Weight loss of fed steers during shipment to market adds to marketing cost. An understanding of factors influencing weight loss will aid feeders in making marketing decisions. In this study, we identified several factors that have a significant impact on percentage liveweight shrink and on hot-carcass weights of fed steers, quantified these impacts, and developed a method for predicting liveweight shrink and hot-carcass weight. Predictions of liveweight shrink and hot-carcass weight formed the basis for our development of guidelines for the evaluation and comparison of fed-steer marketing alternatives.