North Carolina Intrastate LTL Freight Rates
Real LTL costs, transit times and carriers within North Carolina, drawn from 231 shipments Armstrong Transport Group arranged from September 2025 – August 2026. Use it to budget, then get a live quote across 50+ carriers.
What LTL shipping costs within North Carolina
These are the all-in rates Armstrong customers actually paid within North Carolina from September 2025 – August 2026, including fuel and any accessorials. The range is the middle 50% of shipments in each weight bracket, so a quarter paid less and a quarter paid more, mostly because of freight class, accessorials and timing.
| Shipment weight | Typical range | Median | Shipments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 500 lb | $175 – $360 | $240 | 62 |
| 500–999 lb | $240 – $2,515 | $1,720 | 57 |
| 1,000–2,499 lb | $180 – $2,660 | $1,825 | 81 |
| 2,500–4,999 lb | $200 – $1,585 | $335 | 26 |
Historical rates, rounded to $5, shown for budgeting only. They aren’t a quote: your price depends on exact ZIPs, freight class, pickup date and accessorials. See national pallet shipping costs for comparison.
Transit time and carriers within North Carolina
The median LTL shipment within North Carolina delivered in 1 business day after pickup, and 80% arrived within 2 business days (based on 220 delivered shipments). Standard LTL transit is an estimate, not a promise; if a delivery date matters, ask for a guaranteed service. More on how LTL transit times work.
No single carrier wins every shipment. Southeastern Freight Lines, AAA Cooper Transportation and ABF Freight moved 65% of the freight we arranged within North Carolina; the rest went to R+L Carriers and Estes Express Lines and other national and regional carriers, depending on which one priced each shipment best.
| Carrier | Share of shipments |
|---|---|
| Southeastern Freight Lines | 29% |
| AAA Cooper Transportation | 24% |
| ABF Freight | 12% |
| R+L Carriers | 11% |
| Estes Express Lines | 7% |
What ships within North Carolina
The median shipment weighed 900 lb at a median freight class of 92.5. The most common classes were class 125 (20%), class 175 (12%) and class 100 (9%). Lighter, bulkier freight rates in higher classes and costs more per pound, which is why measuring density before you quote matters.
By type of shipper, the biggest groups were industrial machinery & equipment (51%), metals & fabrication (8%), building materials (8%) and auto parts (7%), among shipments where the shipper’s industry is known.
Where the freight goes
The busiest pickup cities were Washington, NC, Charlotte, NC, Charlotte , NC and Winston-Salem, NC, and the busiest delivery cities were Haw River, NC, Charlotte, NC, High Point, NC and Hickory, NC.
Shipping inside North Carolina
North Carolina freight follows I-85 and I-40 through Charlotte, the Triad and the Triangle. Furniture, textiles, food and manufacturing all ship heavily by LTL, and the state is well covered by Southeastern regional carriers.
Carrier pricing is contract-specific, so two shippers moving identical freight within North Carolina routinely pay different amounts. GetLTLRates quotes tariff, dynamic and volume LTL pricing from 50+ carriers side by side, and a dedicated Armstrong team handles pickup, tracking and the final invoice so the rate you book is the rate you pay.
Price your North Carolina shipment
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Get my free rates →Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to ship a pallet within North Carolina?
For a 500–999 lb LTL shipment within North Carolina, the middle half of Armstrong customers paid $240 to $2,515 all-in, with a median of $1,720 (September 2025 – August 2026). Freight class, accessorials like liftgate or residential delivery, and the exact ZIP codes move the price, so get a quote for your shipment.
How long does LTL shipping take within North Carolina?
The median LTL shipment within North Carolina delivered in 1 business day after pickup, and 80% arrived within 2 business days. Transit is counted in business days, and standard LTL times are estimates; guaranteed services are available when a date matters.
Which LTL carriers run within North Carolina?
On the freight Armstrong arranged within North Carolina, the most-used carriers were Southeastern Freight Lines, AAA Cooper Transportation, ABF Freight and R+L Carriers. The cheapest carrier changes shipment by shipment, which is why quoting 50+ carriers at once usually beats calling one.
What affects the LTL rate within North Carolina?
The exact origin and destination ZIPs, total weight, freight class (mostly set by density), fuel surcharge, pickup and delivery accessorials, and whether the carrier has good backhaul on the lane. Heavier shipments cost more in total but much less per pound.
Related lanes
Figures are from LTL freight arranged through the Armstrong Transport Group network, September 2025 – August 2026. Price ranges are the middle 50% of all-in paid rates, rounded to $5, and are shown for budgeting only; they are not a quote or a guarantee of capacity or pricing. Transit is counted in business days from pickup to delivery.