How to calculate linear feet for shipping and choose the right freight service?
Why is it important to know how many linear feet your cargo occupies in the trailer?
It is important to calculate the linear feet of your shipment because this measure will determine the freight transportation costs and the most convenient freight mode for you in terms of costs and time.
What are linear feet and how are they used in freight transportation?
A linear foot is equal to a foot. There is not a math formula needed to calculate linear feet.
The important thing to know is which one of the pallet measurements is the one used in freight to calculate the total linear feet a shipment occupies in a trailer. And here is the answer:
Pallets have three measurements: Length, Width and Height. The linear feet calculation is always based on the pallet’s length.
In freight, for Less Than Truckload Services and Partial Truckload Services, quotes are based on the total linear feet the shipment occupies, among other factors.
Choosing the right freight transportation mode based on your shipment size
Shipments that occupy 12 linear feet
There are two freight transportation modes available for shipments up to 12 linear feet. One option is the Less Than Truckload Service and the other option is the Partial Truckload.
For shipments up to 12 linear feet, the LTL option is more affordable, while the Partial Truckload is faster.
Example:
For a shipment of 6 pallets going from Troy Michigan to Laredo TX.
LTL service
Cost: $1200 USD
Transit times: 6 days
Partial Truckload Service
Cost: $1600 USD
Transit times: 4 days
As you can see, if your shipment occupies less than 12 feet and your priority is affordability, the Less Than Truckload service is the most convenient option for you.
If your shipment occupies less than 12 linear feet and your priority is the speed, the Partial Truckload service is the right choice.
Learn more about the differences between the freight shipping services in our blog post here.
Shipments that occupy between 12 to 30 linear feet
There are two freight transportation modes available for shipments up to 30 linear feet. One option is the Partial Truckload and the other option is the Full Truckload.
The most affordable option to transport shipments that occupy up to 30 linear feet of trailer space is the Partial Truckload Option.
The fastest option to transport shipments that occupy up to 30 linear feet of trailer space is the Full Truckload.
Let’s continue with the same example.
For a shipment of 6 pallets going from Troy Michigan to Laredo TX.
Partial Truckload Service
Cost: $1600 USD
Transit times: 4 days
Full Truckload Service
Cost: $2700 USD
Transit times: 3 days
Shipments of more than 30 linear feet
The only option for shipments that use more than 30 linear feet of trailer space is the Full Truckload.
Full Truckload services are often offered in 53-48ft DryVans or Flatbeds.
If the shipment is larger or higher than the legal dimensions, then an Oversized Freight Shipping Service is required.
