Freight modes · LTL (less-than-truckload)
LTL lets you ship a few pallets without paying for a whole trailer. But your LTL freight costs depend on more than the quote: freight class, density, reweighs, reclasses and a long list of accessorial fees can push the bill up after the freight has moved.
We review 12 months of your LTL invoices, find the charges that shouldn’t be there, then contact your carriers and negotiate better discounts and terms on your behalf. Dry van and reefer.
Built for US CPG food and beverage brands with $1M+ in annual freight spend that ship a few pallets at a time to distributors, retailers, co-packers and specialty stores.
LTL savings come from getting the paperwork right, pricing it right and moving the freight that has outgrown LTL into something better. These are the levers from our 10 that matter most for LTL.
Industry guidance
According to the U.S. EPA, SmartWay is a voluntary public-private program, launched in 2004, that “helps companies identify and select more efficient freight carriers, service providers, transport modes, equipment, and operational strategies to improve supply chain sustainability and lower costs from goods movement” (source: EPA SmartWay). Here is what its shipper guidance says about less-than-truckload freight, and what it means for your freight bill.
Maximizer Team is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. EPA. Full list of sources below.
The right answer is rarely one mode for everything. We choose lane by lane and order by order, based on cost per case, delivery requirements and how the product needs to travel.
| If you see this | Consider |
|---|---|
| Shipments regularly take up a large part of a trailer | Shared truckload or volume LTL, priced by space instead of class |
| Several LTL shipments to one region each week | A multi-stop full truckload or pool distribution |
| Very small, light orders of a few cartons | Parcel, when it costs less all-in |
| Fragile or high-value freight with frequent damage | Shared truckload or truckload, which stay on one truck and cut handling |
See how we compare them in our freight modes guide and our mode optimization lever.
Invoices · Review · Negotiate · Verify
Most often because of a reweigh or reclass, or accessorial fees added after delivery. We check those charges against your bills of lading and your carrier agreement, and dispute the ones that don’t hold up.
Density is the weight of a handling unit divided by its cubic feet. Under the NMFC changes that took effect in July 2025, density is now the main factor for many more items. Accurate dimensions and weights, and denser pallets, help keep class and cost down.
Yes. Reefer LTL has fewer carrier options, so pricing and consolidation matter even more. We review your reefer LTL rates and look at where shipments could be combined or moved to another mode.
Not unless it helps you. We start by negotiating with your current carriers on your behalf. If another carrier or mode fits better on some lanes, we show you the numbers and you decide.
12 months of freight invoices, plus your LTL agreements and rate files if you have them. We sign an NDA where needed, and you get a free written review in 14 days.
Freight modes
Start with a short intro call. Then send us 12 months of freight invoices. In 14 days you’ll get a free written review of your biggest savings opportunities. Built for shippers with $1M+ in annual freight spend.
No upfront fees. Paid only from savings verified on your invoices. NDA available. Or call 707-292-9754Maximizer Team is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. EPA. References to SmartWay describe public U.S. EPA guidance only; they are not a claim of partnership, certification or endorsement.