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Why Benchmarking Matters

Between volatile pricing, shrinking lanes, and rising costs, you need more than instincts. You need performance visibility. Benchmarking with NMFTA means:

  • Planning with Clarity: Set measurable goals, track the right key performance indicators (KPIs), and align on what “performance” actually means for your business.
  • Seeing Where You Really Stand: Compare your metrics against carriers just like you.  
  • Uncovering Improvement Levers: Spot areas where high-performing peers are winning, then apply their strategies to your operation.  

Join the Program

To join the NMFTA LTL Benchmarking Group Program, you must be a carrier eligible for LTL benchmarking. Spots are limited, and confidentiality is core—
your data gets shared only in aggregated, anonymized form.

Apply Now

The Benchmarking Process

1. Define Your Goals

Start with what matters to you—whether it’s reducing your operating ratio, raising revenue per shipment, or optimizing tonnage.

2. Submit Your KPIs

Share data on 35+ critical metrics via NMFTA’s portal. These cover everything from operating ratio (OR) to tonnage per shipment.

3. Access the Composite Report

Your data is anonymized, aggregated, and then compared against peer LTL carriers—giving you a full-picture performance report.

4. Participate in Best Practice Groups

Join quarterly in-person peer sessions (public, private, or mix) where LTL carrier leaders share strategies, ideas, and real-world lessons.

What You Benchmark

Participants track a broad set of LTL KPIs, including:

  • Operating Ratio (OR);
  • Revenue per Shipment;
  • Tonnage and Tonnage per Shipment;
  • And more as benchmark metrics evolve with input from the program.

Get the
Competitive Edge

By measuring your business against the right peers, you move beyond guesswork—toward growth, efficiency, and true competitive strength. You’ll gain:

  • Better Hiring and Talent Retention: Share data-driven best practices for business-critical roles.  
  • Operational Clarity: Understand where inefficiencies live.
  • Performance Targets: Set benchmarks based on real-world data.
  • Strategic Direction: Align leadership on where to invest next.

Our Partnership with KSM Transport Advisors

KSM is a trusted advisor, backed by a legacy in finance and advisory services—and they know freight. Together, we offer benchmarking exclusively for the LTL industry that’s rigorous, insightful, and built for the business realities of LTL carriers.  

Recent Insights & Performance Updates

Q2 2025 Performance: Margins held steady, volumes lagged, but participant carriers continue refining network strategies. 

Q1 2025 Trends: Soft demand, rebalanced freight profiles, and renewed focus on margin protection emerged.

Pro Tip: Attend our Best Practice Meetings (held ~3× per year) to workshop strategies with peer execs and pricing leaders.