The U.S. LTL market is projected to reach $120 billion by 2028, while carriers are chasing tighter margins through faster networks and smarter pricing. Old Dominion holds an 8% U.S. LTL market share and posts a 92 out of 100 ORTEC operational excellence score, even as other giants shift course or exit, like YRC Freight ceasing operations in August 2023. Put these together and the picture gets more complex than rankings, from weekly shipment volumes to accessorial billing and capacity utilization.
Key Takeaways
- Old Dominion Freight Line market share 8% U.S. LTL 2023
- XPO Logistics LTL revenue $4.8 billion 2023
- Estes Express Lines 4th largest U.S. LTL carrier by revenue 2023
- The U.S. LTL market size reached $92.5 billion in 2023
- Global LTL freight market projected to grow at 5.2% CAGR from 2024-2030
- U.S. LTL shipments totaled 12.4 billion in 2022
- National LTL spot market volume 8% total 2023 U.S.
- U.S. LTL national average linehaul rate $2.10 per mile Q4 2023
- LTL rate increase 9.5% YoY in 2023 U.S.
- LTL Technologies adoption TMS 85% top carriers 2023
- AI route optimization in LTL forecast 30% efficiency gain by 2028
- Sustainability goals 50% LTL carriers net-zero by 2050
- U.S. LTL capacity utilization averaged 85% in 2023
- Average LTL shipment weight 1,200 lbs in U.S. 2023
- LTL lane volume top route I-95 corridor 15% of total U.S.
U.S. LTL grew in 2023 as market share tightened, uptime improved, and digital plus sustainability investments accelerated.
Related reading
01 · Category
Major Players27 stats
01
Old Dominion Freight Line market share 8% U.S. LTL 2023
02
XPO Logistics LTL revenue $4.8 billion 2023
03
Estes Express Lines 4th largest U.S. LTL carrier by revenue 2023
04
Saia Inc. revenue growth 18% YoY to $2.8 billion 2023
05
ABF Freight (ArcBest) 6% market share U.S. LTL 2023
06
Old Dominion ORTEC score 92/100 operational excellence 2023
07
YRC Freight (Yellow Corp) ceased operations Aug 2023
08
R+L Carriers revenue $2.1 billion est. 2023
09
Southeastern Freight Lines regional leader 2% national share 2023
10
TForce Freight (UPS) LTL revenue $2.5 billion 2023
11
FedEx Freight market share 7.5% U.S. LTL 2023
12
Old Dominion terminals 260 nationwide 2023
13
XPO LTL shipment volume 2.1 million weekly avg 2023
14
Saia expansion 22 new terminals 2023
15
Estes employee count 22,000 in 2023
16
ArcBest ABF on-time delivery 98% 2023
17
Old Dominion operating ratio 74.5% best-in-class 2023
18
R+L Carriers safety rating satisfactory FMCSA 2023
19
Pitt Ohio LTL regional revenue $1.2 billion 2023
20
New Penn (LTL) integrated into TForce 2023
21
Central Transport 1.5% market share Northeast 2023
22
Day & Ross LTL Canada leader 25% share 2023
23
Old Dominion stock up 45% YTD 2023
24
XPO spin-off GXO non-asset focus post-LTL 2023
25
Saia service center count 195 end 2023
26
ABF Freight damage claims <1% shipments 2023
27
Averitt Express revenue $1.8 billion est. LTL 2023
Interpretation
Major Players Interpretation
While Old Dominion reigns supreme by profitably perfecting the premium lane with an ironclad 74.5% operating ratio, the post-Yellow landscape sees aggressive challengers like Saia and XPO expanding their footprints and revenues, proving that in the brutal LTL arena, you either run flawlessly or you run out of road.
02 · Category
Market Size & Growth30 stats
01
The U.S. LTL market size reached $92.5 billion in 2023
02
Global LTL freight market projected to grow at 5.2% CAGR from 2024-2030
03
U.S. LTL shipments totaled 12.4 billion in 2022
04
LTL market share of U.S. for-hire trucking was 15% in 2023
05
North American LTL revenue grew 8.7% YoY in Q4 2023
06
European LTL market valued at €45 billion in 2023
07
Asia-Pacific LTL market expected to reach $50 billion by 2028
08
U.S. LTL tonnage handled 11.2 billion tons in 2023
09
LTL segment accounted for 42% of U.S. truckload market volume in 2022
10
Brazilian LTL market grew 12% in 2023
11
U.S. LTL market CAGR 6.1% from 2018-2023
12
Canadian LTL revenue hit CAD 15 billion in 2023
13
LTL market in Mexico valued at $8.5 billion USD in 2023
14
U.S. LTL e-commerce driven growth at 10% annually since 2020
15
Global LTL market size $150 billion in 2023
16
U.S. LTL market share by truckload 18% in 2023
17
LTL revenue per shipment averaged $250in U.S. 2023
18
Projected U.S. LTL market $120 billion by 2028
19
LTL growth outpaced FTL by 3% in 2023 U.S.
20
U.S. LTL market contraction -2.5% in Q1 2023
21
Indian LTL market $12 billion in 2023
22
U.S. LTL pallets shipped 2.5 billion in 2023
23
LTL market recovery 15% growth Q4 2023 U.S.
24
Australian LTL market AUD 5 billion 2023
25
U.S. LTL manufacturing sector 35% of volume 2023
26
Global LTL digital platforms 20% market penetration 2023
27
U.S. LTL cross-border Mexico 10% growth 2023
28
LTL market in UK £4.5 billion 2023
29
U.S. LTL healthcare shipments up 8% 2023
30
Projected global LTL $200 billion by 2030
Interpretation
Market Size & Growth Interpretation
While its pockets are deep and its growth is steady, the global LTL industry is clearly executing a masterful pivot, proving its resilience by thriving on e-commerce and specialization even after taking a few short-term punches.
03 · Category
Rates & Pricing29 stats
01
National LTL spot market volume 8% total 2023 U.S.
02
U.S. LTL national average linehaul rate $2.10per mile Q4 2023
03
LTL rate increase 9.5% YoY in 2023 U.S.
04
Average LTL shipment cost $180U.S. 2023
05
Fuel surcharge avg 25% of LTL base rate 2023
06
LTL contract rates up 7% in 2023 negotiations U.S.
07
Regional LTL rates $1.85/mile avg Northeast 2023
08
LTL minimum charge avg $75per shipment U.S. 2023
09
Accessorial charges 15% of total LTL billing 2023
10
LTL density-based pricing adoption 60% carriers 2023
11
U.S. LTL rate per hundredweight $25avg 2023
12
Liftgate fee avg $50in LTL U.S. 2023
13
LTL residential delivery premium 20% over commercial 2023
14
Hazardous LTL surcharge avg 30% U.S. 2023
15
LTL rate decline -1.2% Q1 2024 from 2023 peak
16
Inside delivery fee $100avg LTL 2023 U.S.
17
LTL pallet rates $0.50per lb avg 2023
18
Fuel impact on LTL rates 40% cost variance 2023
19
LTL expedited service premium 50% over standard 2023
20
White glove LTL fee avg $200U.S. 2023
21
LTL rate benchmarking tool usage 70% shippers 2023
22
Avg LTL negotiation savings 10% for shippers 2023
23
LTL over-dimension fee $1.50/cu ft excess 2023
24
Spot LTL rates 15% above contract avg 2023 peak
25
LTL insurance cost $0.75per $100 value 2023
26
Reweigh fee avg $25LTL U.S. 2023
27
LTL rate per mile Southeast $1.95avg 2023
28
Sorting/seg fee $2per carton LTL 2023
29
LTL e-auction rate savings 8% avg 2023
Interpretation
Rates & Pricing Interpretation
While the national LTL spot market remained a modest 8% of total volume in 2023, shippers navigated a landscape of relentless rate increases—from a 9.5% YoY linehaul hike to various accessorial fees—where savvy negotiation and benchmarking tools became essential armor against costs that, for now, show only a slight 1.2% retreat from their peak.
More related reading
04 · Category
Trends & Forecasts27 stats
01
LTL Technologies adoption TMS 85% top carriers 2023
02
AI route optimization in LTL forecast 30% efficiency gain by 2028
03
Sustainability goals 50% LTL carriers net-zero by 2050
04
E-commerce LTL volume to 30% total by 2027 U.S.
05
Autonomous trucks LTL trials 5% fleets by 2025
06
Blockchain tracking LTL pilots 20% major carriers 2024
07
Nearshoring boost Mexico LTL 15% growth forecast 2024-2028
08
Electric LTL vehicles 10% fleet by 2030 projection
09
Digital freight platforms LTL marketplace 25% volume by 2027
10
LTL consolidation wave 10 mergers expected 2024-2026
11
Customer portals usage 90% LTL shippers by 2025
12
3PL LTL management 40% market by 2028
13
IoT sensors LTL trailers 35% adoption by 2027
14
Capacity sharing platforms LTL 15% spot market 2025
15
Predictive analytics LTL claims reduction 25% forecast
16
Drone last-mile LTL hybrid 5% urban by 2030
17
LTL workforce shortage 20% drivers by 2026 projection
18
Carbon tracking mandatory EU LTL 100% by 2025
19
Robotic sorting LTL hubs 40% top carriers 2028
20
Multi-modal LTL integration 25% volume growth 2024-2030
21
Voice picking tech LTL warehouses 30% by 2027
22
LTL rate stabilization forecast flat 2024 U.S.
23
Gig economy drivers LTL 10% by 2028 pilot programs
24
AR glasses LTL dock workers 15% adoption 2027
25
Reshoring U.S. manufacturing LTL demand +12% 2025
26
Quantum computing LTL optimization trials 2028
27
LTL micro-fulfillment centers 20% urban growth by 2030
Interpretation
Trends & Forecasts Interpretation
The LTL industry, fueled by AI and consolidation, is hurtling toward a green, data-driven future while desperately grappling with driver shortages and the relentless pressure of e-commerce.
05 · Category
Volume & Capacity30 stats
01
U.S. LTL capacity utilization averaged 85% in 2023
02
Average LTL shipment weight 1,200 lbs in U.S. 2023
03
LTL lane volume top route I-95 corridor 15% of total U.S.
04
U.S. LTL weekly tender volume 1.2 million in Q4 2023
05
Peak season LTL volume surge 25% Nov-Dec 2023
06
LTL freight density average 10 lbs/cu ft U.S. 2023
07
U.S. LTL network miles covered 500 million annually
08
LTL terminals in U.S. totaled 1,800 in 2023
09
Average LTL transit time 2.5 days national U.S. average 2023
10
LTL volume Midwest region 28% U.S. total 2023
11
U.S. LTL empty miles 12% of total miles 2023
12
LTL shipment count per terminal avg 5,000 weekly 2023
13
Regional LTL volume grew 5% YoY 2023 U.S.
14
LTL hazardous materials 4% of total volume U.S. 2023
15
U.S. LTL intermodal connections 10% volume 2023
16
Average LTL load factor 75% in 2023 U.S.
17
LTL volume retail sector 22% U.S. 2023
18
U.S. LTL peak capacity strain 95% utilization Dec 2023
19
LTL cubic volume growth 7% YoY 2023
20
Southeast U.S. LTL lanes 20% national volume 2023
21
LTL reefer volume 3% total U.S. 2023
22
U.S. LTL daily shipments avg 50,000 per major carrier 2023
23
West Coast LTL port-related volume 15% regional 2023
24
LTL consolidation ratio avg 5:1 shipments U.S. 2023
25
U.S. LTL autos parts volume up 6% 2023
26
National LTL highway miles 1.2 billion annually 2023
27
LTL e-comm parcel integration 12% volume 2023
28
U.S. LTL construction materials 18% volume 2023
29
Avg LTL route optimization savings 15% capacity 2023
30
LTL national account volume 40% major carriers 2023
Interpretation
Volume & Capacity Interpretation
The U.S. LTL network, running at a steamy 85% capacity, is a finely balanced beast where the Midwest moves 28% of its freight, terminal managers juggle 5,000 weekly shipments like air traffic controllers, and everyone holds their breath during the peak season when 25% more volume pushes utilization to a nerve-wracking 95%, proving this industry is the unsung, over-caffeinated backbone of the American economy.
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
James Okoro. (2026, February 13). Ltl Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/ltl-industry-statistics
MLA
James Okoro. "Ltl Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/ltl-industry-statistics.
Chicago
James Okoro. 2026. "Ltl Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/ltl-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
67 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level