Two of the nation’s largest less-than-truckload carriers reported mid-quarter operating metrics for 2026, highlighting revenue and tonnage growth despite mixed shipment volumes.
Old Dominion (CCJ Top 250, No. 9) reported a 12.4% increase in revenue per day for August compared to the same month in 2025. The growth was driven by a rise in LTL revenue per hundredweight, which offset a 0.9% decrease in LTL tons per day. The carrier’s tonnage drop was attributed to a 2.4% decline in daily LTL shipments, though this was partially balanced by a 1.7% increase in weight per shipment.
ODFL in July reported a 30.5% jump in second-quarter net income, driven by a rebound in revenue and improved operating efficiency amid a stabilizing domestic economy.
For the quarter-to-date, Old Dominion’s LTL revenue per hundredweight increased 11.3% year-over-year. Excluding fuel surcharges, the metric rose 4.8%.
Old Dominion President and CEO Marty Freeman noted the company produced solid revenue growth for July and August, supported by consistent underlying demand trends.
"Our value proposition remains best-in-class, and we have all the necessary elements of capacity in place to support volume growth as the business environment evolves," Freeman said. "As a result, we remain confident that through the continued execution of our long-term strategic plan, we are well positioned to win profitable market share and increase shareholder value over the long term."
Meanwhile, Georgia-based Saia (CCJ Top 250, No. 18) reported strong, across-the-board volume increases for the first two months of the third quarter.
In August, Saia’s LTL tonnage per workday surged 8.7% compared to August 2025. The increase was fueled by a 1.1% rise in shipments per workday and a 7.5% jump in weight per shipment.
Strong pricing traction, strategic rate increases, and network expansion propelled Saia to record second-quarter 2026 financial results.
The August performance built on a strong July, where Saia saw its LTL tonnage per workday rise 7.8% year-over-year. July shipments increased 0.8%, and weight per shipment grew 7.0%.
For the quarter-to-date, Saia reported its LTL tonnage per workday is up 8.3%, alongside a 1.0% increase in shipments per workday and a 7.2% rise in weight per shipment.
