Full truckload shipping represents 72.6% of freight moved by trucks in the U.S., largely because it’s direct, cost-efficient, and ideal for high-volume loads. Still, it comes with risks—11% of unit loads arrive with case damage and roughly 10% of freight bills contain errors, often a result of poor communication or mismatched carrier capabilities.
Choosing the right full truckload carrier reduces unnecessary fees, strengthens day-to-day coordination, and ensures your freight arrives safely and on time. Below, we break down the top national and regional FTL carriers in the U.S. to help you narrow down your options and choose providers that match your shipping needs.
Below is a chart that provides a brief overview of the major FTL carriers in the United States. This quick comparison should serve as a way to see how the largest FTL companies rate against each other at a glance. The list below is arranged by annual revenue.
|
FTL Company |
Coverage |
Fleet Size |
Service Capabilities |
|---|---|---|---|
|
UPS |
U.S., Canada, Mexico |
22,000 trailers and 6,700 tractors |
FTL, LTL, Intermodal |
|
Ryder System |
U.S., Canada, Mexico |
13,000 dedicated vehicles |
FTL, LTL, Intermodal |
|
J. B. Hunt |
U.S., Canada, Mexico |
12,000+ trucks |
FTL, LTL, Intermodal |
These top national carriers offer similar coverage and service portfolios, making it important to focus on performance, pricing, and service consistency when comparing them.
Another key consideration is regional FTL carriers. Regional FTL carriers specialize in specific geographic areas and often outperform national carriers in speed, appointment reliability, and local knowledge—especially in dense freight markets.
Regional FTL providers should be looked at as FTL specialists in the areas they serve. The advantage of using a regional FTL provider comes from speedier delivery and better pricing, in addition to receiving a level of care and support that national FTL providers can't match.
Through ShipperGuide, shippers can compare regional and national performance side-by-side using actual carrier data.
So should you consider a top national FTL provider, or a smaller regional FTL provider? This FTL carrier comparison chart shows how they measure up against each other in the broad strokes.
|
FTL Service Type |
Service Quality |
Technology |
Pricing |
|
National FTL Carriers |
Medium |
Diverse |
Standard |
|
Regional FTL Carriers |
High |
Limited |
Affordable |
As you can see when comparing FTL companies, choosing between regional and national carriers comes down to what you need from a specific shipment in a particular area.
National carriers maintain broad networks and flexible technology that support a wide range of freight needs across North America. Regional carriers typically offer more hands-on service and faster response times at lower price points, though their technology stacks can be more limited.
When you look beyond FTL provider rankings (usually sorted by fleet size or revenue), you can start to see how the “top” full truckload carrier is not necessarily the “best” full truckload carrier for all of your shipments. For example, if a shipper runs 50 loads per week within Texas, a regional provider may outperform national carriers in both cost and on-time delivery.
Choosing an FTL carrier involves evaluating performance, pricing, reliability, and lane coverage—not just picking the biggest names. These FAQs help guide that process.
UPS, Ryder, and J.B. Hunt are strong national options with broad coverage and diverse capabilities. However, depending on your freight profile, a regional specialist may outperform these national carriers on specific lanes.
The company that provides the best services for FTL shipping will depend on your specific needs as far as transportation mode, weight of shipments, and ideal delivery time. That said, it’s worth looking beyond the FTL trucking companies widely regarded as some of the best, since the general consensus on a top company may not truly be the best company for your deliveries and routes.
It can be difficult to find the best FTL companies for your shipments, but being flexible and discerning with carrier selection can be key to boosting your supply chain’s durability and efficiency. Thankfully, there are plenty of transportation management systems that drastically simplify this process.
ShipperGuide TMS helps you evaluate FTL companies using real carrier performance data—on-time delivery, tender acceptance, pricing, tracking compliance, and more. Compare national and regional carriers side-by-side, run competitive bids, and build a network that delivers consistent results. Request a demo with ShipperGuide to see how data-backed carrier selection leads to lower costs and fewer service failures.