Old Dominion Freight Line has once again taken the top spot among national less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers, extending its record run to 17 consecutive years. Daylight Transport, meanwhile, retained its position as the highest-rated carrier overall for the third year in a row, according to the latest survey from Mastio & Co.
The annual study, conducted by the research and consulting firm, is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive assessments of customer value and loyalty across the LTL sector.
The 2026 findings draw on 1,647 telephone interviews conducted with LTL shippers between June and September. Collectively, respondents provided about 5,300 carrier evaluations covering 155 companies. Only 24 carriers received enough ratings to qualify for inclusion in the final report.
Mastio’s research focuses on the factors that influence shipper decisions and long-term relationships with carriers. Respondents were asked open-ended questions covering service capabilities, competitiveness and customer retention.
Carrier performance is traditionally assessed across 28 service metrics. These include core operational measures such as on-time delivery, damage rates, transit times, pricing and technology, alongside administrative and customer-service functions including billing accuracy, claims handling, problem resolution and responsiveness.
Old Dominion maintains its lead
Old Dominion Freight Line, headquartered in Thomasville, North Carolina, ranked first in 24 of the evaluated service categories. The company, traded on the Nasdaq under the ticker ODFL, received top marks for areas including carrier trustworthiness, ease of doing business, timely customer service and delivering shipments when promised.
Marty Freeman, Old Dominion’s president and CEO, said the recognition carries particular weight because the rankings are based directly on shipper feedback.
“This award is very important to us because it is selected by shippers,” Freeman said in a Tuesday news release. “They count on OD to do more than just move their freight – we are an extension of their brand and true business partners.”
Estes continues its value streak
Old Dominion was not the only national carrier to outperform the industry benchmark. Privately held Estes and publicly traded XPO also recorded results above the national-carrier benchmark.
Richmond, Virginia-based Estes was once again recognized as the best value provider among national carriers, marking its fifth consecutive year at the top of that category. The company also led the rankings for competitive pricing and website usefulness.
Estes has been expanding its physical network as part of its broader service strategy and has been actively adding doors, with the company expected to surpass 14,000 doors in 2026.
The carrier said the survey results provide useful insight into how customers perceive both its service and the people and technology supporting it.
“These results offer a meaningful perspective on how shippers experience Estes — from the value they receive to the people and tools they interact with every day,” the company said in a statement. “We’re proud of this feedback and will continue to listen, improve, and find new ways to make the shipping experience even better for the people we serve.”
XPO posts the biggest year-over-year improvement
XPO, based in Greenwich, Connecticut, recorded the strongest year-over-year improvement in both net promoter score and weighted performance score among national LTL carriers.
The survey results come as the carrier continues to show stronger operational performance. XPO’s most recent quarterly earnings report also pointed to the strength of its LTL business and supported the improvement reflected in the customer survey.
Daylight again leads overall
Daylight Transport, headquartered in Cypress, California, delivered another standout performance. In addition to being named the top carrier overall for the third consecutive year, the company also ranked first among inter-regional carriers.
The latest results also saw several regional carriers retain their leading positions.
Pitt Ohio was the repeat winner in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region, while Dayton Freight Lines again topped the Great Lakes/Midwest market. Peninsula retained its leading position in the Western region. Averitt Express was named the overall winner for the Southern region.
Why it matters
Mastio’s annual LTL survey provides shippers and carriers with a data-driven benchmark to assess performance against the industry’s most important criteria.
The study also includes direct shipper responses to provide added insight into the factors that drive carrier selection and customer loyalty, along with metrics like delivery reliability and pricing. The results thus offer a helpful benchmark for companies trying to make sense of both current service expectations and where the competition is gaining an advantage.
