Freight shipping companies are the carriers, brokers and logistics providers that move shipments too large or heavy for parcel networks, usually on pallets. For most businesses shipping one to several pallets, the relevant companies are less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers such as ABF Freight, TForce Freight, FedEx Freight, Oak Harbor Freight Lines and Roadrunner, which combine many shippers’ freight in one trailer and run it through terminal networks.
This guide explains the types of freight shipping companies, profiles several major U.S. LTL carriers using facts from their own published materials, and shows how to vet a carrier before you book. It doesn’t rank carriers, because the best one depends on your lane, freight class and delivery needs.
What types of freight shipping companies are there?
Freight companies fall into a few groups, and knowing which one you’re dealing with tells you who actually owns the trucks and who is liable for the load.
| Company type | What it does | Typical fit |
|---|---|---|
| LTL carrier | Owns trucks and terminals; consolidates many shippers’ pallets in one trailer | One to several pallets that don’t fill a trailer |
| Truckload (FTL) carrier | Moves one shipper’s freight in a dedicated trailer, usually direct | Full or near-full trailers, or fragile loads that shouldn’t be rehandled |
| Freight broker | Arranges transport with carriers but doesn’t haul the freight itself | Shippers who want one contact to source capacity across many carriers |
| Third-party logistics (3PL) provider | Manages shipping and often warehousing or fulfillment on the shipper’s behalf | Businesses outsourcing their supply chain operations |
| Freight shipping platform | Lets shippers compare and book carrier rates online | Occasional and small-business shippers who want instant quotes |
Carriers that own their equipment are called asset-based; brokers and many 3PLs are non-asset. Neither is better by default. An asset-based carrier gives you direct control of the freight, while a non-asset provider can switch between carriers when capacity is tight. Our complete guide to LTL freight and logistics explains how terminals, linehaul and final delivery fit together.
Which LTL freight shipping companies operate across the U.S.?
The carriers below are among those available through PalletPath, ParcelPath’s LTL freight service. Each description comes from the carrier’s own published information; network sizes change, so check the carrier’s site for current coverage on your lane.
| Carrier | Background | Network and focus |
|---|---|---|
| ABF Freight | LTL subsidiary of ArcBest, headquartered in Fort Smith, Arkansas, founded in 1923 | ArcBest reports about 240 service centers covering all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico |
| TForce Freight | Formerly UPS Freight; part of TFI International since 2021 | Its fact sheet lists 178-plus North American facilities and coverage of all 50 states, Canada and Mexico |
| FedEx Freight | Independent, publicly traded LTL company since its spin-off from FedEx on June 1, 2026 | Offers FedEx Freight Priority for time-sensitive LTL and FedEx Freight Economy for less urgent freight |
| Oak Harbor Freight Lines | Family-owned carrier headquartered in Auburn, Washington, with roots back to 1916 | Regional LTL network in the western states, with partners extending coverage nationally |
| Roadrunner | Long-haul LTL carrier | Direct metro-to-metro long-haul service across the U.S., focused on lanes over 1,000 miles |
Other national LTL networks include Old Dominion Freight Line, XPO, Estes Express Lines, Saia and R+L Carriers. Our roundup of national LTL carriers profiles more of these networks in depth.
National vs. regional freight carriers
National carriers run their own terminals across most of the country, which keeps freight on one network and one tracking number from pickup to delivery. Regional carriers such as Oak Harbor concentrate on a smaller territory, and within it they often offer dense terminal coverage and next-day or two-day lanes. Shippers with freight moving mostly within one region often compare a regional carrier against the nationals on those lanes.
What services do freight shipping companies offer beyond standard LTL?
Standard LTL moves palletized freight dock to dock on the carrier’s published transit schedule. Most large freight companies layer optional services on top, and which ones a carrier offers on your lane is often the deciding factor:
- Guaranteed or time-definite delivery: delivery by a set day or time, with the guarantee terms in the carrier’s tariff.
- Expedited LTL: faster service tiers, such as FedEx Freight Priority, for time-sensitive freight.
- Volume and partial truckload: larger shipments that don’t fill a trailer but are too big for standard LTL handling.
- Delivery accessorials: liftgate, inside delivery, residential delivery, delivery appointments and limited-access sites such as schools, farms and construction sites.
- Specialized equipment: temperature-controlled trailers or flatbeds, often through truckload carriers rather than LTL networks.
Ask for these services when you request the quote, not at pickup. A shipment booked without a needed liftgate or residential flag will typically be billed for it afterward, and the delivery may be delayed while the carrier reschedules with the right equipment.
How do you choose a freight shipping company?
Start with the shipment, not the brand. A carrier that’s fast on one lane can be slow or unavailable on another, so match the company to these factors:
- Lane coverage: confirm the carrier serves both ZIP codes directly, not through an interline partner, if you want one network end to end.
- Transit time: carriers publish transit standards by lane in business days; compare them for your origin and destination.
- Freight characteristics: class, weight, dimensions and whether the pallets can be stacked all affect which carriers will quote and how.
- Accessorials: liftgate, residential delivery, limited-access sites and appointments are not offered identically by every carrier.
- Liability and claims: carrier liability is set in its tariff, usually by weight and class, so high-value freight may need added cargo insurance.
Accurate inputs matter as much as the carrier choice. Freight class is now based mainly on density for many commodities, and our freight class calculator guide shows how to work out density and class before you request a quote. For a step-by-step view of the whole process, see how to ship freight over 150 lbs.
How do you check that a freight company is legitimate?
Interstate for-hire motor carriers, brokers and freight forwarders must hold operating authority from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in addition to a USDOT number. You can look up any carrier or broker by USDOT or MC number in FMCSA’s public databases to confirm its authority is active and its insurance is on file.
Before tendering freight to an unfamiliar company, check three things: that the name on the bill of lading matches the registered carrier, that its authority is active for the type of operation (carrier or broker), and that it has a written claims process. Under federal law, cargo loss and damage claims against interstate carriers generally must be allowed at least nine months for filing, so note the deadline in the carrier’s tariff when you book.
What tracking and technology should a freight carrier offer?
Every major LTL carrier tracks shipments by PRO number, the carrier’s shipment ID printed on the bill of lading. Look for online tracking with terminal-level scan events, delivery appointment scheduling, electronic proof of delivery and digital copies of the bill of lading and any inspection reports.
Inspection reports matter because LTL carriers can reweigh and remeasure freight at the terminal. If the measured density puts the shipment in a different class than the bill of lading, the carrier issues a correction, so accurate paperwork is the simplest way to avoid surprises.
How do you compare freight shipping companies for one shipment?
The practical way to compare carriers is to quote the same shipment with several of them at once. ParcelPath runs PalletPath for exactly this: enter the pickup and delivery ZIP codes, pallet count, weight, dimensions, class and accessorials, and you can compare LTL quotes from ABF, TForce, Oak Harbor, FedEx Freight Priority and Roadrunner in the PalletPath freight quote tool. Our guide to ParcelPath’s move into freight explains how PalletPath works.
Some shippers also look at fixed-price options for standard pallets; our overview of flat rate freight shipping options explains when that pricing model applies and when class-based LTL quotes are more appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a freight shipping company and a freight broker?
A freight shipping company in the carrier sense owns trucks and moves the freight itself, while a freight broker arranges the move with a carrier and doesn’t haul it. Both need FMCSA operating authority for interstate work, but they hold different types: carrier authority or broker authority. The bill of lading and the carrier’s PRO number show which company is actually transporting the shipment.
Which freight shipping companies handle LTL shipments nationwide?
Several freight shipping companies run national LTL networks, including ABF Freight, TForce Freight, FedEx Freight, Old Dominion, XPO, Estes, Saia and R+L Carriers. ABF, for example, reports about 240 service centers covering all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. Coverage on a given lane still varies, so confirm direct service for both ZIP codes.
How can I verify a freight shipping company before booking?
Look the company up by USDOT or MC number in FMCSA’s public registration and insurance databases. Interstate for-hire carriers, brokers and freight forwarders must hold active operating authority in addition to a USDOT number, and authority is generally not granted until insurance and a process-agent filing are on file. A missing or inactive record is a reason not to tender freight.
Are regional freight shipping companies a good choice?
Regional freight shipping companies are often a good choice for freight that stays inside their territory, where dense terminal coverage can support next-day or two-day lanes. Oak Harbor Freight Lines, for example, focuses on the western states. For coast-to-coast lanes, a national carrier or a regional carrier with interline partners is usually needed, so compare transit standards for your specific route.
Sources
- FMCSA: What is Operating Authority (MC number) and who needs it?
- FMCSA: Registration Forms
- NMFTA: NMFTA Implements Historic NMFC Changes (density-based classification, July 19, 2025)
- ABF Freight (arcb.com): ABF Freight network overview
- TForce Freight (tforcefreight.com): TForce Freight fact sheet
- FedEx Freight newsroom (newsroom.fedexfreight.com): FedEx Freight completes spin-off and begins trading on the New York Stock Exchange, June 2026
- Oak Harbor Freight Lines (oakh.com): Our History
- Roadrunner Freight: company press releases on its long-haul network (2025)
Part of our ParcelPath Going Freight guide. Related: LTL Freight, LTL Freight and Logistics.
