RL Carriers tracking

American freight transport since 1965 in Ohio

RL Carriers was founded in 1965 in Ohio by Ralph L. "Larry" Roberts, then a teenager driven by the ambition to create his own transport company. Originally, the activity consisted of a single truck transporting furniture locally. Quickly, the company acquired intra- and interstate transport authorizations, laying the foundation for what would become RL Carriers. The 1980s marked a turning point with the deregulation of the road sector in the United States, offering RL Carriers the opportunity to grow significantly. The company incorporated and implemented new logistics systems to improve its delivery times.

Over the years, RL Carriers expanded its geographic reach through organic growth and strategic acquisitions. In 1989, the purchase of Florida-based Gator Freightways strengthened RL Carriers' presence in the Southern United States. This expansion continued with the acquisition of Greenwood Motor Lines in 1992, then Herder Truck Lines (Texas) in 1996. Thanks to these integrations, RL Carriers was able to gradually extend its network to new regions. By the late 1990s, the company already covered much of the Midwest and Southeast. During the 2000s, RL Carriers continued its deployment towards the American West: new terminals opened across the West Coast states, including Northern and then Southern California. In 2007, the company achieved direct coverage of all 48 continental United States. Subsequently, RL Carriers also developed partnerships to serve the regions of Alaska and Hawaii, thus completing its presence across all 50 states.

Beyond geographic expansion, RL Carriers has always strived to enrich its service offering and modernize its operations. Remaining a family business since its inception, it has continuously invested in new technologies and infrastructures. Under the leadership of the Roberts family, the company has managed to balance rapid growth with quality service. Today, more than sixty years after its modest beginnings, RL Carriers remains true to its heritage while having become an international freight carrier.

Services

RL Carriers offers a wide range of transport and logistics services, covering both domestic and international needs. Its core offering is based on road freight transport, with solutions tailored to the size and urgency of shipments. Among the main services are:

• Less Than Truckload (LTL) Transport (A historical specialty of RL Carriers, the LTL (Less Than Truckload) service concerns shipments that do not fill a full truck. This palletized courier service allows the consolidation of multiple shipments from different customers in the same vehicle. RL Carriers thus ensures efficient delivery of small and medium shipments at competitive rates, while guaranteeing care for the goods.
• Full Truckload (FTL) Transport) For large shipments requiring a dedicated entire truck, RL Carriers offers Full Truckload trucking services. This full load service provides a vehicle reserved for a single customer or a single large shipment. It guarantees optimized delivery times, without intermediate stops, as well as planning flexibility to meet the customer's requirements.
• Expedited and Guaranteed Services (Aware of the speed imperatives of certain shipments, the company offers express delivery options. These critical services (such as expedited or guaranteed delivery before a defined time) offer shortened transit times and priority processing. They are ideal for urgent shipments that must be delivered within strict deadlines. RL Carriers mobilizes specific resources to honor these time commitments, thus ensuring a superior level of service for the most pressing needs.
• Complementary Logistics Services) In addition to road transport, RL Carriers provides its customers with a range of value-added logistics solutions. The company has a global logistics division (under the R+L Global Logistics banner) that handles air and sea shipments abroad, cross-border transit, as well as international freight consolidation or deconsolidation services. It also offers warehousing and distribution services, allowing for temporary storage of goods and inventory management. Additionally, RL Carriers offers a customs brokerage service to facilitate import and export customs formalities. This comprehensive range of logistics services makes RL Carriers a provider capable of managing the entire supply chain for its customers.
• Specialized Services (RL Carriers has developed specific offers for particular needs. For example, the "Final Mile" service is offered to deliver shipments to the final recipient, including in residential or hard-to-reach areas, with services such as appointment scheduling or inside delivery. The "White Glove" service provides special handling of high-value or sensitive goods, possibly including installation or assembly of equipment at the customer's site. The company also offers "trade show and exhibition" solutions to manage the logistics of trade shows, coordinating on-site delivery and the scheduling constraints specific to these events. Finally, RL Carriers has a "reverse logistics" service (returns and recycling) to assist customers in recovering goods or packaging to be returned.

Thanks to this variety of services, RL Carriers can meet the needs of industrial and commercial shippers as well as individual requests for large shipments. The company strives to provide customized solutions based on each client's requirements, while maintaining a high level of reliability and transparency in its offering.

Geographic Coverage

RL Carriers benefits from a very extensive geographic coverage. In the United States, the company serves the entire national territory. It has terminals and distribution centers in the 48 continental states and, thanks to logistical relays, is able to deliver in all 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii. Its network includes nearly 250 service centers across the country, ensuring a local presence in major metropolitan areas as well as in more isolated areas. This dense presence allows it to offer reduced transit times and high operational efficiency on American soil.

In addition to the domestic market, RL Carriers extends its services internationally. In North America, the company provides regular connections to Canada and Mexico. Shipments to or from Canada are managed in coordination with Canadian partners and through RL Carriers' border platforms, ensuring smooth cross-border transit between the two countries. Similarly, for Mexico, RL Carriers organizes cross-border transport in collaboration with local carriers and specialized agents, ensuring customs clearance and continuity of service to the Mexican recipient.

RL Carriers also covers several offshore and Caribbean destinations. The company has developed solutions to serve Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Dominican Republic, as well as other Caribbean islands and island territories. These shipments are generally carried out via sea or air transport, relying on the R+L Global Logistics network and local correspondents. Furthermore, RL Carriers can handle shipments to many other regions of the globe by acting as a freight forwarder: the company then organizes the complete international transport, from pickup at the sender's location to final delivery, including main transport (airplane or sea cargo) and customs procedures.

This extensive geographic coverage, combined with reliable logistical partnerships, positions RL Carriers as a carrier capable of supporting its clients in their national and international shipping needs. Whether it's to transport a pallet across the country or to ship containers overseas, RL Carriers has the resources and network required to deliver the goods safely.

Types of Shipments Handled

A versatile carrier, RL Carriers handles a wide variety of types of shipments and goods. The company primarily deals with palletized or containerized freight shipments, suitable for road and intermodal transport. RL Carriers' clients come from various sectors (industry, distribution, e-commerce, etc.), which leads the company to transport a wide range of goods: manufactured products, automotive parts, construction materials, electronic equipment, consumer goods, among others.

RL Carriers has the authorizations and expertise to handle shipments classified as hazardous materials (Hazmat). Its drivers and staff are trained in the safe handling of regulated hazardous goods, and the company offers the Hazmat option for shippers with this specific need. Additionally, the fleet includes suitable equipment to transport sensitive goods, such as flammable substances or chemicals, in compliance with safety standards.

Some shipments require special handling due to their value or fragility. RL Carriers is able to manage high-value cargo (specialized equipment, artwork, sensitive instruments, etc.) through its High-Value/High-Risk service. Enhanced packaging, tracking, and access control protocols are applied for this type of freight, minimizing risks during transport.

The company also handles shipments requiring temperature control. Its temperature-controlled transport service allows for the shipment of refrigerated or frozen products, as well as goods sensitive to temperature fluctuations (pharmaceutical, food, or chemical products). RL Carriers uses insulated or refrigerated trailers for this purpose and offers the "Freeze Protection" option in winter, to preserve the integrity of products that must not freeze during transit.

Whether it's small pallets or full loads, standard goods or special shipments, RL Carriers adapts its means to ensure appropriate delivery. The diversity of types of shipments handled demonstrates the company's flexibility in meeting the specific requirements of each shipment, while maintaining expert handling and compliance with good logistics practices.

Modes of Transport

RL Carriers mobilizes different modes of transport to efficiently deliver goods, depending on the distances, deadlines, and destinations to be covered. The main mode used is road transport, the company's core business. RL Carriers operates a large fleet of road tractors and various types of trailers, allowing it to ensure land collection and delivery across its entire network. Long-distance routes between terminals, commonly called line hauls, are carried out by trucks on highways, often at night, to guarantee competitive deadlines. Local service segments (pickup and distribution) are performed by lighter trucks or carriers, suitable for urban environments or areas with restricted access.

To optimize certain long-distance connections, RL Carriers uses intermodal transport. The company can load trailers or containers onto rail cars to cover very long distances at a lower cost, while maintaining high reliability. This rail-road mode is particularly used on corridors where rail offers an advantage in terms of volume or regularity, while contributing to reducing the carbon footprint of transport. RL Carriers ensures coordination between road and rail segments and manages handling at each mode's terminals.

When it comes to urgent shipments or overseas destinations, RL Carriers relies on air and sea transport through its R+L Global Logistics entity. For international shipments requiring fast delivery, the company offers an air freight service by reserving capacity on cargo or commercial flights, drastically shortening intercontinental transit times. Conversely, for large or less urgent cargo, RL Carriers organizes sea shipments, in full container load (FCL) or less than container load (LCL) depending on the freight volume. These alternative transport modes allow clients to choose the most suitable solution in terms of time and cost, while benefiting from RL Carriers' tracking throughout the journey.

By wisely combining road, rail, air, and sea, RL Carriers is able to offer optimized multimodal transport schemes. The choice of mode, or combination of modes, is made based on the shipment's imperatives: urgency, distance, insularity, volume, or regulatory constraints. RL Carriers' expertise in managing these different modes ensures continuity of service and efficient delivery, regardless of the chosen transport solution.

Company Structure

RL Carriers is a privately held company that has retained a family character since its inception. Founded and long led by Ralph L. Roberts, the company remains under the control of the Roberts family today. After the founder's death in 2023, the succession is ensured by the new generation, with Roby Roberts holding executive positions (CEO). This family governance is reflected in the corporate culture, where the emphasis is on sustainability, long-term vision, and operational stability.

The headquarters of RL Carriers is located in Wilmington, Ohio (USA), which is the nerve center of its administrative and operational activities. The company also has numerous regional branches across its terminal network, where local teams work (operations agents, drivers, handlers, sales and customer service staff). In total, RL Carriers employs several thousand people: recent estimates indicate nearly 10,000 employees - spread across its various sites. This workforce includes notably road drivers, who form the backbone of the transport service, but also mechanics for fleet maintenance, customs specialists for international shipments, IT specialists for logistics systems management, and many other essential roles.

Organizationally, RL Carriers is structured into various specialized divisions or operational units, each addressing a particular service segment. There is the LTL division for partial loads, the Truckload division for full loads, the Business Critical division managing guaranteed services (critical deliveries, defined schedules), and the RL Global Logistics branch dedicated to international operations and supply chain solutions. This organization by areas of expertise allows the company to remain agile and provide a high level of expertise in each field, while maintaining overall coherence in its operations.

Despite its current growth and scale, RL Carriers has maintained an independent operation from large publicly traded groups, which gives it some flexibility. Being a private family entity allows it to freely reinvest in its development and technologies without the quarterly pressure of shareholders. This financial and decision-making independence has contributed to the solidity of the company structure and the consistency of its strategic vision for six decades.

Logistical Partnerships

RL Carriers relies on several logistical partnerships to expand its service offering and geographic reach. One important aspect concerns the service of remote or specific territories through collaborations with other carriers. For example, for shipments to Hawaii or Alaska, which cannot be reached by conventional road, RL Carriers works in partnership with local or regional carriers. These inter-carrier agreements allow goods to be transported to ports or airports, then handed over to a partner ensuring final delivery in these territories. Similarly, in the Caribbean and served islands, RL Carriers collaborates with on-site agents to handle the last segment of the journey.

Internationally, partnerships play a key role in RL Carriers' ability to offer a global service. The company has built a network of correspondents and affiliated carriers abroad through its R+L Global Logistics division. Whether in Europe, Asia, or Latin America, RL Carriers can coordinate shipments by entrusting local handling and final distribution to carefully selected trusted partners. These international collaborations also extend to the field of customs brokerage: RL Carriers, while offering its own customs service, can also call on partner brokers in certain countries to facilitate import/export procedures and ensure regulatory compliance.

RL Carriers' logistical partnerships are not limited to geographic aspects. The company is also engaged in collaborative programs to improve transport efficiency and sustainability. For example, RL Carriers is an active member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) SmartWay program, a public-private partnership encouraging carriers to adopt more environmentally friendly practices. This commitment reflects RL Carriers' willingness to work hand in hand with industry bodies and partners to reduce pollutant emissions and optimize energy consumption in logistics.

Furthermore, RL Carriers maintains close relationships with major third-party logistics companies (3PL) and freight forwarders. The company has been repeatedly recognized by major clients for the quality of its service, earning distinctions such as the "Carrier of the Year" title awarded by renowned logistics providers. These recognitions reflect the strength of RL Carriers' commercial partnerships and its ability to effectively integrate into supply chains managed by other players.

In summary, logistical partnerships are at the heart of RL Carriers' strategy to offer global coverage and comprehensive solutions. By combining its internal resources with those of reliable partners, RL Carriers manages to ensure seamless service for its clients, regardless of the origin or final destination of the goods.

Technical Features

To provide quality service and adapt to the varied demands of freight transport, RL Carriers relies on specific technical means and equipment. Its vehicle fleet is modern and diverse. The company operates recent road tractors that comply with current environmental standards, towing a wide range of trailers according to needs: 28, 48, or 53-foot closed trailers for most cargo, container chassis for intermodal, flatbeds for transporting machinery parts or non-standard loads, temperature-controlled trailers for cold goods, or liftgate trailers to facilitate deliveries in places without a loading dock.

Each RL Carriers terminal is equipped to efficiently manage the flow of goods. Spacious transshipment docks and a fleet of forklifts allow for quick loading and unloading of trucks. The company uses optimized load planning and consolidation techniques to maximize space in trailers while avoiding damage to packages. RL Carriers' internal "Load & Protect" program illustrates this attention to load security: it consists of procedures and materials (straps, chocks, protective covers) used to properly secure and physically protect goods during transport.

Safety is also a key technical aspect at RL Carriers. The company has a rigorous safety and security program, including continuous driver training in defensive driving, regular maintenance of the rolling stock in specialized workshops, and the use of driver assistance equipment. For example, trucks may be equipped with onboard telematics devices, collision warning systems, or lane tracking, helping to reduce the risk of accidents on the road. Terminals are secured by access controls, video surveillance, and procedures for protecting sensitive goods, to prevent theft or damage.

Among the notable technical features, RL Carriers offers a custom crating service through its "Custom Crating" solution. This service involves manufacturing custom crates or pallets for items with unusual dimensions or fragility, ensuring optimal packaging for transport. Additionally, the "No Signature Required" delivery option is available for shippers who authorize the delivery of goods without a signature being collected on-site, which can be useful in certain delivery contexts (for example, for goods left on a construction site or at a private residence in absence).

Finally, RL Carriers adapts its logistics to extreme weather conditions through dedicated technical measures. During the winter season, the freeze protection program ensures that goods sensitive to low temperatures travel in suitable conditions (heating of parked trailers, temperature monitoring, insulating packaging). Conversely, to avoid overheating in summer, precautions are also taken to ventilate or air-condition delicate cargo if necessary. These technical features demonstrate RL Carriers' ability to handle shipments in all conditions, with the appropriate technical means to preserve the integrity of goods until delivery.

Technological Solutions

RL Carriers has been investing for many years in technological solutions to improve the efficiency of its operations and the quality of customer service. At the heart of its technological setup is the "MyRLC" online platform, a secure customer portal. This portal allows customers to interact with RL Carriers' services autonomously and instantly. Through MyRLC, shippers can obtain online transport quotes, schedule a pickup request, fill out or edit an electronic bill of lading, or track their shipment history. The interface provides access to digital documents (signed proof of delivery, invoices, etc.) via an electronic document management system, and offers customizable dashboards to manage ongoing shipments.

In terms of shipment tracking, RL Carriers offers powerful traceability tools. Each shipment is associated with a unique tracking number (commonly called a PRO number in the United States) that allows access to real-time status updates. The RL Carriers website offers an interactive tracking function: by entering the tracking number, the client can view key transit events (pickup, arrivals and departures from sorting centers, delivery completed, etc.). Automatic notifications can be activated, for example, to receive exception or delivery alerts by email or SMS. Thus, the shipper and recipient can proactively stay informed of the delivery's progress.

For high-volume clients, RL Carriers offers IT integration solutions. A suite of APIs (application programming interfaces) is available to directly connect the client's information systems (such as a shipment management software or an e-commerce site) with RL Carriers' services. These APIs cover various needs: real-time transport quote generation, creation of shipping labels and bills of lading, scheduling pickups, parcel tracking, transit time calculation, etc. In parallel, the company also supports EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) technology, a classic method allowing the automated exchange of standardized commercial documents (shipping orders, delivery statuses, invoices) between RL Carriers and its major account clients. Thanks to these integrations, shippers can automate and streamline their logistics with RL Carriers, reducing manual interventions and the risk of errors.

On the operational side, RL Carriers has equipped its teams and vehicles with various technological tools to optimize service. For example, drivers have In-Cab Scanning systems, allowing them to instantly scan transport documents (receipts, signed proofs of delivery) from the truck cabin. This data is transmitted in real-time to the central system, speeding up information updates and billing. The company also uses advanced route optimization and fleet management software, which analyzes traffic data, delivery constraints, and resource locations to efficiently plan routes. This results in improved load rates, reduced empty miles, and more reliable deadlines.

Finally, RL Carriers closely monitors logistics innovations to continue improving its services. The company regularly explores and adopts new technologies to remain competitive, whether it's telematics solutions for precise asset tracking (trucks, trailers, containers), automated warehouse management systems, or analytical tools leveraging transport data to anticipate needs. This culture of innovation allows RL Carriers to maintain a high level of technological performance, benefiting its clients who enjoy transparent, responsive, and reliable freight transport service.

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