Gitnux/Report 2026

Ltl Freight Industry Statistics

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Ltl Freight Industry Statistics
Samuel NorbergWritten by Samuel Norberg·Fact-checked by Maya Johansson
Published
How this report is researched
01Editorial Scope

Gitnux editors write the brief first: the topic, the inclusion rules, and the frame for what belongs.

02Source Research

Agents search the published record and log every extracted figure back to the passage it came from.

Read our full methodology →

Search agents attach provenance to every extracted figure.

Next review: within 39 days

01 Industry overview

The ltl freight industry at a glance

The North American LTL freight industry generated more than $50 billion in 2025, but volumes remained pressured as carriers relied on pricing, fuel surcharges and network efficiency to protect revenue.

$50B+[69]
U.S. LTL revenue, 2025
6.9%[70]
Global LTL CAGR, 2024–2030
$8.8B[52]
Leading carrier revenue, 2025
11.1M[20]
ODFL LTL shipments, 2025
Market size
The U.S. LTL industry generated more than $50 billion in revenue in calendar year 2025. The global less-than-truckload market was estimated at $216.7 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $259.2 billion in 2026.[69][70]
Forecast & CAGR
The global LTL market is forecast to grow from $259.2 billion in 2026 to $342.1 billion by 2030, implying a 6.9% compound annual growth rate for 2024–2030.[70]
Market share & regions
The United States remains the primary market in North American LTL, with the largest carriers operating national networks and regional carriers competing in dense geographic corridors. In 2025, FedEx Freight led the U.S. carrier ranking with $8.782 billion of revenue, followed by Old Dominion at $5.446 billion and Estes at $4.986 billion.[52]
Segmentation
LTL services are commonly segmented by shipment urgency, freight characteristics and network coverage. FedEx Freight describes priority services for time-sensitive shipments and economy services when shippers can trade speed for lower cost; NMFTA freight classes range from 50 to 500 and reflect handling, stowability, liability and density.[71][72]
Key players & concentration
The leading U.S. LTL carriers are FedEx Freight, Old Dominion Freight Line, Estes Express Lines, XPO, R+L Carriers, Saia, ABF Freight and TForce Freight. The top four carriers reported approximately $24.0 billion of 2025 revenue in the SJ Consulting ranking, indicating substantial scale among national operators within a broader fragmented market.[52]
Pricing
Pricing is being supported more by yield management and accessorial or fuel-related charges than by shipment growth. Saia reported 2025 LTL revenue per shipment of $351.99, up 1.2%, while revenue per shipment excluding fuel surcharges was $297.79; it also implemented a 5.9% general rate increase on October 1, 2025.[1]
Trends, drivers & challenges
The principal drivers are e-commerce, manufacturing and the need to consolidate smaller shipments into shared networks, while the main challenges are weak industrial demand, labor costs and lower shipment density. Old Dominion reported a 9.1% decline in LTL tons and a 9.8% decline in shipments per day in 2025, while citing continued softness in the domestic economy.[20]
Consumer behavior & competition
Shippers increasingly balance price against transit reliability, claims performance and shipment visibility rather than choosing solely on the lowest quote. Old Dominion reported 99% on-time service and a 0.1% cargo-claims ratio in 2025, while Saia’s average 2025 LTL shipment weighed approximately 1,380 pounds and traveled 897 miles.[20][1]
M&A
The most significant recent structural transaction was FedEx’s June 1, 2026 spin-off of FedEx Freight as an independent publicly traded North American LTL company. Separately, FedEx agreed to sell FedEx Supply Chain to CMA CGM at an enterprise value of $1.4 billion, although that transaction concerns contract logistics rather than the core LTL carrier business.[55]
Regulation
LTL pricing and shipment handling are shaped by the National Motor Freight Classification system, which assigns classes from 50 to 500 using density and other transportation characteristics. NMFTA’s 2026 density guidelines range from at least 50 pounds per cubic foot for class 50 to less than 1 pound per cubic foot for class 500.[72][73]
Latest news
As of November 10, 2026, the most consequential industry development is the completed FedEx Freight separation: FedEx Freight began trading independently on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker FDXF on June 1, 2026. The separation creates a standalone national LTL competitor at a time when 2025 industry revenue and shipment volumes were under pressure.[55][52]
report visual · Comparison

Revenue of the largest ltl freight companies

FedEx Freight leads with $8.8B in annual revenue (group level, converted to USD).

FedEx Freight$8.8B
XPO$8.2B
Old Dominion Freight Line$5.5B
Estes Express Lines$5.0B
R+L Carriers$3.7B
Southeastern Freight Lines$1.7B
source-verifiedir.fedexfreight.com · sec.gov · ir.odfl.com · jindel.com2026

02 Ranking

Top 10 Companies in the Ltl Freight Industry

The leading companies in the ltl freight industry, ranked on market impact, performance, momentum, innovation and brand popularity.

Updated November 10, 2026 · Next review December 10, 2026

Verdict

FedEx Freight leads Gitnux's 2026 ltl freight ranking with an Overall score of 9.0, with $8.782 billion of 2025 U.S. carrier revenue and 6.6% operating margin signals. XPO is the highest-ranked logistics technology and network operator at 8.9, backed by $4.8 billion 2025 North American LTL revenue and 8.9% capacity analytics signals.

Ranked by Overall score · How we score ↓

Editor's top 3 picks

Where to start, by need.

  1. #1 Overall · Leader in national LTL carriers

    FedEx Freight

    US

    Ranked #1 · 9.0 · National LTL carriers

    Why we picked it: Its national LTL scale shows up in $8.782B 2025 U.S. revenue and 6.6% operating margin.

    See in ranking ↓Visit fedexfreight.com ↗

  2. Leader in technology-enabled LTL networks

    XPO

    US

    Ranked #2 · 8.9 · Technology-enabled LTL networks

    Why we picked it: Its North American LTL revenue was $4.8B in 2025, supported by optimization models for volume and capacity.

    See in ranking ↓Visit xpo.com ↗

  3. Leader in regional LTL carriers

    Southeastern Freight Lines

    US

    Ranked #4 · 8.5 · Regional LTL carriers

    Why we picked it: Its footprint is regional Sunbelt LTL, with 2025 revenue growth reported at 1.7%.

    See in ranking ↓Visit sefl.com ↗

Pick 1 is the #1 company overall. Picks 2 and 3 are the highest-ranked companies in the top 5 that add a new segment.

Full ranking

Sort by
Top 10 companies in the ltl freight industry, 2026 – Gitnux ranking
#CompanyOverall ↓Company snapshot
1

FedEx Freight

National LTL carriers · US

9.0
2

XPO

Technology-enabled LTL networks · US

8.9
3

Old Dominion Freight Line

National LTL carriers · US

8.7
4

Southeastern Freight Lines

Regional LTL carriers · US

8.5
5

Dayton Freight

Regional LTL carriers · US

8.4
6

A Duie Pyle

Regional LTL in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic · US

8.4
7

Estes Express Lines

National and regional U.S. LTL · US

8.4
8

ArcBest

LTL freight through ABF Freight, United States · US

8.3
9

Pitt Ohio

LTL freight, eastern and midwestern United States · US

8.3
10

R+L Carriers

National and regional North American LTL · US

8.1

How we score

  • Impact (30%): scale and weight in the market (revenue, market share, employees, market position).
  • Performance (20%): recent revenue growth and operating margin; an analyst assessment where a company does not publish them.
  • Momentum (20%): growth trajectory and future potential.
  • Innovation (15%): R&D intensity and how technologically advanced the company is.

Popularity (brand search demand, 15%) counts toward Overall but is not published as a column. Overall leaves out what is not known.

Scale Scores are shown on a 7–10 scale with one decimal; bars start at 7.0.

Cadence Recalculated when new figures are published; next review December 10, 2026.

Independence. Rankings are editorially independent. Scores, ranks, picks and the verdict follow the method above; no company can pay to change them.

Cite this ranking

APA

Samuel Norberg. (2026, November 10). Top 10 companies in the ltl freight industry. In Ltl Freight Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/ltl-freight-industry-statistics/#top-companies

04 Statistics

Technology & Innovation

XPO’s network claims 2.5 million miles per day on average in the 12 months ended June 30, 2025, tied to an AI-supported operating network.

AI in the ltl freight industry

  • 2.5 million miles per day was the average linehaul distance for XPO’s North American LTL business in the 12 months ended June 30, 2025, within an AI-supported operating network.[1]
  • $24 million in savings was delivered by ArcBest’s continuous-improvement initiatives in 2025, alongside practical AI applications aimed at productivity and operational efficiency.[1]
  • 16 billion pounds of freight were moved by XPO’s LTL business in 2025, with proprietary optimization models analyzing volume, capacity and dimensions to improve trailer utilization.[2]
  • More than $2 billion was invested by Saia over the five years through 2024, primarily in real estate, revenue equipment and technology supporting its LTL network.[1]
  • 785 million miles were covered by XPO’s North American LTL business in the 12 months ended June 30, 2025, supporting AI-enabled linehaul and network optimization.[1]
  • $34.1 million of innovative technology costs affected ArcBest’s consolidated segment results in 2024, including AI, automation and other technology initiatives.[1]

Automation in the ltl freight industry

  • $52.4 million of pre-tax innovative technology costs were recorded by ArcBest in 2023, including freight-handling pilot programs and other automation initiatives.[1]
  • 10 ABF Freight service centers were planned for closure in 2026, representing approximately 1% of the company’s service-center doors as part of network consolidation.[1]
  • 40,000 pieces of equipment were owned and operated by ArcBest in 2025, with fleet optimization, electric-vehicle testing and advanced safety technologies under development.[1]
  • $575 million was Old Dominion’s total planned 2025 capital investment, including information technology, service-center capacity, equipment and other LTL network assets.[3]
  • 8,820 doors were in ArcBest’s LTL network in 2021, compared with more than 9,600 in 2025, expanding the operating footprint for technology-enabled processes.[1]
  • $50 million was Old Dominion’s planned 2025 investment in information technology and other key assets to improve LTL operating efficiency and customer experience.[3]

Digital Transformation in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Among global logistics decision-makers, 69% expected digitalization to improve efficiency in 2025.[4]
  • Among global logistics decision-makers, 51% identified high costs as a challenge to digitalizing logistics operations in 2025.[4]
  • Across surveyed freight forwarders and logistics providers, 49% had digitized 50% or fewer of business processes or transactions in November 2024.[5]
  • Among global logistics decision-makers, 63% expected digitalization to enhance customer experience in 2025.[4]
  • Across surveyed freight forwarders and logistics providers, 23% had digitized more than 75% of business processes or transactions in November 2024.[5]

Technology Adoption in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across transportation and logistics executives surveyed in Europe and North America, 44% were using AI for transportation planning and optimization in 2025.[6]
  • Across transportation and logistics organizations, 53% were partially or fully deploying AI to reduce workloads in 2024.[7]
  • Among 2026 transportation-management survey respondents, 19% of shippers reported using AI at scale.[7]
  • Among 2026 transportation-management survey respondents, 15% of logistics service providers reported using AI at scale.[7]
  • Across transportation and logistics organizations, 53% were partially or fully deploying automated real-time shipment tracking to address knowledge-worker shortages in 2024.[7]

Cloud Computing in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across travel, transportation and logistics companies surveyed globally, 85% said leadership viewed cloud as a long-term investment in 2023.[8]
  • Across travel, transportation and logistics companies surveyed globally, 84% had increased AI and machine-learning investment during the preceding one to two years.[8]
  • Across travel, transportation and logistics companies surveyed globally, 75% said cloud was crucial to their organization’s future in 2023.[8]
  • Across travel, transportation and logistics companies surveyed globally, 89% planned to increase AI and machine-learning investment during the following one to two years.[8]

Big Data in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • 9.5% of transportation and storage enterprises used big-data analytics alone in the OECD’s 2026 cross-sector comparison, based on the latest available enterprise data.[9]
  • 12.5% of transportation and storage enterprises used both cloud computing and big-data analytics, according to the OECD’s 2026 sectoral comparison of enterprise technology adoption.[9]
  • 38% of surveyed GCC logistics organizations used structured data, while 20% recognized a systematic link between data and business insights, according to a 2023 study.[10]
  • Among global logistics decision-makers, 34% identified data analytics, including cloud platforms and AI-powered solutions, as the most critical technology in 2025.[4]

05 Statistics

Data & Analytics

Analytics links show up in revenue-management figures such as XPO’s 6.9% LTL yield increase excluding fuel in the first quarter of 2025.

Business intelligence in the ltl freight industry

  • 820 million miles were covered by XPO’s North American LTL freight during the trailing twelve months ended September 30, 2024, supporting large-scale operational data management.[1]
  • 98% or more of Old Dominion’s historical revenue came from transporting LTL shipments, the core business supported by its proprietary information systems in North America.[1]
  • $75 million was budgeted by Old Dominion for information technology and other assets in 2024, supporting its LTL operating systems and customer information tools in the United States.[1]
  • $4.9 billion was generated by XPO’s North American LTL segment in 2024, the business area targeted by advanced pricing analytics and revenue-management tools.[1]
  • 18 billion pounds of freight were moved by XPO’s North American LTL business during the trailing twelve months ended September 30, 2024, using cloud-based operational technology.[1]
  • 2.6 million linehaul miles per day were averaged by XPO’s North American LTL business during the trailing twelve months ended September 30, 2024.[1]

Data analytics in the ltl freight industry

  • 894 miles was Saia LTL Freight’s average shipment distance in 2023, according to its network and shipment analysis.[1]
  • 7.1% was the decrease in Old Dominion LTL tons per day in 2024, reflecting analytics on shipment volume and freight weight.[1]
  • 6.9% was XPO’s year-over-year increase in LTL yield excluding fuel in the first quarter of 2025, reflecting pricing analytics and revenue-management activity.[1]
  • 5.2% was XPO’s year-over-year increase in LTL revenue per shipment excluding fuel in the first quarter of 2025.[1]
  • 8.9% was the increase in Saia LTL tonnage in 2024, based on the carrier’s operating analysis of shipment volumes.[11]
  • 5.4% was the decrease in Old Dominion LTL shipments per day in 2024, measured through the company’s operating data and analytics systems.[1]

Data Quality in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across supply management organizations, 33% rated their data-security ability as very high for assuring data quality in 2024.[12]
  • Across transportation and logistics shippers, 33% identified data quality as a top barrier to scaling artificial intelligence in 2026.[7]
  • Across supply management organizations, 49% rated their data quality as good or excellent in 2024.[12]
  • Across supply management organizations, 67% said their data quality was better or significantly better than two years earlier in 2024.[12]

Data Governance in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across supply management organizations with a data-governance program, 81% found the program useful in 2024.[12]
  • Across supply management organizations, 61% had a dedicated data-governance function in 2024.[12]
  • Across supply management organizations with a data-governance function, 47% housed it in a center of excellence in 2024.[12]
  • 33% of 3PL respondents said their supply chain governance maturity was running ahead, meaning proactive and predictable, in the 2024 global survey.[13]
  • 32% of transport and logistics respondents said data governance or security was a primary challenge when preparing data for artificial intelligence in 2024.[14]
  • 42.8% of airlines surveyed worldwide considered themselves to be in the early stages of data-strategy implementation in the IATA 2024 survey.[15]

KPIs in the ltl freight industry

  • 96.6% was the 2019 on-time-delivery rate for LTL orders in the U.S. government’s DFTS dataset.[16]
  • 0.1% was Old Dominion’s cargo claims ratio in 2024 for its U.S. LTL operations.[1]
  • 98.0% was Saia’s October on-time delivery goal and reported result in its Customer Service Indicators program.[17]
  • 95.4% was the 2018 on-time-delivery rate for LTL orders in the U.S. government’s DFTS dataset.[16]
  • 99% was Old Dominion’s on-time service rate in 2024 across its U.S. LTL operations.[1]
  • 99.5% was Saia’s October claims-free-service result against a 99.5% goal in its Customer Service Indicators program.[17]

06 Statistics

Strategy & Growth

Segment performance is measured with shipment and revenue deltas, including Old Dominion’s $5.446 billion LTL-services revenue in 2025.

Growth in the ltl freight industry

  • 15.3% was Knight-Swift’s increase in LTL shipments per day in 2025, reaching 23,923 shipments.[18]
  • $50 billion-plus was the estimated U.S. LTL industry revenue in 2024, with revenue growing at a 4.6% compound annual rate from 2017 to 2024.[19]
  • 11.1% was Knight-Swift’s increase in third-quarter 2024 LTL shipments per day compared with the third quarter of 2023.[1]
  • 2.1% was Saia’s increase in LTL tonnage in 2025, while LTL shipments declined 0.7%.[11]
  • $5.446 billion was Old Dominion Freight Line’s LTL-services revenue in 2025, down from $5.761 billion in 2024.[20]
  • $4.8 billion was XPO’s North American LTL revenue in 2025, down 1.4% from $4.9 billion in 2024.[21]

Differentiation in the ltl freight industry

  • 300 service centers supported XPO’s North American LTL network in 2025.[22]
  • $492.01 was Old Dominion’s 2025 LTL revenue per shipment, up 2.4% from 2024.[20]
  • $33.31 was Old Dominion’s 2025 LTL revenue per hundredweight, up 3.9% from 2024.[20]
  • $25.50 was Saia’s 2025 LTL revenue per hundredweight, while revenue per shipment reached $351.99.[11]
  • 12 million shipments were handled by XPO’s North American LTL segment in 2025.[22]
  • 99% of U.S. ZIP codes were covered by XPO’s day-definite domestic LTL services in 2025.[21]

Mergers and acquisitions in the ltl freight industry

  • More than 210 companies had been acquired by TFI International since 1996 as of its 2024 annual report.[23]
  • $1.35 billion was Knight-Swift’s 2021 acquisition price for AAA Cooper Transportation, its first major entry into the LTL market.[24]
  • $122 million was Dependable Highway Express’s operating revenue during the twelve months before Knight-Swift acquired its LTL division.[1]
  • 11 businesses were acquired by TFI International during 2024 as part of its growth strategy.[23]
  • $1.052 billion was the revenue contributed by Daseke to TFI International during the nine months after the 2024 acquisition.[1]
  • 10% was the approximate increase in Knight-Swift’s LTL service-center and door counts resulting from the DHE acquisition.[25]

Strategic partnerships in the ltl freight industry

  • 12,000 shipments were delivered daily by Pitt Ohio in 2015, when its regional network included interline cooperation with other LTL carriers.[26]
  • 21 terminals and 34 vans supported Pitt Ohio’s operations in 2015 after the company expanded through regional-carrier relationships and interline arrangements.[26]
  • 40 states were covered by Dependable Highway Express through partner agreements before its LTL division was acquired by Knight-Swift in 2024.[24]

07 Statistics

People & Workforce

Workforce measurement is frequent and quantified, including 40,000 FedEx Freight employees as of February 28, 2026.

Hiring in the ltl freight industry

  • Over 12,500 Saia team members participated in the company’s 2024 employee survey, providing a broad recruiting and workforce-feedback pool.[1]
  • Approximately 21,000 employees supported XPO’s North American LTL business in 2021 across 291 terminals and 13 million shipments.[21]
  • 86% was Saia’s employee-survey participation rate in 2024, the company’s highest reported participation level.[1]
  • 40,000 employees worked for FedEx Freight as of February 28, 2026, across the United States, Canada and Mexico.[1]
  • Approximately 1,000 eligible XPO LTL employees at more than 225 locations received additional wage increases during 2025, supporting workforce attraction and supply.[21]

Employee retention in the ltl freight industry

  • 3% was the reduction in XPO LTL driver-sales-representative voluntary turnover by year-end 2024.[1]
  • More than 13,000 XPO LTL employees participated in the 2024 workforce survey used to assess employee experience and retention conditions.[1]
  • More than 8,000 Saia employees were recognized for accident-free work in 2024, a retention-related recognition measure.[1]
  • 86% of Saia employees participated in the company’s 2024 survey, the highest participation rate reported by the carrier.[1]
  • 86.7% of employees responded to XPO’s North American Dockworker, Driver and Manufacturing Survey in 2024, supporting measurement of retention sentiment.[1]

Remote Work in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across U.S. transportation and utilities, 20.3% of workers could work from home in 2024–2025, while 18.6% actually did so, according to annual averages.[27]
  • Among U.S. transportation, logistics, supply-chain and storage hires, 17.0% of hires at small companies were remote during the year ending September 2024.[28]
  • In the U.S. transportation and warehousing industry, 13.9% of wage and salary employees worked from home in January 2025.[29]
  • Across U.S. transportation and utilities occupations, about 11% of workers worked remotely at least sometimes from October 2023 through September 2024.[30]

Hybrid Work in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Among transportation employers surveyed for the U.S. Job Outlook, 33.3% reported fully hybrid work arrangements in 2024.[31]
  • Among U.S. remote-capable employees, 54% worked hybrid schedules in August 2026.[32]
  • Across transportation and logistics companies surveyed globally, 42% reported a hybrid work arrangement in 2025.[33]
  • Globally, 25% of engaged employees were working in hybrid arrangements in 2025, compared with 30% of exclusively remote employees and 17% of on-site, non-remote-capable employees.[32]

Upskilling in the ltl freight industry

  • 34.0% of Old Dominion’s full-time driver workforce had completed its driver training program by December 31, 2024.[1]
  • All ABF Freight drivers have been required to complete human-trafficking-awareness training during onboarding since 2018.[34]
  • Approximately 2.6 million hours of training were reported by XPO in its 2023 North American LTL workforce scorecard.[21]
  • Over 500 XPO employees graduated from North American LTL driver schools and earned a CDL under the company’s reported training program milestone.[21]
  • 2,550 XPO LTL drivers had achieved at least one million accident-free miles by December 31, 2025, reflecting accumulated safety-development experience.[21]

Employee Engagement in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • In U.S. logistics, 71% of frontline workers reported workplace stress in 2024.[35]
  • In U.S. logistics, more than 60% of frontline workers considered their roles long-term career commitments in 2024.[35]
  • In U.S. logistics, 40% of frontline workers wanted to quit in 2024, according to a survey of 500 logistics employees.[35]
  • Across Asia-Pacific transport and logistics organizations, 62% of employees were actively engaged, based on feedback from 30,116 employees in 24 surveys.[36]
  • Globally, 20% of employees were engaged at work in 2025, while 16% were actively disengaged.[32]

DEI in the ltl freight industry

  • 16% of XPO executive leadership positions at vice president level and above were held by ethnically or racially diverse employees in 2025.[21]
  • 33% of XPO operational management roles were held by ethnically or racially diverse employees in 2025.[21]

08 Statistics

Customer & Sales

Customer-experience measurement includes volume of reviewed interactions, such as 108,174 ArcBest customer interactions reviewed in 2024.

Customer experience in the ltl freight industry

  • 108,174 customer interactions were reviewed by ArcBest’s CX Quality Team in 2024 to identify service pain points and improvement opportunities in its freight operations.[37]
  • 38,354 customer calls were reviewed by ArcBest’s CX Quality Team in 2024.[37]
  • 1,443 customer chats were reviewed by ArcBest’s CX Quality Team in 2024.[37]
  • 155 LTL carriers were rated by shippers in Mastio’s 2026 study.[24]
  • 42,554 customer emails were reviewed by ArcBest’s CX Quality Team in 2024.[37]

Customer retention in the ltl freight industry

  • 11% was the share of XPO’s North American LTL revenue represented by its five largest customers in 2025, stated as less than 11%.[21]
  • 11% was the reported increase in customer retention for ArcBest’s expedite business as of the third quarter of 2025.[1]
  • 4% was approximately the share of XPO’s North American LTL revenue represented by its largest customer in 2025.[21]
  • 90% of managed-solution customers that shipped in 2024 were retained in 2025 by ArcBest’s managed transportation business.[1]
  • 60.4% of surveyed LTL shippers reported a decline in carriers’ ability to resolve service problems during the COVID-19 period.[38]

Customer acquisition in the ltl freight industry

  • 18 billion pounds of freight were moved through XPO’s North American LTL network in 2024.[1]
  • 37,000 customers were served by XPO’s North American LTL segment in 2024.[1]
  • 42% was the compound annual growth rate in ArcBest’s average managed shipments per day from 2017 through 2025.[1]
  • 13 million shipments were handled by XPO’s North American LTL segment in 2024.[1]
  • 99% of U.S. ZIP codes were covered by XPO’s North American LTL service-center network as of September 2025.[1]

Customer loyalty in the ltl freight industry

  • 4 consecutive years was the period Estes was ranked the best-value provider among national LTL competitors through the 2025 study.[39]
  • 86.49 was Daylight Transport’s Net Promoter Score in Mastio’s 2025 U.S. LTL Customer Value and Loyalty Study.[40]
  • 106.7 was Daylight Transport’s weighted performance score in Mastio’s 2025 LTL customer study.[40]
  • 3 consecutive years was the period Daylight Transport received the top overall LTL-carrier honor in Mastio’s 2026 results.[24]
  • 8 points was the increase in Estes’ Net Promoter Score in the 2025 Mastio LTL study.[39]

Lead generation in the ltl freight industry

  • 75% or more of the U.S. LTL industry was held by its top 10 players in 2024, according to XPO’s investor presentation.[1]
  • 5% was the compound annual growth rate of the North American LTL industry’s revenue from 2010 through 2024, according to a 2025 XPO investor presentation.[1]
  • 13 million shipments represented the annual customer-shipment base of XPO’s North American LTL segment in 2024.[1]
  • 37,000 customers represented the customer base of XPO’s North American LTL segment in 2024.[1]
  • $1 billion or more was ArcBest’s managed-solutions opportunity pipeline as of the third quarter of 2025.[1]

09 Statistics

Marketing & Brand

Customer-perception comparisons extend through survey programs, including 147 LTL freight carriers rated in Mastio’s 2025 study.

Marketing in the ltl freight industry

  • Fewer than 70% of surveyed LTL carriers said traffic departments reported shipper-specific information to marketing departments; year not stated in the source.[41]
  • Nearly 90% of surveyed LTL carriers used shipper-specific information from traffic departments to help prepare marketing strategy; year not stated in the source.[41]
  • 1,608 U.S. LTL customers participated in Mastio’s 2024 customer value and loyalty study, producing approximately 5,000 observations.[42]
  • Approximately 5,700 qualitative responses were collected from LTL decision-makers in Mastio’s 2024 customer value and loyalty study.[42]
  • Approximately 5,000 qualitative responses were collected from LTL decision-makers in Mastio’s 2025 customer value and loyalty study.[42]

Digital marketing in the ltl freight industry

  • 18 billion pounds of freight are moved annually by XPO’s North American LTL business, enabled by proprietary technology; company information available in 2025.[21]
  • 55,000 customers are served by XPO’s North American asset-based LTL business and related operations, supported by proprietary technology; company information available in 2025.[21]
  • 3,439 active Old Dominion drivers had completed the company’s driver-training program by December 31, 2025, supporting a digitally connected LTL workforce.[20]
  • 5,305 full-time linehaul drivers worked for Old Dominion Freight Line at December 31, 2025, within a carrier that uses online tracking and customer portals.[20]
  • 38,000 employees support XPO’s operations, including its asset-based LTL business and digital customer experience; company information available in 2025.[21]

Branding in the ltl freight industry

  • 147 LTL freight carriers were rated in Mastio’s 2025 study, providing the industry’s broad carrier-perception pool for brand comparisons.[42]
  • 24 LTL carriers qualified for detailed results in Mastio’s 2025 U.S. customer value and loyalty report, according to the study release.[42]
  • 17 consecutive years is the period Old Dominion Freight Line has been ranked the top national U.S. LTL carrier for quality in the Mastio survey, as reported in 2026.[43]
  • 164 LTL freight carriers were rated in Mastio’s 2024 study, providing the industry’s broad carrier-perception pool for brand comparisons.[42]
  • 17 consecutive years is the period Old Dominion Freight Line received the top national-carrier designation in the 2026 Mastio LTL survey.[24]

Social media in the ltl freight industry

  • 1 SMS notification program is operated by Old Dominion for shipment tracking and other customer-portal alerts; United States, terms last updated July 15, 2026.[44]
  • 4 social-media platforms were identified for Old Dominion Freight Line in its company fact sheet: Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube; United States, 2021.[44]
  • 4 social-commerce and social-networking use cases are described in Old Dominion’s privacy policy: connecting, sharing content, generating interest and displaying user posts; policy current in 2026.[44]
  • 5 social-media channels are listed by XPO for stakeholder engagement: LinkedIn, Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube; company information available in 2025.[21]
  • 2 notification categories are explicitly cited in Old Dominion’s SMS terms: shipment tracking and other tool notifications; United States, terms last updated July 15, 2026.[44]

Influencer Marketing in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • 43% of worldwide B2B marketers who achieved positive results said micro-influencers generated the most success in 2024.[45]
  • 55% of B2B companies used influencers in 2025, according to a global survey of marketing decision-makers.[46]
  • 58% of B2B marketers selected authenticity and credibility as criteria for choosing influencers in 2025, globally.[46]
  • 49% of B2B marketers selected industry relevance as a criterion for choosing influencers in 2025, globally.[46]
  • 53% of U.S. B2B marketers reported a growing dedicated influencer-marketing budget in 2024 survey data.[45]

10 Statistics

Operations & Execution

Execution metrics highlight time-in-transit service and claims, including Old Dominion’s 99% on-time service in 2024.

Process optimization in the ltl freight industry

  • 261 service centers formed Old Dominion’s network at December 31, 2024.[20]
  • 13,000 drivers worked in XPO’s North American LTL segment in 2024.[47]
  • 50% was the increase in Old Dominion’s service-center door count from the beginning of 2014 through 2024.[48]
  • 661 million linehaul miles were run by XPO’s North American LTL segment in 2024.[47]
  • $150 million was the estimated incremental revenue generated by FedEx Freight’s DIM system during fiscal years 2024 and 2025.[19]

Operational efficiency in the ltl freight industry

  • 69.606 million pounds per day was XPO’s North American LTL freight volume in 2024.[21]
  • $20.17 was Saia’s 2024 LTL revenue per hundredweight.[49]
  • 1,351 pounds was XPO’s average North American LTL shipment weight in 2024.[21]
  • 589 miles was Saia’s average LTL length of haul in 2024.[49]
  • 97.0% was Saia’s GAAP operating ratio in the fourth quarter of 2024.[25]

Quality management in the ltl freight industry

  • 70% of Old Dominion shipments were next-day or second-day shipments in 2024.[48]
  • 0.65% was Saia’s cargo claims ratio in 2020.[50]
  • 99% was Old Dominion’s on-time service level in 2024.[20]
  • 0.50% was Saia’s cargo claims ratio for 2025, a company record low.[50]
  • 0.62% was Saia’s cargo claims ratio in 2023.[50]

Supply chain in the ltl freight industry

  • $118.68 billion was the projected U.S. LTL market size for 2026.[51]
  • 36,000 customers were served by XPO’s North American LTL segment in 2024.[47]
  • 202 shipments per terminal per day was the average for the top 25 U.S. LTL carriers in 2024.[52]
  • 47,288 average daily shipments were reported for Old Dominion in 2024.[52]
  • 22,122 average daily shipments were reported for TForce Freight’s U.S. operations in 2024.[52]

Outsourcing / Offshoring in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across surveyed logistics companies in Germany, the rest of Europe and Latin America, 57% planned outsourcing projects in warehousing in 2026.[53]
  • Across surveyed logistics companies in Germany, the rest of Europe and Latin America, 65% expected outsourcing to continue increasing in 2026.[53]
  • Across surveyed logistics companies in Germany, the rest of Europe and Latin America, about 60% had fully outsourced transportation services in 2026.[53]
  • Across surveyed logistics companies in Germany, the rest of Europe and Latin America, 25% had fully outsourced warehouse operations in 2026.[53]

11 Statistics

Finance & Pricing

Revenue and expense reporting ties pricing to per-unit economics, such as FedEx Freight revenue per shipment of $415.22 in Q4 fiscal 2026.

Pricing strategy in the ltl freight industry

  • $18.30 was Knight-Swift’s LTL revenue excluding fuel surcharge per hundredweight in the third quarter of 2026 in North America.[1]
  • $415.22 was FedEx Freight’s revenue per shipment in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 in the United States, up 11.5% year over year.[1]
  • $33.31 was Old Dominion’s LTL revenue per hundredweight in 2025 in the United States, up from $32.05 in 2024 under its yield-management strategy.[20]
  • $25.50 was Saia’s LTL revenue per hundredweight in 2025 in the United States, compared with $25.89 in 2024.[1]
  • $43.79 was FedEx Freight’s revenue per hundredweight in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 in the United States, up 8.2% year over year.[1]

Cost reduction in the ltl freight industry

  • $155 million was FedEx Freight’s insurance and claims expense in calendar 2025 in the United States.[1]
  • 2.0% was the reduction in FedEx Freight’s total operating expenses from calendar 2024 to 2025 in the United States, excluding separation and other costs from the comparison.[1]
  • 1,100 tractors were removed from Old Dominion’s fleet between 2024 and 2025 in the United States, reducing the fleet from 11,284 to 10,184.[20]
  • 22 fewer pounds was Old Dominion’s average LTL weight per shipment in 2025 than in 2024 in the United States, declining to 1,477 pounds.[20]
  • 1,577 trailers were removed from Old Dominion’s fleet between 2024 and 2025 in the United States, reducing the fleet from 46,714 to 45,137.[20]

Profitability in the ltl freight industry

  • $1.024 billion was Old Dominion’s net income in 2025 in the United States.[20]
  • 16.7% was FedEx Freight’s operating margin in fiscal 2025 in the United States, compared with 19.3% in fiscal 2024.[1]
  • $38.994 million was Knight-Swift’s LTL operating income in 2025 in North America, down from $87.390 million in 2024.[54]
  • $1.361 billion was Old Dominion’s operating income in 2025 in the United States.[20]
  • $1.489 billion was FedEx Freight’s operating income in fiscal 2025 in the United States.[1]

Financial planning in the ltl freight industry

  • 4.0 years was the average age of Knight-Swift’s LTL tractor fleet in the first quarter of 2025 in North America.[1]
  • $1.022 billion was FedEx Freight’s calendar-2025 operating income available to support capital planning in the United States.[1]
  • $19.720 million was Saia’s cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2025 in the United States.[11]
  • $206 million was FedEx Freight’s separation and other expense in calendar 2025 in the United States.[1]
  • $169.172 million was Saia’s working capital at December 31, 2025 in the United States.[1]

12 Statistics

Product & Service

Service footprint and asset investment are tracked together, such as Saia targeting a 2026 net capital-expenditure range of $350 million to $400 million.

Product development in the ltl freight industry

  • $43.4 million was Saia’s 2025 spending on technology and other assets supporting customer service, maintenance and freight management.[1]
  • 33 terminals were added to Saia’s operations since 2022 through approximately $1 billion of real-estate investment in the national LTL network.[1]
  • 8% to 12% of revenue was XPO’s targeted average annual capital-expenditure range through 2027 for its North American LTL business.[1]
  • 25% was the approximate increase in Saia’s operational door count since 2022 after network investment and terminal expansion through 2026.[1]
  • $2.5 billion-plus was invested in capital expenditures by Saia over the five years through 2025, primarily for real estate, revenue equipment and technology in the U.S. LTL business.[1]

Product lifecycle in the ltl freight industry

  • 26,500 trailers were owned by Saia at December 31, 2025, including trailers acquired with finance leases.[1]
  • 3 to 5 years was Saia’s stated useful-life range for technology equipment and software used in its LTL operations.[1]
  • 3,216 facilities was the total U.S. LTL-sector terminal count in 2024, up 2.7% from 2023.[52]
  • $350 million to $400 million was Saia’s projected 2026 net capital-expenditure range for normal replacement, technology, equipment and real-estate investments.[1]
  • 213 owned and leased terminals formed Saia’s LTL network at December 31, 2025, plus three general offices and one warehouse.[1]

After-sales in the ltl freight industry

  • 0.1% was Old Dominion Freight Line’s cargo-claims ratio in 2025.[1]
  • 38.6% was the increase in miles driven between preventable accidents reported by Saia in 2025.[1]
  • 99.50% was Saia LTL Freight’s October claims-free-service result against a 99.50% goal.[17]
  • 26% more linehaul drivers were employed by Saia at the end of the second quarter of 2026 than at the end of the second quarter of 2022.[1]
  • 99% was Old Dominion Freight Line’s on-time service performance in 2025 across its U.S. LTL operations.[1]

Value proposition in the ltl freight industry

  • $492.01 was Old Dominion Freight Line’s average LTL revenue per shipment in 2025.[1]
  • $33.31 was Old Dominion Freight Line’s 2025 LTL revenue per hundredweight.[1]
  • 77.7% of surveyed shippers rated LTL carrier performance as more important than pricing in a 2020 survey.[38]
  • 897 miles was Saia’s average LTL shipment distance in 2025.[1]
  • 56% was the approximate share of the domestic U.S. LTL market held by the five largest carriers in 2024.[1]

13 Statistics

Sustainability & Ethics

Carbon measurement and targets are explicit, including FedEx Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions verification of 16,723,617 metric tonnes of CO2e for fiscal 2023.

Sustainability in the ltl freight industry

  • 18 billion pounds of freight were moved through XPO’s network in 2024, primarily through its North American LTL business.[21]
  • 9% was XPO’s estimated share of the U.S. LTL market in 2023.[21]
  • 2050 is Estes Express Lines’ target year for achieving net-zero emissions in the United States.[39]
  • 6,600 tractors were owned by Saia LTL Freight at December 31, 2024.[1]
  • 891 miles was Saia LTL Freight’s average shipment distance in 2024.[1]

ESG in the ltl freight industry

  • 85% of XPO employees in Europe were covered by a collective bargaining or similar agreement as of December 31, 2025.[21]
  • 4% was XPO’s approximate share of North American LTL revenue represented by its largest customer in 2025.[21]
  • 2,475 XPO LTL drivers had achieved at least one million accident-free miles as of December 31, 2023.[47]
  • 194 XPO LTL drivers reached the one-million accident-free-mile threshold during 2023.[47]
  • 16% of XPO executive leadership positions were held by ethnically or racially diverse employees in 2025.[21]

Ethics in the ltl freight industry

  • 136 companies were recognized across 20 countries and 44 industries in Ethisphere’s 2024 World’s Most Ethical Companies program.[55]
  • 240-plus proof points are assessed in Ethisphere’s Ethics Quotient used to evaluate FedEx’s ethics and compliance practices.[55]
  • 1 anonymous EthicsPoint reporting channel is identified by XPO as available for employees to report incidents.[47]
  • 1 transportation, trucking and railroad company was recognized in Ethisphere’s 2024 program, with FedEx identified as the sole honoree from that industry.[55]
  • 2 consecutive years marked FedEx’s recognition as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by 2024.[55]

CSR in the ltl freight industry

  • 2,700-plus volunteer hours were completed by Element employees in 2024, including employees supporting transportation-related operations.[56]
  • 73% was Element’s diversity index score in 2024.[56]
  • $2.43 billion was spent by Element with more than 4,800 diverse suppliers in 2024.[56]
  • 84% was Element’s team-member engagement score in 2024.[56]
  • 24% of Element’s workforce in the United States and Canada was racially or ethnically diverse in 2024.[56]

Circular economy in the ltl freight industry

  • 14.3% of U.S. wood-container and packaging waste was combusted with energy recovery in 2018.[57]
  • 10,500-plus vehicle collision accidents were prevented through Element safety products in 2024.[56]
  • 100% of Element’s internal fleet in Australia and New Zealand was electrified by March 2024.[56]
  • 58.8% of U.S. wood-container and packaging waste was landfilled in 2018.[57]
  • 3.1 million tons of wood pallets were recycled in the United States in 2018, according to data relevant to LTL pallet flows.[57]

Carbon footprint in the ltl freight industry

  • 97% or more of Saia’s revenue came from LTL transportation in 2024, defining the company’s emissions boundary as predominantly LTL freight.[1]
  • 2023 was the first year Estes Express Lines measured and reported its annual carbon footprint.[39]
  • 16,723,617 metric tonnes of CO2e were verified as FedEx Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions for fiscal 2023.[58]
  • 15,804,636 metric tonnes of CO2e were FedEx Scope 1 emissions for fiscal 2023.[58]
  • 918,981 metric tonnes of CO2e were FedEx Scope 2 emissions for fiscal 2023.[58]

15 Statistics

Globalization & Expansion

Cross-border exposure shows in operating footprints, such as 30.0% of U.S. international trade value in 2024 involving Canada and Mexico.

Globalization in the ltl freight industry

  • 39% of XPO’s global employees were based in Europe in 2025, compared with 60% in North America and 1% in Asia.[1]
  • 30.0% of U.S. international trade value in 2024 involved Canada and Mexico, the principal cross-border markets for North American LTL carriers.[68]
  • $4.8 billion was XPO’s North American LTL revenue in 2025, compared with $4.9 billion in 2024.[1]
  • 97% of Saia’s revenue came from LTL shipments in 2025, while Canada and Mexico were served through third-party interline carriers.[1]
  • $4.0 billion was ArcBest’s total revenue in 2025 across its transportation and logistics operations, including ABF Freight LTL.[1]

Cultural adaptation in the ltl freight industry

  • 50% of XPO’s professional management positions in North America were held by women in 2025.[1]
  • 5% was the cumulative growth from 2022 to 2025 in XPO’s number of female managers globally.[1]
  • 33% of XPO’s operational management roles were held by ethnically or racially diverse employees in 2025.[1]
  • 85% of XPO’s European employees were covered by a collective bargaining or similar agreement at December 31, 2025.[1]
  • 60% of XPO’s newly hired U.S. employees self-identified as ethnically or racially diverse in 2025.[1]

Supplier management in the ltl freight industry

  • $3.42 billion was XPO’s company-wide salaries, wages and employee-benefits expense in 2025, including costs for operations and support personnel.[1]
  • 85% of XPO’s North American employees held hourly roles in 2025, while 15% held salaried positions.[1]
  • $237.3 million was Saia’s purchased-transportation expense in 2024.[1]
  • $731 million was XPO’s North American LTL fuel-surcharge revenue in 2025, reflecting the carrier’s exposure to diesel suppliers and fuel-indexed pricing.[1]
  • 7,700 tractors were owned by Saia at December 31, 2025, alongside approximately 26,500 trailers.[1]

Stakeholder management in the ltl freight industry

  • Less than 3% of XPO’s global revenue came from its largest customer in 2025.[1]
  • 38.6% was the increase in Saia’s miles driven between preventable accidents in 2025.[1]
  • More than 9,000 roundtable discussions and safety and engagement committee meetings were held across XPO’s North American LTL network during 2025.[1]
  • 56% of the domestic LTL market was represented by the five largest carriers in 2024, according to information cited by Old Dominion.[1]
  • 8.7% was the improvement in Saia’s hours between lost-time injuries in 2025.[1]

Distribution channels in the ltl freight industry

  • 258 doors made Saia’s Dallas terminal its largest terminal at December 31, 2025.[1]
  • 217 doors made Saia’s Atlanta terminal its fourth-largest terminal at December 31, 2025.[1]
  • 220 terminals were operated by ABF Freight System in 2024, according to the U.S. LTL carrier ranking.[52]
  • 234 doors made Saia’s Houston terminal its third-largest terminal at December 31, 2025.[1]
  • 135 Saia service facilities were owned and 82 were leased at December 31, 2025.[1]

Key questions about the ltl freight industry

How large is the North American LTL market in 2025, and what does that imply for industry scale?
The North American LTL freight industry generated more than $50 billion in 2025, with volumes pressured as carriers relied on pricing, fuel surcharges, and network efficiency.
What growth rate and dollar expansion do we expect for global LTL through 2030?
The global LTL market is forecast to grow from $259.2 billion in 2026 to $342.1 billion by 2030, implying a 6.9% CAGR for 2024–2030.
Which companies lead the ltl freight industry?
FedEx Freight leads Gitnux's 2026 ltl freight ranking with an Overall score of 9.0, with $8.782 billion of 2025 U.S. carrier revenue and 6.6% operating margin signals. XPO is the highest-ranked logistics technology and network operator at 8.9, backed by $4.8 billion 2025 North American LTL revenue and 8.9% capacity analytics signals.
Which technology shifts show measurable adoption in LTL and adjacent logistics operations?
Transportation and logistics organizations reported 44% using AI for transportation planning and optimization in 2025, while 19% of shippers reported using AI at scale in 2026.
How concentrated is the U.S. LTL market, and what drives the competitive structure?
The top four carriers reported approximately $24.0 billion of 2025 revenue in the SJ Consulting ranking, and the market remains fragmented with national networks and regional carriers competing in dense corridors.
What is the pricing mix that operators report as revenue support rather than pure shipment growth?
Pricing is being supported more by yield management and accessorial or fuel-related charges than by shipment growth, with fuel surcharges staying volatile.
Reference

Cite This Report

This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.

APA
Samuel Norberg. (2026, November 10). Ltl Freight Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/ltl-freight-industry-statistics
MLA
Samuel Norberg. "Ltl Freight Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 10 Nov 2026, https://gitnux.org/ltl-freight-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Samuel Norberg. 2026. "Ltl Freight Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/ltl-freight-industry-statistics.

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