Mothership’s National LTL is a brand-new freight service designed to make Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) shipping faster, more reliable, and more cost-effective than traditional LTL carriers. By combining our trusted same-day delivery network with dedicated long-haul capacity, we offer a seamless experience with full transparency, fewer delays, and up to 30% lower costs.
How do I book National LTL?
Booking with National LTL is just like any other shipment in the Mothership dashboard, but with the added benefit of lower costs and faster transit times:
Get a Quote
When you request a quote from our Greater Los Angeles Same-Day Zone to New York, or from the New York Zone to Greater LA, you’ll see National LTL rates along with the next available pickup date.
If that date is fully booked, you’ll be able to book the next one up to 7 days in advance.
Choose Your Pickup & Delivery Window
Pickups happen the day before or the day of the scheduled truck departure.
Deliveries require a service window of at least 4 hours starting at 10 AM on the scheduled arrival day.
If your requested time isn’t available, we’ll prompt you to select an alternative that works.
Confirm Your Shipment
Once you’ve selected your service window, you can book instantly through the dashboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who handles my freight?
First & Last Miles: Your freight is picked up and delivered using Mothership’s same-day delivery network.
Middle Mile: Your freight is hauled between the origin and destination terminals by a trusted full truckload (FTL) carrier on our network.
Cross-Docking & Transfer Points: Instead of a series of traditional terminals, we use just two partner terminals per lane to minimize handling, reducing the risk of damage and delays.
Driver Coordination: Every step of your shipment is tracked in the Mothership Carrier App, giving you real-time visibility across every mile.
What makes it different from traditional LTL?
Real-Time Tracking: Follow your shipment from pickup to delivery with full transparency.
Faster Transit Times: Direct routes and fewer stops mean your freight moves quickly.
Fewer Claims, Less Damage: Minimal handling reduces the risk to your goods.
More Reliable Pickups & Deliveries: Our local networks enable same-day service.
Up to 30% Lower Costs: We eliminate unnecessary overhead and optimize carrier capacity to save you money.
What lanes are available?
National LTL is launching with our highest-demand routes and will expand based on customer needs. Our initial lanes include:
Los Angeles (LA) → New York (NY)
New York (NY) → Los Angeles (LA)
If you need National LTL service on another route, let us know! Your feedback helps us determine which lanes to open next.
When do Mothership National trucks depart and return?
To ensure the most efficient and cost-effective service, we pre-book full truckload capacity for each route.
In Los Angeles, freight is picked up on Thursday and departs for New York on Friday.
In New York, freight is picked up on Monday and is delivered in Los Angeles by Friday.
This scheduled approach keeps prices low and transit times fast while guaranteeing reliable pickups and deliveries.
What happens if the truck is sold out?
If a scheduled truck reaches full capacity, you’ll see the next available departure date when booking. Our capacity grows with demand, so we’re constantly working to add more lanes and departures.
What happens if the truck is late?
Because we track every shipment in real-time, you’ll always have live updates on your freight’s location and estimated delivery time. If a delay occurs, our system automatically adjusts last-mile pickups to keep your shipment on track.
How does transit time work?
Transit time is the number of business days between the pick-up date and delivery date, not counting the pickup date. Please be aware that we pick up on specific days of the week. Your pickup date may be later than the freight-ready time you entered.
Will I get a single invoice?
Yes! While we coordinate multiple carriers behind the scenes, your experience is simple and seamless. You’ll receive one invoice and track your shipment under a single ID.
How do I track my shipment?
You can track your shipment in real time from pickup to delivery through the Mothership dashboard, just like any other Mothership shipment.
How do returns work with National LTL?
If a shipment needs to be returned, National LTL makes the process simple:
The last-mile carrier will return the shipment to our partner facility instead of delivering it to the recipient.
Once at the terminal, you’ll have two options:
Send it back on the next available truck.
Discard the shipment if a return isn’t needed.
The cost of a return depends on the shipment details and the option you choose.
Ready to experience National LTL?
Start shipping faster, smarter, and for less today. Get a quote and book your first Next Gen LTL shipment with Mothership!