Partial Freight Carrier

Expert partial shipping services for reliable and efficient transportation of your mid-sized freight. Join hundreds of shippers discovering a better alternative to traditional LTL.

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4-5 pallet minimum

4,000-5,000 lb minimum

Dry van, flatbed, and intermodal options

Modernize your shipping strategy—choose partial loads over traditional LTL

Traditional LTL often means higher costs, more handling, and increased risk of damage. You need a smarter solution that offers better value and reliability for your larger LTL shipments, especially for longer hauls.

We manage thousands of partial shipments each year for hundreds of customers across the U.S. and Canada. Talk to us when you need a more efficient alternative to LTL so you can focus on your core business.

Available for local, regional, and long-distance shipments

Local services within Wisconsin and neighboring states

Regional options throughout the Midwest, typically within 700 miles

Over-the-road services available for longer distances, ideal for cost savings on larger LTL alternatives

LTL vs. Partial Loads: choosing the right shipping solution

Traditional LTL shipping has long been the go-to option for smaller shipments. However, partial loads offer significant advantages for loads of 4-5 pallets/4,000-5,000 pounds or more, especially for longer hauls over 500 miles. Unlike LTL's hub-and-spoke system with multiple touchpoints, partial loads have fewer transfers, significantly reducing the risk of damage.

Take the guesswork out of cargo coverage when shipping partial vs. traditional LTL. Enjoy the benefits and peace of mind, understanding your order is shipping with full coverage rather than getting your decoder ring out to read the fine print in the LTL carrier’s Rule Tariff, resulting in pennies per pound.

Partial loads often move more directly to their destination, resulting in quicker deliveries compared to LTL, and utilize various equipment types, including dry van, flatbed, and intermodal options, offering more versatility than traditional LTL. Your freight isn't mixed with smaller LTL shipments, ensuring more focused handling and tracking.

Simplified pricing will allow you to understand exactly what your charges will be without worrying about LTL carriers’ rules, tariffs, classifications guides, lineal foot rules, cubic density pricing, etc.

Local, regional, and over-the-road service

Local

Intra-Wisconsin shipments and deliveries to just over neighboring states’ borders (e.g., Illinois, Minnesota) including Milwaukee, Chicago, Rockford, Madison, Green Bay, and Wausau. Typically within a 200-250 mile radius. Same-day or next-day delivery options.

Regional

Coverage throughout the Midwest at distances up to 700 miles from origin. Typically one-day transit time serving the states of Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, and North and South Dakota.

Over-the-Road

Long-haul shipment coverage extends across the continental United States and parts of Canada. Typical transit times of 2-3 days for long-distance hauls. Ideal for shipments over 700 miles and where partial shipping offers significant cost advantages.

map with circle around southern wisconsin

Partial shipping options

Dry van partials

Ideal for shipments of 4-5 pallets or 4,000-5,000 lbs that don't require a full truckload. Perfect for general freight and packaged goods.

Flatbed partials

Suitable for larger items or materials that require open-deck transportation but don't fill an entire flatbed and can be unloaded from the top, side as well as the rear.

Personalized service

Experienced account managers providing hands-on support
Updates on shipment status throughout the journey
Proactive communication and problem resolution
Transparent pricing and invoicing
Customized communication based on your preferences

Carefully vetted carrier network

Rigorous safety and compliance standards
Comprehensive insurance coverage up to $100,000 per shipment
Continuous performance monitoring
Utilization of multiple resources for FMCSA score verification

Flexible integration with your operations

Seamless coordination with your existing processes
Scalable solutions for varying volume needs
Options for regular shipments or project-based needs
Integration with warehousing services when required

Technology-supported, people-driven approach

McLeod TMS and Samsara integrated for dispatch, routing, and tracking of our own trucks
Personalized communication tailored to your needs
Experienced team making informed carrier selection decisions
Customizable shipping instructions for consistency

Join hundreds of satisfied shippers

Badger is certainly a carrier that we can trust to be there on time, and if there is something that they find that doesn't seem right, they will reach out. They're much more transparent than a lot of other carriers: willing to share their struggles, willing to listen to ours, and just be a good partner.

— BM, Wisconsin-Based Contract Furniture Company

Success story

Solving multi-state shipping challenges for Charter NEX Films

Charter NEX Films needed to solve complex logistics challenges while meeting rigorous delivery standards for their food-grade packaging films. When demand surged during the pandemic, they partnered with Badger Logistics for specialized transportation and warehousing. The results: consistently on-time deliveries, near-zero product damage, thousands in annual savings from reduced detention times, and warehouse turnaround times under 30 minutes—all using our dedicated food-grade trailers and strategic consolidation services.

Read the full success story

Our partial shipping service bridges the gap between traditional LTL and full truckload, offering a more efficient solution for mid-sized shipments. We've seen customers significantly reduce their shipping costs and improve transit times by switching from LTL to our partial load service, especially for longer hauls over 500 miles. It's not just about moving freight; it's about providing a smarter, more cost-effective logistics solution tailored to each client's specific needs."

Drew Kirkman

Director of Brokerage Operations and Sales

Badger Logistics

FAQs

What's the minimum size for a partial shipment?

Our partial shipping service is ideal for shipments of 4-5 pallets or 4,000-5,000 lbs and up. If your shipment is smaller, traditional LTL might be more suitable.

Why is partial shipping a better alternative to traditional LTL?

While LTL remains suitable for smaller shipments, partial loads bridge the gap between LTL and full truckload, offering a more efficient solution for mid-sized freight. By choosing partial loads for shipments of 4-5+ pallets or 4,000 - 5,000+ lbs, especially for longer distances, shippers can optimize their logistics, create added protection, reduce costs, and improve transit times while minimizing the risk of freight damage.

What types of shipments can you handle?

We offer partial shipping solutions for dry van and flatbed.

Is partial shipping available for long-distance routes?

Absolutely. We offer partial shipping services across the lower 48 states and Canada, including long-distance routes where the cost savings can be significant compared to LTL.

Talk to us

Drop us a line for information about our transportation services or to get a competitive rate quote. We’ll be in touch within one business day.

Have a freight project? Get a rate quote Prefer to call? (920) 484-5920

Optimize your less-than-truckload shipments with cost-effective partial-load shipping