Short answer
Linehaul is the movement of freight between two cities or terminals, the long middle leg of a shipment. In truckload pricing, the linehaul rate is the base charge for moving the load from origin to destination, before fuel surcharge and accessorial charges. In LTL, linehaul is the terminal-to-terminal run between local pickup and delivery.
Why linehaul matters
Linehaul is the number most freight negotiation happens around. Shippers compare it across quotes, carriers price their trucks on it, and a broker’s gross margin is usually the gap between the linehaul billed to the customer and the linehaul paid to the carrier.
The word shows up in two settings, and they mean slightly different things.
Linehaul in truckload
On a full truckload, one truck runs from shipper to receiver. The linehaul rate is the base rate for that run, quoted as a flat amount or per mile. Fuel surcharge and extras like detention or a lumper fee are billed on top.
Linehaul in LTL networks
An LTL shipment is picked up by a local driver, taken to a terminal, then moved on a linehaul trailer to a terminal near the receiver. City drivers handle pickup and delivery. Linehaul drivers run the miles between terminals, often overnight.
All-in rate vs linehaul plus fuel
An all-in rate bundles linehaul and fuel into one number. A linehaul-plus-fuel rate lists them separately, with fuel usually tied to a diesel price index such as the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s weekly diesel price. When diesel moves, the fuel line moves and the linehaul stays put.
Example: linehaul on a 700-mile dry van load
| Line item | Billed to shipper | Paid to carrier |
|---|---|---|
| Linehaul (700 miles) | $1,960 ($2.80 per mile) | $1,680 ($2.40 per mile) |
| Fuel surcharge | $385 ($0.55 per mile) | $385 ($0.55 per mile) |
| Total | $2,345 | $2,065 |
| Broker gross margin | $280 (about 11.9% of billed) |
Illustrative numbers only, not market rates. Fuel is passed through at the same amount in this example.
Common linehaul mistakes
- Comparing an all-in quote to a linehaul-only quote. Put both on the same basis before choosing a carrier.
- Quoting per mile without agreeing on the mileage source. A 700-mile lane in one routing tool can be 740 in another. That’s $96 at $2.40 a mile.
- Ignoring the empty miles to pickup. Carriers price deadhead miles into the linehaul even when they don’t list them.
- Promising transit times hours of service can’t support. Under FMCSA hours of service rules, a property-carrying driver can drive up to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty. A 1,200-mile lane isn’t a next-day delivery for a solo driver.
- Leaving the rate basis off the paperwork. Write linehaul and fuel as separate lines, or mark the rate all-in, on the rate confirmation.