Smith Transportation Services, a company based in Sunrise, Fla., that specializes in “load-to-ride” service for shippers of less-than-truckload freight, is being purchased by a group of Smith’s top executives and the New York-based investment firm Post Capital Partners.

Leaders at prominent less-than-truckload carriers are optimistic about the future as their companies adapt and expand services to capitalize on favorable long-term trends, such as the move toward smaller shipments and the growth of e-commerce.

PITTSBURGH — Charles Hammel III says he owes much of his family’s success in the trucking business to those who came before he and his brother Robert established Pitt Ohio Express in 1979.

One year after withdrawing its financial statements dating to 2011, Roadrunner Transportation Systems Inc. on Jan. 31 took a major step forward by releasing amended results through 2016.

ArcBest Corp. ended the year with a strong fourth quarter because of better less-than-truckload pricing and lower expenses than one year ago.

The less-than-truckload industry is embracing dimensioning technology to enable more accurate freight pricing and automate what used to be manual tasks.

The immense popularity of Android and Apple smartphones and tablets has led many truckload carriers to deploy mobile applications that drivers can run on those consumer devices.

Averitt Express launched a new less-than-containerload service last month to Dallas, built on the success of its Asia-to-Memphis Express service in the e-commerce and small business communities.