For the fifth consecutive year, shippers have ranked Estes the best value provider among all its national competitors, according to Mastio & Company’s annual U.S. LTL Customer Value & Loyalty Study.

In the 2026 study, more than 1,600 shipping decision makers evaluated the top less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers across 28 customer needs, and Estes’ results were as follows:

  • Recognized as the No. 1 best value provider among all national carriers for the fifth straight year
  • Ranked No. 2 overall among national LTL carriers
  • Ranked No. 1 in ease of using the website
  • Ranked No. 1 in accessorial and surcharge pricing, competitive pricing and rate stability
  • Earned a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 62.8, well above the industry average of 54.4
  • Satisfaction improved year-over-year
  • Improved its overall performance, satisfaction and value scores from 2025


Estes posted its biggest gains this year in the areas shippers have long said matter most when choosing a carrier: damage-free delivery, on-time delivery, shortage-free delivery and timely customer-service response. Shippers also gave Estes some of its highest marks for freight tracking and tracing, driver professionalism, website usefulness and ease of scheduling.

“Being named the best value provider again means a lot, because it comes straight from the people who ship with us every day,” said Estes President and COO Webb Estes. “What I’m most proud of this year is where we got better. Fewer damages, fewer shortages, more on-time deliveries and faster answers when customers call us. That’s what really matters to a shipper. We’re going to keep investing in our people and our technology so shipping with Estes just keeps getting easier.”

Now in its 22nd edition, Mastio’s annual study is based on in-depth telephone interviews with shipping decision-makers, conducted by researchers with industry experience. It identifies and quantifies the needs of LTL shippers throughout the U.S. and is a nationally recognized measurement of carrier performance, based solely on customer feedback.