PLD stands for Package Level Detail, the detailed information carriers require for each individual box or unit within a shipment. This data includes the sender and receiver details, weight, dimensions, contents, tracking numbers, and destination for every package.
In shipping, PLD is used for route optimization, tracking updates, and cost analysis. Carriers use it to build more accurate shipping profiles, while shippers, such as beverage companies, use historical PLD data to identify consolidation opportunities, improve efficiency, and reduce costs for temperature-sensitive or multi-stop deliveries.
Since PLD shipping data is crucial to carrier operations, some providers charge fees for incomplete information or missing package-level information, especially when it’s not submitted through integrated shipping systems.