Daylight Transport tracking

What is Daylight Transport?

Daylight Transport, LLC is an American trucking company specializing in less-than-truckload , LTL, freight transportation, headquartered in Cypress, California, in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The company was founded in 1977, initially operating as an air freight business before transitioning into long-haul LTL trucking. Its founders built the company around a specific frustration with how freight moved across the country at the time, when cross-country transit averaged between seven and fifteen days. The approach they developed to address this cut that timeline to two to three days and became the operational foundation on which Daylight has been built ever since.

The speed advantage that defines Daylight Transport is not achieved through premium pricing but through two structural features built into their standard service. The first is direct loading to destination trailers, which eliminates the intermediate terminal transfers that most LTL carriers rely on, where freight is unloaded, sorted, and reloaded at each hub before continuing. The second feature is two-driver sleeper teams, where a pair of drivers alternates between driving and resting so the truck moves continuously without overnight stops. Together, these two features produce the company's core claim that 75% of long-haul freight delivers in two days at standard LTL rates.

• Founded: 1977, originally as an air freight company based in California
• Legal entity: Daylight Transport, LLC
• Headquarters: Cypress, California, in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
• SCAC code: DYLT
• USDOT number: 898079
• MC number: MC-390739
• Governing tariff: DYLT 110-AF (Local and Joint Rules Tariff)
• Customer service phone: 1-800-468-9999
• EPA designation: SmartWay Transport Partner (2017 and 2020)
• Industry recognition: Inbound Logistics Top 100 Motor Carriers (2022), Los Angeles Business Journal 100 Fastest-Growing Companies for four consecutive years, Los Angeles Business Journal 100 Largest Privately Held Companies, Food Logistics Top Green Provider (2016, 2017, 2021), and 2021 Green Freight Leadership Award

Daylight Transport targets businesses rather than individual consumers, serving manufacturers, distributors, freight forwarders, and e-commerce fulfillment operations that depend on reliable, fast freight to manage lean supply chains. The company has grown from its California origins into a carrier serving all 50 U.S. states, with dedicated programs for Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, and cross-border service to Canada. The Los Angeles Business Journal's recognition of Daylight among its 100 Largest Privately Held Companies reflects a level of market presence that separates it from smaller regional operators. The company remains privately held with no publicly identified parent organization.

In recent years, Daylight has continued expanding its terminal network and operational capacity. In February 2026, the company opened a new service center covering the Austin and San Antonio markets in Texas. New shipping lanes were also established between Atlanta, Georgia and Midwest destinations including Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. A facility expansion in Fontana, California and the introduction of electric vehicles into the fleet were completed in the same period, consistent with the company's status as an EPA SmartWay Transport Partner and its recognition across multiple green freight rankings.

Which countries does Daylight Transport deliver to?

Daylight Transport provides freight service across all 50 U.S. states, covering every region of the contiguous United States through a terminal network that spans both high-density industrial markets and lower-density areas across the Mountain West, Great Plains, and rural South. Within the 48 contiguous states, service extends from California and the Pacific Northwest to New England and the mid-Atlantic, covering both major freight corridors and secondary markets. The company divides its coverage into 18 named service regions, including distinct zones for Southern California, Northern California, Dallas and Fort Worth, Houston, Laredo, the Southeast, Florida, New England the Northeast, the Mid-Atlantic, the Upper Midwest, Illinois, and the Northwest.

Beyond the contiguous 48 states, Daylight operates dedicated offshore logistics programs for Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. For Hawaii, freight is routed through the Port of Long Beach, California, and the company estimates that this routing shaves four to five days off typical offshore shipping timelines compared to standard carriers. For Alaska, freight routes through the port in Auburn, Washington, with potential time savings of up to one week compared to standard alternatives. Puerto Rico freight is handled through the port in Jacksonville, Florida, with California-origin shipments able to reach Jacksonville in one to two business days and make Tuesday sailings after Thursday or Friday pickups.

• Contiguous United States: All 48 contiguous states, including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming
• Hawaii: Offshore program routing through the Port of Long Beach, California, with estimated transit savings of four to five days versus standard offshore carriers
• Alaska: Offshore program routing through the port in Auburn, Washington, with potential time savings of up to one week
• Puerto Rico: Offshore program routing through the port in Jacksonville, Florida
• Canada: Service to Ontario and Quebec only, with Daylight managing the U.S. domestic leg and a licensed customs broker handling clearance at the border

Canada service covers the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, which together represent the two most commercially active Canadian provinces. Daylight handles the U.S. portion of the journey to the border, while a licensed customs broker manages clearance and final delivery on the Canadian side. A commercial invoice and customs broker clearance are both required by law for cross-border shipments to Canada. California Friday pickups can reach Ontario or Quebec destinations by Monday or Tuesday, subject to customs processing at the border, which Daylight estimates is two to three days faster than standard LTL alternatives for these lanes.

For international freight forwarders, Daylight serves as a domestic feeder carrier connecting U.S. inland points to major international gateway ports. West Coast ports served include Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland and Tacoma, primarily for freight moving to and from Asian markets. East Coast ports handle European-origin traffic, and Miami and Houston serve South American supply chains. This positioning means forwarders can rely on Daylight's two-day coast-to-coast transit to move freight from port arrival to inland destinations at standard LTL rates, without requiring a separate domestic carrier relationship for the inland segment.

What are the Daylight Transport services and delivery times?

Daylight Transport's main offering is standard LTL freight shipping built around a transit model that most other carriers would classify as expedited. Rather than offering a slow base tier alongside a premium speed tier, their standard service delivers 75% of long-haul freight in two days through direct loading and two-driver sleeper teams. Hundreds of lanes accept Thursday or Friday pickups with Monday delivery at no added cost, a feature that is particularly valuable for businesses that need to ship at the end of the week without losing a day of lead time on the receiving end.

• Standard LTL: Direct-load service with two-driver sleeper teams, delivering 75% of long-haul freight in two days at standard LTL market rates. Thursday and Friday pickup with Monday delivery available on hundreds of lanes at no premium
• Made-to-Order LTL: A customization program within the standard LTL offering for shippers with special requirements, emergency situations, or logistics needs that fall outside a standard template
• Just-in-Time LTL: A program designed for manufacturers and distributors running lean inventory models, focused on shortening lead times and reducing the need for large safety stock holdings
• Daylight Urgent Care: Guaranteed delivery on the promised day, with a full money-back refund if the guarantee is missed. A small premium applies, and the notation "Urgent Care" must appear on the Bill of Lading
• Daylight Critical Care: Guaranteed delivery to both a specific day and a specific arrival time. If the guarantee is missed, Daylight covers the full shipping cost. If air transport is required to meet the commitment, Daylight arranges it at their own expense
• Air Freight: Available as a standalone service with quotes obtained by phone or online form
• Volume and Truckload: Available nationally for shipments exceeding standard LTL size thresholds
• Compliance Services: Management of vendor compliance requirements for shippers supplying large retail chains, including appointment scheduling, daily status reporting, and exception handling to avoid retailer chargebacks
• Supply Chain Optimization: A consulting service for customers evaluating how Daylight's transit times can reduce distribution center requirements or safety stock levels
• Offshore Services: Dedicated programs for Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico with coordinated port handoffs and time savings versus standard offshore carriers
• Canada Service: Cross-border LTL to Ontario and Quebec, with Daylight managing the U.S. leg and coordination with customs brokers at the border
• Warehousing and Logistics: Available specifically in the California market

The two guaranteed service tiers address different levels of delivery certainty. Daylight Urgent Care guarantees delivery on the promised day, backed by a full refund if the deadline is missed, with a small premium over standard rates and a required notation on the Bill of Lading. Daylight Critical Care goes further, guaranteeing both the promised delivery day and the specific arrival time, and is positioned by the company as an alternative to air freight for emergency situations. When Critical Care commitments are not met Daylight absorbs the full shipping cost and where necessary, arranges air transport at its own expense to fulfill the guarantee.

The Compliance Services program targets a specific challenge facing manufacturers and distributors that supply large retail chains. These retailers impose strict rules around delivery windows, purchase order alignment, appointment scheduling, and documentation standards, and they assess financial chargebacks when vendors miss these requirements. Daylight manages the full compliance process on behalf of the shipper, covering appointment scheduling, proactive phone and email notification, daily status reporting, and exception handling. The Supply Chain Optimization service addresses a related problem, helping customers determine whether Daylight's transit times can reduce the number of distribution centers they need to operate or the volume of buffer inventory they carry.

What are the Daylight Transport rates and maximum dimensions accepted?

Daylight Transport does not publish its rates publicly. LTL quotes are obtained through the rate quote form on their website, by phone at 1-800-468-9999, or through third-party freight broker platforms including FreightCenter, FreightPros, FreightRate, and GlobalTranz. Volume freight and air freight quotes are obtained through the same phone and form channels. All service operates under tariff DYLT 110-AF, which is the Local and Joint Rules Tariff that governs the terms and conditions for all shipments. This document is available as a download on their website and establishes the rules for freight classification, accessorial charges, and related billing matters.

LTL rates at Daylight follow the same basic methodology used across the industry. Each rate is determined by the freight class, shipment weight, the origin-destination pair, and applicable accessorial charges. Because Daylight specializes in long-haul LTL rather than regional short-haul, their rate structure is built around distance and reflects the efficiency gains from their direct-load, two-driver model. A density calculator and transit time calculator are both available on their website to help shippers estimate costs and delivery timelines before requesting a formal quote. A California compliance surcharge has been added to applicable shipments, reflecting regulatory costs specific to California operations.

• Pricing model: Rate-on-request, based on freight class, shipment weight, origin-destination pair, and applicable accessorial charges
• Quote channels: Online rate quote form, phone at 1-800-468-9999, and third-party freight broker platforms including FreightCenter, FreightPros, FreightRate, and GlobalTranz
• Governing tariff: DYLT 110-AF (Local and Joint Rules Tariff), available for download and governing all service terms and conditions
• California surcharge: A California compliance surcharge applies to relevant shipments, reflecting California-specific regulatory costs
• Speed premium: Standard long-haul LTL service is priced at market rates with no speed premium. The only premium tier is Daylight Urgent Care, which carries a small additional charge for the day-specific delivery guarantee
• Estimation tools: Density calculator and transit time calculator available on their website for pre-quote planning

A central element of Daylight's commercial positioning is that their two-day long-haul transit times are available at standard LTL market rates rather than at a premium. At most carriers, two-day coast-to-coast delivery is priced as an expedited add-on that costs substantially more than the base service. At Daylight, the two-day transit is the base service. The only offering that carries an explicit speed premium is Daylight Urgent Care, which adds a small charge for the guaranteed delivery day and full refund policy. All other services, including standard two-day long-haul, are available at rates the company presents as competitive with standard market pricing.

What are the Daylight Transport delivery options?

Daylight Transport is structured as a business-to-business freight carrier. Their delivery model targets commercial consignees receiving freight at docks, warehouses, distribution centers, and commercial addresses rather than residential last-mile delivery. This orientation is consistent with the LTL freight market the company serves, where shipments are typically palletized commercial goods rather than individual consumer packages. The company's operational infrastructure reflects this focus, with service centers and terminal networks designed around commercial freight flows rather than residential delivery density or consumer-facing delivery options such as time-slot selection or parcel redirect services.

For shippers managing ongoing accounts, the MyDaylight portal provides shipment visibility, PRO number tracking, and billing management from a single account interface. Registered account holders can access both individual shipment lookups and account-wide views of all active shipments. A Daily Shipment Status Report can be requested through the portal, providing a manifest-style overview of all active shipments under a given account number. This report is available in two formats, one that includes freight charges and one that omits them, allowing customers to share shipment status information internally without distributing billing data to all recipients.

• Standard commercial delivery: Dock delivery to warehouses, distribution centers, manufacturing facilities, and commercial addresses
• MyDaylight portal: Account-level shipment visibility, PRO number tracking, and billing management for registered account holders
• Daily Shipment Status Report: Automated manifest covering all active shipments under an account, available with or without freight charge detail
• Driver portal: A separate portal for owner-operators and independent drivers, managed independently from the shipper-facing account system
• Daylight Urgent Care: Delivery guaranteed to a specific day, with a full refund if the deadline is missed
• Daylight Critical Care: Delivery guaranteed to both a specific day and a specific arrival time, for shipments requiring the highest level of precision

For high-volume shippers tracking dozens or hundreds of active PRO numbers simultaneously, the batch format of the Daily Shipment Status Report is more practical than individual shipment lookups. The report consolidates all current shipment information under an account into a single view that can be accessed on a recurring basis. Specific details about residential delivery options, parcel locker programs, or package redirect capabilities are not part of Daylight's publicly described service offering, which is consistent with their positioning as a carrier serving commercial freight operations rather than consumer-facing last-mile delivery.

What should I do if my Daylight Transport parcel is lost or damaged?

When freight arrives with visible damage, Daylight Transport recommends contacting the carrier immediately and documenting all damage thoroughly before filing a claim. Photographic evidence and a detailed written description of the damage strengthen a claim and help establish the condition of the goods at the time of delivery. Claims can be submitted via an online form on their website, via a printable document available for download, or through direct contact with the claims department. A separate inquiry form is available for checking the status of an existing claim and requires a bill number, claim number, company name, and contact information.

After a claim is submitted with proper documentation, Daylight Transport follows a defined processing timeline. The carrier has 30 business days to acknowledge receipt of the claim after it is filed. Following that acknowledgment, the carrier then has 120 business days to respond with either an approval or a denial. If the claim remains unresolved after the 120-business-day mark, Daylight will continue providing status updates at intervals of 60 business days until the matter reaches settlement. This process applies to damage, shortage, and loss claims alike and is consistent with standard industry practice for LTL freight.

• Online claims form: Available on the Daylight Transport website for digital submission
• Printable claims form: Downloadable document for manual completion and submission
• Claims inquiry form: For following up on existing claims, requires bill number, claim number, company name, and contact details
• Acknowledgment period: 30 business days from the date of claim submission
• Resolution period: 120 business days to approve or deny the claim
• Extended status updates: If unresolved after 120 business days, status updates provided at 60-business-day intervals until settlement
• Urgent Care refund policy: Full refund of the shipping cost if a Daylight Urgent Care shipment misses its guaranteed delivery day
• Critical Care refund policy: Full shipping cost covered by Daylight if a Critical Care shipment misses its guaranteed delivery day or arrival time
• Customer service phone: 1-800-468-9999 for claims inquiries and general support

For shipments traveling under the two guaranteed service tiers, the refund process is more direct than the standard claims timeline. A Daylight Urgent Care shipment that misses its guaranteed delivery day results in a full refund of the shipping cost with no conditions attached. A Daylight Critical Care shipment that misses either the guaranteed date or the guaranteed arrival time is handled the same way, with Daylight absorbing the full cost. In cases where meeting the Critical Care commitment requires air transport, Daylight arranges that at its own expense rather than passing the cost to the shipper.

Does Daylight Transport handle international shipments and customs formalities?

Daylight Transport is primarily a domestic U.S. carrier. Their international reach covers two specific situations. The first is Canada, where Daylight provides cross-border LTL service to Ontario and Quebec only. The second is port feeder service for international freight forwarders, where Daylight handles the domestic U.S. leg of freight moving between inland points and international gateway ports. The company does not operate ocean freight or air freight lanes to international destinations and does not offer end-to-end international shipping to countries other than Canada.

For Canada-bound shipments, Daylight handles the U.S. domestic portion of the freight movement to the Canadian border. At that point, a licensed customs broker takes over to manage clearance and final delivery on the Canadian side. Two documents are legally required for cross-border shipments to Canada. These are a customs broker clearance and a commercial invoice. Duties and taxes on the Canadian side are the responsibility of the importer or their appointed broker, and Daylight does not manage the duty and tax process directly or offer Delivered Duty Paid options for cross-border service.

• Canada (Ontario and Quebec): Cross-border LTL with Daylight managing the U.S. leg to the border. A licensed customs broker handles clearance and final delivery on the Canadian side
• Required documents for Canada: A commercial invoice and customs broker clearance, both required by law
• Duties and taxes: Managed by the importer or their customs broker on the Canadian side. Daylight does not handle the duty and tax process
• Port feeder service: Domestic LTL service for international freight forwarders, connecting U.S. inland points to major gateway ports on the West Coast, East Coast, and Gulf Coast
• West Coast ports: Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland and Tacoma, primarily for Asia-origin and Asia-destination freight
• East Coast ports: Served for European-origin and European-destination freight
• Gulf Coast ports: Miami and Houston, serving South American supply chains
• International coverage beyond Canada: Not offered as a direct end-to-end service. Daylight provides only the domestic U.S. segment within forwarder-managed international supply chains

For international freight forwarders, the domestic feeder program provides a predictable inland transit option connected to all major U.S. port gateways. Forwarders using this service receive coast-to-coast domestic transit in two days at standard LTL rates, with consistent pricing across the network. West Coast ports are served for Asia-origin traffic, East Coast ports handle freight moving to and from Europe, and Miami and Houston serve the South American trade lanes. This arrangement allows forwarders to plan domestic segments around port sailing schedules with a reliable and consistent transit time rather than a variable one.

Specific policies on prohibited items, international cargo insurance, or customs documentation requirements beyond those applicable to Canada were not identified in publicly available information about Daylight Transport. Shippers requiring end-to-end international service, including ocean or air freight to destinations outside Canada, would need to arrange those legs through a freight forwarder or international carrier, with Daylight serving as the domestic feeder component of that supply chain rather than the end-to-end provider.