LTL Freight Rates in Canada: What a Pallet Costs to Ship
A standard pallet shipped LTL from Montreal to Toronto typically costs $140–$290; a local delivery within Quebec, $85–$180. Those are all-in prices with fuel included, for one standard 48 × 40 inch pallet, before add-ons like tailgate (liftgate) or residential delivery. Every other lane on Truxweb is quoted live by the carriers that run it. The exact number for your shipment takes about a minute to get.
Last reviewed
Typical LTL rates by lane
All-in, fuel included, one standard pallet, standard commercial pickup and delivery. Rates reviewed September 2026.
| Lane | Typical range, one pallet | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Local delivery within Quebec | $85–$180 | LTL shipping Canada |
| Montreal to Quebec City | Quoted live | Montreal to Quebec City |
| Montreal to Ottawa | Quoted live | LTL shipping Canada |
| Montreal to Toronto and the GTA | $140–$290 | Montreal to Toronto |
| Quebec to Ontario, other cities | Quoted live | LTL shipping Canada |
| Quebec to New Brunswick or Nova Scotia | Quoted live | Quebec to Atlantic Canada |
| Quebec to PEI or Newfoundland | Quoted live | Quebec to Atlantic Canada |
| Quebec to Manitoba or Saskatchewan | Quoted live | Quebec to Western Canada |
| Quebec to Alberta or BC | Quoted live | Quebec to Western Canada |
| Canada to Pennsylvania | Quoted live | Canada to Pennsylvania |
| Canada to New England | Quoted live | Canada to New England |
| Canada to California | Quoted live | Canada to California |
Cross-border ranges exclude duties and brokerage, which your customs broker bills separately.
What sets the price
- Distance and lane. The base rate follows the kilometres, but busy lanes where carriers run full (Montreal–Quebec City, Montreal–Toronto) price lower per kilometre than thin ones.
- Weight. Heavier pallets cost more, in weight bands rather than per pound.
- Dimensions. Carriers convert your pallet's cubic volume into a minimum billable weight. A light, tall pallet is billed as if it were heavier. This is the number most often wrong on a quote.
- Pallet count. Two pallets do not cost twice one pallet; the per-pallet rate falls as the count rises.
- Fuel surcharge. A percentage the carrier adjusts as diesel prices move. Truxweb quotes include it.
- Add-ons. Tailgate, residential, inside delivery, appointment windows and limited-access sites each add a flat charge. See the table below.
- Timing. Same-day pickup and expedited transit cost more than booking a day ahead.
Freight class does not apply in Canada
US carriers price on freight class, a density-based system that assigns every commodity a number from 50 to 500. Canadian carriers price on dimensional weight: measure the pallet, weigh it, and the rate follows. Carriers on Truxweb quote the Canadian way on every lane, including cross-border, so you never need to look up a class. More on this on the cross-border page.
Add-on charges to know about
| Add-on | When it applies |
|---|---|
| Tailgate | Pickup or delivery at a site without a loading dock |
| Residential delivery | Delivery to a home or a business in a residential zone |
| Inside delivery | Freight carried past the door or dock |
| Appointment delivery | Receiver requires a booked time window |
| Limited access | Schools, construction sites, farms, military bases, storage units |
| Re-delivery | Receiver not available at first attempt |
| Wait time | Driver held beyond the free loading or unloading period |
| Re-weigh or re-measure adjustment | Declared weight or dimensions differ from what the carrier measures at the terminal |
Each carrier sets its own add-on charges. Select the add-ons you need when you quote and they are included in the all-in price.
How to bring your LTL rate down
- Measure and weigh before you quote. A re-measure at the terminal is the most common reason an invoice differs from a quote.
- Ship on standard pallets. 48 × 40 inches, stacked under 72 inches, stretch-wrapped. Odd sizes are billed as more space.
- Book a day ahead. Same-day pickups cost more.
- Consolidate. Two pallets to the same receiver on one booking beat two bookings.
- Choose dock-to-dock. Tailgate and residential charges are avoidable when both ends have a dock.
- Compare every carrier on the lane. On a marketplace, the lowest all-in price is on the screen; you are not relying on one carrier's tariff.
- Take the intermodal option on long lanes when a day or two of transit does not matter.
How to get an exact rate
Enter pickup and delivery postal codes, pallet count, weight and dimensions, and the add-ons you need. Every carrier that serves the lane quotes in about a minute, with transit time and rating. The price you book is the price on the invoice, unless the freight measures differently at the terminal.
Frequently asked questions
01How much does LTL freight shipping cost in Canada?
For one standard pallet: Montreal to Toronto, $140–$290; a local delivery within Quebec, $85–$180. All-in, fuel included, before add-ons. Every other lane is quoted live; enter your shipment for an exact number.
02How much does it cost to ship a pallet from Montreal to Toronto?
Most single standard pallets fall in $140–$290. See Montreal to Toronto.
03What is a fuel surcharge?
A percentage carriers add to the base rate to track diesel prices. It changes as fuel moves. Truxweb quotes include it, so the all-in price is the price.
04Why is my invoice different from my quote?
Almost always because the carrier measured or weighed the freight differently at the terminal than what was entered at booking, or an add-on was needed at delivery that was not selected. Accurate dimensions at booking prevent it.
05Is LTL cheaper than a full truckload?
For one to roughly ten pallets, yes. Above that, or when the per-pallet LTL rate approaches the truckload rate, a dedicated truck is cheaper and faster. Truxweb quotes both.
06How do I get discounted LTL rates?
On a marketplace, the discount is built in: every carrier on the lane quotes against the others. Beyond that, accurate dimensions, standard pallets, dock-to-dock delivery and booking a day ahead each lower the price.
07Do LTL rates change through the year?
Yes. Fuel surcharge moves with diesel, and capacity tightens in peak seasons and around holidays. The bands on this page were reviewed in September 2026.
Get an exact LTL rate in about a minute.
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