The type of freight service one chooses predominantly depends on the size of the shipment. Another consideration is the distance to be covered and the urgency. While some companies deal in only one type of freight, many deal with more than one type of freight. The company should also help you prepare and review the required certification, invoices, insurance, and custom clearances for your cargo when required.

Tips for choosing the right freight company
If you have cargo, it is essential to consider the right freight forwarding company. The points that you need to research are:

• Experience
• Network nationally and internationally
• Range of freight services like packing, documentation, tracking, inventory management, and insurance
• Licenses and certifications as required nationally and globally
• Customer service

Some of the top companies in each type of freight service are:

Less than truckload (LTL)
If your shipment is big but not enough to occupy an entire truck, you can choose an LTL service. You share the remaining space and charges with other clients shipping to destinations in the same route. LTL is the most economical way to send small shipments at an average speed.

Some of the top-rated LTL companies for their prompt service, track record, and scale of business are:

• FedEx Freight
• Yellow Crop
• XPO Logistics
• Old Dominion Freight Line
• Estes Express Lines

Full truckload freight (FTL)
If you have a large shipment to occupy a full truckload, or need urgent delivery for a vast cargo, or if your cargo cannot be loaded with other items, you can opt for FTL. All you need to do is send or receive a shipment through air or ocean freight, and you will need an FTL from the airports or seaports.

Some of the top-rated FTL companies with a good record of professional and economic services and an extensive network across the country are:

• Schneider National
• Swift Transportation
• Landstar System
• J.B. Hunt Transport Services
• U.S. Express Enterprises

Intermodal Rail Freight
Rail freight is cheap and economical, considering the extensive network of railroad systems across the country. However, it is very popular to ship raw materials for industries, including ores, grain, lumber, paper, pipes, and other heavy items. They also carry household goods, food, beverages, and liquids. However, one cannot ship personal or individual household things.

Top rail freight companies are:

• Paige Logistics
• Universal Logistics Holdings
• Housatonic Railroad
• North American Rail Shippers Association
• ITS Technologies and Logistics

Airfreight
Shipping cargo through the air, without a doubt, is the best option when you have an urgent shipment. They are also ideal for transporting smaller packages quickly. Though they are more expensive than rail or road freight, the fastest freight shipping option is to ship your cargo using air freight.

• XPO Logistics
• K International Transport Company
• Crane Worldwide Logistics
• The Courier Company
• Multi Airfreight

Ocean Freight
If you have cargo shipped internationally, ocean freight is more cost-effective than Airfreight. Your cargo will be placed in containers and loaded onto freight ships. Like truckloads, you can choose to opt for full container loads or less than container load based on the size of your cargo. Unlike rail freight, you can ship your stuff through ocean freight.

Some of the top Ocean Freight Companies are:

• DB Schenker
• Expeditors International
• C.H. Robinson Worldwide
• Las Vegas Crating and Logistics
• International Equipment Relocation

Expedited freight
When there is an extremely urgent delivery to be made, you can book an expedited freight. Here, the delivery will be made on the same day or sooner than the usual time taken. The charges will be much higher than usual, as your cargo will be shipped at high speed.

Some of the top companies that have been providing expedited freight services are:

• Forward Air
• XPO Logistics
• Landstar System
• ArcBest
• Sameday Worldwide