LTL carriers' profits depend upon their ability to fill all space on a truck. Large or bulky shipments prevent other shipments from being stacked on top or placed alongside, leaving empty, unpaid space. This premium on space means that lighter items cannot be priced on weight alone. If carriers charged less for a light shipment than for a comparably size heavier shipment, they would lose money.
When shipments are picked up from or delivered to less traveled areas, the truck will usually travel empty in one direction. Other shipments may require special equipment or services that take additional time and cause drivers to take less efficient routes.
There are a number of factors that determine the pricing of an LTL shipment:
