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Freight modes · Shared truckload

Shared truckload for shipments too big for LTL and too small for a full trailer

Mid-size shipments are where many CPG brands overpay. Ship them as LTL and you pay class-based rates and extra handling. Book a full truckload and you pay for floor space you don’t use. Shared truckload, partial truckload and volume LTL sit in between.

We find the shipments that fit in that middle ground, compare the options lane by lane, then contact carriers and negotiate the terms on your behalf. Dry van and reefer.

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  • 20+Years in logistics
  • $1B+Freight managed
  • IndependentNot a broker or carrier
  • No upfront feesPaid only from savings verified on your invoices

Who it’s for

Built for US CPG food and beverage brands with $1M+ in annual freight spend that send mid-size orders to distributors, retail DCs and co-packers.

  • Distributor ordersMid-size orders that are often too big for standard LTL pricing but too small for a truck of their own.
  • Retail DC deliveriesOrders with appointment windows, where less handling and steadier transit help on-time performance.
  • Fragile or high-value productGlass bottles, wine, beverages and premium foods that suffer from terminal transfers.
  • Reefer shippersChilled product that needs temperature control but doesn’t fill a reefer trailer. Shared reefer options are narrower, so we check what’s available on your lanes.

Where mid-size shipment costs leak

  • Paying LTL class rates on big shipmentsLarge shipments priced through standard LTL tariffs, with class, density and reweigh exposure, when a space-based quote would cost less.
  • Paying for a whole trailerBooking a full truckload for freight that fills only part of the trailer. The U.S. EPA’s SmartWay program notes that partially loaded trucks increase overall fuel use and shipping costs (source: EPA SmartWay).
  • Handling and damageLTL terminal transfers on mid-size shipments add touches, transit variation and damage claims.
  • Linear feet and stackabilityPartial and volume quotes are often based on the floor space your pallets take up. Pallets that can’t stack take more of it.
  • Quotes with no benchmarkVolume LTL and partial quotes are priced shipment by shipment, so overpaying is easy to miss without a market comparison.
  • Compatibility and pickup windowsSharing a trailer means matching food safety, temperature and odor needs, and sometimes wider pickup and delivery windows.

How we lower your shared truckload costs

Shared truckload works when the right shipments go into it and the price reflects the space you use. These are the levers from our 10 that matter most here.

See all 10 savings levers →

Industry guidance

What SmartWay recommends for shared and partial loads

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 shared and partial loads, and what it means for your freight bill.

  • Co-load to fill the trailerAccording to SmartWay’s load optimization fact sheet, co-loading strategies with other companies can reduce costs and fuel use by 20 percent or more, and consolidating loads across companies, including empty backhaul capacity, has the potential to cut costs by 30 percent or more (source: EPA SmartWay).
  • Mix heavy and light freightThe same fact sheet describes a tile maker that co-loaded lighter freight from other shippers on top of its heavy pallets and cut transportation costs by up to 15 percent per load (source: EPA SmartWay). Heavy beverages and light snacks are a natural version of that mix.
  • Don’t pay to move airSmartWay’s carrier data explains that a near-empty truck can look efficient per mile while doing very little work per ton-mile: “you are getting good mpg, but not getting much work done” (source: EPA SmartWay). Shared truckload exists so you pay for the space you actually use.
  • Use your logistics partnersEPA’s goal setting guide suggests working with logistics providers to explore mode shifting, enhanced routing, load sharing and backhauling (source: EPA SmartWay).

Maximizer Team is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. EPA. Full list of sources below.

When to switch modes

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 thisConsider
Shipments of a few pallets, flexible on timingStandard LTL
Shipments that fill most of a trailer, or several stops in one regionFull truckload, possibly multi-stop
Mid-size shipments with damage or transit problems in LTLShared or partial truckload, which stays on one truck
Mid-size shipments where price matters more than handlingVolume LTL, quoted by space through the LTL network

See how we compare them in our freight modes guide and our mode optimization lever.

Invoices · Review · Negotiate · Verify

How it works

  1. Send 12 months of invoicesFreight invoices and rate files for this mode and the rest of your freight. We sign an NDA where needed.
  2. Get a 14-day written reviewA free written freight savings review of your biggest opportunities, ranked by size and effort.
  3. We negotiate with your carriersWe contact your carriers and contractors and negotiate on your behalf. We don’t haul or book freight or take carrier commissions.
  4. Verify savings on your invoicesEvery month we check paid invoices against the baseline. Savings count only once they show up on your invoices.
See how it works in detail → Read a client case study →

FAQ

Shared truckload FAQ

More answers on our FAQ page

What is shared truckload?

Your freight shares a full-size trailer with one or a few other shipments, but stays on the same truck from pickup to delivery instead of moving through LTL terminals. It’s usually priced by the space and lane, not freight class.

What is the difference between volume LTL and partial truckload?

Volume LTL is a large LTL shipment quoted by space or as a block, but it still moves through the LTL terminal network. Partial or shared truckload stays on one truck, with less handling and usually steadier transit.

Is shared truckload safe for food products?

It can be, as long as the freight it shares the trailer with is compatible for food safety, temperature and odor. We check those requirements as part of choosing the mode.

Will shared truckload slow down deliveries?

Not necessarily. It often has fewer handoffs than LTL, but pickup and delivery windows can be wider. We match the option to your delivery requirements and retailer appointments.

What do you need to review our mid-size shipments?

12 months of freight invoices, including LTL and truckload. We sign an NDA where needed, and you get a free written review in 14 days.

Freight modes

Other freight modes

Freight modeFull truckload (FTL)Pay for the whole trailer, so fill it and price it right. Rates, fuel tables, detention and load planning.See full truckload savings →Freight modeLTL (less-than-truckload)A few pallets on a shared trailer. Freight class and density, reweighs, reclasses and accessorial fees.See LTL savings →Freight modeIntermodalRail for the long haul, truck at each end. Long lanes, transit tradeoffs and drayage costs.See intermodal savings →Freight modeParcelCartons through UPS, FedEx and other parcel networks. Dimensional weight, surcharges, discount tiers and contract terms.See parcel savings →GuideCompare all freight modesSide-by-side: how each mode is priced, the main cost risks and the best fit for CPG.Freight modes guide →

Find out which shipments belong in shared truckload

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.

Get my free freight reviewBook a call
No upfront fees. Paid only from savings verified on your invoices. NDA available. Or call 707-292-9754

Sources

  1. Learn about SmartWay. U.S. EPA SmartWay program, web page. Checked October 25, 2026.
  2. Load Optimization for Shippers. U.S. EPA SmartWay fact sheet EPA-420-F-19-014, March 2019. Checked October 25, 2026.
  3. Overview of Shipper Strategies. U.S. EPA SmartWay fact sheet EPA-420-F-19-011. Checked October 25, 2026.
  4. SmartWay carrier performance data (spreadsheet, “Start Here” tab). U.S. EPA SmartWay program, data year 2025. Checked October 25, 2026.
  5. A Goal Setting Guide for SmartWay Shippers. U.S. EPA SmartWay guide EPA-420-B-21-026. Checked October 25, 2026.

Maximizer 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.