Is Co-Loading Right for Your Freight? Understanding Shipment Size and Timing

TL;DR: Co-loading is a shared-capacity method that pairs your mid-size pallets with compatible freight on a planned, low-touch route. It often delivers steadier transit and better rates for ~3–8 pallets with a flexible window and DC appointments. At Sunset Pacific Transportation, we apply co-loading with the right mode (standard or volume LTL, PTL, or STL) so you keep cost efficiency without giving up service.

Moving mid-size freight is tricky: too small for a full truck, too big or too delicate to ride cheaply on LTL without oversight.

Co-loading gives you the perfect in-between option. By pairing your pallets with compatible freight moving the same direction, you pay only for the space you use while shipping on a more direct, low-touch route. That can mean steadier transit and cleaner deliveries into distribution centers without buying a whole trailer.

The catch? Fit matters. Factors like shipment size, density, and timing determine whether your total landed cost is worth it.

In this guide, you’ll learn what co-loading is, how to read the size and timing signals, and if it’s right for you. We’ll cover quick rules of thumb, side-by-side comparisons, and a simple checklist so you can choose the option that makes sense for you.

What is Co-Loading?

Co-loading consolidates freight from different shippers into one truck to make shipping more efficient and cut costs. You pay only for the capacity you use, not an entire trailer. Because the route is planned as a direct or low-touch linehaul, you get fewer transfers than a traditional multi-terminal network, often with faster, steadier transit. As a routing and planning approach, it can be used for LTL, volume LTL, PTL, or STL when the shipment profile and timing fit.

Is Co-Loading Right for My Freight?

Follow these quick checks:

How much are you shipping?

If you’re sending about 3–8 pallets, co-loading is often a good fit.

How big is it? Can pallets stack?

• Good co-loading size: Standard 40″×48″ pallets at about 60–72″ tall each work well.
• Stackable is ideal: If a second pallet can safely sit on top, you’ll share space more efficiently and usually get a better rate.
• Non-stack works with a heads-up: We can still co-load non-stack freight, just expect fewer pairings and sometimes higher cost.
• Watch for outliers: Very long pieces, very light/bulky items, or odd shapes may fit best as volume LTL or PTL.

What’s your timing?

A 1–3 day delivery window makes co-loading easier and often cheaper. If the date is rigid, we can still plan it. Just tell us early.

Any delivery rules?

Share appointments, receiver hours, and site needs like liftgate or limited access. We’ll plan for them.

Compare options side by side.

Ask for quotes on co-loading, LTL, and volume LTL (and PTL/STL if you’re in between). Choose the lowest total cost that still hits your date.

Pro Tip: Measure after wrapping and banding. An extra inch can change the price and how your freight fits on the truck.

Shipment Size & Timing Signals

Use these simple size-and-timing cues to see when co-loading is the best fit:

• 3–8 pallets with a 1–3 day window: Co-loading usually offers the best value for shared space, more direct routing, and built-in appointments.
• Long or light (low-density) items and a flexible date: Co-loading and volume LTL often beat standard LTL on both price and handling (think rolled rugs, displays, long cartons).
• Using ~half a trailer (often 10–14 pallets): Get a partial truckload quote alongside a co-loaded plan.

Quick note on stackability: Stackable pallets make co-loading easier and cheaper but non-stack is fine. Just expect fewer pairing options and sometimes a higher rate.

What to Expect: Co-Loading for LTL-Sized Freight

When it fits: Mid-size pallet shipments (often 3–8 pallets) with a 1–3 day delivery window.

How it’s priced: You pay for shared space on a planned, mostly direct route.

Handling: Low-touch linehaul with fewer breaks than complex terminal paths.

Timing: Often steadier and faster than multi-stop networks, with appointments worked in.

Bottom line: If you’re beyond the “1–4 compact pallets” sweet spot—or you want fewer touches—co-loading is usually the better value. For one or two small pallets where cost is everything, standard LTL often stays cheapest.

Co-Loading for Volume LTL

Use co-loading to strengthen volume LTL when your shipment is bigger than standard LTL but not a full truckload. You’re quoted on space (linear feet) and weight, then paired with compatible freight on a mostly direct, low-touch route. That combination keeps cost in line and reduces handling.

Good fit: ~5–10 pallets, long or low-density pieces, or non-stack that starts to eat trailer space.

Timing: A 1–3 day window helps planners build the shared linehaul; appointments are still baked in.

Why it helps: Space-based pricing + co-loading’s direct routing often beats class-rated LTL on both price and damage risk.

Bottom line: If you’re nearing half a trailer or tripping linear-foot/capacity rules, ask for a volume LTL quote with a co-loaded plan.

Co-Loading for Shared Truckload and Partial Truckload

Co-loading is used with shared truckload (STL) and partial truckload (PTL) by filling unused space with compatible freight going in the same direction.

STL: Best when speed matters most. Co-loading builds a fast, straight route with very few breaks.

PTL: Useful for larger, awkward, or non-stack loads; co-loading fills remaining space with compatible freight so you don’t overpay.

When to use: Firm dates, heavy/long items, or frequent 8–14 pallet moves where standard LTL stops penciling out.

Rule of thumb: If you need truckload handling without the full price, co-loaded STL/PTL is the middle path.

Co-Loading for Specialized Freight

Some freight needs extra care, such as high-value, delicate, temperature-sensitive, or regulated items. Co-loading can still work for specialized freight if it’s planned around those requirements and appropriately routed.

What we plan for: Packaging standards, temperature or securement notes, appointment delivery, and any paperwork or labels receivers require.

When it fits: Palletized, well-protected shipments that can safely ride with compatible cargo on a direct linehaul.

When to adjust: Extreme lengths, unusual shapes, or strict chain-of-custody may be better on co-loaded STL/PTL or a dedicated run.

Bottom line: Tell us the constraints up front. We’ll design a co-loading plan or recommend STL/PTL, so you keep cost efficiency without giving up the controls your freight needs.

Pricing & Cost Factors for Co-Loading Freight

• Size and cube: More pallets or bigger footprint uses more of the trailer and affects your share.
• Distance and lane balance: Some origin-destination pairs price better because the route is heavily traveled.
• Timing flexibility: A window (versus a hard deadline) gives the planner options and usually lowers cost.
• Handling needs: Appointments, liftgate, residential/inside delivery, and special packaging add time and resources.
• Seasonality and fuel: Peak demand tightens capacity; fuel surcharges move with the market.

Co-Loading Services

Here’s what’s built into Sunset Pacific Transportation’s co-loading services:

• Appointment scheduling & DC compliance: We book the timeslot and follow routing-guide rules so deliveries are accepted the first time.
• Smart routes: Fewer transfers mean less chance of damage and more predictable transit.
• Real-time tracking: See status from pickup to delivery and download proof of delivery when it lands.
• Accessorials: Liftgate, residential/limited access, inside delivery, and call-ahead/notify are planned up front.
• Clean paperwork: BOL and required references (PO/ASN/site notes) are set correctly and match what’s on the pallets.

Planning & Preparing

Start by measuring every pallet to the farthest point, including the pallet, wrap, and any overhang. Record the true weight and note whether pallets can stack so pricing and planning stay accurate.

Share your timing and receiver rules up front. Give pickup/delivery windows, dock hours, any site limits, and the routing-guide references (PO/ASN) we’ll need to book the slot.

Make the BOL match what’s on the floor—same pallet count, dimensions, and weight. Label every pallet with the consignee and your reference numbers.

Pack for a smooth ride: sturdy pallets, banding, tight wrap, and edge protection. Brace tall or fragile stacks and mark “do not stack” if they can’t take weight.

Secure delivery details early. Lock the DC appointment or set residential/liftgate service ahead of time to avoid refusals and re-delivery.

Ask for side-by-side quotes: Co-loading, LTL, and volume LTL (add PTL/STL if you’re near the crossover). Choose the lowest landed cost that still meets your date.

Industry Snapshots

For appliances, co-loading works well for palletized units going to distributors or DCs. If the pieces are oversized or the deadline is firm (new store opening, recovery order), you might need STL or full truckload.

For CPG, steady pallets of case-packed goods are a natural fit for co-loading, keeping costs down and schedules smooth. During promotions or seasonal spikes when volumes jump or windows tighten, you can always switch to FTL.

For home furnishings and lighting, small or mid-size shipments travel well with fewer transfers and planned residential or limited-access stops.

Get a Co-Loading Quote

If you’re ready to explore how co-loading can transform your freight operations, get a co-loading quote from Sunset Pacific Transportation.

Share pickup/delivery ZIPs, pallet count, dimensions, weight, and your target window. We’ll return co-loading freight options side-by-side with LTL, volume LTL, PTL, and STL, and recommend the lowest landed cost that meets your date.

FAQs

Is “co- shipping” the same as co-loading?

Yes. People use variations like co-shipping, co-loading, or “shared truck space.” The concept is the same: share capacity, pay only for what you use, and plan timing so compatible freight rides together on a low-touch route.

Is co-loading right for my freight?

If you’re shipping more than a couple pallets, don’t need the whole trailer, and can give a modest delivery window—yes. Co-loading pairs your freight with compatible loads going the same way, so you share cost while keeping delivery appointments and tracking.

How many pallets work best for co-loading?

There’s no magic number, but a common sweet spot is around 3–8 pallets. What really matters is the overall “footprint”: how much room your freight takes up and how easily it fits with other shipments on the route. Compact, stackable pallets are easiest to match; long or very light pieces can still work, they just need a bit more planning.

What affects co-loading rates the most?

The size of your shipment (how much space it needs), where it’s going (some lanes have more matching freight), how flexible your timing is (a small window gives planners more options and usually lowers cost), and what the delivery requires (appointments, liftgate, residential/inside delivery). Season and fuel matter too. Busy periods tighten capacity and can nudge prices up.