42nd Annual Quest for Quality: LTL

The less-than-truckload (LTL) market continues to be a complex landscape. While demand softened in the first half of 2025, there are promising signs of recovery on the horizon. Despite sluggishness in the industrial economy—a key volume driver for LTL—broader economic indicators are pointing toward potential improvement.

As group news editor Jeff Berman recently reported, although the industrial economy remains sluggish, LTL pricing has remained relatively stable, even as technology-driven changes continue to reshape the sector.

On a positive note for shippers, service levels are holding steady, and some carriers are enhancing capacity by expanding their terminal networks and workforce. In fact, the readers of Logistics Management have recognized 21 LTL carriers for going above and beyond in service across all our key Quest for Quality criteria this past year.

Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) continues its dominance with an impressive 51.97 total weighted score—the highest overall score in the LTL category this year. ODFL led the National LTL Carriers group (which includes six winners) across our key attributed metrics: On-time Performance (13.09), Information Technology (8.52), Customer Service (11.13), and Equipment & Operations (9.64). Roadrunner also stood out with the highest Value score of 12.81.

In the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region, Pitt Ohio posted a strong 50.48 total weighted score, excelling in On-time Performance (12.27), Information Technology (8.27), and Customer Service (10.25). Ross Express achieved a region-high Value score of 10.80, while A. Duie Pyle led the region in Equipment & Operations (9.41).

The South/South Central region saw a tight race, with all three winners separated by mere tenths of a point in their overall weighted scores: Southeastern Freight Lines (50.86); Averitt (50.81); and Saia (50.15).

National LTL Carriers (Bold indicates leader in attribute category)

Surface Package Carriers (Bold indicates leader in attribute category)

In the Midwest/North Central region, Dayton Freight Lines achieved the highest score of 49.59. While in the West, perennial favorite Lynden Transport led with a total weighted score of 49.55, earning region-high marks in Customer Service (11.87) and Equipment & Operations (9.68).

Finally, in Surface Package, the battle between UPS and FedEx Ground continues year after year. In 2024, UPS topped the rankings. This year, FedEx Ground edged out UPS with a leading score of 49.13, just ahead of UPS’s 48.55—both outstanding, winning scores.

Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Regional LTL Carriers (Bold indicates leader in attribute category)

South/South Central Regional LTL Carriers (Bold indicates leader in attribute category)

Midwest/North Central Regional LTL Carriers (Bold indicates leader in attribute category)

Western Regional LTL Carriers (Bold indicates leader in attribute category)