Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings’ LTL segment is bringing on more industrial customers, leading to heavier and longer loads, CEO Adam Miller said on an earnings call last month.
In the company’s LTL segment, average weight per shipment increased 5.2% to 1,033 pounds in Q1 2026 compared to a year ago, and average length of haul increased 8.5% to 693 miles, according to an earnings report.
“We saw a notable improvement in weight per shipment for the first time in years with this measure progressively growing throughout the quarter,” Miller said.
Knight-Swift LTL metrics yield some progress
| Metric | Q1 2026 | Percent change YoY |
|---|---|---|
| Shipments per day | 23,112 | Negative 1% |
| Revenue per shipment | $223.81 | 6.6% |
| Revenue excluding fuel surcharge per shipment | $189.52 | 4.4% |
| Revenue excluding fuel surcharge per hundredweight | $18.35 | Negative 0.7% |
SOURCE: Knight-Swift Q1 earnings report
The start of 2026 marked the first quarter that Knight-Swift’s LTL businesses were considered one brand under AAA Cooper Transportation. That’s part of a push to showcase the company’s national network, with sites from the West Coast to the lower East Coast, and make it easier to interact with the business.
Despite some signs of progress, the LTL segment’s operating ratio was 101% and its adjusted operating ratio was 99.6% amid $18 million of expense for adverse claims development, primarily related to an adverse arbitration ruling on a 2022 claim, the company said.
The company projected an adjusted operating ratio in the low 90s for Q2.
