5 Largest Freight Forwarders in the US – FreightWaves Ratings
Freight forwarders arrange cargo for shippers. They assist across various transportation methods such as land, ocean, and air. The largest freight forwarders have plenty of work available. These reliable freight forwarders provide consistent work for their drivers. Fleet owners can also hand off their freight to freight forwarders. We compiled a list of the largest freight forwarders.
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Quicklook: Largest Freight Forwarders in the US
- Best For Fast and Competitive Quotes: DHL
- Best For Tailored Supply Chain Programs: Expeditors International
- Best For Reducing Downtime: C.H. Robinson
- Best For Managing Shipments: UPS Supply Chain Solutions
- Best For Container Logistics: Maersk
5 Largest US Freight Forwarder Options
The largest US Freight forwarder options have many years of experience. They have delivered vital freight to various businesses. We provided a list of the five largest US freight forwarder options to get you started.
DHL Supply Chain & Global Forwarding
DHL is a world-leading freight forwarding company founded in 1969. The San Francisco company employs over 400,000 people across 220 countries and territories. DHL helps companies expand their operations and deliver freight across borders.
Best For: Fast and Competitive Quotes
Location: San Francisco, California
Website: https://www.dhl.com
Revenue: $28.453 billion
Volume: 70,3550,000 metric tons
Number of Employees: 400,000
Employment Types: DHL offers many employment opportunities with the choice between part-time and full-time.
- Delivery drivers
- Postal workers
- Warehouse assistants
Services:
- Express
- Global Forwarding
- Freight
- Supply Chain
- eCommerce Solutions
- Private Customer Services
Company Benefits:
- 401k plan
- Maternity & Paternity leave
- Vacation and paid time off
- Health insurance
Special Features:
- Global reach and local knowledge
- Same-day deliveries
- Sustainable supply chain management
Expeditors International
Expeditors International is a Seattle-based freight forwarding company. The global logistics company has delivered freight to customers for over 40 years. They help shippers keep up with the fast-paced nature of the supply chain.
Best For: Tailored Supply Chain Programs
Location: Seattle, Washington
Website: https://www.expeditors.com
Revenue: $10.116 billion
Volume: 27,119,850 metric tons
Number of Employees: 17,400 employees
Employment Types: Expeditors International offers many employment opportunities with the choice between part-time and full-time. Here are some of their career openings:
- Global Business Operations
- Import
- Ground Network Services
- Order Management
- Transcon Services
Services:
- Supply Chain
- Transportation
- Customs & Compliance
- Warehousing & Distribution
Company Benefits:
- Health care
- Education reimbursement
- Paid time off
- Assistance with providing well-being to you and your family
Special Features:
- SaaS Offerings
- Trade Management Software
- Curated subsidiaries
C.H. Robinson
C.H. Robinson provides a global reach to ensure your freight arrives promptly. The freight forwarding company has experienced success in a tight trucking market and has adapted to global disruptions. Over 100,000 companies choose C.H. Robinson for their freight shipping, including Microsoft, General Mills, and Lowes.
Best For: Reducing Downtime
Location: Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Website: https://www.chrobinson.com/en/
Revenue: $15,490 billion
Volume: 29,025,000 metric tons
Number of Employees: 15,000
Employment Types: C.H. Robinson offers many employment opportunities with the choice between part-time and full-time. Here are some of their career openings:
- Logistics Associates
- Carrier Representative
- Operations
- Forwarding Coordinators
- Customs Entry Writers
Services:
- Supply Chain & Logistics
- Freight Services
- Warehousing
- Consolidation
- Temperature Controlled Loads
Company Benefits:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- Disability and life insurance
- A flexible spending account
- Stock options
- Equity Incentive Plan
Special Features:
- Supply chain consulting
- Reduced need for multiple providers
- Adaptability to global disruptions
- Advanced technology
UPS Supply Chain Solutions
UPS is one of the most recognizable American brands with over 100 years of experience. The UPS is one of the world’s largest shipping carriers. The company was founded in Atlanta in 1907.
Best For: Managing Shipments
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Website: https://www.ups.com
Revenue: $11.048 billion
Volume: 15,868,880 million metric tons
Number of Employees: 543,000
Employment Types: UPS offers many employment opportunities with the choice between part-time and full-time. Here are some of their career openings:
- Warehouse workers
- Drivers
- Technicians
- Dockworkers
- HAZMAT drivers
Services:
- Freight distribution
- Supplier management
- Freight consolidation
- Cargo insurance & financial services
- Industrial 3D printing
Company Benefits:
- Flexible hours
- Health insurance even for part-time workers
- Vacations and paid time off
- Union protection and pensions
Special Features:
- UPS Forwarding Hub
- Up-to-the-minute customs clearance expertise
- Market updates
Maersk
Maersk is a Danish company with a strong US presence. The integrated container logistics company has over 80,000 employees spread across 130 countries. They strive to digitize, democratize, and decarbonize supply chains using new business models and technologies.
Best For: Container Logistics
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Website: https://www.maersk.com
Revenue: $6.963 billion
Volume: 9,770,942 metric tons
Number of Employees: 83,000
Employment Types: Maersk offers many employment opportunities with the choice between part-time and full-time. Here are some of their career openings:
Services:
- Supply Chain Management
- Warehousing and Distribution
- Cargo Insurance
- Value Protect
- EDI Solutions
Company Benefits:
- Life insurance
- Medical care
- Retirement savings
- Paid vacations and holidays
Special Features:
- Digital solutions
- Financial services
- Extensive routes
What Is Freight Forwarding?
Freight forwarding services help freight reach its final destination. Freight forwarding companies plan cost-effective transportation routes to save shippers money.
How Does Freight Forwarding Work?
Freight forwarding involves deciphering the best route for freight. Freight forwarders involve a single driver or multiple drivers depending on costs and speed. Some freight forwarding companies will ask LTL truck drivers to bring their cargo to a truck designated as a full truckload. Carrying more freight on a full truckload instead of across several LTL trucks reduces costs. Freight forwarders will cover insurance and advise on required documents and transportation rules in specific countries.
What to Consider With Freight Forwarding
Freight forwarding has many advantages. However, some freight forwarding companies are better than others. Before reviewing our considerations, consider your objectives. Truckers can land a job at a freight forwarding company. Businesses use freight forwarding companies for cheaper and higher-quality shipping solutions.
Transportation
Some supply chain companies ship goods internationally. These companies cannot use freight forwarders that only ship freight by land. They need air and sea transportation. Truckers can only get a job at freight forwarders that do land transportation. If a freight forwarder only accepts sea and air transportation, truck drivers should look elsewhere for employment.
Warehousing and Storage
Warehousing and storage will affect a company’s total costs. The longer your cargo stays in storage, the more you’ll pay for the freight forwarding service. Companies will have to put their freight in storage if the destination is far away. However, the cargo should not reside in a warehouse for too long.
Network
Freight forwarders tap into networks across the world. Businesses only care about networks that affect their freight transportation. Review a freight forwarding company’s networks to see if they cover all of your destinations. Companies primarily use freight forwarders to gain network connections they can’t access on their own.
Customs
Some companies need freight delivered across country borders. Freight forwarders must demonstrate an ability to handle customs well for exporting and importing. This issue is less important for companies that only ship goods domestically.
Speed
Some companies need their cargo immediately. Receiving freight a few days late can interrupt business operations and your ability to serve clients. The largest freight forwarders have networks and connections that improve efficiency and costs. Make sure a freight forwarder can deliver freight on time. You should provide freight forwarders leeway for delays due to weather and events outside of their control.
Selecting from the Largest Freight Forwarders
The larger freight forwarders give you more confidence that your freight will arrive promptly. When choosing a freight forwarder, you should save on time, total shipping, and insurance.
FAQ
What Does a Freight Forwarder Do?
A freight forwarder identifies the most effective routes that help you receive goods in a timely manner while lowering costs.
Who Is the Largest Freight Forwarder in the World?
DHL is the largest freight forwarder in the world.
Is Freight Forwarding the Same as Logistics?
Logistics companies own all of the assets. Freight forwarders identify the best routes and reach out to logistics companies. Some freight forwarding companies also have logistics divisions.