
We talk with shippers daily about LTL, truckload and truckload brokerage potential service solutions. And this should be expected with over 50% of the freight spend in the US is with these two modes of service.
The number one question we are asked is: who are the top freight carriers in the industry.
While this is somewhat of a subjective question because every carrier has its niche, it is objective if one counts revenue as the standard by which shippers vote for who they believe are the tops in the freight and logistics industry.
Top 10 LTL Freight Companies
- FedEx Freight
- YRC Freight/Yellow
- XPO
- Old Dominion
- TForce Freight
- Estes
- ABF Freight/ArcBest
- R+L Carriers
- SAIA
- Southeastern Freight Lines
Top 20 Truckload Freight Companies
- Knight-Swift
- Schneider
- Landstar
- JB Hunt
- Prime
- Werner Enterprises
- CRST
- US Express
- Crete
- CR England
- Roadrunner Transportation
- Covenant Transport
- Western Express
- Heartland Express
- Ruan
- Cardinal
- Marten
- Universal
- P. A. M. Transport
The LTL and truckload freight modes address specific needs for shippers, which we’ll address in the next two sections of this article.
Prefer your lists in video form? Watch ours here:
Less-than-Truckload (LTL)
LTL is used for shipments over 150 pounds, but less than 15,000 pounds. The benefit of LTL for shippers is it combines freight from multiple companies onto one truck to create an efficient freight move for shippers that do not have the volume to operate full truckload shipments for all their freight lanes or to utilize a freight consolidation and pooling program from their own docks.
Cost saving opportunities with LTL shippers can be found through LTL volume pricing quote, LTL classification under an FAK program or consolidation program.
Shippers have both dry and temp-controlled services options available to them.
Temperature controlled LTL shippers need to be aware that the service runs on sailing schedules, and co-mingling of other products on the trailer does cause some challenges for shippers.
LTL brings a number of benefits with residential, inside delivery / pick-up, expedited, liftgate and limited access capabilities. Outside of expedited truckload service, truckload freight options are very limited on the other previously listed benefits.
On the downside of LTL freight is the complicated NMFC LTL classifications and the implications the classifications has on cost and cargo liability coverage. An additional challenge is the potential for various additional LTL accessorial charges.
Full Truckload Shipping (FTL)
Full truckload shipping is used for shipments ranging from 7,500 pounds up to 44,500 pounds.
There is a crossover in weight on LTL and truckload shipments between 7,500 and 15,000 pounds because the cubic capacity in the trailer may be much larger than its actual weight, which drives FTL to be more economical for some freight.
An example to illustrate the point is a company that ships styrofoam. The entire trailer could be filled with product, but it weighs no more than 10,000 pounds. An LTL freight provider would have a heavy premium on its pricing for this load because it is not within its target market.
Like LTL, full truckload standard and expedited options are available for either dry and temp-controlled service for shippers.
Truckload also offers liquid tankers and various flatbed mode options.
FTL is the most plentiful freight mode service offered with roughly 700,000 for hire motor carriers. While this does provide a great number of options for carriers, it can also feel like hunting for a “needle in a haystack” when looking for the “right” motor carrier for the job.
To overcome this challenge, shippers often turn to a freight broker to help them find the freight capacity they require. Freight brokers bring additional benefits, but immediate freight capacity is often the number one reason to bring them into a company’s freight and logistics strategy.
With all the key details addressed above, let’s walk through the top LTL and truckload companies.
Top LTL Freight Companies
FedEx Freight
Location: Memphis, Tennessee
Website: https://www.fedex.com/en-us/shipping/freight-services.html
Founded: 1973
YRC Worldwide/Yellow
Location: Overland Park, KS
Website: https://www.yrcfreight.com
Founded: 1924
XPO
Location: Greenwich, CT
Website: https://www.xpo.com/
Founded: 2011
Old Dominion
Location: Thomasville, North Carolina
Website: https://www.odfl.com/Home/
Founded: 1934
TForce Freight
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Website: https://www.tforcefreight.com/
Founded: 1935
Estes Express Line
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Website: https://www.estes-express.com/
Founded: 1931
ABF Freight/ArcBest
Location: Fort Smith, Arkansas
Website: https://arcb.com/abf-freight
Founded: 1923
R&L Carriers
Location: Wilmington, OH
Website: https://www.rlcarriers.com/
Founded: 1965
Saia Inc.
Location: Johns Creek, Georgia
Website: https://www.saia.com/
Founded: 1924
Southeastern Freight Lines
Location: Lexington, SC
Website: https://www.sefl.com
Founded: 1950
Top Truckload Freight Companies
Knight-Swift
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Established: 1990
Website: https://www.knighttrans.com
Services: Truckload / Dedicated / Brokerage / Intermodal / Drayage
Schneider
Location: Green Bay, Wisconsin
Established: 1935
Website: https://schneider.com/
Services: Truckload / Dedicated / Expedited / Intermodal / Specialized
Landstar
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
Established: 1988
Website: https://www.landstar.com/
Services: Truckload, LTL, Dedicated, Expedited, Heavy Haul
JB Hunt
Location: Lowell, Arkansas
Established: 1961
Website: https://www.jbhunt.com/
Services: Intermodal / Drayage / Truckload / Dedicated / Brokerage
Prime
Established: 1970
Location: Springfield, Missouri
Website: https://www.primeinc.com/
Services: Refrigerated Truckload, Flatbed, Tanker
Werner Enterprises
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Established: 1956
Website: https://www.werner.com
Services: Truckload, Dedicated, Expedited, Temp Controlled, Flatbed
CRST
Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Established: 1955
Website: https://crst.com/transportation-solutions/
Services: Truckload, Expedited, Dedicated, Flatbed
US Xpress
Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Established: 1986
Website: https://www.usxpress.com
Services: Truckload, Dedicated
Crete
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Established: 1966
Website: https://www.cretecarrier.com
Services: Truckload, Temp Controlled, Specialized
CR England
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Established: 1920
Website: https://www.crengland.com
Services: Truckload, Temp Controlled, Intermodal, Dedicated
Roadrunner Transportation
Location: Downers Grove, Illinois
Established: 1984
Website: https://www.rrts.com
Services: Truckload, LTL, Temp Controlled
Covenant Transport
Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Established: 1986
Website: https://www.covenanttransport.com/
Services: Truckload, Expedited
Western Express
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Established: 1990
Website: https://www.westernexp.com
Services: Truckload, Dedicated, Flatbed
Heartland Express
Location: North Liberty, Iowa
Established: 1978
Website: https://www.heartlandexpress.com
Services: Truckload, Dedicated
Ruan
Location: Des Moines, Iowa
Established: 1932
Website: https://www.ruan.com
Services: Truckload, Dedicated
Cardinal.jpg?width=211&name=Cardinal%20Logistics%20(1).jpg)
Location: Concord, North Carolina
Established: 1981
Website: https://www.cardlog.com
Services: Dedicated
Marten
Location: Mondovi, Wisconsin
Established: 1946
Website: https://www.marten.com/
Services: Temp Controlled Truckload
Universal
Location: Warren, Michigan
Established: 1932
Website: https://www.UniversalLogistics.com
Services: Truckload, Dedicated
P. A. M. Transport
Location: Tontitown, Arkansas
Established: 1980
Website: https://www.pamtransport.com
Services: Truckload, Expedited, Dedicated
Next Moves on FTL & LTL
As you’re making the decision as to which truckload or LTL company will work best for you, we suggest you read the following articles to best position yourself on obtaining competitive pricing:
Freight Costs: An Insider’s Look on Freight Pricing Buyers Should Know
How-to Negotiate & Execute Best Freight Rates: Comprehensive Guide
Freight Contract Rates vs Spot Rates - Comprehensive Guide
We hope you found this article helpful. If ever you are looking at alternatives for your truckload and LTL freight requirements we would love to be a part of that conversation, so please visit our website to learn more about how we can help and follow us on our blog.
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