When you need something delivered, a friend might suggest you hire a freight company. That’s a good suggestion at face value, but there’s much more to doing so than simply following that suggestion.
Freight companies come in many different forms, and the top freight forwarders for your needs depend on what you’ll be moving from one location to another.
Types of Freight Services
The largest freight companies offer more options than smaller ones, with full truckload freight (FTL) being the most commonly available service.
Shipping companies that cannot incorporate full truckloads in specific freight lanes also offer less-than-truckload (LTL) freighting services. Other specialized freighting services include refrigerated, flatbed, military transport and heavy haul freighting.
In some instances, companies looking to save costs will use intermodal freighting, which goes from a truck to the railroad and back to a vehicle for its final delivery.
If you want to transport exhibits to a trade show, look for one of the top freight companies in the U.S. that offers special dedicated exhibit and trade show services, complete with blankets, bars, straps and load locks.
You need more specific freighting when you have an existing trailer with a full load but no powered vehicle to haul it. A freight company that offers power-only freighting can provide a reliable tractor with a driver to transport your load for you.
Your hired driver may tell you that these are some of the top trucking companies to work for — but then, so might employees of many others.
Intermodal freight involves container transportation of raw materials or products that require several vehicle modes over a journey.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) stipulates guidelines for intermodal freight containers, with the freight remaining in a specific container throughout its hauling. This stipulation means that the transportation type changes, but the container stays the same.
Top freight companies will have various trucks designed for specified freight assignments. Trailer trucks are the most popular freight carriers, as they do long-distance heavy shipment moves of items like supplies and furniture.
Box trucks for FTL freighting, flatbeds for construction equipment and vehicles, and chiller trucks for frozen goods are also popular.
Who Are the Top Freight Companies?
You’ll want to use a reputable freight company with a history of reliability, efficient delivery, excellent customer service and cost-effective pricing. Several excellent freight company options are available across the United States.
1. Best Overall – West Coast Carriers
Its Tacoma, Washington, base perfectly positions West Coast Carriers (WCC) to move your cargo from anywhere along the U.S. West Coast to locations in all 50 states and Canada.
With an array of refrigerated freighting options, WCC is your go-to destination for hauling temperature-controlled and frozen goods, whether LTL or FTL, with a promise to never reload your cargo en route.
While refrigerated freight is a primary service, WCC also offers flatbed, heavy haul, intermodal, trade show and general LTL trucking options — you can track your freight’s progress easily online — and will also readily move your household goods to a new destination.
With over 50 years of experience, this freight company thrives on continuous improvement, with its specialized customer service team delivering personal and efficient service and fast and accurate quotes to its many clients. West Coast Carriers can freight almost anything.
2. Best LTL – FedEx
FedEx needs no introduction. As a premier LTL and air freight company shipping across the U.S. and to 220 territories and countries globally, FedEx has built a reputation as a fast and efficient freight alternative offering air and ocean freight forwarding, charter air freight, and large-volume LTL hauling.
Whether it’s a new gearbox for a car or a bulk shipment of homemade cookies, anything over 150 pounds is enough for FedEx’s freight system.
With standardized U.S.-based LTL shipping and packaging rates, FedEx assures customers nationwide delivery within three to five days.
This LTL specialist has a handy online shipping rate calculator and ordering system, so clients immediately know what the cost will be for package deliveries.
Requesting an LTL freight quote is also a pain-free experience, and you can track loads from dispatch to delivery.
3. Best FTL – Schneider
With almost 90 years of catering to long-haul FTL freighting, Schneider has become a name that shippers and carriers rely on for commercial and industrial FTL shipping, although its services don’t stop there.
You can also use Schneider for your flatbed, LTL, refrigerated, intermodal and dry van freighting requirements.
The team at Schneider responds quickly to quoting and booking requirements. With nearly 20,000 worldwide associates and even more qualified carrier relationships, Schneider makes local, nationwide and international freight transportation seamless and safe. Remotely tracking your load is easy — just enter your Schneider reference number.
4. Best Flatbed – Maverick Transportation
Well-established in flatbed trucking circles, Maverick Transportation operates out of its headquarters in Little Rock, Arkansas, to efficiently and reliably transport freight loads for its clients across the U.S.
With over 1,600 power units, Maverick uses its flatbed, removable gooseneck (RGN) and step-deck trailers to accommodate its customers’ specific freighting requirements.
Such a large and varied freight fleet means Maverick must be committed to service excellence, and the freight company won’t disappoint you.
The company prioritizes urgent deliveries by understanding the crucial time constraints for clients, especially concerning specialized goods and high-volume loads. Maverick Transportation’s fleet size and efficient service make it the best flatbed trailer freight solution.
5. Best Intermodal – Uber Freight
With intermodal freight requiring specialized solutions and regulations, Uber Freight’s expert consultants optimize the necessary end-to-end freight supply chain function with technologically sound shipping tools and software solutions to streamline planning, procurement, warehousing and intermodal freight execution.
The company will reduce your intermodal freight cost by customizing your solution — establishing the best rates and routes with carrier services in the U.S. and Europe.
Uber Freight has built relationships through its experience in the logistics and freight industries to ensure agile and efficient solutions that empower its clientele and drive its operational excellence.
Uber Freight has become the benchmark in this highly technological area of freighting.
Using a Top Freight Company Makes Sense
You might ship various products and require a freight company that can fulfill your overall transportation needs. Alternatively, you may need a freight specialist to transport more specific cargo.
Either way, contacting a top freight company with a strong history of experienced freighting, unquestionable service and business ethics, competitive pricing and prompt and efficient delivery and tracking makes sense.
With these qualities, you can relax knowing that your cargo is in safe and capable hands, reaching its destination safely and in tip-top condition.