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General Freight Trucking (Less Than Truckload) in the US Industry Data and Analysis
The trucking industry has undergone a significant structural transformation over the past five years, marked by e-commerce-driven demand and technology-enabled efficiency gains. Small and medium-sized enterprises are increasingly relying on less-than-truckload services to optimize shipment economics by consolidating parcels across multiple shippers. Meanwhile, carriers have deployed advanced transportation management systems and real-time optimization software to accommodate fluctuating demand and meet accelerating delivery expectations. The sector has simultaneously faced persistent labor supply constraints. Aging workforce demographics and regulatory limitations on driving hours are forcing carriers to compete for driver talent through wage increases and benefit enhancements that have pressured operating profit. Some industry consolidation (Yellow Corporation's 2023 bankruptcy, UPS's divestment of its LTL business and significant acquisitions by XPO Logistics) concentrated market share among larger operators capable of absorbing technology investments and weathering prolonged freight downturns. Contract-based pricing models have provided relative stability compared to the volatility of the spot market. However, rising insurance, maintenance and equipment costs have offset the efficiency gains achieved through automation and network optimization. Industry revenue reached $99.6 billion in 2025, growing 1.6% year-over-year, with the current five-year period recording a CAGR of 4.5%.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the General Freight Trucking (Less Than Truckload) industry in the United States includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2015-2030. The most recent publication was released December 2025.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The General Freight Trucking (Less Than Truckload) industry in the United States operates under the NAICS industry code OD6145. This industry provides freight less-than-truckload (LTL) trucking. These general freight truckload carrier establishments provide full-truck movement of freight from origin to destination. The shipment of freight on a truck is characterized as a load combined with other shipments, as opposed to a full load. To avoid repeating NAICS information, all local trucking (<100 miles) is located in report 48411, regardless of truck load capacity (truckload or less-than-load). Related terms covered in the General Freight Trucking (Less Than Truckload) industry in the United States include less-than-truckload (ltl), truckload (tl) and just-in-time (jit).
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in General Freight Trucking (Less Than Truckload) industry in the United States include Van, Flatbed and Reefer.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the General Freight Trucking (Less Than Truckload) industry in the United States include FedEx Corporation and Xpo Logistics, Inc.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the General Freight Trucking (Less Than Truckload) industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the General Freight Trucking (Less Than Truckload) industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the General Freight Trucking (Less Than Truckload) industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the General Freight Trucking (Less Than Truckload) industry in the United States. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the General Freight Trucking (Less Than Truckload) industry in the United States. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the General Freight Trucking (Less Than Truckload) industry in the United States. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the General Freight Trucking (Less Than Truckload) industry in the United States. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the General Freight Trucking (Less Than Truckload) industry in the United States.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the General Freight Trucking (Less Than Truckload) industry in the United States in 2026?
The market size of the General Freight Trucking (Less Than Truckload) industry in the United States is $99.6bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the General Freight Trucking (Less Than Truckload) industry in the United States in 2025?
There are 100k businesses in the General Freight Trucking (Less Than Truckload) industry in the United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 4.2 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the General Freight Trucking (Less Than Truckload) industry in the United States?
The General Freight Trucking (Less Than Truckload) industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the General Freight Trucking (Less Than Truckload) industry in the United States?
The General Freight Trucking (Less Than Truckload) industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the General Freight Trucking (Less Than Truckload) industry in the United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the General Freight Trucking (Less Than Truckload) industry in the United States has been growing at a CAGR of 4.5 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the General Freight Trucking (Less Than Truckload) industry in the United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the General Freight Trucking (Less Than Truckload) industry in the United States is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the General Freight Trucking (Less Than Truckload) industry in the United States?
The biggest companies operating in the General Freight Trucking (Less Than Truckload) industry in the United States are FedEx Corporation and Xpo Logistics, Inc.
What does the General Freight Trucking (Less Than Truckload) industry in the United States include?
Driving vans and Driving flatbeds are part of the General Freight Trucking (Less Than Truckload) industry in the United States.
Which companies have the highest market share in the General Freight Trucking (Less Than Truckload) industry in the United States?
The company holding the most market share in the General Freight Trucking (Less Than Truckload) industry in the United States is FedEx Corporation.
How competitive is the General Freight Trucking (Less Than Truckload) industry in the United States?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the General Freight Trucking (Less Than Truckload) industry in the United States.
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