2026 Best Truckload Companies (And How to Choose)

Established: 1970

Location: Springfield, Missouri

Website: www.primeinc.com

Services: Refrigerated Truckload, Flatbed, Tanker

 

Werner Enterprises

Location: Omaha, Nebraska

Established: 1956

Website: www.werner.com

Services: Truckload, Dedicated, Expedited, Temp Controlled, Flatbed

 

CRST

Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Established: 1955

Website: crst.com/transportation-solutions

Services: Truckload, Expedited, Dedicated, Flatbed

 

US Xpress

Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee

Established: 1986

Website: www.usxpress.com

Services: Truckload, Dedicated

 

Crete

Location: Lincoln, Nebraska

Established: 1966

Website: www.cretecarrier.com

Services: Truckload, Temp Controlled, Specialized

 

C.R. England

Location: Salt Lake City, Utah

Established: 1920

Website: www.crengland.com

Services: Truckload, Temp Controlled, Intermodal, Dedicated

 

Roadrunner Freight

Location: Downers Grove, Illinois

Established: 1984

Website: www.shiproadrunnerfreight.com

Services: Truckload, LTL, Temp Controlled

 

Covenant Transport

Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee

Established: 1986

Website: www.covenanttransport.com

Services: Truckload, Expedited

 

Western Express

Location: Nashville, Tennessee

Established: 1990

Website: www.westernexp.com

Services: Truckload, Dedicated, Flatbed

 

Heartland Express

Location: North Liberty, Iowa

Established: 1978

Website: www.heartlandexpress.com

Services: Truckload, Dedicated

 

Ruan

Location: Des Moines, Iowa

Established: 1932

Website: www.ruan.com

Services: Truckload, Dedicated

 

Marten

Location: Mondovi, Wisconsin

Established: 1946

Website: www.marten.com

Services: Temp Controlled Truckload

 

Universal

Location: Warren, Michigan

Established: 1932

Website: www.universallogistics.com

Services: Truckload, Dedicated

 

P. A. M. Transport

Location: Tontitown, Arkansas

Established: 1980

Website: www.pamtransport.com

Services: Truckload, Expedited, Dedicated

 

So, now that you are armed with the basic information on the biggest truckload providers in the market, let’s walk through the topics to consider to make an objective decision on what provider will be the best fit for your supply chain.

Important Considerations for Choosing a Truckload Motor Carrier

Keep in mind the truckload market is worth $700 billion in revenue and is highly segmented making the ability to tap into 100% of the capacity options in a given freight lane very difficult to obtain. 

This is why many shippers reach out to logistics service providers (LSPs) because of their ability to have depth and breadth in the unlimited origin-destination pairs.

 On the fragmentation of the truckload market, according to the US Department of Transportation, there are over 700,000 registered motor carriers, with 91.0% operating 6 or fewer trucks and 97.3% operating fewer than 20 trucks. 

In other words, there are plenty of options for shippers to tap into for their truckload needs, but it can be overwhelming at times.  Companies need not settle, so they should be deliberate and diligent in their search to find what freight service solutions will be best for their needs. 

So, with all that in mind, here are some thoughts to help a shipper through the buying process of 53’ capacity.

Valid Operating Authority

• The first check is to see whether the truckload motor carrier has a valid operating authority on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) site.
  • How long has the carrier been in operation?
  • Has the authority been revoked at any time and for what reason?
• Not only will the site validate whether the carrier is operating legally, it will also give a history of the authority the carrier is operating under.  

Safety Rating

• It is of the utmost importance for shippers to check the safety rating of the carriers they put under their loads. A freight carrier’s safety rating essentially becomes the shipper’s if they hire them, meaning if that driver gets in an accident the claimant can come back to the shipper to make a claim of liability.
  • If the truckload carrier has been in business for a while and there are no inspections, then this may mean they fronting the business as an asset motor carrier but then broker all the loads out.
  • If the carrier has a high out of service rate, then it could mean they are getting stopped at every scale for further scrutiny by the Department of Transportation (DOT).
• The website for Safety and Fitness Electronic Records (SAFER) System is where shippers can check the safety records of the carriers they employ to run their freight.
• A plus with working with an LSP or 3PL is they have their systems tied into monitoring programs that go out a minimum of once a day to check the safety rating and valid operating authorities for all of their motor carriers they use for their shippers.

Insurance Coverage

• Validate the carrier’s business insurance meets the requirements of your legal department, then check the cargo loss and damage coverage to ensure it will cover the value of your shipments.  
• Shippers need to remember to check both business operations and cargo insurance.  
• As part of the validation process, check to ensure there are not any clauses that do not cover your shipment’s value and what is carrier’s policy on the deductible.

Credit

• Check the truckload carrier’s credit.  The credit rating provides a shipper a good snapshot view of the financial health of the company they are working with to service its customers.
• Keep in mind, a freight carrier can close its doors without warning leaving a shipper out trying to find where its freight is and how to recover it.

Service is the Differentiator

• A motor carrier can be perfect on all its safety, insurance and financial stability. But if they cannot service a shippers customer base well, then it really does not matter.
  • Again, the numbers may be perfect, but if the carrier cannot pick-up and deliver on-time, then the impact can be far-reaching and ultimately damage the shipper’s reputation with its customer base.
• The best way to validate service performance is to ask for references, network in the freight and logistics marketplace with peers and research for negative comments on the web and social media.  

Certifications

• Is the truckload carrier positively associated and engaged with industry leadership?

Subject Matter Experts

• Is the carrier engaged in educational or other support content publishing?

Dedicated Operational Support

• Consider whether your company will be a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in an ocean.  

Geographic Coverage

• Does the provider offer the geographic coverage to meet the shipper’s freight capacity requirements?
• If not, what percentage and what lanes are the carriers best strengths or balance to other freight they are moving?

Operational Coverage

• What are the standard operating hours and how does one get in touch with the freight provider “after-hours”?

Technology

• Will the truckload provider be able to integrate into the shipper’s business systems as required?

Quality of Service

• Do they have the systems and processes internally to provide exceptional service, even when there is a failure to meet your service level requirements?

Carrier’s Customer Base

• Does the freight provider like to work with the large, high volume shippers or is their service more boutique-oriented for small to medium-sized shippers. Both have their place in the market, but both do not fit the needs of all shippers all the time.  In many cases, high volume, also means the motor carrier is looking to service certain markets to maximize their asset turns while ignoring other freight lanes.

Other Considerations for Truckload Capacity Requirements

Other options for shippers to tap exercise to tap into truckload over-the-road carrier capacity is either working with a logistics service provider and / or bringing in an intermodal strategy. 

Again, there is not a one size fits all solution, so don’t be hesitant to review the pros and cons.

Logistics Service Providers

Logistics service providers (LSPs) bring with them technology, process, market knowledge and a deep bench that can be helpful for shippers looking for additional capacity.  It does not need to be an all or nothing approach, which is why LSPs are often the back-up to shippers when their primary motor carriers cannot fulfill all a shipper’s capacity. 

For more on the pros and cons of LSPs and Carriers, we recommend the article entitled Logistics Service Providers vs Motor Carriers: Comparing the Differences.

Intermodal

Another option for 53’ capacity is either converting a truckload freight lane to intermodal when the option is available.  Intermodal is not an option available on every freight lane, but when it is a shipper can bring in a tremendous amount of additional capacity and a fair price. 

A quick read on the differences between intermodal and truckload can help a shipper better understand if their organization is ready for the possibility of a modal conversion strategy on their 53’ capacity lanes.

Once a shipper makes a decision as to what truckload carriers will work best for them on fit, here are a few articles to read on price:

How to Negotiate & Execute Best Freight Rates: Comprehensive Guide

Freight Contract Rates vs Spot Rates - Comprehensive Guide

While InTek Logistics is not a truckload asset motor carrier itself, but instead an IMC we do have the ability to tap into the total 53’ truckload and intermodal freight markets at competitive prices and a high level of service.

We’d love to be part of the conversation if you are looking for additional options. Simply fill out our brief form, and we'll be in touch.

Frequently Asked Questions About Truckload Carriers

Who is the largest truckload carrier in the United States?

Knight-Swift Transportation is the largest truckload carrier in the U.S. by revenue. In the 2026 Logistics Management Top 50 Trucking Companies ranking, compiled with SJ Consulting Group, Knight-Swift ranked first, followed by J.B. Hunt Transport Services and Schneider National. Size is one input, not the answer. Large fleets build their networks around dense freight markets. Lane coverage, service history on freight like yours, and how much your volume matters to the carrier decide the fit.

How do shippers choose the best truckload carrier?

Start with the lanes. The best truckload carrier for a shipper runs those origin-destination pairs as part of its regular network. It also holds active operating authority, keeps a clean safety record, and carries cargo insurance that covers the value of the freight. Ask for references on your specific lanes, along with on-time performance on comparable freight. Check the carrier's credit. A financially weak carrier can shut down with loads in transit. Then decide whether your volume makes you a priority account or a small one inside a large book of business.

How can a shipper verify a truckload carrier's operating authority and safety record?

Look up the carrier's USDOT number on the FMCSA SAFER Company Snapshot. It shows operating status, inspection counts, out-of-service rates, and crash history. Then check the FMCSA Licensing and Insurance lookup to confirm active operating authority and the insurance filings on record. FMCSA moved carrier registration onto Motus, its new USDOT registration platform, beginning May 14, 2026. Three patterns deserve a closer look: authority granted recently, authority revoked and reinstated, and a carrier claiming a sizable fleet with few roadside inspections. That last one can signal a company that brokers its loads out. Most carriers have never received a formal FMCSA safety rating. Unrated means not reviewed, not approved.

What is the difference between a truckload carrier, a freight broker, and an intermodal marketing company?

An asset-based truckload carrier owns or leases the trucks, employs or contracts the drivers, and moves the freight under its own motor carrier authority. A freight broker holds broker authority and arranges the move with a carrier it does not own. An intermodal marketing company (IMC) arranges door-to-door intermodal service. It contracts rail linehaul with the railroads and coordinates the drayage at origin and destination. InTek Logistics is an IMC. Many large providers run more than one model. Knight-Swift, J.B. Hunt, and Schneider operate truckload fleets alongside brokerage and intermodal divisions. Ask which part of the business will handle your freight. For the provider side of the decision, see asset vs. non-asset IMCs.

When should a shipper move truckload freight to intermodal?

Intermodal usually fits dry van freight moving about 750 miles or more, with origins and destinations within a reasonable dray of a rail ramp. Lanes with steady weekly volume and delivery windows that allow an extra day or so of transit convert best. On those lanes, intermodal costs less than truckload in most markets. It also adds capacity outside the highway network. That matters most when truck capacity runs short. A lane-by-lane review of the current truckload book shows which lanes have the qualities of a good intermodal lane. The 5-stage truckload-to-intermodal conversion guide lays out each step.

When is truckload a better choice than intermodal?

Truckload is the better choice when the lane is short, the freight is urgent, the load is heavy, or rail service is out of reach. Lanes well under 750 miles often lack enough rail miles to offset the cost of two drayage moves. Time-definite freight that cannot absorb added transit belongs on a truck. Heavy loads can exceed intermodal weight limits. A 53-foot domestic container on a chassis carries around 42,500 pounds of cargo, a few thousand pounds less than many dry vans. Origins or destinations far from a rail ramp add dray cost that erases the savings. Keep those lanes on the highway.

Is intermodal cheaper than truckload?

On long-haul lanes with good rail service, yes. Savings vary by lane, season, and market conditions, and typically average about 15% compared with truckload. The gap tends to widen when truckload capacity tightens and narrow when truckload rates soften. A fair comparison uses all-in, door-to-door costs for both modes. For intermodal, that means rail linehaul, both drayage moves, fuel surcharge, and accessorials such as chassis and storage. For truckload, it means linehaul, fuel surcharge, and accessorials. The InTek Intermodal Spot Rate Index tracks intermodal pricing weekly. The apples-to-apples intermodal vs. truckload cost comparison walks through the math.

How is the truckload market changing in 2026, and what should shippers do?

Truckload capacity is tightening from the supply side while freight demand remains flat. Tighter enforcement of driver licensing and qualification rules, along with carrier exits after a long downturn, is reducing the number of active trucks. Capacity tightening is not demand growth. The first signs are rising tender rejections and spot rates. Contract rates follow. For shippers, the planning move is to diversify. Confirm that primary carriers can hold committed lanes, line up backup truckload capacity, and evaluate intermodal on long-haul lanes before the market forces the decision.