Mastio & Co Named Top Less-Than-Truckload Carriers
Old Dominion and Daylight Transport led the annual survey of LTL freight shippers this year.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Transportation
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Old Dominion Freight Line and Daylight Transport secured top honors in the latest annual Mastio & Co survey. The report evaluated 24 freight carriers based on feedback from over 1,600 industry shippers.
Why it matters
The survey provides a critical benchmark for the freight industry, highlighting carriers that excel in reliability and service. These rankings offer shippers a data-driven look at performance metrics, including on-time delivery and technology integration, which impact overall logistics efficiency.
The study included 1,647 interviews conducted over four months, with 24 of the 155 rated carriers earning enough data for inclusion. Rankings were determined by evaluating 28 distinct service metrics, such as transit times and pricing.
The players
Old Dominion Freight Line
Based in Thomasville, North Carolina, this trucking company provides regional and national less-than-truckload services.
Daylight Transport
Headquartered in Cypress, California, this carrier specializes in inter-regional and nationwide freight shipping.
Estes Express Lines
This Richmond, Virginia-based freight company is one of the largest privately owned less-than-truckload carriers in the country.
XPO
A major freight transportation provider headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut, focused on North American logistics.
Mastio & Co
This research firm specializes in the transportation industry and produces annual performance benchmarks for freight shipping.
The details
Old Dominion Freight Line captured the top national ranking for the 17th consecutive year, while Daylight Transport earned top inter-regional honors for the third year in a row. Additionally, Estes took the best value provider award for the fifth year, and XPO achieved the highest growth in performance metrics among national operators.
Timeline
June 2026 marked the start of the survey interviews.
September 2026 concluded the survey interview phase.
October 6, 2026, saw the official release of the survey results.
Market Landscape
These results illustrate the ongoing competition for market share among established national and regional carriers. The industry trends identified by the Mastio & Co benchmark underscore the increasing importance of service reliability and technology as key differentiators in the LTL sector.
High-performing carriers identified in this report often signal more reliable transit times and competitive pricing for customers. Businesses that rely on freight services can use these rankings to evaluate current vendor contracts and potential logistics partners.
The takeaway
Reliability and consistent service remain the primary drivers for top-tier freight carrier rankings year over year. Logistics managers should regularly review these performance benchmarks to ensure their supply chains remain efficient and cost-effective.
Further reading
For more information on national freight trends, explore the United States Transportation section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by FreightWaves.
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