Daylight Transport

What Daylight Transport does

Daylight Transport, LLC is a privately held expedited long-haul Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) carrier founded in 1977 and headquartered in Cypress, California. The company operates a coast-to-coast U.S. network with service centers in California (Cypress HQ, Los Angeles, Ontario, Visalia, San Francisco), Texas (Dallas, Houston, Laredo, Austin, San Antonio), the Southeast (Atlanta), the Pacific Northwest, New Jersey (Newark), and Eastern Canada. Its core operating model combines direct loading (shipments loaded directly to destination without hub-and-spoke transfers) with continuous two-driver team operations, enabling coast-to-coast delivery in approximately two days at standard LTL rates. Headcount is reported at 251-500 employees.

The product portfolio centers on Standard LTL Service, with adjuncts including Just-in-Time LTL (supply-chain optimization for reduced safety stock), Made-to-Order LTL (customized solutions for unusual or emergency freight), Guaranteed/Urgent Care Services, and international service to Eastern Canada and offshore markets. Customers transact through the MyDaylight self-service portal, the dylt.com website (rate quotes, transit-time and density calculators), EDI using ANSI ASC X12 transaction sets 204, 210, and 214, and a public RESTful API suite managed via Apigee (Google Cloud). Accessorial charges, fuel surcharges indexed to diesel prices, and Net-15 commercial credit terms complete the revenue mechanics.

Daylight sells through a hybrid go-to-market motion combining enterprise field sales (dedicated account executives building custom SOPs) with self-serve portal access for mid-market shippers, supported by phone-based inside sales. The customer base spans time-sensitive LTL shippers, custom-solution seekers, EDI-capable enterprises, and near-shoring/cross-border freight customers, particularly those moving freight through Laredo. The company has earned the #1 Overall LTL Carrier ranking in the Mastio & Company Customer Value and Loyalty Study in 2020, 2024, and 2025, and operates with no disclosed external institutional ownership, no venture or private equity backing, and no public ticker.

Name

Daylight Transport

Legal name

Daylight Transport, LLC

Website

https://dylt.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Daylight Transport is a privately held, expedited long-haul Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) carrier founded in 1977, operating a coast-to-coast U.S. and Eastern Canada network. It serves time-sensitive enterprise and mid-market shippers via two-driver team direct-loading operations, the MyDaylight portal, and EDI/API integrations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Expedited LTL Freight Services

NAICS

Couriers and Express Delivery Services (4921)

SIC

Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210), Trucking (No Local) (4213)

akta.pro primary industry

Expedited LTL (Guaranteed/Time-Definite LTL) (TLADANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cross-Border LTL (US-MX/US-CA) (TLADAEAI), Regional Next-Day LTL Carriers (TLADAEAB)

Keywords

• Expedited LTL shipping
• Less-than-truckload freight
• Long-haul freight transportation
• Logistics technology platform
• Freight carrier services

Headquarters

HQ city

Long Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. LTL Freight Transportation: Primary revenue stream from Less-Than-Truckload shipping services. Shippers pay per shipment based on weight, class, and distance. Standard LTL rates with expedited delivery as the baseline service offering.
2. Accessorial Charges: Additional fees for extra services including liftgate, inside delivery, residential pickup/delivery, appointment windows, and other accessorial services as defined in tariff publications.
3. Fuel Surcharges: Variable fuel surcharge applied to shipments based on current diesel prices, reviewed regularly to maintain margin stability amid fuel cost fluctuations.
4. Account/Credit Terms: Net-15 payment terms offered to approved commercial accounts. Customers must complete credit application and provide business references to establish account terms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Daylight Transport is an expedited long-haul Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) freight carrier that moves shipments coast-to-coast in 2 days at standard LTL rates using direct loading and continuous two-driver team operations. The company sells freight transportation services through direct enterprise sales and a self-service online portal, complemented by API and EDI integration for B2Bi shippers. Additional offerings include Just-in-Time LTL supply chain programs, Made-to-Order customized solutions, Guaranteed/Urgent Care service, Canada and Offshore services, and Compliance Services.

Product overview

Daylight Transport is an expedited long-haul LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) carrier operating a coast-to-coast network since 1977. The company's core offering is its Standard LTL Service featuring two-driver teams and direct loading for faster delivery (coast-to-coast in 2 days at standard rates). The product portfolio includes the MyDaylight customer portal for booking, tracking, and reporting; API Integration Services and EDI for B2Bi connectivity; various quote tools (LTL Rate Quote, Urgent Care Quote); and operational tools like Transit Time Calculator and Density Calculator. Specialized services include Made-to-Order LTL customization and Just-in-Time LTL supply chain optimization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Standard LTL Service Core expedited long-haul Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) freight transportation service delivering coast-to-coast in 2 days at standard LTL rates, built on direct loading and two-driver team operations to minimize handling, damage risk, and transit time.
• Just-in-Time LTL Supply chain optimization service supporting shorter lead times, improved order fill rates, less safety stock, and just-in-time make-to-order and ship-to-order programs for shippers operating lean inventory models.
• Made-to-Order LTL Customized LTL transportation programs for unique customer requirements, one-time emergencies, unusual situations, and special SOPs developed with dedicated account executives.
• Guaranteed Services (Urgent Care) Time-critical LTL service with guaranteed delivery by a specific date, ordered through the dedicated Urgent Care Quote form for shipments that cannot tolerate standard transit variability.
• Supply Chain Optimization Consultative supply chain optimization service combining Daylight's expedited long-haul LTL with customized solutions to improve customer service, accelerate cash flow, and deliver strategic savings.
• Services for Forwarders Dedicated LTL transportation services designed for freight forwarders requiring expedited long-haul capacity.
• Offshore Services LTL freight services for offshore-shipped cargo, supporting shippers moving freight through U.S. ports and offshore logistics flows.
• Canada Service Expedited LTL freight service from Texas to Eastern Canada launched July 1, 2024, operating with two-driver team service and minimum handling.
• Compliance Services Compliance-oriented LTL transportation services for shippers with regulated freight requirements.
• MyDaylight Customer Portal Self-service online platform for instant shipment booking, rate quotes, pickup requests, BOL printing, label printing, and management reporting for Daylight customers.
• API Integration Services Public REST API suite (Rate Quote, Pickup Request, Transit Times, Fuel Surcharge, Tracing) hosted on Apigee, enabling automated B2Bi integration with shipper systems.
• Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) EDI service supporting ANSI ASC X12 standards, including EDI 204 (Load Tender/Pickup), EDI 210 (Freight Details and Invoice), and EDI 214 (Shipment Status Message) transaction sets for automated electronic tendering, invoicing, and status updates.
• Air Freight Quote Air freight quote request service for shippers requiring air freight as an alternative or complement to expedited long-haul LTL service.
• Volume Quote Volume quote request service for high-volume LTL shippers seeking volume-based pricing arrangements.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75% of long-haul freight delivers in 2 days
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Apigee (Google Cloud)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 December 2017Daylight Transport utilizes Apigee (now part of Google Cloud) as its API management platform to expose public APIs for Rate Quote, Pickup Request, Transit Times, Fuel Surcharge, and Tracing functions. The API portal is hosted at dylt-portalapi.apigee.io.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Estes Express Lines: Largest privately held LTL carrier in the US with coast-to-coast coverage. Direct competitor to Daylight in long-haul LTL, with deeper network density but a less specialized expedited positioning.
• Saia Inc. Publicly traded LTL carrier with national footprint following its multi-year terminal expansion. Direct competitor to Daylight in standard and expedited LTL, particularly in Western and Southern US lanes.
• Old Dominion Freight Line: Largest pure-play LTL carrier in North America by revenue and the gold-standard operator in the segment. Comparable to Daylight as a direct competitor in long-haul LTL, though Old Dominion's network is national rather than expedited-focused.
• Averitt Express: Multi-modal carrier offering LTL, truckload, and logistics services across the US. Competes with Daylight in long-haul LTL, particularly in Southeast and Midwest lanes, with comparable expedited service positioning.
• Southeastern Freight Lines: Privately held regional and inter-regional LTL carrier headquartered in the Southeast. Direct competitor to Daylight in Southeast-to-national LTL lanes, with a comparable focus on service quality and customer loyalty.
• XPO (LTL business): Major LTL operator (LTL segment of XPO post-RXO spin) competing directly with Daylight in long-haul LTL lanes. Comparable product offering and customer base, with broader network density.
• Pitt Ohio: Privately held LTL and logistics carrier serving the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and Southeast. Direct competitor in regional and inter-regional LTL with comparable focus on service quality and customer customization.
• R+L Carriers: Privately held national LTL carrier offering expedited and standard LTL services across the US. Direct competitor with comparable asset-light owner-operator elements and broad geographic coverage.
• ArcBest / ABF Freight: Publicly traded parent of ABF Freight, a national LTL carrier and direct competitor to Daylight. Comparable long-haul LTL customer base and enterprise integration capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• TForce Freight (formerly FedEx Freight): Recently acquired by TFI International from FedEx; one of the largest LTL networks in North America. Competes with Daylight in long-haul LTL and brings significantly greater network density and brand recognition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/DyltTransport
• Facebookfacebook.com/Daylight-340920269871681
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/daylight-transport
• Instagraminstagram.com/daylight_transport

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Daylight Transport