You don’t always need the whole truck. But you do always need a broker who knows how to fill one — and how to get your freight on the right carrier at the right price without the back-and-forth that slows everything down.
Aries Freight Systems is a Chicago-based LTL freight broker connecting shippers to vetted less-than-truckload carriers across the US. Whether you’re moving 1 pallet or 10, our team shops your shipment across our carrier network, handles the freight class and documentation, and keeps your load moving — with real-time tracking from pickup to delivery.
No freight class surprises. No reweigh fee ambushes. No terminal runaround. Just competitive LTL rates and a team that picks up the phone when something needs sorting.
WHAT IS LTL SHIPPING?
Less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping is a freight mode for shipments that don’t fill an entire trailer. Instead of booking a dedicated truck, your freight shares trailer space with other shippers’ cargo — and you only pay for the space you use.
LTL is the right move when:
- Your shipment is between 1 and 10 pallets or under 15,000 lbs
- You ship regularly but don't have enough volume for a full truckload every time
- You need competitive per-pallet pricing without the commitment of dedicated capacity
- Your freight can handle a multi-stop network and standard transit windows
- You want to ship nationwide without building your own carrier relationships
The trade-off: LTL freight moves through a hub-and-spoke terminal network, which means more handling points and slightly longer transit times than a direct full truckload. That’s why choosing the right LTL broker matters — the wrong carrier match or misclassified freight class can turn a routine shipment into a billing dispute.
→ Shipment too big for LTL? See our Partial Truckload (PTL) services
LTL Services We Cover
Our LTL carrier network spans national, regional, and specialized carriers — so we match your shipment to the right service level, not just the cheapest lane:
Standard LTL
Competitive rates for 1–10 pallet shipments moving through established carrier networks. Best for non-urgent freight with standard transit windows. We handle NMFC classification, documentation, and carrier selection — you just hand us the load.
Expedited LTL
When the standard transit window doesn’t work, our expedited LTL options put your freight on priority lanes with faster pickup and accelerated delivery. Same LTL economics — tighter timelines.
Volume LTL
Shipments between 6–12 pallets often fall into the gap between LTL pricing and PTL efficiency. Volume LTL gives you better rates than standard LTL for larger loads — without committing to a full truck. A smart cost move for regular high-pallet shippers.
Specialized LTL
Liftgate pickup or delivery, residential addresses, inside delivery, hazmat handling, and high-value cargo — our LTL network covers the accessorial requirements that standard carriers push back on.
Need temperature-controlled LTL? See our Reefer services →
Industries We Serve
Our LTL freight solutions move product for businesses across every major shipping vertical:
Retail & E-Commerce
Manufacturing & Industrial
Food & Beverage
Healthcare & Medical Supplies
Auto Parts & Aftermarket
Electronics & Technology
Consumer Goods & Packaged Products
Building Materials & Hardware
If your freight fits in a shared trailer and needs to move across the US, we have the carrier for it.
Why Aries for LTL Freight
LTL looks simple until something goes wrong — a reweigh dispute, a terminal delay, a damaged pallet with no accountability. At Aries, we vet every carrier in our LTL network and stay on your load from the moment it’s booked to the moment it’s delivered.
- ✓
100,000+ vetted carriers including regional and national LTL specialists across every US lane - ✓
Freight class expertise — we classify correctly the first time so you don’t get hit with reweigh fees - ✓
Real-time tracking and proactive updates — you know where your freight is, always - ✓
24/7 dispatch — a real person answers at any hour, not a chatbot or ticket queue - ✓
99.9% claims-free delivery rate — carrier vetting means fewer damaged and lost loads - ✓
Competitive rates from a broad carrier network — we shop the lane, not just the default carrier - ✓
Chicago HQ — central to Midwest manufacturing, distribution, and retail freight corridors
Connecting LTL freight to or from a port? See our Drayage services →
LTL Freight — Frequently Asked Questions
An LTL freight broker connects shippers with less-than-truckload carriers, handling carrier selection, freight classification, documentation, and tracking. A good LTL broker saves you time and money by shopping your lane across multiple carriers — and ensures your freight is classified correctly to avoid reweigh fees and billing disputes at delivery.
Ready to Move Your LTL Freight?
Get a quote from Aries Freight Systems — Chicago’s LTL freight specialists with 100,000+ vetted carriers, 24/7 dispatch, and competitive rates across every US lane.
Get a Free QuoteOr call us 24/7 — a real person always answers.
