Every day, LTL carriers face the logistical dilemma of having to create transportation routes that will allow them to be profitable but will still get packages delivered swiftly. To do so, LTL carriers typically operate through a hub system. An LTL carrier picks up packages from multiple customers, transports these items to a local terminal, and then consolidates goods traveling the same route onto the same truck.

Although most carriers will accept your shipment for delivery, not every LTL firm will handle your shipment from beginning to end. Many LTL carriers only serve specific geographic regions to increase the chance of conveying full loads. If a shipment is sent to a location outside a carrier's normal service area, the trucking company will arrange to transfer the shipment from the edge of its service area to another LTL for final delivery. This practice is called interlining.

There are a number of trucks that are used for LTL shipping. Smaller shipments are typically conveyed in up to 26-foot long covered trucks, with covered trailers used for larger shipments. Oversized shipments that won't fit in either design can be shipped on flatbed trucks.