Linehaul

Linehaul refers to the long-distance movement of freight between two major points in a transportation network. It is the trunk segment of a shipment’s journey, covering the miles between an origin hub and a destination hub. Linehaul does not include the local pickup at the shipper’s dock or the final delivery to the receiver’s door. Those are handled by separate pickup and delivery (P&D) operations. The linehaul is the middle portion: the highway miles, the rail movement, or the air segment that covers the greatest distance.

Linehaul in LTL Freight

In the Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) world, linehaul is the most significant cost component. An LTL shipment follows a specific path: a local P&D driver picks up the freight from the shipper and brings it to the origin terminal. At the origin terminal, the freight is consolidated with other shipments heading in the same direction and loaded onto a linehaul trailer. That trailer travels to the destination terminal (or through one or more break-bulk terminals if no direct lane exists). At the destination terminal, the freight is deconsolidated and loaded onto a local P&D truck for final delivery.

LTL carriers price linehaul based on freight class, weight, distance, and density. A 500-pound shipment of Class 70 goods (metal parts, for example) traveling 800 miles might generate a linehaul charge of $350 to $500 before accessorial fees. The same shipment traveling 200 miles might cost $150 to $250. Linehaul rates per mile decrease as distance increases because the fixed costs of terminal handling are spread over more miles.

Linehaul in Truckload Freight

For full truckload (FTL) shipments, linehaul encompasses the entire truck movement from pickup to delivery since there are no terminal operations involved. The driver loads at the shipper’s dock and drives directly to the receiver’s dock. Truckload linehaul rates are quoted per mile, typically ranging from $2.00 to $3.50 per mile for dry van freight depending on market conditions, fuel costs, and lane availability.

A truckload shipment from Long Beach to Dallas (approximately 1,400 miles) at $2.50 per mile generates a linehaul cost of $3,500. Fuel surcharges, which fluctuate with diesel prices, add 15% to 30% on top of the base linehaul rate. Detention charges, lumper fees, and other accessorials are separate from the linehaul charge.

Linehaul in Parcel Shipping

UPS, FedEx, and USPS do not itemize linehaul as a separate charge on parcel invoices, but it exists in their cost structure. When a parcel moves from a local sorting facility to a regional hub to a destination sort facility, the long-distance movement between hubs is the linehaul. Zone-based pricing in parcel shipping is essentially a proxy for linehaul distance: higher zones mean more linehaul miles, which means higher rates.

Factors Affecting Linehaul Cost

Distance is the primary driver. More miles equals higher cost, though the per-mile rate often decreases on longer hauls.

Lane density matters significantly. High-traffic lanes (Los Angeles to Chicago, for example) have more carrier capacity and more competitive rates than low-density lanes (rural Montana to South Florida). Backhaul availability also affects pricing. A lane with balanced freight flows in both directions costs less than a lane where trucks run full in one direction and empty on the return.

Fuel costs directly influence linehaul pricing. The Department of Energy’s weekly diesel price report serves as the benchmark for most fuel surcharge calculations. A $0.50 increase in diesel prices can add $200 to $350 to the cost of a cross-country truckload movement.

Seasonality pushes linehaul rates up during peak demand periods. Produce season (spring and early summer), retail peak season (September through December), and holiday weeks create capacity shortages that drive spot market linehaul rates 20% to 50% above contract levels.

For FBA sellers shipping inventory from prep centers to fulfillment centers, linehaul cost is embedded in the carrier rates quoted for inbound shipments. Whether using Amazon’s partnered carrier program or independent freight providers, the linehaul distance between the prep center and the assigned fulfillment center is the primary factor in the shipping cost. Prep centers with multiple locations, like MeisterPrep’s facilities in Long Beach, Des Plaines, Houston, and Charleston, can reduce linehaul distances by shipping from the location closest to the target fulfillment center.