LTL (Less Than Truckload) Jobs — Back-to-School Freight Season

LTL (Less Than Truckload) During Back-to-School Freight Season

Back-to-school freight season is a critical but often overlooked period for the trucking industry, running from June through August as retailers build inventory for the second-largest shopping event of the year. Americans spend over $100 billion annually on back-to-school and back-to-college supplies, clothing, electronics, and dorm furnishings. This spending surge creates a dry van freight wave as goods move from ports, distribution centers, and manufacturers to retail stores and fulfillment centers nationwide.

LTL drivers handle freight that doesn't fill an entire trailer, making multiple stops per route to pick up and deliver shipments from different shippers. This segment is the highest-paying for company drivers because LTL carriers like Old Dominion, FedEx Freight, Estes, Saia, and ABF Freight offer top-tier wages, full benefits, and union opportunities.

Top States for Back-to-School Freight Season

Companies Hiring

Tips

• 💡 Talk to your dispatcher about back-to-school dedicated lanes starting in May — retailers plan their inventory builds months in advance.
• 💡 Target lanes from port areas (LA/Long Beach, Savannah, Newark) to inland distribution centers for the highest-volume back-to-school freight.
• 💡 Be prepared for tight delivery appointments — retailers enforcing OTIF (on-time, in-full) penalties are particularly strict during back-to-school restocking.

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