Too big for LTL.Not big enough for a full truck.
Partial truckload fills the gap — shared trailer capacity, truckload-style handling, and instant rates for freight between 12 and 32 linear feet.
Sweet spot
12–32 linear ft
Weight
Up to 30,000 lbs
Handling
No LTL terminals
Quote time
Under a minute
The mid-size freight mode
Shared trailer space without LTL terminal stops
Partial truckload — shared truckload, volume truckload — is built for shipments that have outgrown LTL but do not fill a 53-foot trailer. Your freight rides in dedicated trailer space on a truckload network, priced by the linear feet you occupy. Our quote engine uses the same size thresholds on every shipment, so the mode recommendation is consistent.
- Above 12 linear ft or 10,000 lbs — below 32 linear ft and 30,000 lbs
- Enclosed van and open-deck partial options nationwide
- Automated instant rates on qualifying lanes; desk support when you need it
Why shippers choose partial
Truckload handling at a fraction of the trailer
When LTL re-handling and freight-class surprises stop making sense, partial is often the better fit — without jumping to a dedicated full truck.
No LTL terminal cross-docks — your freight loads once and delivers direct, cutting transit time and damage risk.
Linear-foot pricing means you are not buying a full 53-footer when six pallets will do.
Palletized freight stays secured in trailer space instead of moving through multiple sort facilities.
Point-to-point moves on truckload networks typically beat LTL transit on the same lane.
Partial vs LTL vs full truckload
Same thresholds our quote wizard uses — pick the mode that matches your freight size and how much handling you can tolerate.
Common partial shipments
Freight that lives in the partial lane
If your shipment sounds like one of these, partial is worth quoting before you default to LTL or book a full truck you do not need.
- 6–14 pallets that exceed LTL size limits
- Retail store replenishment above 10,000 lbs
- Trade-show booths and exhibit freight
- Machinery and industrial equipment on open deck
- Seasonal inventory pushes that outgrow LTL
- Freight that needs faster transit without a full truck
Our platform calculates linear feet from your item dimensions, quantity, and stackability — the same logic in our linear feet calculator and the freight quote wizard.
Cross the 12-foot or 10,000-pound LTL ceiling and partial becomes the default recommendation. Cross 32 feet or 30,000 pounds and we route you to full truckload.
Quote with your dimensionsEquipment options
Enclosed and open-deck partial
Match equipment to your freight — the quote wizard selects the right trailer category from your dimensions and commodity.
LTL, partial, or truckload — one quote shows you which.
Enter dimensions once. We calculate linear feet, classify the load, and return shared-trailer partial rates when that is the sweet spot — not a full 53-footer, not an LTL terminal move.
Quote partial in one flow with LTL and truckload.
Enter dimensions once — we classify the load, return partial rates when eligible, and show truckload comparison when you are near a full trailer.
Speed
Instant partial quotes
Automated rates on qualifying lanes in under a minute — book online or loop in our desk.
Sizing
Linear feet calculator
Not sure if you are partial-sized? Convert dimensions to linear feet before you quote.
After you book
Customer Service
Your dedicated account manager coordinates pickup and delivery appointments, works with shipper and consignee locations on scheduling, and follows your partial from dispatch through final delivery.
What shippers say
Feedback from customers who move mid-size freight with us.
“Freight Sidekick is a great company!! Katie, the dispatcher, communicated the driver’s location throughout the trip from Los Angeles to…”
“Excellent prices, and good communication with the shipping company.”
“Thank you for your prompt response. Every company need a good sidekick.”
Partial truckload FAQs
Shared truckload terminology and sizing — answered before you quote.
Ready to quote partial truckload?
One shipment or recurring mid-size lanes — compare partial against LTL and full truckload in the same quote flow.