LTL broker software built for the volume, the NMFC disputes, and the accessorial chasing.
LTL brokerage has a different math problem than truckload. More carriers can quote each load, so inquiry volume is higher. NMFC class disputes can blow up a booking mid-process. Accessorials are buried in reply emails or missing entirely. Transit-time SLAs need to match at booking, not at delivery. Keelway handles the LTL-specific triage layer — parsing class, surfacing accessorial gaps, flagging SLA mismatches — so coordinators spend their time on the five qualified quotes, not the 50 that need manual review.
The LTL inbox problem no one talks about
LTL loads generate more inbound carrier replies than truckload because the capacity structure is different. More carriers can partially cover your shipment by consolidating it with other freight on an existing route. On a truckload post you might get 30–40 replies. On an LTL post you can get 80–150.
The volume alone would be manageable if every reply were clean. The problem is that LTL replies carry more complexity: quoted rates that don't specify whether accessorials are included, transit-time estimates that don't match the delivery SLA, NMFC class assumptions that differ from the load spec, and carriers whose FMCSA authority covers truckload but not LTL consolidation. Reading and sorting that manually is how a coordinator burns two hours on a single load.
What Keelway does on LTL loads
The core carrier email triage layer — rate extraction, FMCSA authority, trust scoring, ranking — runs on LTL loads exactly as it does on truckload. Keelway adds LTL-specific parsing on top:
- NMFC class surfacing. When a carrier references a freight class in their reply, Keelway captures it and compares it to the load's specified NMFC class. A mismatch surfaces immediately in the inquiry detail view — so the coordinator can resolve the class dispute before booking, not after the carrier reweighs and reclassifies at the terminal.
- Accessorial coverage gaps. Liftgate, inside delivery, residential delivery, notification fees, fuel surcharge terms — Keelway parses accessorial language from carrier replies. When a carrier's quote doesn't address accessorials that are specified in the load, that gap surfaces in the ranked row as an open item before booking.
- Transit-time SLA comparison. Carrier replies often include a stated transit-time estimate. Keelway compares it against your load's required delivery window. Carriers whose stated transit exceeds the SLA are ranked lower and flagged, so coordinators don't spend time negotiating with carriers who can't hit the window.
- LTL authority verification. Some carriers hold truckload authority and quote LTL loads by consolidating freight on their own. Keelway checks whether the carrier's FMCSA authority covers LTL operations — the authority type inconsistency is flagged before the coordinator engages.
- Volume handling without ceiling. 50 replies or 150 replies — Keelway reads and ranks every one within seconds of arrival. The coordinator sees the same five-row list regardless of inbox volume.
NMFC class disputes: catch them before the booking
An NMFC reclassification after delivery is one of the most common sources of brokerage invoice disputes. A carrier books at Class 50, reweighs at the terminal, reassigns to Class 70, and invoices the difference. The broker is left explaining to the shipper why the final charge is 40% higher than quoted.
Keelway can't prevent a carrier from reclassifying at the terminal. What it can do: surface the NMFC class stated by the carrier in their email reply, compare it to the class in your load record, and flag the mismatch before the booking is confirmed. That gives the coordinator a chance to align on class — in writing, in the email thread — before the load ships. The aligned class is captured in the TMS record via the write-back integration.
Accessorial management: stop chasing invoices after delivery
LTL accessorial disputes are a known cost center for many brokerages. The root cause is almost always that accessorial terms were ambiguous or unaddressed at booking. Keelway moves accessorial clarification upstream — to the moment of ranking and booking — by surfacing gaps in the coordinator's ranked view rather than in a post-delivery invoice dispute.
Keelway also captures accessorial language from the carrier's email reply and writes it into the accepted carrier's load record in your TMS. If a dispute arises, the written accessorial agreement from the booking conversation is in the load file, not lost in an inbox.
Transit-time SLAs: confirm before commit
LTL transit times vary by carrier network, terminal coverage, and origin-destination pair. Many LTL carrier replies include a stated transit-time estimate. Keelway compares that estimate against your load's required delivery window and flags carriers who can't hit it before the coordinator starts a booking conversation. After booking, the AI voice agent tracks ETA on the active shipment and alerts the coordinator when transit is drifting outside the committed window — before the shipper has to call.
Who uses Keelway for LTL brokerage
LTL-focused SMB brokerages, 3PLs with LTL books, and asset-based carriers with brokerage arms covering LTL overflow. Also relevant: mixed-book coordinators handling LTL alongside truckload freight, where Keelway's load-type-aware ranking applies the right signals to each equipment type in the same queue. See the full platform overview for TMS compatibility and pricing. For the buyer's guide to freight broker AI tools, see the 2026 freight broker AI buyer's guide. For how Keelway compares to Parade, see the Parade alternative page.
Frequently asked questions
How does Keelway handle the higher inquiry volume on LTL loads?+
LTL loads consistently generate more carrier replies per post than truckload — sometimes 5–8x, because more carriers can partial-load the commodity alongside other freight. Keelway has no throughput ceiling. Every reply is read, rate-extracted, scored, and ranked within seconds of arrival. Coordinators see the same five-row ranked list regardless of whether 20 or 150 carriers replied. The other replies stay in the inbox if they want them.
Does Keelway handle NMFC class parsing from carrier replies?+
Yes. When a carrier references an NMFC class in their reply — or when a class discrepancy is flagged — Keelway captures the stated class and surfaces it alongside your load's specified class in the inquiry detail view. This doesn't resolve the dispute, but it surfaces the mismatch immediately so the coordinator can address it before booking rather than after the shipment is reweighed and reclassified.
How does Keelway help with accessorial cost chasing?+
LTL accessorials — liftgate, inside delivery, residential delivery, fuel surcharge disputes — are often buried in carrier email replies or missing entirely. Keelway parses accessorial language from carrier emails, flags when a carrier's quote doesn't address accessorials that are specified in the load, and surfaces the gaps in the ranked row. This gives coordinators the information to resolve accessorial ambiguity before booking rather than chasing invoices after delivery.
Does Keelway track transit-time SLAs for LTL?+
Keelway captures stated transit-time commitments from carrier email replies and compares them against the load's required delivery window. Carriers that reply with transit times exceeding your SLA are flagged in the ranking. After booking, our AI voice agent handles carrier check-calls and ETA tracking, alerting coordinators when a shipment is drifting outside the delivery window before the shipper notices.
How does Keelway handle carriers that quote LTL without LTL authority?+
Some carriers hold truckload authority and attempt to quote LTL loads by consolidating freight themselves — a practice that creates liability exposure for brokers if the consolidation isn't done by a properly licensed LTL carrier. Keelway checks whether the carrier's FMCSA authority covers LTL operations and flags carriers whose authority type is inconsistent with the LTL load type.
Does Keelway integrate with the TMS platforms LTL brokerages use?+
Yes. Pre-built integrations with Tai, McLeod LoadMaster, Aljex, Revenova, Turvo, and Rose Rocket. Accepted carrier, confirmed rate, NMFC class, and any accessorial or transit-time notes captured from the email thread are written back automatically. No retyping.
Can Keelway handle mixed LTL and truckload queues?+
Yes. Most coordinators who work LTL also handle some truckload freight. Keelway ranks both equipment types. The ranking algorithm is load-type-aware: it applies LTL-specific signals (NMFC class, accessorial coverage, transit-time SLA, LTL authority) to LTL loads and truckload-specific signals (lane rate, equipment fit, FMCSA trust score) to FTL loads. The coordinator works a single ranked list per load regardless of equipment type.
Pricing?+
Per-coordinator seat. No per-load, per-email, or per-carrier charges. LTL brokerages start under four figures monthly. We share firm numbers on the first demo call.
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