What Is Linehaul in Shipping?

Linehaul refers to the long-distance transportation of freight or parcels between carrier hubs, sortation facilities, or distribution centers. It’s a critical part of logistics, ensuring packages move efficiently across regions.

Types of Linehaul:

1. Air Linehaul – Faster but costlier (e.g., UPS Air, FedEx Express).
2. Ground Linehaul – Cost-effective trucking routes (e.g., USPS and DHL eCommerce linehaul).
3. Rail & Intermodal Linehaul – Used for bulk and freight consolidation.

Why Linehaul Matters for eCommerce:

• Reduces shipping costs by consolidating shipments before last-mile delivery.
• Enables faster cross-country shipping (e.g., a package from California to New York first moves via linehaul before entering local carrier networks).
• Minimizes reliance on a single carrier, improving efficiency.

How FirstMile Optimizes Linehaul:

• Uses dynamic routing to select the fastest & cheapest linehaul method.
• Leverages regional carriers for cost-effective linehaul operations.
• Optimizes zone skipping to reduce total transit distance.