LTL shipping in Ontario
Ship a few pallets without paying for a whole trailer. Supreme Trux picks up palletized LTL freight in Ontario, delivers it across Canada and into the United States, and prices it by the space and weight your freight takes up.
What is LTL shipping?
LTL stands for less-than-truckload. Your freight shares a trailer with shipments from other companies, and each shipper pays only for the space and weight its pallets take up. The carrier collects freight from several shippers, sorts it at a terminal, and delivers each shipment to its own destination.
Because the truck makes several stops and the freight is handled at a terminal, LTL takes longer than a direct truck. In exchange, moving one pallet costs a fraction of what a dedicated trailer would.
When is LTL the right choice?
LTL usually fits when:
- You have about one to six pallets.
- The freight is on pallets or in crates that a forklift can move.
- The delivery date has a day or two of room.
- You ship regularly but never enough to fill a trailer.
LTL is the wrong tool in a few cases. A parcel courier is usually cheaper for a single box under about 150 lb. Once you reach ten or more pallets, compare the price against a full truckload. If a small shipment must arrive on a fixed day, a dedicated sprinter van avoids the terminal stops.
What affects the price of an LTL shipment?
Five things set an LTL price: how much the freight weighs, how much trailer space it takes, how far it travels, any extra services at pickup or delivery, and the fuel surcharge in effect that week. Accurate weight and dimensions matter most, because carriers re-measure freight and bill the difference.
| Service | What it is | You need it when |
|---|---|---|
| Liftgate (tailgate) | A platform on the back of the truck that lowers pallets to the ground | There is no loading dock or forklift at pickup or delivery |
| Residential delivery | Pickup or delivery at a home or a business run from one | The address is in a residential area |
| Appointment | Delivery booked for a set time window | The receiver only accepts scheduled deliveries |
| Inside delivery | The driver moves freight past the dock or front door | Nobody on site can bring the freight inside |
| Waiting time | A charge when the truck is held past the free loading time | Freight is not ready or the dock is backed up |
Tell us about any of these when you request the quote. Adding them later costs more than quoting them up front.
How to prepare a pallet for LTL
LTL freight is loaded and unloaded several times, so packing matters more than it does on a direct truck.
- Use a sound standard pallet. In North America that is 48 × 40 inches.
- Stack boxes in columns with the heaviest at the bottom, and keep everything inside the pallet edge.
- Stretch-wrap the load down onto the pallet so the boxes and the pallet move as one.
- Label every pallet on two sides with the receiver's name, address and phone number.
- Measure the finished pallet and weigh it. Give us the real numbers, including the pallet.
What we need to quote your LTL shipment
- Pickup and delivery postal codes
- Number of pallets, with the length, width, height and weight of each
- What the freight is, and whether it can be stacked
- The date it will be ready
- Dock or ground level at each end, and any delivery appointment
LTL freight FAQ
How many pallets can I ship LTL?
Most LTL shipments are between one and six pallets. There is no hard limit, but from around ten pallets a full truckload often costs the same or less and arrives sooner, because the trailer drives straight to the receiver. Ask us to price it both ways.
Can I ship a single pallet?
Yes. One pallet is a normal LTL shipment. Give us its size and weight and the two postal codes, and say whether either end needs a liftgate.
How long does LTL shipping take?
It depends on the lane. LTL freight is consolidated with other shipments and sorted at a terminal, so it takes longer than a truck that drives direct. Ask for the transit time on your lane when you request a quote, and tell us if there is a deadline so we can suggest a faster option.
Do I need to know my freight class?
Mostly for shipments into the United States, where LTL is priced by NMFC freight class. Since July 19, 2025 most freight is classed by density on a 13-step scale, so the class follows from the dimensions and weight. Either way, accurate measurements are what we need from you.
What is a bill of lading?
The bill of lading (BOL) is the shipping document the driver and shipper sign at pickup. It lists the shipper, the receiver, the number of pieces, the weight and a description of the freight. It is both the receipt for the goods and the contract for moving them.
Other ways to ship
Ready to ship a few pallets?
Send the details online or call dispatch at 647-677-0024.