Why LTL Shipping Costs Can Be High Even for Lightweight Orders

It’s a question we hear all the time: “Why does it cost so much to ship something that isn’t even heavy?” Freight charges can seem unreasonable—so much so that many customers turn to Amazon to avoid them. But the truth is, shipping is never free. It’s just hidden in the price.

Lightweight orders can still rack up high freight costs. And once you move beyond parcel carriers like UPS or FedEx into freight territory—especially Less Than Truckload (LTL)—weight is only part of the equation.

So yes, your lightweight order might cost more than you'd expect—not because of its weight, but because of the pallet space it occupies, the handling it requires, and the behind-the-scenes logistics involved.

Shipping: deceptively complicated since... forever.

Who Determines LTL Rates?

The National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc. (NMFTA) is a nonprofit membership organization. It is the world’s leading organization representing the interests of less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers. The association’s membership is comprised of motor carriers operating in interstate, intrastate, and foreign commerce.

NMFTA provides critical services to the industry in the form of classification standards, identification codes, digital operation standards, and support for cybersecurity within the industry.

The National Motor Freight Classification (NFMC) System

Through the NMFC book and its digital companion ClassIT, the classification system gives shippers a clear and standard method by which to classify items for shipping. The NMFC system accounts for density, handling, stowability, and liability in assigning classification numbers, which are then applied by carriers to determine shipping rates.

The NMFC system provides shippers with simple formulas to apply the above information and determine the classification for each item being shipped. The system saves time and money because carriers know the item’s classification is based on well-established industry standards, thus allowing them to confidently and accurately determine rates.

Freight Classification: How It Works

ClassIT is the digital tool that supports the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) system, a standard used to classify commodities moving in interstate, intrastate, and foreign commerce. Commodities are grouped into one of 18 classes—from Class 50 (least expensive) to Class 500 (most expensive)—based solely on four transportation characteristics: density, stowability, handling, and liability. These factors determine a product's transportability.

ClassIT uses these characteristics to assign an official freight class. Shippers cannot arbitrarily choose a class to lower costs. For example, if ClassIT assigns a product to Class 250, it cannot be labeled Class 50. Carriers are required to spot-check shipments to ensure they're correctly classified. Misreporting can result in reclassification charges and penalties.

Understanding Freight Classes and Shipping Costs

Freight class is the system used to determine LTL shipping rates. The ClassIT tool assigns each product a class based on four criteria: density, stowability, handling, and liability.

Shippers can't choose a class arbitrarily—if ClassIT says it's Class 250, claiming it's Class 50 won’t fly. Carriers regularly inspect shipments to verify correct classification. Misclassification leads to reclassing fees and penalties.

Class Breakdown:

• Class 50: Least expensive. Dense, low-value, easy-to-stack items like bricks, sand, or nuts and bolts.
  

• Class 500: Most expensive. High-value or lightweight items that take up a lot of space, like ping pong balls, antiques, or gold bars.
  

Most freight falls between those extremes, depending on the four key factors. For example, a carton of ping pong balls weighs little but is hard to stack, fragile, and needs special care—so it ends up costing more.

Reducing LTL Shipping Costs: What Else Affects Your Rate

Freight class is locked in by NMFTA standards, but many additional factors can increase your LTL shipping cost. Here’s what to watch for:

• Lift Gate Requirements If the delivery site doesn’t have a dock or forklift and the shipment weighs over 70 lbs., a lift gate will be required—usually adding $50 or more to the total.
  

• Residential Deliveries A business run from a residential address is still considered “residential” if public records say so. These deliveries often need smaller trucks or extra handling—adding to the cost.
  

• Limited Access Locations Locations like alleys, rural roads, or small parking lots may be labeled “limited access” if a truck can’t turn, park, or unload easily—triggering extra fees.
  

• Construction Sites, Shopping Centers, Schools, and Universities These locations often involve delays—finding the right contact, navigating traffic, or restricted access. Carriers charge more for the added time and coordination.
  

• Secured or Gated Facilities (e.g., Jails, Military Bases) Gated and secure sites often require driver check-ins, ID verification, or even vehicle searches—all of which take time and increase cost.
  

• Inside Deliveries If a truck must enter the building or deliver beyond the curb, that’s inside delivery—and it adds to driver time and cost.
  

• Appointment or Pre-Delivery Call Requests Scheduled delivery windows or calls before drop-off require extra planning and manual coordination—carriers charge for that time.
  

Tips to Avoid Extra LTL Fees

• Don’t Accept Services You Didn’t Request If you didn’t ask for inside delivery, lift gate service, or any add-on, don’t accept it or sign for it on the delivery slip. You could be billed for it later.
  

• Always Check the Bill of Lading Before signing for a shipment, review the Bill of Lading. Make sure there are no unexpected charges or services listed that you didn’t request or receive.
  

Keep Shipping Simple—and Avoid Extra Costs

The easiest way to avoid unexpected charges? Ship to a business location with dock or forklift access—and no delivery restrictions. Be honest when describing the destination. If a school or residence is marked as a business, it can lead to extra fees, redelivery charges, or delays.

It’s the customer’s responsibility to accurately report the delivery location and any special requirements at the time of ordering. Incomplete or incorrect info leads to added costs—and frustration for everyone.

Shipping might not be glamorous, but with accurate details and a little planning, it doesn’t have to be expensive.

When you order from LadderPort, you’re not just getting high-quality, OSHA-compliant roof access products—you’re getting a team that takes delivery seriously. From hardware to handling, we make sure everything shows up the right way, on time, and ready to work.Whether you're ordering a LadderPort Ladder Receiver, the Cranky Portable Winch, or any of our OSHA-compliant roof safety products, we’ll help you get what you need—safely, quickly, and with no surprises.

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Sources: Content based on standards and classifications from the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) and its digital tool, ClassIT.