After two years in an economic rut, US trucking accelerated in 2017, led by less-than-truckload carriers before truckload carriers merged into the same fast lane later in the year.
Saturday February 16, 2019 Log In Register Subscribe Need Help?
Top 25 LTL Trucking Companies
Top 25 LTL Trucking Companies
In 2017, the 25 largest less-than-truckload carriers in the US increased their combined revenue 7.8 percent, as higher industrial production and disciplined pricing raised their topline. That sizable gain followed a flat year for LTL revenue in 2016 and a revenue drop of 0.5 percent in 2015, as freight demand tumbled in the latest slowdown in the long-running economic recovery.
The US economy grew at a faster rate in 2017, and strong industrial production helped create more pallets of goods to fill LTL terminals and trailers. The combined revenue of the 25 largest LTL carriers in the US reached a new record of $34.5 billion. Just two LTL carriers reported less revenue year over year in 2017, compared with 10 in 2016 and 12 in 2015.
Some of the fastest-growing LTL carriers, however, weren’t on the list. The smaller LTL and cartage companies that didn’t make the Top 25 grew faster as a group than their larger competitors, increasing combined revenue 8.5 percent to $3.2 billion. That revenue would make those small companies the fourth largest LTL carrier if they were one trucking company.
Key stories in LTL:
Top 25 LTL 2017: LTL carriers pave way to growth in challenging market
Top 25 LTL 2016: Lower fuel surcharges, soft demand squeeze revenue
Top 25 LTL 2015: Revenue up 9.1 percent for largest US LTL carriers
Top 25 LTL 2014: Revenue Growth at LTL Truckers Drops
Top 25 LTL 2013: Economic Slowdown Detours LTL Growth
Top 25 LTL 2012: LTL's Second Wind
Press Releases
Special Coverage
News & Analysis
15 Feb 2019
Despite a forecast loss of $600 million in e-commerce revenue, XPO Logistics expects to increase revenue 3-5 percent in 2019, as it enters a more mature phase of growth.
11 Feb 2019
Shevell Group's Chapter 11 filing involves 10 related businesses, including truckload carrier Eastern Freightways, Apex Logistics, and Carrier Industries, a warehousing and dedicated trucking business.
08 Feb 2019
US truck capacity loosened significantly in the first quarter, especially on the spot market, but shippers shouldn't expect a "glut" of excess capacity this year.
06 Feb 2019
Collaboration is still high on the to-do list of US shippers and their transportation and logistics partners in 2019, despite slower economic expansion.
05 Feb 2019
A brave new world of complex supply chains, consumer demands, and urbanization means problems rooted in truck capacity and driver availability are likely to get worse, regardless of the economic cycle.
01 Feb 2019
The US economy won't run off the road this year, but keep an eye on trade, tariffs, and 2020, economists say at SMC3's Jump Start 2019 event.
- Page 1
- ››
Commentary
The ELD – better trucking through data science
More Commentary