Freight Research
LTL Rate Benchmarks 2026: National Averages, Trends & Cost Per Mile
Rate benchmark data from 1136 LTL lanes across 34 carriers. Every number is computed from actual carrier rate quotes — not surveys, not industry estimates. Cite freely with attribution.
1136 lanes · 34 carriers · Updated March 2026 · Cite freely with attribution
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National LTL Rate Overview
Distribution of carrier rates across 1136 lanes. Based on 4 pallets, 4,800 lbs, class 70.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Rate | $1,474 |
| Median Rate | $1,210 |
| 25th Percentile | $802 |
| 75th Percentile | $1,787 |
| Total Lanes | 1136 |
| Total Carriers | 34 |
LTL Rate Trends: Q2 2025 – Q1 2026
Average Warp LTL rate by period. Rates reflect all-inclusive per-pallet pricing.
| Period | Avg Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|
| April 2025 | $1,283 | — |
| August 2025 | $1,171 | -9% |
| January 2026 | $1,071 | -9% |
| Current | $964 | -10% |
Cost Per Mile by Region
Average carrier rate per mile by origin market. Distance estimated using road-adjusted great-circle calculation.
| Origin Market | Avg Rate | Lanes | Avg Cost/Mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $2,167 | 41 | $1.25 |
| Greensboro | $1,374 | 37 | $1.78 |
| San Antonio | $1,422 | 37 | $1.43 |
| Austin | $1,343 | 36 | $1.50 |
| Columbus | $1,426 | 36 | $1.77 |
| Raleigh | $1,411 | 36 | $1.83 |
| Charlotte | $1,358 | 35 | $1.77 |
| Greenville | $1,365 | 35 | — |
| Indianapolis | $1,214 | 35 | $1.75 |
| Chicago | $1,774 | 34 | $1.96 |
| Denver | $1,726 | 34 | $1.28 |
| Houston | $1,357 | 34 | $1.51 |
| Birmingham | $1,320 | 33 | $1.78 |
| El Paso | $1,726 | 33 | $1.21 |
| Memphis | $1,235 | 33 | $1.56 |
| Washington | $2,252 | 33 | $3.05 |
| Atlanta | $1,170 | 32 | $1.69 |
| Dallas | $1,360 | 32 | $1.42 |
| Dayton | $1,391 | 32 | — |
| Newark | $1,747 | 32 | $1.60 |
Carrier Rate Comparison (Top 15)
Carrier average rates vs. the national average. Negative premium means the carrier is cheaper than average.
| Carrier | SCAC | Avg Rate | vs. National Avg | Lanes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAX AIRFREIGHT | TAXA | $277 | -81% | 6 |
| Vocar Transportation | VCTS | $456 | -69% | 16 |
| FORT TRANSPORTATION | FTSC | $571 | -61% | 4 |
| DAYTON FREIGHT LINES INC | DAFG | $577 | -61% | 120 |
| DUGAN TRUCK LINE LLC | DUBL | $696 | -53% | 11 |
| TOTAL TRANSPORTATION DISTRIBUTION | TOTL | $721 | -51% | 5 |
| N M TRANSER CO INC | NMTF | $808 | -45% | 9 |
| Magnum LTL | MGUL | $855 | -42% | 11 |
| A DUIE PYLE INC | PYLE | $883 | -40% | 32 |
| STG LTL formerly Frontline Freight | FCSY | $906 | -39% | 185 |
| AAA COOPER TRANSPORTATION | AACT | $924 | -37% | 847 |
| OAK HARBOR FREIGHT | OAKH | $989 | -33% | 16 |
| RL Carriers | RLCA | $1,074 | -27% | 1058 |
| DOHRN TRANSFER COMPANY LLC | DHRN | $1,085 | -26% | 31 |
| SAIA MOTOR FREIGHT LINE LLC | SAIA | $1,164 | -21% | 1072 |
Cite This Data
Warp. (2026). LTL Freight Rate Benchmarks 2026. Retrieved from https://www.wearewarp.com/research/ltl-rate-benchmarks
Raw data available via API: wearewarp.com/api/ltl-rates
Methodology
All benchmark figures are computed from actual carrier rate quotes across 1136 LTL lanes. Each lane includes rate data from 34 carriers at a standardized shipment profile: 4 pallets, 4,800 lbs, class 70.
Rates are base rates as quoted by carrier APIs. Warp rates are all-inclusive (no surcharges). Traditional carrier rates are base rates before fuel surcharges and accessorials. 3x road adjustment factor.
Rate history covers 4 periods from April 2025 through March 2026.
How to use these benchmarks
Compare your current carrier invoices against the national averages and percentiles to understand where your rates fall. If your per-lane rates are above the 75th percentile, you are likely overpaying relative to the market.
Use the cost-per-mile data to benchmark long-haul vs short-haul efficiency. The carrier premium table shows which carriers consistently price above or below average.
For your specific lanes, query the raw data through the public API at /api/ltl-rates.
What these benchmarks do not include
These benchmarks reflect base carrier rates at one standardized shipment profile. Actual shipping costs vary by weight, dimensions, freight class, accessorial requirements, and contracted pricing.
Traditional carrier rates do not include fuel surcharges (typically 20-40% on top) or accessorial fees. Warp rates are all-inclusive. Benchmarks are computed from publicly quoted rates, not negotiated contract rates.
Volume shippers typically pay below these benchmarks.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average LTL rate in 2026?
The national average LTL carrier rate is $1474 based on 1136 lanes at a standardized shipment of 4 pallets, 4,800 lbs, class 70. The median rate is $1210. The 25th percentile is $802 and the 75th percentile is $1787.
These are base rates before surcharges for traditional carriers.
How much does LTL freight cost per mile?
LTL cost per mile varies significantly by origin market and distance. Short-haul lanes under 200 miles have a higher cost per mile due to fixed handling costs. Long-haul lanes over 1,000 miles have lower per-mile costs.
See the Cost Per Mile by Region table above for market-specific benchmarks.
Are LTL rates going up or down in 2026?
Warp LTL rates have changed -25% from April 2025 to current. The rate trend table shows period-by-period changes. Rate movements vary by lane and carrier.
Where does this rate data come from?
All data comes from actual carrier rate quotes sourced through carrier APIs. The dataset covers 1136 lanes and 34 carriers. Raw data is available through our public API at /api/ltl-rates.
Can I cite this data in my research?
Yes. Use the citation format provided above. We encourage sharing and attribution. Raw data is available through the public API for your own analysis.
About the Warp freight network
Warp is a technology-driven freight network that combines cargo van, box truck, LTL, and FTL capacity under one operating system. Shippers get instant rates, real-time tracking, and access to 50+ cross-dock facilities, 1,500+ active lanes, and 9,000+ cargo vans and box trucks nationwide.
The network is supported by 20,000+ vetted carrier partners.
Unlike traditional brokers, Warp uses AI to match the right vehicle to every load based on weight, dimensions, urgency, and cost targets. Cross-dock operations reduce transit time by eliminating unnecessary terminal transfers.
Pool distribution and zone-skipping programs help enterprise shippers lower per-unit delivery costs while maintaining tight appointment windows.
Self-serve shippers can quote, compare, and book freight online in under two minutes. Enterprise accounts get dedicated capacity planning, committed rate programs, and a named operations team. Every shipment includes scan-level visibility from pickup through final delivery.
Warp operates across the contiguous United States with regional density in the Southeast, Texas, Midwest, and Northeast corridors.
Cross-dock facilities in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New York, Savannah, Orlando, Charlotte, Indianapolis, Columbus, Denver, New Orleans, and Milwaukee support faster transfers and fewer touches on recurring lanes.
Freight modes and vehicle types
Cargo vans handle loads up to 3,500 pounds and 400 cubic feet, ideal for time-sensitive deliveries, last-mile retail replenishment, and lightweight palletized freight.
Box trucks carry up to 10,000 pounds and 1,500 cubic feet, fitting most regional distribution and store delivery needs without requiring a loading dock.
Dry vans and full truckloads move 42,000+ pounds for high-volume lanes and recurring programs. LTL shipments share trailer space on optimized routes through Warp cross-docks, reducing per-pallet cost by consolidating multiple shippers on the same vehicle.
Warp does not default every shipment to a 53-foot trailer. The AI engine evaluates load weight, cube, delivery window, and cost to recommend the right vehicle. Shippers see all available mode options with live pricing in one comparison screen before booking.
Cross-dock operations
Cross-docking at Warp facilities eliminates warehouse storage. Inbound freight is sorted and transferred directly to outbound vehicles, typically within hours.
This reduces dwell time, lowers damage risk, and compresses delivery windows. Warp cross-docks support pallet-in, pallet-out operations with scan-level tracking at every handoff point.
Facility locations are selected for corridor density: Atlanta handles Southeast retail flow, Chicago serves Midwest manufacturing and replenishment, Houston covers Texas industrial distribution, and New York supports dense Northeast delivery. Each facility operates on appointment-based scheduling to prevent congestion and maintain throughput consistency.
Enterprise freight programs
Enterprise shippers get committed rate programs, dedicated account management, and custom SLA design. Warp builds lane-by-lane rate structures that account for volume commitments, seasonal variation, and mode flexibility. Operations teams monitor shipment execution daily and intervene proactively when exceptions occur.
Self-serve freight quoting
The self-serve portal lets shippers enter origin and destination, load details, and delivery requirements to see live rates across all available modes. Quotes include estimated transit time, vehicle type, and total cost.
Booking takes one click. After booking, shippers track every shipment with real-time GPS location, milestone updates, and proof of delivery documentation.
Industries and use cases
Retail shippers use Warp for store replenishment programs that deliver to hundreds of locations per week on tight appointment windows. Apparel brands use zone skipping to bypass regional parcel sortation and reduce per-unit delivery cost.
Food and beverage companies rely on time-definite delivery for perishable goods. Manufacturing operations use Warp for inbound vendor consolidation, combining multiple supplier shipments into fewer, fuller loads through cross-dock facilities.
Distribution companies use pool distribution to serve multiple delivery points from a single origin, splitting full truckloads at cross-docks into smaller last-mile vehicles.
Urgent freight recovery covers emergency capacity needs when primary carriers fail or demand spikes unexpectedly. Middle-mile optimization reduces cost and transit time on the longest segment of multi-leg shipments.
Get your LTL rate benchmark.
Compare your current rates against national benchmarks, or access the raw data through our public API.
1136 lanes · 34 carriers · Updated March 2026 · Cite freely with attribution