On December 17, 2025, the National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc.® (NMFTA)™ hosted an insightful, first-ever webinar: LTL by the Numbers: Exclusive Benchmarking Insights to Help Leaders Navigate What’s Next. This offering kicked off a new quarterly series focused on closing the industry’s long-recognized gap in meaningful, practical less-than-truckload (LTL) performance data and insight.
Rather than a traditional presentation, this inaugural session brought together seasoned LTL leaders from Averitt and Estes Express Lines for an unscripted, practical conversation about the forces shaping today’s LTL landscape.
Here’s What We Explored
🔹 Today’s Economic & Business Climate
With freight demand softening and cost pressures mounting, carriers are finding new ways to maintain efficiency and profitability. Leaders shared how they balance these pressures while positioning their organizations for growth.
🔹 NMFC & Classification Shifts
The shift toward density-based classification is more than a technical adjustment — it’s influencing pricing strategies, planning models, and operational decision-making. Speakers broken down what this trend means for carriers and shippers alike.
🔹 Technology That Makes a Difference
From automation to artificial intelligence (AI), the conversation went beyond “buzz” to focus on tools delivering measurable results in real operations. Leaders offered real examples of what’s working and what to prioritize.
🔹 People & Leadership Development
The industry’s future rests on developing the next generation of talent. Discussion highlighted how carriers are thinking strategically about recruitment, training, and leadership pipelines—because strong people systems are as important as strong operational data.
Why This Matters
This webinar wasn’t just about numbers in documents—it was about real-world context from executives navigating today’s challenges and opportunities. The insights are practical, grounded, and directly relevant for LTL leaders looking to sharpen their strategic focus as we head into 2026.
Unable to join us on December 17? Access the recording so you can hear these insights straight from the experts and apply them to your own business planning:
