson
Eden Prairie, Minnesota
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Best For: Enterprise shippers needing global scale and advanced technology |
C.H. Robinson is one of the world's largest freight brokers, providing partial and volume LTL services alongside their massive truckload operation.
Their Navisphere platform offers visibility and analytics capabilities that appeal to larger shippers with complex supply chains.
They have the carrier network to handle virtually any lane and equipment type, though smaller shippers sometimes report feeling like a small fish in a very large pond.
7. Translogistics Inc. (TLI)
Hauppauge, New York
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Best For: Northeast-based shippers wanting both volume LTL and partial options |
TLI has operated for over 30 years, serving more than 450 shippers. They offer both partial truckload through truckload carriers and volume LTL rates through traditional LTL carriers, giving shippers flexibility to compare approaches.
Their TMS provides instant freight quotes and rate comparisons across both options.
8. FreightCenter
Palm Harbor, Florida
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Best For: Shippers who prefer online quoting and comparing multiple carriers |
FreightCenter operates as a freight marketplace, letting shippers compare partial truckload rates from multiple carriers through their online quote tool.
They position PTL as ideal for shipments between 5,000-20,000 pounds or more than six pallets. They also offer phone-based support for those who prefer speaking with freight experts rather than self-service booking.
9. PartnerShip
Cleveland, Ohio
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Best For: Association members and small businesses seeking vetted carriers |
FreightCenter operates as a freight marketplace, letting shippers compare partial truckload rates from multiple carriers through their online quote tool.
They position PTL as ideal for shipments between 5,000-20,000 pounds or more than six pallets. They also offer phone-based support for those who prefer speaking with freight experts rather than self-service booking.
10. Logistics Plus
Erie, Pennsylvania
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Best For: Shippers needing international capabilities alongside domestic partial service |
Logistics Plus coordinates daily with hundreds of shippers and thousands of carriers for both full and partial truckloads across North America. They offer dry van, flatbed, step deck, and refrigerated options.
Their broader logistics services include international freight forwarding, which can be valuable for shippers with both domestic and global needs who want to consolidate vendors.
How to choose the right partial truckload carrier for you
This list isn't a definitive ranking. The "best" partial truckload provider depends entirely on your specific situation. Here's what to consider:
- Your typical lanes: Regional carriers often outperform national brokers on specific corridors. A Wisconsin-based shipper sending freight to Texas might get better service from a Midwest specialist than a coastal mega-broker.
- Your service requirements: Need integrated warehousing? Personal communication? Self-service technology? Different providers excel at different things.
- Your volume: High-volume shippers may negotiate better rates with larger brokers. Smaller shippers often get better attention from regional specialists.
- Your freight type: Flatbed partials require different expertise than dry van. Temperature-controlled partials are rare and difficult to source—be wary of providers who promise them without specifics.
- Their carrier vetting: Ask how they screen carriers. Look for minimum authority requirements (12+ months), safety score thresholds, and insurance verification processes.
The bottom lineThe smartest approach is to get quotes from 2-3 providers for your specific shipments and evaluate not just price, but responsiveness, communication quality, and their willingness to explain how they vet carriers. A provider who takes an extra day to respond to your quote request will probably take an extra day to respond when something goes wrong with your shipment. |
Get a competitive rate quote for your partial truckload shipment
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.
