---
title: "How to ship a part load (PTL) in India, step by step · SSL"
description: "A practical guide to part-load shipping in India: booking modes, the LR, packing and marking, chargeable weight, e-way bill, hub transit, delivery…"
url: https://safeandsecure.in/guides/how-to-ship-part-load-india/
canonical: https://safeandsecure.in/guides/how-to-ship-part-load-india/
updated: 2026-09-29
lang: en-IN
publisher: Safe & Secure Logistics Private Limited
---

Guide · Part-load

# How to ship a part-load (PTL) in India, step by step

A practical guide to part-load shipping in India: booking modes, the LR, packing and marking, chargeable weight, e-way bill, hub transit, delivery and claims.

8 min read Updated 29 Sept 2026 By the Safe & Secure desk

A part load is a consignment too small to fill a truck, so it travels with other shippers' goods through hubs and you pay only for its weight or space. Safe & Secure Logistics, which runs a part truckload network across 110+ branches and offices, explains booking, the LR, packing, chargeable weight, the e-way bill and delivery.

**On this page · 10 sections**

1. What part-load actually is
2. Step 1: Choose the booking mode
3. Step 2: Prepare the paperwork
4. Step 3: Pack for a multi-handling journey
5. Step 4: Understand chargeable weight
6. Step 5: Know how the goods travel
7. Step 6: Delivery, godown or door
8. Step 7: Proof of delivery and claims
9. Common mistakes
10. Checklist

Short answer

What is a part-load (PTL) shipment?

A part-load is a consignment too small to fill a truck. It travels with other shippers' goods through the transporter's hubs, and you pay only for the weight or space you use, usually per kilogram with a minimum charge.

Part-load, often called PTL or LTL, is how most small and medium consignments move by road in India. A carton of spares from Ludhiana to Chennai, twelve drums of chemical from Vapi to Guwahati, a pallet of garments from Tiruppur to Delhi. None of these fill a truck, so they travel with other shippers’ goods through a network of booking branches and hubs.

The system works well when both sides understand it. Most of the problems we see in part-load come from small things done carelessly at booking: a wrong pin code, a weak carton, a missing e-way bill, a vague description on the LR. This guide walks through the process in the order it happens.

## What part-load actually is

In a full truckload, one shipper hires the whole vehicle and it runs point to point. In part-load, the transporter collects many consignments at a booking branch, consolidates them at a hub, runs a line-haul truck to a destination hub, and then breaks the load out for delivery.

That shared model is why part-load is cheaper per consignment, and also why it needs more care. Your goods will be loaded and unloaded several times. They will sit alongside other people’s cargo. They will be sorted by label, not by memory.

If you are unsure whether your shipment belongs in part-load at all, read our comparison of [FTL vs PTL](https://safeandsecure.in/guides/ftl-vs-ptl/) first.

## Step 1: Choose the booking mode

Indian part-load carriers typically offer three ways to pay for freight. The choice affects cash flow, paperwork and who has to be present at delivery.

| Mode | Who pays | When | Suits |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Paid | Sender | At booking | One-off shippers, samples, new customers |
| To-Pay | Receiver | At delivery | Trade where buyer bears freight, dealer networks |
| TBB (To Be Billed) | Approved account | Periodic bill, usually monthly | Regular shippers with a credit agreement |

A few practical points:

- **To-Pay** shifts collection risk to the transporter. If the consignee refuses to pay, the goods sit in the godown and demurrage can build up. Confirm with your buyer before booking To-Pay.
- **TBB** needs a signed rate agreement and usually a credit check. It is the cleanest mode for regular volume, because rates are fixed in advance and you get one consolidated bill.
- **Paid** is simple, but keep the money receipt. It is your proof of payment if anything is disputed later.

## Step 2: Prepare the paperwork

Every part-load consignment moves on a small set of documents. Missing any of them is the most common reason a consignment is held at a hub.

1. **Tax invoice or delivery challan.** The invoice for a sale; a delivery challan for job work, stock transfer to another state registration, or goods sent on approval.
2. **E-way bill**, where required. Under [Rule 138 of the CGST Rules](https://cbic-gst.gov.in/), an e-way bill is needed for movement of goods above ₹50,000 in value, with some states setting a different threshold for intra-state movement. Part A carries invoice details; Part B carries the vehicle. For part-load, the transporter updates Part B as goods move from truck to truck. Our [GST and e-way bill guide](https://safeandsecure.in/guides/gst-and-e-way-bill-for-goods-transport/) covers this in detail.
3. **Lorry receipt (LR), also called the consignment note or GR.** The transporter issues this at booking. It is the contract of carriage.
4. **Any product-specific documents**: MSDS for hazardous goods, test certificates, or permits your product needs.

### What goes on the LR

The LR is the single most important document in part-load. Read it before you leave the counter. It should show:

- Consignor and consignee name, address, GSTIN and phone number
- Destination branch and delivery type (godown or door)
- Number of packages and how they are marked
- Description of goods, in plain words
- Actual weight and charged weight
- Declared value and invoice number
- Freight, charges and payment mode
- Whether goods are insured, and by whom

A vague description such as “general goods” or “parts” causes trouble at checkposts and in claims. Write what it is: “cotton knitted T-shirts, 40 cartons” or “cast-iron valve bodies, 6 wooden boxes”.

The [Carriage by Road Act, 2007](https://www.indiacode.nic.in/) governs common carriers and the consignment note. Among other things, it limits a carrier’s liability unless value has been declared, which is one more reason to write the declared value correctly.

## Step 3: Pack for a multi-handling journey

Assume every package will be lifted, stacked and slid at least four times: at the booking branch, onto the line-haul truck, off at the destination hub, and onto the delivery vehicle.

Good part-load packing follows a few simple rules:

- **Use a carton strength matched to stacking.** Five-ply corrugated for most goods; seven-ply or wooden crates for heavy or fragile items. See our [packaging guide](https://safeandsecure.in/tools/packaging-guide/).
- **Fill voids.** Movement inside the box is what breaks things.
- **Keep packages a handling size.** Loose items under about 25 kg per carton are handled more gently than awkward single pieces.
- **Palletise where you can.** Stretch-wrapped pallets travel better, count faster and are easier to verify at delivery.
- **Waterproof.** Monsoon handling at open hubs is real. Line cartons with polythene for moisture-sensitive goods.

### Marking

Each package should carry the same information, clearly, on two sides:

1. Consignee name and destination city
2. LR number, once issued
3. Package number in the form “3 of 12”
4. Handling marks where relevant: this side up, fragile, do not stack

Numbered packages are the simplest defence against short delivery. If one of twelve cartons goes missing, the hub can trace it by number.

## Step 4: Understand chargeable weight

Part-load is priced per kilogram, but not always per actual kilogram. Light, bulky cargo takes up space on the truck without adding much weight, so transporters charge on whichever is higher: actual weight or volumetric weight.

Volumetric weight is calculated by multiplying the package dimensions and dividing (or multiplying) by a conversion factor the transporter sets. The factor differs between carriers, so ask for it in writing.

A worked illustration, with an assumed factor used only to show the arithmetic:

- Ten cartons, each 60 × 40 × 40 cm, actual weight 8 kg each
- Total volume: 10 × 0.096 m³ = 0.96 m³
- If the agreed factor were 250 kg per m³, volumetric weight would be 240 kg
- Actual weight is 80 kg, so the charge is on 240 kg

Our [volumetric weight calculator](https://safeandsecure.in/tools/volume-weight-calculator/) does this for any factor. Two things lower your chargeable weight: tighter packing that removes air, and consolidating many small cartons into fewer, well-filled ones.

Most carriers also apply a **minimum charge per LR**, so a 5 kg parcel may cost the same as a 20 kg one.

## Step 5: Know how the goods travel

A typical part-load journey through a hub-and-spoke network looks like this:

1. **Booking branch.** Goods are received, weighed, measured, labelled and entered against the LR.
2. **Origin hub.** Consignments from many branches are sorted by destination and loaded onto line-haul trucks.
3. **Line haul.** A full truck runs hub to hub, often over several hundred kilometres.
4. **Destination hub.** The truck is unloaded and consignments are sorted for delivery branches.
5. **Delivery branch.** Goods are held for collection or sent out for door delivery.

Transit time depends on how often line-haul trucks leave on your lane. A busy trunk route may have daily departures; a thin lane may wait until enough cargo builds up. Ask for the lane’s departure pattern, not just a headline transit time.

For scale: across SSL’s network, 4 lakh+ part-load consignments were booked in FY2025-26 across 110+ branches and offices. At that volume, the discipline of scanning and counting at every handover matters more than any single truck.

## Step 6: Delivery, godown or door

There are two delivery types, and the LR should say which one you paid for.

|  | Godown delivery | Door delivery |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Where | Consignee collects from the transporter’s branch | Transporter delivers to the consignee’s address |
| Cost | Lower | Higher, often a per-kg or per-LR surcharge |
| Risk | Demurrage if not collected within free days | Delays if the address or phone number is wrong |
| Best for | Traders near the branch, regular receivers | Factories, sites, customers without transport |

For godown delivery, the consignee typically brings the LR copy or an authorisation letter. Tell your buyer the free storage period, because demurrage is charged per day once it lapses.

## Step 7: Proof of delivery and claims

The proof of delivery (POD) is the consignee’s signed and stamped copy of the LR or delivery receipt. Ask for the POD as a scanned image, and ask how soon after delivery it will be available. POD speed is a good test of how well a transporter runs.

If something goes wrong:

1. **At delivery**, the consignee should count packages and inspect them before signing. Any shortage or visible damage must be written on the delivery receipt, with the transporter’s staff present.
2. **Photograph** the packaging, the damage and the labels.
3. **Send a written claim** to the transporter promptly, with the LR, invoice, e-way bill, photographs and the remarked delivery receipt.
4. **Notify your insurer** if the goods are covered under your own transit policy.

The Carriage by Road Act sets out the carrier’s liability and time limits for notice of a claim. Do not wait: the longer a claim sits, the weaker it becomes. A clean, unremarked delivery signature is the single biggest obstacle to recovering a loss.

## Common mistakes

- Booking with a wrong or incomplete pin code, which sends goods to the wrong branch
- Writing “said to contain” descriptions that tell nobody what the goods are
- Letting an e-way bill expire while goods wait at a hub
- Under-declaring value to save on insurance, then claiming the full value later
- Using retail cartons that were never designed for stacking in a truck
- Not telling the consignee that goods are To-Pay

## Checklist

Before you hand over a part-load consignment:

- Booking mode agreed with the buyer (Paid, To-Pay or TBB)
- Invoice or delivery challan attached
- E-way bill generated if the value requires it, with correct GSTINs
- Packages numbered “1 of N” and marked on two sides
- Carton strength and void fill suitable for stacking
- Dimensions measured and chargeable weight checked
- LR read at the counter: description, count, weight, value, delivery type
- Consignee phone number correct and reachable
- Insurance arranged, by you or the transporter, and noted on the LR
- Consignee briefed on inspecting before signing

When you are ready to book, you can [request a quote](https://safeandsecure.in/ship/quote/) or read more about our [part truckload service](https://safeandsecure.in/services/part-truckload/). If a word here was unfamiliar, the [glossary](https://safeandsecure.in/glossary/) explains it.

Tools

- [Volumetric weight calculator](https://safeandsecure.in/tools/volume-weight-calculator/)
- [Packaging guide](https://safeandsecure.in/tools/packaging-guide/)
- [GST and e-way bill helper](https://safeandsecure.in/tools/gst-eway-bill-helper/)

Services

- [Part truckload](https://safeandsecure.in/services/part-truckload/)
- [Full truckload](https://safeandsecure.in/services/full-truckload/)

Terms

[Logistics glossary →](https://safeandsecure.in/glossary/)

Sources

## Where these rules come from

1. [CBIC: CGST Rules, Rule 138 (e-way bill)](https://cbic-gst.gov.in/)
2. [E-way bill system portal (GSTN)](https://ewaybillgst.gov.in/)
3. [India Code: The Carriage by Road Act, 2007](https://www.indiacode.nic.in/)
4. [GST portal](https://www.gst.gov.in/)

Rules change. Check the linked source before acting; this guide is general information, not legal or tax advice.

## Frequently asked questions

**What is a part-load (PTL) shipment?**

A part-load is a consignment too small to fill a truck. It travels with other shippers' goods through the transporter's hubs, and you pay only for the weight or space you use, usually per kilogram with a minimum charge.

**What is the difference between To-Pay, Paid and TBB?**

Paid means the sender pays freight at booking. To-Pay means the receiver pays at delivery. TBB (To Be Billed) is a credit arrangement where the transporter bills an approved account periodically, usually monthly.

**How is chargeable weight calculated for part-load?**

The transporter compares actual weight with volumetric weight (length × width × height converted by an agreed factor) and charges the higher one, subject to a minimum. The factor varies by transporter, so confirm it before booking.

**Do I need an e-way bill for a part-load consignment?**

Usually yes, if the consignment value exceeds ₹50,000, under Rule 138 of the CGST Rules. Some states set a different limit for movement within the state, and certain goods are exempt. Check before dispatch.

**What should I do if my part-load arrives damaged?**

Note the damage on the delivery receipt before signing, photograph the packages, and send a written claim to the transporter promptly with the LR, invoice and photographs. Clean delivery signatures make claims much harder.

Ready to move it?

Share the lane and load; our desk confirms the price, usually within minutes.

[Get a quote](https://safeandsecure.in/ship/quote/) [All guides](https://safeandsecure.in/guides/)

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Source: https://safeandsecure.in/guides/how-to-ship-part-load-india/ (the HTML page is the record; this markdown twin was generated from it on 2026-09-29). Publisher: Safe & Secure Logistics Private Limited, https://safeandsecure.in/. Figures and their periods: https://safeandsecure.in/facts/