Figures current as of 29 October 2026. Every number is linked to its source where it appears.
LTL carriers are trucking companies that put freight from several shippers on one truck, so you pay for the space your pallets use instead of the whole trailer. The big ones run their own terminals and trucks. Old Dominion, Estes and Saia are three of the best known.
Here is the part that surprises most shippers. On 28 October 2026, all three charged their fuel surcharge off the same diesel price, $6.352 a gallon. The percentages were 53.32, 57.60 and 58.12. Same fuel, same week, and the bills still come out different.
This guide compares LTL carriers on what actually changes your invoice: fuel, coverage, price increases, and the extras that show up after delivery. It also covers how to choose one, and when LTL is the wrong tool.
Quick Answer: What Are LTL Carriers?
LTL carriers (less-than-truckload carriers) are freight companies that move partial loads, usually 1 to 6 pallets, by combining your shipment with others at their terminals. You pay by weight, freight class and distance, plus a fuel surcharge and any extra services. The three main kinds are national carriers, regional carriers, and brokers who buy space from carriers for you.
The Three Kinds of LTL Carriers
Not every company that sells LTL owns the trucks. It helps to know which kind you are talking to.
National carriers run terminals across most of the country. They are built for long lanes and for shippers with freight moving in many directions. Old Dominion, Estes and Saia all sit here, though each reaches a different footprint.
Regional carriers cover a smaller area, often a handful of states, with fewer handoffs. On a lane inside their territory they can be faster and sometimes cheaper. Outside it, they usually partner with someone else, and that partner changes who really carries your pallet.
Brokers and 3PLs do not own LTL trucks. They compare carriers, quote you, book the freight and handle problems. A broker can quote several of the carriers above on the same shipment, which matters because, as the next section shows, the same pallet can price differently depending on who hauls it.
If you want the basics of how the service itself works, our guide to what less-than-truckload shipping is covers it from the top.
The Big LTL Carriers Side by Side
We read three carriers' own published fuel tariffs (Old Dominion, Estes, Saia) and company pages on 29 October 2026. The network details below come from the carriers' own sites. Treat them as what each company says about itself, not an independent rating.
| Carrier | Old Dominion | Estes | Saia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Network | Founded in Richmond, Virginia in 1934; says its focus is premium service | Privately held; says it serves all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico through more than 300 service centers | Says it has more than 200 terminals across the US |
| Fuel surcharge, effective 28 Oct 2026 | 53.32% | 57.60% | 58.12% |
| Diesel price it uses | $6.352 | $6.352 | $6.352 |
| Fuel charge if linehaul were $600 | about $320 | about $346 | about $349 |
| General rate increase this year | 4.9%, effective 5 Oct | Not confirmed | 7.1%, effective 6 Jul |
Old Dominion also advertises on-time delivery above 99 percent on its own site. That is the carrier's claim, and a claim worth asking for in writing, since every carrier measures on-time a little differently.
One honest note on the rate-increase row: for Estes we could not confirm a 2026 general rate increase from a source we trust, so we left it blank rather than guess.
Same Diesel Price, Three Different Fuel Charges
The diesel price is public. EIA publishes it weekly, and all three carriers say they follow it. On 26 October 2026 the national average was $6.352 a gallon, up from $3.718 a year earlier. So the index is the same for everyone.
The gap comes from the table each carrier applies to that index. Each one decides where the surcharge starts and how quickly the percentage climbs with every cent of diesel. Old Dominion, Estes and Saia ended up 4.8 percentage points apart.
On a $600 linehaul charge, that is about $320, $346 and $349 in fuel. A spread of roughly $29 on one pallet.
Two warnings before you read too much into that. First, a lower percentage is not automatically a better deal, because the percentage lands on that carrier's own linehaul, and linehaul prices differ too. Second, the percentages move every week. Old Dominion's rate went from 43.32 percent in the week of 19 August to a peak of 55.82 percent for 30 September to 6 October, and has eased to 53.32 percent since.
The takeaway is simple. When you compare LTL carriers, compare the final total with fuel included, never the linehaul line alone. We break down the formula behind these percentages in our guide to how a fuel surcharge in trucking works.
Why LTL Rates Keep Climbing
If your LTL quotes feel higher than they did last year, you are not imagining it. The TD Cowen/AFS Freight Index, reported by FreightWaves on 14 October, put LTL rates per pound at 78.8 percent above their January 2018 level in the third quarter of 2026. It forecasts 82.5 percent for the fourth quarter. The same report found LTL fuel surcharges were 79 percent higher than a year earlier in September.
Carriers have also been raising base prices earlier than usual. Saia took a 7.1 percent general rate increase on 6 July, which was 120 basis points higher than its 2025 increase and three months earlier. ArcBest raised LTL rates 5.9 percent from 22 June. Old Dominion pulled its 4.9 percent increase forward by a month, to 5 October.
A general rate increase, or GRI, is a list-price bump that applies to the carrier's standard tariff. If you have a negotiated discount, the increase usually lands on the base rates before your discount comes off. That is why a 5 percent GRI does not always mean a 5 percent bigger invoice, and also why it can mean more. Read your agreement.
What Else Changes the Price Between Carriers
Fuel is the biggest swing this month, but it is not the only one. Three other things quietly move the total.
Freight class and density. LTL carriers price by class, and class comes from density. A pallet that is bigger than the paperwork says gets reclassed after pickup. Our freight class and NMFC guide explains how to get it right before the truck arrives.
Accessorial charges. Liftgate, residential delivery, limited access, inside delivery and appointment fees each have their own price in each carrier's tariff. They are not identical from one carrier to the next. We keep a running list in our LTL accessorial fee index, and a plain explanation in our guide to accessorial charges.
Reweighs and reclasses. If the carrier finds your freight weighs or measures more than the bill of lading says, it rebills. Because fuel is a percentage of linehaul, a bigger linehaul also means a bigger fuel line. The full story is in our post on why an LTL invoice comes out higher than the quote.
How to Choose an LTL Carrier
You do not need a spreadsheet. You need six checks.
1. Check where they actually deliver. Look at the carrier's service point list for your origin and destination ZIP codes. "Nationwide" often includes lanes served through a partner, which adds handoffs and extra time.
2. Verify the company. Look up the carrier's USDOT number on the FMCSA SAFER system and check that its authority is active and its safety record is clean. It takes two minutes. Our post on how freight brokers vet carriers walks through what to look for.
3. Get the fuel table in writing. Ask which diesel index it follows, which day it updates, and what percentage applies at today's price. You now know the answer can differ by several points.
4. Ask for the accessorial list. Request the prices for any extra service your freight will need. A cheap linehaul with high accessorials is not cheap.
5. Read the claims terms. A carrier's liability for damaged freight is set by its tariff and by the value you declare. If the pallet is worth more than the default limit, declare the higher value or insure it. Our guide to freight claims explains the process and the deadlines.
6. Compare totals, not line items. Price the same shipment with the same class, weight, dimensions and extras at each carrier. Then compare the bottom line. If you want that done for you, send the details through our quote form.
When LTL Is the Wrong Choice
LTL works well for one to six pallets. Past that, the math changes. Each extra pallet adds linehaul, and somewhere between six and twelve pallets a dedicated truck often costs the same or less, with fewer handoffs and less damage risk. Our pallet capacity guide for a 53-foot trailer shows how many pallets actually fit, and our FTL vs LTL comparison covers the break-even in more detail.
LTL also stops making sense for freight that cannot take handling: very fragile, very tall, or very time-sensitive loads. For those, a dedicated or expedited truck is usually the better call.
Where a Freight Broker Fits
A broker does not replace the LTL carrier. The carrier still picks up and delivers your pallets. What changes is who does the comparing and who answers the phone when something goes wrong.
At The American Truck, we are a licensed freight broker (MC 1631835, USDOT 4221571) with a BMC-84 surety bond on file. We can price your shipment against several carriers and show the fuel line separately, so you can see what you are paying. Request a freight quote and tell us the pickup, the delivery, the weight and the number of pallets.
Common Questions About LTL Carriers
Who are the top LTL carriers?
The answer changes with the year and with the yardstick: revenue, shipment count or coverage. A 2026 trade list of leading LTL freight companies includes Old Dominion, Estes, Saia, FedEx Freight, XPO, TForce, ABF Freight, R+L Carriers, Southeastern and Averitt. For a shipper, the better question is which one covers your lanes at a fair total price.
What is the cheapest LTL carrier?
There is no single answer, because price depends on your lane, weight, class and extras. The same shipment can quote lower at one carrier on one lane and lower at another carrier on a different lane. The only reliable way to find out is to price the shipment at more than one.
Is LTL the same as parcel shipping?
No. Parcel carriers move individual boxes under strict weight and size limits. LTL carriers move palletized freight, priced by class and weight. If you are putting boxes on a pallet, you are in LTL territory.
How often do LTL carriers raise prices?
Most announce a general rate increase once a year, though several moved earlier than usual in 2026. Fuel surcharges change every week.
Can I use more than one LTL carrier?
Yes, and many shippers do. Using two or three carriers keeps you from depending on one network and gives you real quotes to compare. A broker can manage that for you in one place.
The Bottom Line
LTL carriers differ most where shippers look least. With diesel at $6.352, Old Dominion, Estes and Saia charged 53.32, 57.60 and 58.12 percent in fuel on the same index. Rates are also rising: carriers pushed general rate increases earlier this year, and the TD Cowen/AFS index puts LTL pricing 78.8 percent above its 2018 baseline.
So check coverage, read the fuel table, ask for the accessorial list, and compare totals. If you would rather have us do the comparing, request a freight quote online or phone The American Truck Inc. at (630) 884-1125.
Cover photo: Caleb Oquendo on Pexels.
