| SIC Codes: | 4213 |
| NAICS Codes: | 484121 |
Companies in this industry provide long-distance transportation by truck of general freight, in which freight from a single shipper makes up a truckload. Major companies include JB Hunt, Swift Transportation, Schneider National, and Werner Enterprises (all based in the US), along with Norbert Dentressangle (France), Seino Transportation (Japan), and TransForce (Canada).
Demand is driven by consumer spending and manufacturing output. The profitability of individual companies depends on efficient operations. Large companies have advantages in account relationships, bulk fuel purchasing, fleet size, and access to drivers. Small operations can compete effectively by providing quick turnaround, serving a local market, or transporting unusually sized goods. The industry is fragmented: more than 90 percent of truckload carriers in the US are classified as small businesses under Small Business Administration guidelines, and about 70 percent operate fewer than five trucks.
Full truckload (TL) shipments have trailers dedicated to a single shipper's cargo. In contrast, less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers transport the consolidated cargo of several shippers on one truck, dropping goods off at multiple delivery points. A TL customer typically loads a trailer full (or nearly full); the trucker then transports the container, and a receiver unloads the contents. The route is direct with no stops in between. Consequently, TL transit times are typically faster: shipments are usually delivered within one or two days, depending on the distance.