The Best 50 Trucking Companies Worldwide

Trading across the globe has become common practice. Today, consumers from all corners of the world can access the products of companies that operate in different countries.

The sustained practice of global trading means there is consistent demand for reliable logistics. How businesses produce, import and export components all depends on the speed of their operations.

The trucking industry is essential to satisfying the logistical demands of global trade. In this article we will discuss what the current state of the trucking industry is and its trajectory.

In addition to this, we will outline in alphabetical order the top 50 trucking companies worldwide.

The Current State of the Trucking Industry

With a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 3.4%, the global transportation industry is expected to be valued at over £6.5tn by 2027.

This statistic alone looks impressive. However, when compared to the pre-pandemic growth rate, it is evident that the global transportation industry is still in the process of recovery.

A study titled On-Demand Transportation Market Size conducted in 2018 highlighted a CAGR of 19.8%. This means that expected growth has reduced by 16.4%.

Although this may seem detrimental, it is important to remember that growth is still occurring. Despite the impact of the pandemic on logistics and trade, global transport remains positive.

The trucking industry is only one component of the global transportation market, but the statistics mirror the broader trend highlighted above.

In 2020, during the midst of the pandemic, the evaluation of the global trucking industry was estimated at £1.7tn.

After the necessary revisions made to the CAGR, the global trucking industry growth is estimated at 4.7%, meaning it will grow to an estimated worth of £2.25tn by 2026.

These figures are encouraging for the future of any trucking company. Not only has the global trucking industry stabilised economically, but it is also showing greater growth than the general transportation industry.

Any statistic is subject to change depending on any unexpected national or international circumstances. The pandemic has shown that corporations may need to be more cautious when considering global trading practices.

However, the quick turnaround in both the global trading and global trucking industry demonstrates that it remains a relatively stable practice.

The Top 50 Trucking Companies Worldwide

The American-based transport company has been operating since 1923. Its services include both short and long-haul transportation.

As a result of the company’s excellence, it has been awarded various accolades in security, safety and loss prevention.

Today the company is headquartered in Fort Smith, Arkansas. It is a less-than-truckload (LTL) company, meaning it primarily deals with loads less than 68 kg. Most of its services are based in North America.

ATS began its operations in 1955 and prides itself on simplicity. With over 5,000 clients regularly using its logistical services, ATS has proven to be a reliable choice for various businesses.

Some of the markets ATS provides services to include aerospace, agriculture and manufacturing.

Customers can get quick quotes from ATS regarding national and international shipping.

ArcBest Corporation is a corporation with subsidiaries that include ABF Freight System.

Founded in 1956, ArcBest Corporation is one of the largest LTL service providers in the US today.

The moving and storage company was founded in 1948 and is based today in Indiana.

Today it is the 11th largest private company in the state and operates relocation services on a global scale.

Averitt Express is an award-winning, privately-owned transportation company.

Based in Tennessee, the company operates in 18 southeast states. Averitt Express has over 5,000 employees to its name.

C.R. England is one of the oldest transportation companies and was founded in 1920. Its headquarters are in Salt Lake City and it’s known for its family-oriented customer service.

Cardinal Global Logistics is based in the UK and Ireland and is one of the largest logistical services providers operating in Europe.

Some of its services include award-winning engineering project solutions and supply chain efficiency.

The transport corporation primarily operates in the US and Canada. It prides itself on being a family-oriented business. Some of its community initiatives include research into ways the company can reduce its carbon footprint.

Founded in 1986, Covenant Logistics is an American corporation that primarily deals with truckload shipping. The company has been awarded for its customer-focused service and safety initiatives.

Crete Carrier Corporation operates out of Nebraska and has been doing so for the past 50 years.

As a company it strives for exceptional service, driven by its seven-principle approach.

These include: safety, say what we mean, be either, lead, be the best, respect and have fun.

CRST has a current fleet size of around 4,500 trucks and an annual revenue of $1.5bn. Founded in 1955, CRST International continues to operate out of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Daseke, Inc. is the largest flatbed and specialised transport logistics company in North America. The company comprises 16 operating companies and has over 5,200 trucks at its disposal.

Founded in the 1950s, Day & Ross has grown to become one of the largest transportation companies in Canada. It primarily operates in cross-border transportation and it currently has over 8,000 employees on its books.

The German logistics company delivers over 1.6 billion parcels per year. Founded in 1969, it has grown to become the market leader in Europe and has been highly successful in the US since the acquisition of Airborne Express.

Estes Express Lines was founded in 1931 and its headquarters are in Virginia. It has grown to become the largest privately held LTL company in the US.

The Evans Delivery company is an international transportation company that began operating in 1939.

Today the company has access to over 8,000 owner-operators across the US and further afield.

Arguably the most well-known company on this list, FedEx is an internationally recognised transportation service.

The FedEx freight branch is the largest LTL freight carrier in the US, reporting a revenue of $8.9bn in 2021.

Founded in 1981, Forward Air has grown to offer a range of services including LTL, complete cartage and truckload services. The company currently operates out of Tennessee.

Hub Group is a value-driven company that offers innovative supply chain solutions.

Since 2014 the company has put forward environmentally-centred solutions, resulting in a US EPA LEED Gold certification.

The American logistics company is based in Arkansas and has grown to become the 80th largest trucking firm in the US.

Today, the company’s fleet includes over 100,000 trailers and containers.

Kenan Advantage Group is the biggest tank truck transporter and logistics provider in North America. Some of its transportation services include the delivering of fuel, chemicals and other flammable liquids.

Operating in 48 states, KLLM Transport Services is one of the largest temperature-controlled truckload carriers in the US. The company has been transporting perishable goods since 1963.

The motor carrier holding company operates out of Arizona. Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings is the fifth largest trucking company in the US and recently expanded its operations with the acquisition of Midwest Motor Express.

Landstar System primarily specialises in third-party logistics. The corporation currently uses an extensive network of over 11,000 independently owned operators to deliver goods. Its headquarters are in Florida.

The Washington-based company was founded in 1906, making it one of the oldest transport companies based in the US. Lynden Inc. offers its services in Canada, Hawaii and around the world.

Marten Transport prides itself on being a time-sensitive transportation and distribution service. Its headquarters are in Wisconsin and the company primarily operates in the US, Canada and Mexico.

NFI has been offering logistical solutions to businesses since 1932. Some of its more popular solutions include people-led integrated logistics, port services and real estate logistics.

ODFL is an LTL company that offers household moving services and logistics across America. The company currently has over 5,800 tractors and 22,500 trailers at its disposal.

Founded in 1969, Penske Logistics, Inc. offers state-of-the-art transportation and distribution services for a wide range of businesses. The company is currently based in Pennsylvania.

The transportation and logistics provider started with only three trucks at its disposal in 1979. Today, Pitt Ohio Transportation Group is about to expand its services into New York State.

Prime Inc. is a freight transport and logistics company that operates out of Missouri. The company champions its expert drivers and highly qualified employees.

The Canadian courier is one of the largest transportation corporations outside of the US. Purolator currently has 176 operations facilities and 104 shipping centres.

Quality Distribution is a Florida-based trucking and chemical transportation business. Its location network spans primarily across the eastern states, but the company has depots located as far as Washington.

R+L Carriers has grown over the past 50 years to include a fleet of over 21,000 tractors and trailers. Based in Ohio, the company operates in 48 American states, Canada, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic.

As of 2019, Roadrunner Transportation sold its business model to Universal Logistics Holdings for just over $51m.

The company founded in 2005 is located in Illinois and operates high-quality LTL services nationwide.

Ruan was founded in 1932 and is a family-owned transportation management company. It currently employs 5,000 team members that are involved in more than 300 operations across the US.

Operating out of Miami, Florida, Ryder Supply Chain Solutions is a commercial fleet management company that offers innovative supply chain solutions.

Ryder has been named as one of the world’s most admired companies by Fortune magazine.

Founded in 1924, Saia is a household name in American transportation services. It is currently ranked in the top ten of LTL carriers in the US and recorded a revenue of $1.8bn in 2020.

Schneider National is an intermodal and logistics service that is based in Wisconsin. The company boasts one of the broadest ranges of supply chain solutions available.

The Japan-based transportation business was founded in 1946 and is currently headquartered in Gifu.

As of 2020 the company started publishing its sustainability information to the public. Seino prides itself on its openness.

The American moving industry holding company is a relatively new business venture.

Founded in 1998, SIRVA offers flexible and integrated moving solutions worldwide.

Southeastern Freight Lines is the 10th largest LTL carrier and has an annual revenue of over $1bn.

Founded in 2010, the company has grown considerably in such a short time. There are currently 5,000 employees on its books.

The Canadian transport and logistics company operates out of Quebec and offers its services across Canada, the US and Mexico.

TFI International has over 14,000 company-owned power units, nearly 50,000 trailers and over 200 straight trucks.

Based in Tennessee, U.S. Xpress Enterprises is one of the largest truckload carriers across the US.

Founded in 1986, the company continues to invest heavily in its data-driven fleets to deal with the challenges of driver turnover.

UniGroup Logistics, founded in 1988, is one of the most well-known names in the moving industry.

With a revenue of $1.5bn, the company continues to be a trusted choice for its dedicated customer base.

The logistics solutions company currently operates out of Michigan.

Universal Logistics Holdings offers a broad range of services that include dedicated fleet transportation and value-driven logistical solutions.

This American multinational corporation is one of the world’s largest shipping couriers.

United Parcel Service, founded in 1907, has a revenue of over $84bn and over 500,000 employees dedicated to delivering its logistical solutions.

With over 8,000 trucks, 24,000 trailers and almost 13,000 employees, Werner Enterprises is a stable transportation company.

Founded in 1956, Werner Enterprises operates in the US, Mexico and Canada.

XPO Logistics offers truck brokerage services across 18 countries. Based in Connecticut, the company has grown to have over 44,000 employees.

Operating out of Kansas, the Yellow Roadway Corporation is an American transportation company. YRC has been in business since 1929 and specialises in LTL and short-haul shipping solutions.

Final Thoughts

Transportation services across the US and the globe are continuing to grow despite challenges faced over the past two years.

The top 50 trucking companies highlight the sustainability of this form of logistical service.