The US trucking industry moves approximately 72% of all freight in the country — about 10.8 billion tons per year. At the top of that system sit a relatively small number of very large carriers with fleets of tens of thousands of trucks, alongside hundreds of thousands of small carriers with fewer than six vehicles.
This article looks at the largest trucking companies in the United States by fleet size, how they're structured, what segments of freight they dominate, and what their FMCSA data tells you about them.
Fleet size data note: FMCSA self-reported fleet data can undercount actual operating fleets for large carriers because corporate structures often span multiple DOT registrations, subsidiaries, and contractor networks. The figures below reflect reported and estimated totals across parent companies.
Top 10 Largest Trucking Companies in the USA
One of the most diversified large carriers in the US, J.B. Hunt operates across intermodal (JBIU), truckload (JBT), dedicated contract (DCS), and final-mile segments. Their intermodal network is the largest in the country.
XPO operates one of the largest LTL networks in North America with over 700 service centers. After spinning off GXO Logistics and RXO, XPO is now focused primarily on LTL trucking in the US and Europe.
Werner is one of the largest truckload carriers in the country with a strong dedicated fleet division. They operate primarily in the dry van and temperature-controlled segments, with a growing intermodal presence.
Schneider is one of the oldest major carriers in the country. They operate across truckload, intermodal, and bulk segments, with a large owner-operator contractor network supplementing their company fleet.
After merging with Knight Transportation in 2017, Knight-Swift became the largest truckload carrier in the US. They operate under multiple brands including Swift, Knight, AAA Cooper, and US Xpress (acquired 2023).
Old Dominion is consistently ranked as the highest-performing LTL carrier in the US by service reliability and on-time delivery. They operate an extensive network of service centers with a single-line LTL model, avoiding interline partnerships.
Landstar operates differently from most large carriers — they use an agent and owner-operator model with minimal company-owned trucks. Their "asset-light" structure means fleet size numbers are less meaningful; they move billions in freight through independent contractors.
Heartland is a dry van truckload carrier known for driver retention programs. They acquired Contract Transport and Millis Transfer in recent years. Smaller than the top-five truckload carriers but significant in the Midwest and Southeast lanes.
Saia operates a regional and inter-regional LTL network across all 50 states and Puerto Rico. They've been one of the fastest-growing LTL carriers over the past decade, steadily adding service centers and expanding their geographic footprint.
FedEx Freight is the LTL division of FedEx and one of the largest LTL carriers by revenue. They operate a national network with next-day and two-day LTL services, leveraging FedEx's broader logistics infrastructure for pickup and delivery optimization.
How US Trucking Is Structured
Despite the visibility of large national carriers, the US trucking industry is dominated numerically by small operators. According to FMCSA data, approximately:
- 97% of US trucking companies operate fewer than 20 trucks
- 91% operate fewer than 6 trucks
- The average US carrier has fewer than 3 power units
- There are over 500,000 registered for-hire motor carriers in the US
This means that when a freight broker or shipper "uses a carrier," the vast majority of those transactions involve small owner-operators or small fleets — not the national giants listed above. The large carriers handle a disproportionate share of freight by volume, but small carriers make up the backbone of the load board ecosystem.
For dispatchers and freight brokers, the carriers you'll vet most frequently are small fleets of 1–10 trucks. The largest carriers typically work through their own sales teams and established contracts rather than load boards.
Truckload vs. LTL: Two Different Industries
The trucking industry is broadly split into two segments that operate very differently:
Truckload (TL)
A single shipper fills an entire trailer. The truck goes from pickup to delivery without stops. Truckload carriers use a network of company drivers, lease-operators, and independent owner-operators (often dispatched through brokers). Most small carriers are truckload operators.
Less Than Truckload (LTL)
Multiple shippers share space in the same trailer. Freight is consolidated at terminals, sorted, and moved through a hub-and-spoke network. LTL requires significant fixed infrastructure (terminals, dock workers, linehaul drivers) — which is why the LTL market is dominated by large, established carriers like Old Dominion, Saia, XPO, and FedEx Freight. Building an LTL network from scratch is extremely capital-intensive.
Looking Up Large Carrier FMCSA Data
Even the largest carriers in the country have publicly accessible FMCSA profiles. You can look up any carrier's operating authority, safety rating, insurance, and inspection data regardless of their size. Large carriers are also subject to the same FMCSA safety regulations as small ones.
For example, J.B. Hunt Transport Services has a USDOT number just like a one-truck owner-operator — and their inspection history and BASIC scores are just as publicly available. The only difference is scale: a large carrier may have tens of thousands of inspections on record versus a small carrier's dozens.
Use CarrierCheck for Any Size Carrier
Whether you're vetting a 10,000-truck national carrier or a 2-truck owner-operator, the same FMCSA data is available. Enter the carrier's DOT or MC number on CarrierCheck and get their complete safety profile in one place.
2026 Industry Trends Affecting Carrier Size and Structure
Consolidation Continues
The LTL segment has been consolidating for years. The bankruptcy of Yellow Corporation (formerly YRC Worldwide) in 2023 — which operated the third-largest LTL network in the country — redistributed billions in LTL freight to competitors like Saia, Old Dominion, and XPO, accelerating their growth.
Owner-Operator Strain
Rising fuel costs, insurance premium increases, and freight rate volatility have put pressure on small owner-operators throughout 2024–2025. Many small carriers have left the market or shifted to dedicated leasing arrangements with large fleets rather than running independently.
ELD Compliance Creates Data
Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandates have increased the volume and quality of FMCSA compliance data for all carrier sizes. BASIC scores for smaller carriers are now more reflective of actual operational behavior than they were in the paper-logbook era.
Intermodal Growth
Carriers with intermodal capability — especially J.B. Hunt with their JBIU network and Schneider with their intermodal division — have captured growing market share as shippers look for alternatives to over-the-road truckload on longer lanes.
Why Carrier Size Doesn't Replace Verification
A common mistake is assuming that larger carriers are automatically safer or more reliable. Fleet size is not a proxy for safety compliance. A carrier with 5,000 trucks can have poor BASIC scores if their maintenance program is weak. A one-truck owner-operator with a spotless 5-year inspection record may be a better operational choice than a mid-size carrier with elevated out-of-service rates.
The same verification checklist applies regardless of carrier size: confirm authority status, check insurance on file, review safety rating, and assess inspection history relative to fleet size. See our carrier risk profile guide for the complete vetting framework.
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FMCSA data for every carrier in the US, including the largest fleets — no subscription needed for individual lookups.
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