Transportation, Freight & Distribution worked example

LTL vs FTL Cost Comparison at 72% share of freight in this scenario: a worked example

Here is what the math looks like when conditions slip. We hold every other input steady and drop share of freight in this scenario to 72%, then walk the calculation through step by step. Build a side-by-side planning cost for LTL or truckload moves by combining shipment count, rate per shipment, chargeable share, and fixed accessorials.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Number of LTL shipments or FTL loads: 6 moves (held at the documented default)
  • Freight rate per shipment or load: 420 $ / move (held at the documented default)
  • Share of freight in this scenario: 72 % (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 100)
  • Accessorials, minimums, and fees: 250 $ (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Variable ltl vs ftl cost comparison = shipments or loads × rate per move × scenario share.
  • Total ltl vs ftl cost comparison works out to 2,064 $ at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Cost per shipment or load works out to 344 $ / unit at these inputs.
  • Variable ltl vs ftl cost comparison works out to 1,814 $ at these inputs.
  • Fixed charges works out to 250 $ at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where share of freight in this scenario sits at 100% and the headline result is 2,770 $, this scenario comes in 25.47% below the baseline at 2,064 $.
  • The practical read: the gap between this scenario and the baseline is entirely attributable to share of freight in this scenario, so recovering it is worth quantifying in dollars before considering equipment or staffing changes. It models one scenario per run; to truly compare LTL and FTL you build each separately, and it doesn't auto-optimize transit time or capacity.

Results at a glance

  • Total ltl vs ftl cost comparison: 2,064 $ (headline result)
  • Cost per shipment or load: 344 $ / unit
  • Variable ltl vs ftl cost comparison: 1,814 $
  • Fixed charges: 250 $

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live LTL vs FTL Cost Comparison calculator, set share of freight in this scenario to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.