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Compare the activity, then the code

NAICS Code for Trucking

Start with the cargo and the transport service. General freight, specialized loads, household moves and arranging another carrier’s transport are different activities.

2022 U.S. NAICS Census records checked

The activity changes the answer

Which work does the business primarily do?

Compare the service or product itself. The business name alone does not settle the classification.

4841102022 U.S.

General Freight Trucking, Local

The establishment provides local general-freight trucking, generally handling varied palletized commodities in a container or van trailer.

Check the boundaryLocal refers to service within a metropolitan area, generally with same-day return. The route may cross a state line; interstate alone does not mean long-distance.

Read the official definition
4841212022 U.S.

General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Truckload

The establishment provides long-distance general-freight truckload service, generally moving a full load from its origin to destination.

Check the boundaryDistinguish the service from an LTL network combining shipments for multiple deliveries. Specialized freight has a separate family even when the route is long-distance.

Read the official definition
4841222022 U.S.

General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Less Than Truckload

The establishment provides long-distance general-freight LTL service, combining multiple shipments on a truck for deliveries within a network.

Check the boundaryCensus describes pickup, sorting and terminals, line-haul and delivery as network activities. A load’s spare space alone is not the full definition of an LTL establishment.

Read the official definition

Take the candidates into the Finder

Open the official records side by side and download a source-backed shortlist.

Compare local, truckload and LTL general freightCompare local specialized, long-distance specialized and used-goods movingSearch a different activity

When to investigate another classification

These activity differences take the comparison beyond the starting candidates.

Local specialized freight other than used goods

484220 · Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Local

Loads requiring specialized equipment, such as local bulk liquids or dump trucking, require the specialized comparison rather than general freight.

Census record

Long-distance specialized freight other than used goods

484230 · Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance

The source includes examples such as long-distance refrigerated products, bulk liquids and hazardous materials. Specialized cargo remains distinct from general freight.

Census record

Moving used household or office furniture and equipment

484210 · Used Household and Office Goods Moving

This industry covers both local and long-distance used-goods moving, with incidental packing and storage often provided. Distance does not split it into the general-freight industries.

Census record

Arranging freight transportation without directly shipping it

488510 · Freight Transportation Arrangement

Freight forwarders and similar establishments arrange transport between shippers and carriers. Carrying the freight and arranging its movement are different services.

Census record

Independent driving or road-support services

488490 · Other Support Activities for Road Transportation

The index includes independent truck drivers except owner-operators. The cross-references send owner-operators providing transport to the industry of their actual transportation activity.

Census record

Courier and express delivery services

492110 · Couriers and Express Delivery Services

The general-freight LTL cross-references distinguish courier service from trucking. Compare the delivery operation rather than the vehicle alone.

Census record

Warehousing general freight without transportation

493110 · General Warehousing and Storage

Storage without freight transport is a different primary activity, even if trucks visit the warehouse.

Census record

Follow the decisive activity

Worked classification examples

Illustrative businesses for comparison, rather than individual filing advice.

A general-freight carrier makes same-day trips within one metro area across a state border

A state line does not override the local metropolitan service definition.

Compare 484110 · General Freight Trucking, Local

A carrier takes full general-freight loads from origin to destination over long distances

The primary activity is long-distance general-freight truckload carriage.

Compare 484121 · General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Truckload

A carrier combines shipments through pickup, sorting, line-haul and destination delivery terminals

The network and multiple-delivery model match the LTL definition.

Compare 484122 · General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Less Than Truckload

A business hauls local bulk liquids in specialized tank equipment

The specialized local cargo and equipment lead away from the general-freight branches.

Compare 484220 · Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Local

A carrier hauls refrigerated products between metropolitan areas

Long-distance refrigerated product trucking is an official specialized-freight example.

Compare 484230 · Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance

A moving company transports a customer’s used household furniture to another city

Used household and office goods moving covers local and long-distance operations.

Compare 484210 · Used Household and Office Goods Moving

A freight forwarder arranges carriage but does not directly ship the goods

The sold service is transportation arrangement between shippers and carriers.

Compare 488510 · Freight Transportation Arrangement

An owner-operator carries local general freight with the truck

Classify the transportation activity. The 488490 cross-reference excludes owner-operators from the independent-driver support shortcut.

Compare 484110 · General Freight Trucking, Local

Read the classification behind the comparison

Official definitions and hierarchy

The wording below is from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 records. Activity explanations above are from BiznTools.

484110General Freight Trucking, Local

2022 U.S. NAICS Census records checked

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing local general freight trucking. General freight trucking establishments handle a wide variety of commodities, generally palletized and transported in a container or van trailer. Local general freight trucking establishments usually provide trucking within a metropolitan area which may cross state lines. Generally the trips are same-day return.

Open 484110 in the Census reference
Hierarchy, activity phrases and cross-references

Official hierarchy

  1. 48-49Transportation and Warehousing
  2. 484Truck Transportation
  3. 4841General Freight Trucking
  4. 48411General Freight Trucking, Local
  5. 484110General Freight Trucking, Local

Selected official activity phrases

  • Bulk mail truck transportation, contract, local
  • Container trucking services, local
  • General freight trucking, local
  • Motor freight carrier, general, local
  • Transfer (trucking) services, general freight, local
  • Trucking, general freight, local

Official cross-references

  • Operating independent trucking terminals--are classified in Industry 488490, Other Support Activities for Road Transportation; and
  • Providing general freight long-distance trucking, including all North American international travel--are classified in Industry 48412, General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance.

484121General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Truckload

2022 U.S. NAICS Census records checked

This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing long-distance general freight truckload (TL) trucking. These long-distance general freight truckload carrier establishments provide full truck movement of freight from origin to destination. The shipment of freight on a truck is characterized as a full single load not combined with other shipments.

Open 484121 in the Census reference
Hierarchy, activity phrases and cross-references

Official hierarchy

  1. 48-49Transportation and Warehousing
  2. 484Truck Transportation
  3. 4841General Freight Trucking
  4. 48412General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance
  5. 484121General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Truckload

Selected official activity phrases

  • Bulk mail truck transportation, contract, long-distance (TL)
  • Container trucking services, long-distance (TL)
  • General freight trucking, long-distance, truckload (TL)
  • Motor freight carrier, general, long-distance, truckload (TL)
  • Trucking, general freight, long-distance, truckload (TL)

Official cross-references

  • Providing general freight long-distance, less than truckload trucking--are classified in U.S. Industry 484122, General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Less Than Truckload;
  • Providing specialized freight trucking--are classified in Industry Group 4842, Specialized Freight Trucking;
  • Operating independent trucking terminals--are classified in Industry 488490, Other Support Activities for Road Transportation;
  • Providing local general freight trucking services--are classified in Industry 484110, General Freight Trucking, Local; and
  • Providing independent truck driving services (except owner-operators)--are classified in Industry 488490, Other Support Activities for Road Transportation.

484122General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Less Than Truckload

2022 U.S. NAICS Census records checked

This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing long-distance, general freight, less than truckload (LTL) trucking. LTL carriage is characterized as multiple shipments combined onto a single truck for multiple deliveries within a network. These establishments are generally characterized by the following network activities: local pick-up, local sorting and terminal operations, line-haul, destination sorting and terminal operations, and local delivery.

Open 484122 in the Census reference
Hierarchy, activity phrases and cross-references

Official hierarchy

  1. 48-49Transportation and Warehousing
  2. 484Truck Transportation
  3. 4841General Freight Trucking
  4. 48412General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance
  5. 484122General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Less Than Truckload

Selected official activity phrases

  • General freight trucking, long-distance, less-than-truckload (LTL)
  • LTL (less-than-truckload) long-distance freight trucking
  • Motor freight carrier, general, long-distance, less-than-truckload (LTL)
  • Trucking, general freight, long-distance, less-than-truckload (LTL)

Official cross-references

  • Providing courier services--are classified in Industry 492110, Couriers and Express Delivery Services;
  • Providing warehousing services of general freight without transportation--are classified in Industry 493110, General Warehousing and Storage;
  • Providing specialized freight trucking--are classified in Industry Group 4842, Specialized Freight Trucking;
  • Operating independent trucking terminals--are classified in Industry 488490, Other Support Activities for Road Transportation;
  • Providing general freight long-distance truckload trucking--are classified in U.S. Industry 484121, General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Truckload;
  • Providing local general freight trucking services--are classified in Industry 484110, General Freight Trucking, Local; and
  • Providing independent truck driving services (except owner-operators)--are classified in Industry 488490, Other Support Activities for Road Transportation.

Check the original source files

Definitions, titles, activity phrases and exclusions come from the same 2022 U.S. edition.