Top 25 LTL Trucking Companies

A 6% reduction in overall freight helped depress LTL revenue in 2023, the top 40 carrier rankings show, despite a gain in shipments many carriers enjoyed after Yellow’s collapse.

The partnership takes advantage of growing demand that is encouraging more cross-border LTL shipping between the US and Mexico.

The bankrupt LTL provider failed to exhaust grievance procedures in its own contract as it battled the Teamsters over restructuring plans, a US District Court ruled.

The freight hauled by the largest LTL trucking company in the US will become more global under a reorganization of FedEx’s varied domestic and international networks.

The second-largest US less-than-truckload provider is building terminals, parking lots and freight density as competitors vie for real estate and customers.

Montreal-based TFI gains capacity and capabilities on both the northern and southern US borders by acquiring Hercules, a less-than-truckload provider specializing in cross-border freight.

The South Carolina-based company has nearly doubled the number of doors at a Kentucky service center, the latest in a series of expansions planned in the US LTL sector.

Changing shipping requirements and competitive pressures are reshaping US less-than-truckload networks and LTL terminals themselves at an unprecedented rate.  

The US LTL producer price index rose 2.6% in January from December, while the equivalent truckload measure fell 2.6%, underscoring differences between the sectors.

After the latest round of bidding, the largest US truckload operator has now acquired 25 Yellow facilities, bringing it closer to having a nationwide LTL network. 

Yield and rates are rising at some of the biggest LTL carriers after a strong finish to 2023, although lower fuel surcharges may pull gains down to mid-single digits.

Forward’s chief legal officer will take over as interim CEO as Tom Schmitt exits following a contentious legal battle with Omni Logistics.

The US Treasury Department is the first major creditor to be repaid by the bankrupt LTL provider, which received the controversial loan early in the COVID-19 pandemic.

The second-largest US less-than-truckload carrier plans to increase its terminal capacity alongside freight demand, CEO Marty Freeman told the Journal of Commerce.

Building on recent market openings, the point-to-point, long-haul LTL carrier is launching its largest growth push since a 2021 restructuring.

Trucking companies such as Averitt are seeking more diversified freight and deeper connections to customers through transloading. 

With an amended merger agreement, months of contentious litigation are behind the companies, clearing the way for their combined forwarding and LTL operations. 

The largest US truckload operator is “filling the gaps” in its less-than-truckload network with newly acquired terminals it plans to bring online this year, and is shopping in more locations. 

The move by the largest US logistics provider to use a standardized electronic bill of lading accelerates digitization in the less-than-truckload sector. 

US less-than-truckload pricing is moderating as waves of disruption caused by Yellow’s bankruptcy recede, fuel prices fall and demand remains soft. 

Large LTL carriers were the biggest winners from Yellow’s shutdown, but smaller regional carriers are making significant volume gains as well, according to SJ Consulting Group.

With more than 160 facilities still on the auction block, a sizable amount of less-than-truckload capacity once provided by Yellow is up for grabs as the trucking market slows in early 2024.

While the largest US trucking company increased its daily volume 4.6% this fall following Yellow’s summertime collapse, year-over-year comparisons reveal a soft market. 

An attempt to buy and revive some version of Yellow was called “not viable” after a terminal auction raised $1.9 billion from 22 bidders.

Suspending the auction of its remaining leased properties may give defunct LTL provider Yellow time to work out difficulties with landlords over the leases of potentially valuable properties.

The second-largest US LTL provider saw daily shipments increase less than 1% year over year in November, signaling continued softness in underlying LTL demand as the post-Yellow market settles.

An auction of Yellow’s 174 owned terminals is scheduled for Tuesday, with winning bids to be disclosed on Friday while a separate battle continues over 149 leased terminals.

Large LTL trucking providers are raising tariff rates 5% to 8% on average, but the LTL PPI slowed its growth to under 1% in October.

The expedited less-than-truckload provider has asked a Delaware court to let it kill the controversial deal that has caused its share price to plummet and raised the ire of activist investors.

Freight forwarder Omni isn’t giving up on a merger with Forward and is moving to force completion of the deal despite Forward’s cold feet. 

With hundreds of terminals on the market, LTL trucking companies are setting their sights on Yellow’s sites and other properties as they expand and optimize networks to handle more freight.

The apparent change of heart from Forward management comes as Forward activist investors opposed to the $150 million deal try to oust the company’s chief executive.

Less-than-truckload freight once hauled by Yellow is being “reallocated” among carriers, and rates are rising, but an underlying economic impetus for a surge in LTL demand is still missing.

The fourth-largest US less-than-truckload carrier said it had restored many of its core systems by Sunday, while continuing to pick up and deliver freight despite a week of disruption.

Less-than-truckload freight once hauled by Yellow is being redistributed among other carriers in waves as shippers shop for the best fit in price, capacity, technology and service.

A US bankruptcy court approved a $1.525 billion bid by Estes Express Lines to be the “stalking horse” that sets the floor price for Yellow’s terminals at auction, controlling their sale in November.

While the country’s second-largest LTL provider gained shipments in August after the demise of Yellow, it sees no signs that overall freight demand is improving.

Saia and XPO are the latest LTL carriers to report volume gains in August, a month when trucking employment dropped more than 2% following Yellow’s shutdown.

ArcBest less-than-truckload (LTL) subsidiary ABF Freight is taking on additional volume and raising rates as a broad realignment of the US LTL sector gains speed.

Some logistics managers report longer transit times and delivery delays, as well as higher costs, as remaining LTL providers divide the freight once hauled by Yellow.