What is the linear foot rule in LTL shipping?

It's a pricing rule many LTL carriers apply when a shipment occupies a large share of trailer length without much weight behind it. Instead of billing strictly by freight class and actual weight, the carrier bills for the floor space itself — commonly a minimum of around 1,000 lb per linear foot — once the shipment crosses roughly 10 linear feet.

At how many linear feet does the rule kick in?

There's no single industry-wide number — it varies by carrier and tariff — but 10 linear feet is the most commonly cited trigger point for a standard 48ft or 53ft trailer. Some carriers use different thresholds, so it's worth confirming with your specific carrier for shipments near that range.

How do I calculate linear feet for my shipment?

Measure each pallet's length in inches, check whether two can fit side by side across the trailer's ~102in width (and whether they can be stacked or doubled), then divide total pallets by pallets-per-row to get rows needed. Multiply rows by pallet length in feet for your total linear footage.

Can I reduce my linear footage to avoid the rule?

Yes — the biggest lever is doubling up pallets side by side instead of running them single-file, which can cut your linear footage in half. Stacking stackable freight, using standard 48×40in pallets instead of oversized ones, and consolidating partial pallets also help.

Does the linear foot rule apply to full truckload (FTL) shipments?

No. FTL shipments already occupy the entire trailer and are priced per mile or per load, not by floor space. The linear foot rule is specific to LTL, where a carrier needs to protect the value of the remaining trailer space it's selling to other shippers on the same run.

Is the linear foot rule the same as freight class?

No, they're separate mechanisms that can both apply to the same shipment. Freight class prices based on density, stowability, handling, and liability. The linear foot rule is a floor-space check that can override the class-based rate when a shipment's footprint is disproportionate to its weight — see our freight class calculator for the density side of the equation.

Linear Foot Rule Calculator — LTL Excess Length & Billable Weight

What Is the Linear Foot Rule — and Why It Can Cost More Than Your Freight Class

The linear foot rule (sometimes called the excess length rule) is how LTL carriers protect themselves against shipments that take up a lot of trailer floor space without weighing much. A standard van trailer is only so long — every linear foot your freight occupies is a linear foot the carrier can't sell to another shipper on that run.

Most carriers apply some version of this rule once a shipment crosses roughly 10 linear feet of a 48ft or 53ft trailer: instead of billing purely by weight and freight class, they charge for the space itself — often a minimum of around 1,000 lb per linear foot, whichever is higher than your actual weight. Light, bulky, non-stackable freight is the classic trigger.

What drives your linear footage

Pallet footprint

A standard 48×40in GMA pallet takes up 4 linear feet if loaded lengthwise, or less if turned — footprint and orientation both matter.

Doubling up

Trailers are ~102in (8.5ft) wide. Two pallets side by side share the same linear footage as one — if they fit and can be doubled.

Stackability

Freight that can't be stacked or doubled burns floor space fastest. Fragile, tall, or irregular pallets are the usual culprits.

Density

Low weight for the space occupied is what actually triggers the rule — the same footprint at higher density often bills normally by class.

How to calculate linear feet

Linear feet per row = Pallet length (in) ÷ 12

Rows needed = Total pallets ÷ pallets per row (1 or 2, depending on width and stackability)

Multiply rows by linear feet per row to get total linear footage. Two pallets side by side (each ≤51in wide) count as one row — this is the single biggest lever for reducing your billed linear feet.

What happens if the rule applies?

When your shipment exceeds the carrier's linear foot threshold, they typically re-bill using a per-linear-foot rate or a minimum weight floor (e.g., 1,000 lb per linear foot) instead of your declared class and weight — whichever produces the higher charge. This can add substantially to the quoted rate, especially for light, non-stackable pallets. Exact thresholds and per-foot rates vary by carrier and tariff, so always check with your carrier for shipments near 10+ linear feet.

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Linear Foot Rule Calculator