Partial Truckload Shipping for Mid-Size Freight
Partial truckload (PTL) is the mode most shippers skip, then overpay for. If your freight is too big for a clean LTL rate and too small to fill a 53-foot trailer, you are in PTL territory. That is usually about 6 to 18 pallets, or roughly 5,000 to 25,000 pounds. Linear feet from a few feet up to the high 40s can still price as a partial, depending on the lane, the cube, and what else is moving that day.
Xavier Logistics is a freight broker, not an asset carrier. We don't own the trucks. Connor Maciag founded the company in 2022. We book carriers as an agent of Freight Tec Management Group Inc (MC-147619, USDOT 179548). Connor handles dry van, partials, and expedited. Nick Cox, Director of Operations, covers reefer and has more than 20 years in transportation. Sibel Demiralp coordinates order entry, tracking, and carrier follow-up. We quote lanes across the United States and Canada, with the most density in the Midwest and on the West Coast.
WHEN PARTIAL TRUCKLOAD IS THE RIGHT CALL
Use LTL freight when you have a few pallets, flexible transit, and a freight class that does not inflate the rate. LTL moves through terminals. Freight is handled more than once. That is fine for sturdy, stackable product that can wait.
Use PTL when LTL class, density, or cube makes the quote look like a truckload anyway. Use it when you want fewer touches, or when you need tighter transit than a multi-terminal LTL route. A partial typically rides with one or two other shippers. Fewer stops. Less cross-docking. Lower damage risk than a long LTL itinerary.
Use full truckload when you can fill most of the trailer, you need exclusive use, the freight cannot be co-loaded, or the appointment window is tight enough that extra stops become a liability.
A dedicated truck is simpler. It is also the most expensive way to move eight pallets across the country.
If you are not sure, send the specs. We will price more than one mode. That comparison is the point of working with a broker instead of calling a single carrier.
For a longer mode primer, read What Is PTL Shipping? A Complete Guide to Partial Truckload Freight.
HOW A PARTIAL ACTUALLY MOVES
You send origin, destination, piece count, weight, dimensions, whether it stacks, commodity, pickup date, and any appointment rules. We match that to a carrier with open space on a compatible lane. Pickup is scheduled. The trailer may already have freight on it, or yours may load first. In transit there are fewer stops than LTL. Delivery is typically direct to the consignee, not through an LTL terminal network.
Equipment is not limited to dry van. We book partials on dry van, reefer, box truck, and flatbed when the freight calls for it. Reefer partials go through Nick. Dry van and expedited partials go through Connor. If the better answer is volume LTL or a full truck, we will say so instead of forcing a partial.
What usually kills a PTL quote after the fact is missing accessorials. Liftgate, inside pickup or delivery, residential, limited-access, driver assist, and appointment windows all change the rate and the carrier pool. Put them on the first email.
TRACKING, COVERAGE, AND WHO DOES WHAT
Every load we book can be tracked. We use MacroPoint GPS so you are not waiting on a driver to answer the phone. Sibel traces trucks and keeps status current. Support is 24/7. If a pickup slips or a receiver changes the window, you talk to someone on our team.
Cargo coverage is listed on our shippers page at $100k, with the option to add extra for high-value freight. If your commodity sits above that, ask before we book so coverage matches the load. We are not the motor carrier. The carrier on the load has its own cargo policy. Understand both before the truck is dispatched.
On our about page we list SmartWay, Jets.com, Priority1 for LTL, MacroPoint GPS, and Schneider Intermodal. Those partners matter on mixed-mode accounts: a partial today, LTL next week, intermodal when the lane and transit fit. They are how we keep options open instead of forcing every shipment onto one product.
Cathy, Logistics Coordinator at RPP Containers, wrote: "Thank you for making my job a little easier. Very glad that we've been able to establish a good relationship and grateful for your excellent service. You've been a great resource for me as well as others at RPP." That is the standard. Price the mode that fits. Track it. Pick up the phone when something changes.
HOW TO GET A PTL QUOTE
Email cmaciag@freight-tec.com or call 513-259-3505. Include pickup city and state (or province), delivery city and state (or province), pallet or piece count, weight, dimensions, commodity, and the date you need it picked up. Note stackable or not. Note liftgate, inside, residential, or appointment if any of those apply.
We will come back with a rate and a mode recommendation, including if LTL or a full truck is the cheaper honest answer. If you ship the same lane often, say so. Repeating freight is easier to plan and usually prices cleaner than a one-off.
FAQs
Q1. What is partial truckload (PTL) shipping?
PTL is a shared-trailer move with far fewer stops than LTL. You pay for the space your freight uses, typically about 6 to 18 pallets or 5,000 to 25,000 pounds, instead of buying the whole 53-foot trailer.
Q2. When is PTL a better choice than LTL or full truckload?
Choose PTL when LTL class or cube makes the rate climb, or when you want fewer terminal touches and faster transit than a multi-stop LTL route. Choose full truckload when you need exclusive use or the trailer is mostly full.
Q3. Does Xavier Logistics own the trucks?
No. Xavier Logistics LLC is a freight broker, not an asset carrier. We book motor carriers as an agent of Freight Tec Management Group Inc (MC-147619, USDOT 179548).
Q4. How do I get a partial truckload quote?
Email cmaciag@freight-tec.com or call 513-259-3505 with origin, destination, pieces, weight, dimensions, commodity, and pickup date. Include accessorials such as liftgate or appointments.