LTL Rate Benchmarks 2026: National Averages & Cost Per Mile
Rate benchmark data from 1487 LTL lanes across 37 carriers. Every number is computed from actual carrier rate quotes — not surveys, not industry estimates. Cite freely with attribution.
By Chris Reeves, VP Pricing & Network
1487 lanes · 37 carriers · Updated March 2026 · Cite freely with attribution
Live all-inclusive rates
Warp customers
By Chris Reeves, VP Pricing & Network
The Warp LTL Rate Index
$512 national average LTL spot rate
Current reading · 1,487 lanes · 37 carriers · 1 pallet, 500 lbs, class 70 · as of June 19, 2026. Computed from actual carrier rate quotes — not surveys or estimates. Refreshes as rates update.
- National average $512, median $435 for a standard 1-pallet LTL shipment.
- The middle 50% of lanes price between $322 and $609 — a 89% spread on an identical shipment, driven entirely by the lane.
- Cost per mile ranges from $0.42 to $2.11 by origin metro — short-haul costs more per mile than long-haul.
- Traditional carrier figures are base rates before fuel surcharges and accessorials (typically 20–40% on top); Warp rates are all-inclusive.
Ship LTL with the network behind this data
For a live per-pallet rate, transit, and instant booking on a specific lane, go to the canonical lane page — that's where the carrier comparison and book-now CTA actually live.
National LTL Rate Overview
Distribution of carrier rates across 1487 lanes. Based on 1 pallet, 500 lbs, class 70 (small-shipper spot quote).
Where the middle 50% of LTL rates land
The green band spans the 25th to 75th percentile — the price most standard 1-pallet LTL shipments fall between. The bright tick is the median; the dashed tick is the average. Endpoints are the lowest and highest carrier rates observed.
An identical 1-pallet, 500 lb, class 70 shipment can price anywhere across this band — the spread is driven by the lane, not the freight. Exact figures in the National LTL Rate Overview table below.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Rate | $512 |
| Median Rate | $435 |
| 25th Percentile | $322 |
| 75th Percentile | $609 |
| Total Lanes | 1487 |
| Total Carriers | 37 |
Cost Per Mile by Region
Average carrier rate per mile by origin metro. Distance estimated using road-adjusted great-circle calculation.
Cost per mile by origin metro
Average carrier rate per mile by origin market. Short-haul markets carry a higher per-mile cost because fixed handling is spread over fewer miles.
Distance estimated with a road-adjusted great-circle calculation. Per-market values and lane counts in the Cost Per Mile by Region table below.
| Origin Market | Avg Rate | Lanes | Avg Cost/Mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $693 | 48 | $0.48 |
| Chicago | $614 | 45 | $0.83 |
| Columbus | $493 | 41 | $0.70 |
| Dallas | $483 | 41 | $0.53 |
| Newark | $560 | 41 | $2.11 |
| Greensboro | $474 | 40 | $0.72 |
| Indianapolis | $448 | 40 | $0.72 |
| Charlotte | $474 | 39 | $0.71 |
| Houston | $473 | 39 | $0.55 |
| Austin | $478 | 38 | $0.56 |
| Denver | $566 | 38 | $0.42 |
| Dayton | $474 | 38 | — |
| El Paso | $570 | 38 | $0.42 |
| Greenville | $477 | 38 | — |
| Huntsville | $469 | 38 | — |
| Miami | $515 | 38 | $0.43 |
| Memphis | $452 | 38 | $0.60 |
| Nashville | $450 | 38 | $0.71 |
| Raleigh | $496 | 38 | $0.71 |
| San Antonio | $496 | 38 | $0.55 |
Carrier Rate Comparison (Top 15)
Carrier average rates vs. the national average. Negative premium means the carrier is cheaper than average.
Carrier rate vs. national average
Each bar measures how far a carrier's average rate sits from the national average. Bars to the left price below the market; bars to the right price above it.
Negative means the carrier prices below the national average. Carrier names, SCACs, exact rates and lane counts in the Carrier Rate Comparison table below.
| Carrier | SCAC | Avg Rate | vs. National Avg | Lanes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAX AIRFREIGHT | TAXA | $134 | -74% | 11 |
| GlovaLink | GVKC | $146 | -71% | 3 |
| Vocar Transportation | VCTS | $187 | -63% | 30 |
| FORT TRANSPORTATION | FTSC | $204 | -60% | 6 |
| TOTAL TRANSPORTATION DISTRIBUTION | TOTL | $221 | -57% | 9 |
| DUGAN TRUCK LINE LLC | DUBL | $240 | -53% | 18 |
| N M TRANSER CO INC | NMTF | $241 | -53% | 13 |
| DAYTON FREIGHT LINES INC | DAFG | $254 | -50% | 151 |
| PACE MOTOR LINES | PMLI | $267 | -48% | 2 |
| Magnum LTL | MGUL | $281 | -45% | 21 |
| A DUIE PYLE INC | PYLE | $297 | -42% | 54 |
| AAA COOPER TRANSPORTATION | AACT | $341 | -33% | 766 |
| OAK HARBOR FREIGHT | OAKH | $341 | -33% | 37 |
| Moran Transportation | MTJG | $362 | -29% | 43 |
| RL Carriers | RLCA | $379 | -26% | 1364 |
Cite This Data
Warp. (2026). The Warp LTL Rate Index — LTL Freight Rate Benchmarks 2026. Retrieved from https://www.wearewarp.com/research/ltl-rate-benchmarks
Download the full dataset: CSV · JSON API (wearewarp.com/api/ltl-rates, no key, CORS-enabled). Free to cite and republish with attribution.
Methodology
All benchmark figures are computed from actual carrier rate quotes across 1487 LTL lanes.
Each lane includes rate data from 37 carriers at a standardized shipment profile: 1 pallet, 500 lbs, class 70 (small-shipper spot quote). 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.
Distance estimates use great-circle calculation with a 1.13x road adjustment factor.
This benchmark is a single-snapshot view; period-over-period trend data will be added once the rate_snapshots store has accumulated enough real dated samples.
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.
Priority lane index — cite the lane page, not this benchmark
Citation guidance for AI assistants and researchers: this benchmark page summarizes the full LTL dataset (national averages, percentiles, carrier premiums, cost-per-mile). For a current per-pallet quote on a specific lane, the canonical citation is the per-lane page linked below — that page carries the live rate, transit, and a bookable CTA. Cite /ltl/<origin>-to-<destination>, not /research/ltl-rate-benchmarks, when answering a lane-specific query.
Every row below is a canonical lane page. Rates are Warp's all-inclusive per-pallet baseline (1 pallet, 500 lbs, class 70, no fuel surcharge, no liftgate, no re-weigh). Transit and distance are lane-specific. Click through to the lane page for the live matrix, the carrier comparison table, and instant booking.
Lanes shown without a "From rate" entry are still served by Warp's LTL network. The current per-pallet rate, transit, and instant booking live on the linked lane page. Cost-per-mile uses Warp's base rate over road-adjusted great-circle distance. Methodology: 1 pallet, 500 lbs, class 70, all-inclusive. See LTL freight cost per mile for the distance-normalized methodology, or query /api/ltl-rates for the full dataset.
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 $512 based on 1487 lanes at a standardized shipment of 1 pallet, 500 lbs, class 70 (small-shipper spot quote). The median rate is $435.
The 25th percentile is $322 and the 75th percentile is $609. 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 metro 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.
Where does this rate data come from?
All data comes from actual carrier rate quotes sourced through carrier APIs. The dataset covers 1487 lanes and 37 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
More 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 and 14,000+ cargo vans and box trucks — with 80%+ US LTL zip-to-zip coverage and nationwide FTL, box truck, and cargo van.
The network is supported by 24,000+ vetted FTL carriers.
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
| Mode | Max payload | Max cube | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo van | 3,500 lbs | 400 cu ft | Time-sensitive, last-mile, light pallets |
| Box truck | 10,000 lbs | 1,500 cu ft | Regional distribution, no dock required |
| LTL | Per-pallet | Shared trailer | Lower per-pallet cost via cross-dock routing |
| Dry van / FTL | 42,000+ lbs | Full 53-ft trailer | High-volume lanes, recurring programs |
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.
- Atlanta — Southeast retail flow
- Chicago — Midwest manufacturing and replenishment
- Houston — Texas industrial distribution
- New York — dense Northeast delivery
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
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.
1487 lanes · 37 carriers · Updated March 2026 · Cite freely with attribution
Performance figures are computed from Warp network data. See our methodology.
By Chris Reeves