By 2025, 75% of organizations expect to use supply chain planning solutions at scale, yet many LTL networks still wrestle with workforce availability and service reliability. From on time delivery averages near 97% to damage claim cycles that can stretch to 28 days, the gaps between performance and process are measurable. This post pulls together the most telling supply chain in the LTL industry statistics, so you can see where cost, capacity, visibility, and compliance collide.
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. transportation and warehousing sector accounted for 3.8% of total U.S. GDP in 2023 (Bureau of Economic Analysis)
- Transport labor costs increased to $15.1 billion in 2023 for truck transportation compensation (BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation; series CES1021100002)
- U.S. on-highway diesel averaged $4.21 per gallon in 2022 (annual average EIA series)
- By 2025, 75% of organizations expect to use supply chain planning solutions at scale (Gartner prediction reported by Gartner press release)
- In 2024, 62% of logistics leaders identified workforce availability as a major constraint (Supply Chain Dive/industry survey of executives)
- In 2023, the global supply chain visibility software market was valued at $8.2 billion (MarketsandMarkets report)
- U.S. LTL carriers reported on-time delivery rates of 97% on average for standard service in 2023 (industry benchmarking by Logistics Management)
- Average claim cycle time for LTL damage claims was 28 days in 2023 (industry claims benchmarking reported by Supply Chain Dive)
- Order-to-delivery lead time reduction of 10% was achieved by firms implementing real-time transportation visibility (Gartner customer case benchmark)
- The global freight transportation CO2 emissions were about 8.1 gigatons in 2022 (IEA/EMM emissions estimates referenced in IEA report)
- Trucking accounts for about 19% of global energy-related CO2 emissions (IEA/Transport sector contribution estimate)
- As of 2024, California SB 270 (Clean Transportation Program) requires disclosure of emissions; covered entities face a 2024 implementation timeline (California legislative text summary)
- Warehousing and storage employment in the U.S. totaled 1.73 million in 2024 (employment level)
- Truck transportation employment in the U.S. totaled 1.42 million in 2024 (employment level)
- Railroad, pipeline, and water transportation combined paid $34.1 billion in benefits to employees in 2023 (compensation-related benefits total)
LTL operations are being shaped by rising labor costs, emissions scrutiny, and demand for real time visibility.
Related reading
01 · Category
Market Volume2 stats
01
The U.S. transportation and warehousing sector accounted for 3.8% of total U.S. GDP in 2023 (Bureau of Economic Analysis)
02
Transport labor costs increased to $15.1 billion in 2023 for truck transportation compensation (BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation; series CES1021100002)
Interpretation
Market Volume Interpretation
For the Market Volume angle, the U.S. transportation and warehousing sector contributed 3.8% of total GDP in 2023, while transport labor costs for trucking rose to $15.1 billion, signaling sustained economic weight and continued spending pressure that can influence LTL shipment demand and operating capacity.
02 · Category
Cost Analysis1 stats
01
U.S. on-highway diesel averaged $4.21per gallon in 2022 (annual average EIA series)
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
In the cost analysis for the LTL industry, U.S. on highway diesel averaged $4.21 per gallon in 2022, underscoring how fuel prices remain a major cost driver for carriers.
03 · Category
Industry Trends7 stats
01
By 2025, 75% of organizations expect to use supply chain planning solutions at scale (Gartner prediction reported by Gartner press release)
02
In 2024, 62% of logistics leaders identified workforce availability as a major constraint (Supply Chain Dive/industry survey of executives)
03
In 2023, the global supply chain visibility software market was valued at $8.2 billion (MarketsandMarkets report)
04
The global logistics automation market size was $31.4 billion in 2023 (Fortune Business Insights report)
05
The global freight forwarding market was $236.4 billion in 2023 (IMARC Group market research)
06
A 2024 survey found 81% of shippers experienced supply chain disruptions in the prior 12 months (survey-reported disruption incidence)
07
In 2022, freight trucks were responsible for 23% of U.S. transportation greenhouse gas emissions (trucking share of transport GHG)
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Industry Trends show that as disruptions become increasingly common with 81% of shippers reporting them in the prior 12 months, more organizations are moving toward scaled supply chain planning with 75% expecting to use planning solutions by 2025, alongside rising investment in visibility and automation markets.
More related reading
04 · Category
Performance Metrics7 stats
01
U.S. LTL carriers reported on-time delivery rates of 97% on average for standard service in 2023 (industry benchmarking by Logistics Management)
02
Average claim cycle time for LTL damage claims was 28 days in 2023 (industry claims benchmarking reported by Supply Chain Dive)
03
Order-to-delivery lead time reduction of 10% was achieved by firms implementing real-time transportation visibility (Gartner customer case benchmark)
04
Inventory carrying costs are commonly estimated at 20%–30% annually of inventory value (APICS/industry standard summarized by Gartner consumer materials)
05
Warehousing pick accuracy averaged 99% in best-in-class operations (Warehouse Education & Research Council/industry benchmark)
06
U.S. truck driver hours were 72% of total trucking productivity in 2023 operations benchmarks (industry study by ACT Research summarized by Logistics Management)
07
Automation can improve warehouse throughput by 20%–30% in peer-reviewed operations research studies (systematic review published in IEEE Access)
Interpretation
Performance Metrics Interpretation
Performance metrics in the LTL industry show that carriers can sustain strong execution with 97% average on time delivery, while investments in real time visibility and warehouse automation are delivering measurable gains like a 10% shorter lead time and 20% to 30% higher throughput.
05 · Category
Sustainability & Compliance5 stats
01
The global freight transportation CO2 emissions were about 8.1 gigatons in 2022 (IEA/EMM emissions estimates referenced in IEA report)
02
Trucking accounts for about 19% of global energy-related CO2 emissions (IEA/Transport sector contribution estimate)
03
As of 2024, California SB 270 (Clean Transportation Program) requires disclosure of emissions; covered entities face a 2024 implementation timeline (California legislative text summary)
04
FMCSA data show 2023 had 1.6 million driver-related violations (FMCSA enforcement data)
05
FMCSA 2023 data show 64% of carriers had at least one violation in compliance reviews (FMCSA compliance review analytics)
Interpretation
Sustainability & Compliance Interpretation
With global freight emissions totaling about 8.1 gigatons in 2022 and trucking contributing roughly 19% of energy related CO2, the push for sustainability is landing alongside compliance pressure, as California SB 270 moves emissions disclosure into 2024 while FMCSA reports show 64% of carriers had at least one violation in compliance reviews and 1.6 million driver related violations in 2023.
06 · Category
Labor & Costs3 stats
01
Warehousing and storage employment in the U.S. totaled 1.73 million in 2024 (employment level)
02
Truck transportation employment in the U.S. totaled 1.42 million in 2024 (employment level)
03
Railroad, pipeline, and water transportation combined paid $34.1 billion in benefits to employees in 2023 (compensation-related benefits total)
Interpretation
Labor & Costs Interpretation
In the Labor and Costs category, employment in key LTL-related roles remains large with 1.73 million warehousing and storage workers and 1.42 million truck transportation workers in 2024, while in 2023 railroad, pipeline, and water transportation still provided $34.1 billion in employee benefits.
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
Ryan Townsend. (2026, February 13). Supply Chain In The Ltl Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/supply-chain-in-the-ltl-industry-statistics
MLA
Ryan Townsend. "Supply Chain In The Ltl Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/supply-chain-in-the-ltl-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Ryan Townsend. 2026. "Supply Chain In The Ltl Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/supply-chain-in-the-ltl-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
25 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+8 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)