How partial loads are priced
A partial (also called a volume LTL shipment) shares the trailer with other freight. Instead of paying for the whole truck, the shipper pays for the part it uses. Carriers measure that two ways and bill on whichever is bigger:
Space share = linear feet used ÷ trailer length
Weight share = weight ÷ max legal payload
Billed share = the larger of the two
Quote = full truckload rate × miles × billed share
× (1 + partial premium) + extra stops + out-of-route miles
Example: 18 feet of a 53-foot van is 34% of the space. 14,000 lbs of a 44,000 lb payload is 32% of the weight. The billed share is 34%. At $3.01 a mile for 620 miles, the straight share of the linehaul is about $634. A 15% premium, one extra stop and 25 out-of-route miles bring the quote to about $879.
Why add a partial premium?
A partial costs you more than its share of the miles. You make an extra pickup or drop, you may wait at two docks, and you take the risk that the rest of the trailer stays empty. Most carriers price partials 10–25% above a straight share. Go higher when the freight is awkward to load around, and lower when you already have freight booked on the same lane.
Partial vs LTL vs full truckload
| Type | Typical size | How it moves |
|---|---|---|
| LTL | 1–6 pallets, under about 5,000 lbs | Through terminals, many handlings, priced by freight class |
| Partial / volume LTL | About 6–18 pallets, 5,000–27,000 lbs | Stays on one truck, priced by space and weight |
| Full truckload | Most or all of the trailer | One shipper, priced by the mile |
Default full truckload rate: DAT national dry van spot average for September 2026, including fuel ($3.01/mi). Use your own lane rate when you have it. Sizes are typical ranges, not rules.
When a partial makes sense
- It fills open space on a load you already have going the same way.
- It gets you out of a weak market with less deadhead. See how to reduce deadhead miles.
- Two partials together pay more than one full load on that lane.
Common questions
How do you calculate a partial truckload rate?
Take the full truckload rate for the lane, multiply by the miles, then by the share of the trailer the freight uses (space or weight, whichever is bigger). Add a premium for the extra handling and any stop charges.
What is a partial load in trucking?
Freight that is too big for normal LTL but doesn't fill a trailer, usually about 6 to 18 pallets or 5,000 to 27,000 lbs. It shares the truck with other freight and is priced by the space and weight it takes.
Is a partial load worth it for an owner-operator?
Often, when it fills empty space on a load you already have or saves deadhead. Make sure the extra stop and wait time are paid, and check the total pay against your cost per mile.