Line Haul Freight in California
Load it this evening, have it on the dock by morning. Marvin runs scheduled line haul freight between the Bay Area, Sacramento, the Central Valley, Los Angeles, the Inland Empire and San Diego, with fixed cut-off times, live GPS tracking and a signed proof of delivery on every run.
- Rate confirmed in under 30 minutes
- Dedicated truck on every run
- Refrigerated line haul available
What line haul means for your freight
Line haul is the long middle leg of a shipment: the run between two cities, rather than the short trips around town at either end. In California that usually means the Bay Area to Los Angeles, Sacramento to the Central Valley, or Los Angeles down to San Diego.
Most of our line haul customers ship on a rhythm. A distributor in Fremont sends pallets to Southern California three nights a week. A food producer in Fresno feeds a cold store in Los Angeles every evening. A manufacturer in San Jose restocks a branch in Sacramento twice a week. They want the same truck slot, the same cut-off, the same rate and nobody chasing paperwork.
That is what we built our line haul service around. Loads are built for a departure time rather than a loose pickup window, so you know when your freight leaves and when it lands. A pallet leaving Fremont in the evening is on a Los Angeles dock the next morning.
Built for shippers who run the same lanes every week
Six things every Marvin line haul run includes, whether you are moving one pallet or a full truck.
Fixed departure schedules
Every lane has a cut-off and a departure time. Get your freight to the dock, or have us collect it, before the cut-off and it goes out on that run. No waiting for a truck to fill, no guessing which day it leaves.
Ask for tonight’s cut-offYour freight, your truck
Every load runs on a dedicated vehicle straight to your consignee. No shared space and no stops for other shippers.
- Dedicated
- Direct
GPS tracked every mile
Live location plus automatic departure, in-transit and arrival alerts, so you are not calling for updates.
- Live map
- Alerts
Cross-docking at our hubs
Freight transfers at our SFO and LAX hubs without sitting for a day between legs.
- SFO Hub
- LAX Hub
Refrigerated line haul
Temperature-controlled box trucks from -20°F to +65°F for food, pharma and biotech freight.
- Chilled
- Frozen
Complete documentation
Bill of lading, freight receipt, GPS transit log and electronic proof of delivery, sent digitally the moment the run closes.
- BOL
- GPS log
- ePOD
California line haul corridors and transit times
These are the lanes we run most often. Times are dock to dock and include loading, so they are realistic rather than best case. Traffic on I-5 and the 405 still has a say, which is why dispatch gives you a live arrival time before you book.
Short lanes such as Bay Area to Sacramento and Los Angeles to the Inland Empire run several times a day. Longer lanes between Northern and Southern California run daily, usually as an evening departure with a next-morning dock arrival.
How a line haul cut-off works
The cut-off is the latest your freight can be ready for a given departure. Make it, and your freight is on that truck. It is the single most useful number in line haul, and we will always tell you what it is.
Why we schedule instead of waiting to fill
A lot of freight sits because a carrier is waiting for enough other freight to make the trip worthwhile. Your one pallet waits two days for a full load. Our line haul runs leave at the scheduled time, so a short shipment does not wait on somebody else’s.
- Leaves on timeFull or not, the truck goes at the scheduled departure
- Cut-off up frontYou know the latest ready time before you book
- Fixed slotRecurring lanes keep the same departure every week
iThe board above is a sample. Real cut-offs depend on the lane and the day, and on recurring lanes we fix them with you so your warehouse can plan around them.
What to do if you are running late
- Before cut-offCall dispatch early
A 20 minute warning often means we can hold the truck or send a second vehicle.
- Missed itAsk for the next departure
Short lanes run several times a day, so the next slot may be hours away, not a day.
- Part urgentSplit the load
Send the urgent pallets now and the rest on the next run.
- Cannot waitGo direct
When it cannot wait, a dedicated same day vehicle drives it straight through.
The line haul fleet
We match the vehicle to the weight and the dock at each end. Every truck is DOT registered, ELD equipped and GPS tracked.
Cargo Van
Partial loads, cartons and a few pallets on tight schedules. Quick to load and fast between cities.
Liftgate Box Truck (16 to 26 ft)
Palletised freight to docks or to buildings without one. The liftgate means no forklift needed at either end.
Refrigerated Box Truck
Chilled and frozen freight with continuous temperature logging from loading to the receiving dock.
How to book line haul freight, in 4 steps
One call or one form. A real person confirms the rate, the cut-off and the arrival time.
- 1
Request a quote
Give us the origin, destination, pallet count, weight and the day you need it to move. We confirm space and a rate in under 30 minutes.
- 2
Tender or pickup
Drop at our hub before the cut-off, or we collect from your dock. The load is checked, the BOL signed and the count confirmed.
- 3
In transit, tracked
The truck leaves on schedule. You see it on the map and get alerts at departure, along the way and on arrival.
- 4
Delivered and proofed
Delivered to the consignee’s dock, or held at the destination hub for pickup. The ePOD with signature and timestamp lands in your inbox.
Why California shippers pick Marvin for line haul
Consistent arrival times, full paperwork and a team that answers the phone. That is most of what shippers ask of a line haul carrier, and it is what we focus on.
24/7/365 live dispatch
A California-based coordinator picks up every call, day or night. No voicemail and no ticket queue.
Real-time GPS tracking
See every line haul run live from origin to destination, with automatic milestone alerts by text or email.
DOT and FMCSA compliant
Drivers hold current DOT credentials and hours of service are logged on ELDs, so loads are not held up by a tired driver.
Insured on every load
$100,000 cargo liability on each line haul run, from tender at origin to signature at destination.
Fixed rates on recurring lanes
Run a lane every week and it gets a fixed slot and a fixed rate, so you are not requoting the same trip.
150+ California cities
From the Oregon border to San Diego, and from the coast to the Nevada line, through our hubs and branch network.
Line haul for California’s busiest freight markets
Each industry has its own receiving rules, documents and timing. These are the ones we move freight for most often.
Retail and Distribution
Store replenishment and DC transfers on a weekly rhythm.
Food and Agriculture
Central Valley produce and chilled food into city cold stores.
Pharmaceutical
Temperature-logged product between distributors and pharmacies.
Manufacturing
Components, raw materials and finished goods between plants.
E-Commerce
Fulfilment centre stock moved north and south overnight.
Healthcare
Medical supplies and equipment between hospital campuses.
Construction and Industrial
Fixtures, fittings and supplies to branch yards and job sites.
Technology
Hardware and returns between Silicon Valley and Southern California.
Auto Parts
Parts distribution to dealers and repair shops statewide.
Furniture and Home
Palletised furniture and appliances to showrooms and warehouses.
Government
Scheduled freight between agency sites and depots.
Life Sciences
Lab supplies and instruments between research campuses.
Five questions to ask any line haul carrier
Prices look similar on paper. These questions show you which carrier will actually get your freight there on time. Here is how we answer them.
We give you both, for every lane, before you book. If a carrier cannot tell you the departure time, your freight is waiting for a full load.
On the live map, any time. You also get automatic alerts at departure, in transit and on arrival.
$100,000 cargo liability per load. Tell us at booking if a shipment is worth more and we will talk through options before it moves.
BOL, freight receipt, GPS transit log and ePOD with signature and timestamp, sent digitally when the run closes.
Our dispatch line. A real coordinator answers 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Send us the origin, destination and how often it runs. We will come back with a cut-off, a transit time and a fixed rate.
Quote my laneLine haul coverage across California
Our line haul routes connect every major California freight market, from the Bay Area to Greater Los Angeles and from the Central Valley to the coast. Freight going beyond a hub city goes out on a local vehicle the same morning it lands.
- Los Angeles
- San Francisco
- San Diego
- Sacramento
- Oakland
- San Jose
- Long Beach
- Anaheim / OC
- Fresno
- Burbank
- Riverside
- Palo Alto
- Stockton
- Modesto
- Bakersfield
Smaller markets such as Stockton, Modesto, Bakersfield and Redding are served from the nearest hub, either on a scheduled line haul run or with a short final leg. Allow a little more lead time there and ask dispatch for the cut-off when you book.
What sets the price of line haul freight
You get a rate on the call or within 30 minutes of a quote request, and it does not change once the truck is moving. Four things drive it.
- Lane and distanceBay Area to Sacramento costs less than Bay Area to Los Angeles. Recurring lanes get a fixed rate.
- Vehicle you needA cargo van for a few pallets, a liftgate box truck for a full load, or a refrigerated box truck.
- Vehicle and handlingLiftgate, refrigeration or inside delivery at the receiving end.
- TimingStandard scheduled departures, a held truck, or a weekend or holiday run.
What to have ready when you book
- Origin and destinationwith dock hours and whether there is a dock or you need a liftgate.
- Pallet count and weightplus dimensions if anything is over standard pallet size.
- Ship and delivery datesand how firm the delivery appointment is.
- Temperature rangeif the freight needs to stay chilled or frozen.
- How often the lane runsone-off, weekly or daily, so we can fix a slot and a rate.
Line haul FAQs
Straight answers before you book. Dispatch picks up 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Call +1 (323) 673-7397What is line haul freight?
Line haul is the long-distance leg of a shipment between two cities or hubs, as opposed to local pickup and delivery. Our California line haul service runs on fixed schedules between the Bay Area, Sacramento, the Central Valley, Los Angeles, the Inland Empire and San Diego.
Which California cities does your line haul service cover?
Our line haul routes connect Los Angeles and San Francisco, Los Angeles and Sacramento, Los Angeles and San Diego, the Bay Area and Sacramento, the Bay Area and Fresno, and Los Angeles and the Inland Empire, plus the cities along each corridor. We serve more than 150 California cities through our hub network.
Is my freight shared with other shippers?
No. Every Marvin line haul load runs on a dedicated vehicle carrying your freight only, and it travels straight to your consignee with no stops for anyone else. You get the same GPS tracking, cut-off times and documentation whether you send two pallets or a full truck.
How long does line haul take between Los Angeles and San Francisco?
The drive itself is roughly 6 to 8 hours. Most customers book an evening departure that lands on the dock the next morning, and same-day runs are possible with an early cut-off. Call for current schedule and capacity.
Do you offer refrigerated line haul?
Yes. Our refrigerated box trucks hold anywhere from -20°F to +65°F with continuous temperature monitoring, for food, pharmaceutical, biotech and medical freight on scheduled cold-chain runs between major California cities.
What size and weight of freight can you take?
Our line haul fleet runs cargo vans and liftgate box trucks from 16 to 26 ft, carrying up to 10,000 lbs. For oversized or heavier freight, call (323) 673-7397 and we will tell you what we can arrange before you book.
What documentation do I get?
Every line haul shipment comes with a bill of lading, freight receipt, GPS transit log and electronic proof of delivery with timestamp and recipient signature, all sent digitally when the run is complete.
Can you give a recurring lane a fixed rate?
Yes. If you ship the same lane every week, we give it a fixed slot, a fixed cut-off and a fixed rate, so you are not requoting the same run. If it runs daily, a dedicated fleet often works out cheaper still, and we will tell you when that is the case.
Related services
Line haul is the middle of the journey. These services cover the legs before and after it.
Carrier safety standards for this work are set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Every Marvin line haul run uses DOT registered vehicles and drivers who meet those standards, with hours of service logged electronically.
Book your line haul run
Tell dispatch the lane, the pallet count and when it needs to move. You get a rate, a cut-off and an arrival time, usually in under 30 minutes, and recurring lanes get a fixed slot and a fixed rate.
- SFO Hub245 S Spruce Ave, South San Francisco, CA 94080
- LAX Hub1101 W Hillcrest Blvd, Inglewood, CA
- Emailsales@marvintransportation.com · Available 24/7