Shipping Time Calculator
Estimate truckload, LTL, and small-transport transit from origin to destination.
Turn your estimate into a freight quote
Compare multi-carrier LTL and truckload quotes in minutes — no account required to start.
Driving distance is calculated from your origin and destination. Truckload applies federal HOS limits to those miles; LTL uses average service days from similar lane history when available; small transport uses vehicle-specific speed and daily driving caps. Pickup and delivery facility hours (default Mon–Fri 8 AM–5 PM) and optional date windows adjust when pickup and delivery can occur.
Transport Details
Locations
Pickup Details
Delivery Details
Driver
How the Shipping Time Calculator works
- Choose your transport type — Truckload, LTL, or Small Transport — and the trailer or vehicle type.
- Enter origin and destination by address or city and state.
- Set shipping and receiving hours and optional ship/delivery date windows — defaults to Mon–Fri 8 AM–5 PM if unchanged.
- Add the driver's location (optional, truckload and small transport only): enter departure time, click Calculate next to Pickup ETA, then run the main transit calculation.
- Click Calculate Transit Time to see driving distance, total transit hours, earliest pickup, estimated delivery, and whether pickup and delivery fall within your hours and date windows.
What it accounts for that mileage alone doesn't
Most online estimators divide distance by a single average speed. This tool works differently by mode: truckload applies federal HOS limits to driving miles so long hauls span multiple days; LTL pulls average service days from similar shipments on nearby lanes when our history has matches; small transport uses vehicle-specific speed and daily driving caps. At both ends, pickup and delivery are checked against facility hours (default Mon–Fri 8 AM–5 PM) and any date windows you set — so a load that would reach a dock after closing rolls to the next open window.
Transit time FAQs
How does the Shipping Time Calculator estimate transit time?
It starts with driving miles between your origin and destination. For truckload, it applies federal Hours of Service (HOS) limits to those miles, then adjusts pickup and delivery for facility hours. For LTL, it uses the average service days from similar historical shipments on nearby lanes when records exist (otherwise a one-day fallback). For small transport, it divides miles by vehicle-specific speed and daily driving caps. Facility hours default to Mon–Fri 8 AM–5 PM unless you change them.
Does it account for Hours of Service (HOS) regulations?
For truckload, yes — the estimate models daily driving limits and required rest instead of assuming around-the-clock driving. Small transport uses a simplified per-vehicle daily driving cap, not full federal HOS. LTL transit time comes from historical average service days, not HOS math.
What's the difference between the Truckload, LTL, and Small Transport estimates?
Truckload is point-to-point with HOS applied to driving miles. LTL uses average service days from similar shipments in our lane history (shown when records are found), not a terminal-by-terminal route model. Small transport (box truck, sprinter van, cargo van, pickup) uses faster average speeds and higher daily driving caps suited to local and regional runs.
Why do pickup and receiving hours affect the estimate?
Freight can only be picked up or delivered while a facility is open. If a truck would arrive after hours, the estimate rolls to the next open window. Set each location's hours in the tool, or leave the default Mon–Fri 8 AM–5 PM. Optional ship/delivery date ranges also affect whether pickup and delivery are flagged in window.
Can it tell me when a driver will arrive at the pickup?
For truckload and small transport (not LTL), enter the driver's current location and departure time, then click Calculate next to Pickup ETA. That pickup time is used when you run Calculate Transit Time. The pickup ETA uses estimated drive time from the driver to the origin.
Does trailer type affect the transit estimate?
For truckload and LTL, you can select dry van, reefer, flatbed, step deck, or other, but trailer type does not currently change the transit math — distance and mode drive the result. For small transport, vehicle type (box truck, sprinter van, cargo van, pickup) does affect speed and daily driving assumptions.
How accurate are the transit estimates?
They're planning estimates. Real-world transit can shift with traffic, weather, appointment scheduling, terminal handling (LTL), and carrier availability. Use the result to set expectations, then confirm firm dates when you book.
Is the Shipping Time Calculator free?
Yes — it's free to use and requires no account.
Related freight tools
- Route Planner — map and optimize the multi-stop drive.
- State Mileage Breakdown — miles by state for IRP and trip planning.
- Truckload Calculator — how many trucks your shipment needs.
- Get a freight quote — book the shipment once you know the timing.