Partial flatbed load sharing a trailer with other freight

Quickway Transports

Partial Truckload and LTL Flatbed Shipping

Name: Quickway Transports
Address: 1271 West Main St, Riverhead, NY, 11901, US
Telephone: +1 (631) 898-4248

Pay for the deck space your freight uses on a flatbed or step deck, in all 48 states

Quick answer

What is a partial load?

A partial load is freight that fills only part of a 48 or 53 ft flatbed or step deck. It shares the trailer with other freight going the same way, and the price is based on the deck space, the weight and the lane instead of the whole truck. An oversized partial can still move this way once the carrier has the permit it needs.

Updated November 2026 by the Quickway Transports broker team (FMCSA MC# 1245224).

Partial Loads

Paying for part of a flatbed

Open-deck freight rarely fills a trailer exactly. A bundle of pipe, a crated machine or a few steel beams might use 10 to 20 ft of a 48 ft deck, and paying for the whole truck makes little sense. Shipping it as a partial puts it on a carrier already running that lane with room to spare.

Partials are priced by the deck length and weight they take, the lane, and how easily the carrier can fit them with other freight. Oversized partials can still share a trailer once the carrier has the permit. We book the carrier and confirm the deck space, securement and any tarps your freight needs.

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FMCSA Licensed

Broker MC# 1245224

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Deck feet and weight

What you pay for

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Flatbed or step deck

Shared with other freight

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Free Quotes

Commercial shippers

Partial vs LTL

Partial truckload vs LTL vs full truckload

Three ways to ship freight that does not fill a trailer, or does.

	LTL	Partial truckload	Full truckload
How it is priced	Freight class and weight	Deck space, weight and lane	The whole truck
Handling	Moves through terminals, unloaded and reloaded	Usually stays on one truck	One shipper, one truck
Best for	Small palletized freight	Larger or open-deck freight	Freight that fills the deck

Freight

Freight That Ships Well as a Partial

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Steel & Building Materials

Beams, plate, rebar bundles, structural steel and building materials that ship open-deck but do not fill a trailer.

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Machinery & Equipment

Single machines, crated equipment and attachments that need flatbed or step deck space without a dedicated truck.

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Pipe, Tube & Bar Stock

Pipe, tubing and bar stock in partial quantities, combined with compatible open-deck freight.

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Palletized & Crated Freight

Heavy palletized or crated freight too tall, heavy or awkward for standard LTL that belongs on an open deck.

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Oversized Partial Loads

Freight that is over-width or over-length but does not fill a trailer. We coordinate any oversize permit the partial needs, and the price covers only your share of the deck.

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Attachments & Components

Buckets, booms, blades and equipment components that ride along with other freight on the same lane.

FAQ

Partial Truckload Questions

How is partial truckload different from LTL?

LTL carriers price small shipments by freight class and weight and move them through terminals, where they are unloaded and reloaded. A partial load is usually larger, priced by the space and weight it uses, and stays on one truck from pickup to delivery. Open-deck freight that will not fit standard LTL is a natural partial.

How much does partial load flatbed shipping cost?

Less than a full truck on the same lane, because you pay for the deck feet and weight you use. The price also depends on how easily the carrier can fill the rest of the deck, so flexible pickup dates help. Tarps, extra stops and oversize permits add to the rate.

Can you ship oversized freight as a partial load?

Yes. Over-width and over-length partials can ride on flatbed and step deck trailers once the carrier has the permit the route requires. Fewer carriers can combine an oversized piece with other freight, so allow a little more time to book, and you still pay only for the part of the deck you use.

What freight ships best as a partial?

Freight that is open-deck but short: steel beams and plate, pipe and tube bundles, crated or skidded machines, attachments such as buckets and blades, and building materials. It should be ready to load by forklift or crane, with its weight, dimensions and any tarp needs known before booking.

How do I get a partial load shipping quote?

Send what you are shipping, its length, width, height and weight, how it is packaged, and both addresses with your pickup window. Flexible dates usually lower the price, because the carrier can fit your freight with other loads on the lane.

Sources

We last checked the figures above against these official sources in November 2026. Before each move, the carrier's permit service confirms the rules in force that day.

Get a Quote

Get a Partial Load Shipping Quote

Free partial load quote

Tell us what you're shipping and we'll consolidate it on the right flatbed or step-deck, arrange any permits, and coordinate the carrier. You pay only for the space you use. Free quote, all 48 states.

Do you have any questions?

Call us today at

+1 (631) 898-4248