20 Leading 3PL Companies
These 20 leading 3PL companies are offering cutting-edge solutions to help businesses optimize their supply chain management.
The third-party logistics (3PL) industry is multiplying; in 2024, numerous companies are at the forefront of this trend. These 20 leading 3PL companies are offering cutting-edge solutions to help businesses optimize their supply chain management.
From warehousing and transportation to ecommerce business fulfillment and technology-driven solutions, these companies provide a range of services to meet the unique needs of their clients. With their innovative approaches and commitment to excellence, these 3PL companies are ready to lead the industry into the future.
What Is a 3rd Party Logistics (3PL) Company?
A third-party logistics (3PL) company is a service provider that offers logistics solutions to businesses. 3PL companies typically specialize in supply chain management and provide warehousing, transportation, and fulfillment services. These companies help businesses optimize logistics processes, reduce costs, and improve their efficiency.
3PL companies play a crucial role in the global economy by facilitating the movement of goods and ensuring they reach their destination on time and in good condition. By outsourcing these functions to 3PL companies, businesses can focus on their primary tasks while leaving extraneous management to others.
What Do 3PL Companies Do?
Third-party logistics providers aid organizations in various ways with their logistical needs, including storage, shipping, and order processing. They maximize productivity, save expenses, and enhance effectiveness in the logistics process. With their knowledge and tools, they tailor solutions to each customer, freeing up those firms to concentrate on what they do best.
What To Look For in a 3PL Company
When choosing a 3PL company, businesses should consider several factors to ensure they find a provider that meets their specific needs. Here are four key things to look for in a 3PL company:
- Expertise: Look for a company with experience in your industry and a proven track record of success.
- Technology: Choose a 3PL company that uses the latest logistics technology to improve the efficiency and provide real-time visibility into your supply chain.
- Customization: Find a provider to create customized solutions that meet your logistics needs.
- Customer service: Select a 3PL company that provides excellent customer service and is responsive to your needs and concerns.
Best 20 3PL Companies for 2023
The 3PL industry is rapidly evolving, and businesses increasingly rely on 3PL providers to optimize their supply chain management. In 2023, the best 20 3PL companies will lead the way by providing cutting-edge solutions and world-class customer service.
These companies have a proven track record of success and are known for their expertise, innovation, and commitment to meeting each client’s unique needs. This list will explore the top 20 3PL companies and what sets them apart in the industry.
CJ Logistics America – Des Plaines, Illinois
CJ Logistics America is a leading third-party logistics provider founded in 1930. The company is headquartered in Des Plaines, Illinois, and offers a range of services, including transportation and warehouse space.
The company’s CEO is Kevin Coleman. CJ Logistics is a publicly traded company listed on the Korea Exchange with a current market capitalization of approximately $7.2 billion.
DHL Supply Chain – Westerville, Ohio
DHL Supply Chain North America is a leading 3PL provider headquartered in Westerville, Ohio. The company was founded in 1969 and is a subsidiary of Deutsche Post DHL, a German courier and logistics company.
The CEO of DHL Supply Chain North America is Scott Sureddin. Deutsche Post DHL is a publicly traded company listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange with a current market capitalization of approximately €68 billion.
Echo Global Logistics – Chicago, Illinois
Echo Global Logistics is a technology-enabled 3PL company based in Chicago, Illinois. It was founded in 2005 and offers various services, including transportation management, intermodal, truckload, less-than-truckload, and supply chain analytics.
Echo Global Logistics is a publicly traded company listed on the NASDAQ exchange under the ECHO ticker. The company’s CEO is Doug Waggoner. As of December 31, 2021, Echo Global Logistics had a revenue of $2.69 billion and a net income of $22.5 million.
FBA – Seattle, Washington
Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a subsidiary of Amazon that provides warehousing and shipping services to third-party sellers on the Amazon platform. FBA was founded in 2006, and its headquarters is in Seattle, Washington. Amazon is a publicly traded company listed on the NASDAQ exchange under the ticker symbol AMZN.
The current CEO of Amazon is Andy Jassy. As a subsidiary of Amazon, FBA does not have its own publicly available financial information, but its services are a significant contributor to Amazon’s overall revenue.
FedEx – Little Rock, Arkansas
FedEx Supply Chain is a subsidiary of FedEx Corporation that provides various supply chain management services. The company was founded in 1971 and has a Little Rock, Arkansas headquarters.
FedEx Corporation is a publicly traded company listed on the NYSE exchange under the ticker symbol FDX. The current CEO of FedEx Corporation is Frederick W. Smith. As of May 31, 2022, FedEx Corporation had a revenue of $84.3 billion and a net income of $4.8 billion.
Fulfyld – Huntsville, Alabama
Fulfyld is a 3PL company based in Huntsville, Alabama, specializing in ecommerce business order fulfillment services. Fulfyld is a privately held company, and its CEO is AJ Khanijow.
As a private company, Fulfyld’s financial information is not publicly available. However, the company has grown significantly since its founding and has established itself as a reliable and efficient fulfillment partner for e-commerce businesses.
Hub Group – Oak Brook, Illinois
Hub Group is a transportation management company based in Oak Brook, Illinois, that provides intermodal, truck brokerage, and logistics services. The company was founded in 1971 and is on the NASDAQ exchange under the ticker symbol HUBG.
The current CEO of Hub Group is Phillip Yeager. As of December 31, 2021, Hub Group had a revenue of $4.7 billion and a net income of $166.6 million.
Kenco Logistics – Chattanooga, Tennessee
Kenco Logistics is a privately held 3PL company based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, offering supply chain management and logistics services. The company was founded in 1950 and is still owned by the founding family.
The current CEO of Kenco Logistics is Denis Reilly. Kenco Logistics‘ financial information is not publicly available as a private company. Still, it has a strong reputation for providing innovative and customized logistics solutions to various industries.
Lynden – Seattle, Washington, and Anchorage, Alaska
Lynden is a privately held transportation and logistics company based in Seattle, Washington, and Anchorage, Alaska. The company was founded in 1954 and currently offers a range of transportation and logistics services, including air and ocean freight logistics and forwarding, trucking, warehousing, and customs brokerage.
The company’s CEO is Jon Burdick, and it does not have a stock ticker as it is not publicly traded. As a private company, Lynden’s financial information is not publicly available.
Odyssey Logistics – Danbury, Connecticut
Odyssey Logistics is a global logistics and technology company founded in 2002 with its headquarters in Danbury, Connecticut. The company offers a range of transportation and logistics services.
The company is privately held and does not have a stock ticker, but according to its website, it has more than $2 billion in annual revenue and operates in over 30 countries. The CEO of Odyssey Logistics is Hans Stig Moller.
Penske Logistics – Reading, Pennsylvania
Penske Logistics is a global third-party logistics provider headquartered in Reading, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1969, it operates in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia providing supply chain management and logistics services.
The company is a subsidiary of Penske Corporation, a privately held diversified transportation services company. The CEO of Penske Logistics is Jeff Jackson. Penske Corporation is not publicly traded, and financial information is not publicly available.
Phoenix Logistics – Gilbert, Arizona
Phoenix Logistics is a 3PL company that provides logistics and transportation services to customers in various industries. It was founded in 2017, with its headquarters in Gilbert, Arizona, and additional locations in California, Texas, and Georgia.
The company offers a range of services, including transportation management, warehousing and distribution, and supply chain consulting. Phoenix Logistics is privately owned, and its CEO is David Marks.
R2 Logistics – Dallas, Texas
R2 Logistics was founded in 2007 and currently operates its headquarters in Dallas, Texas. It is a privately held company and has no parent or subsidiary organizations. R2 Logistics offers transportation management and logistics services, including full truckload, less-than-truckload, intermodal, and supply chain management.
The CEO of R2 Logistics is Ben Gase. The company is not publicly traded, and no current publicly available financial information exists.
Rakuten – Tokyo, Japan
Rakuten Supply Chain is a subsidiary of Rakuten Group, founded in 1997 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The company provides supply chain logistics management services to its clients globally. Its primary offerings include order fulfillment, warehousing, transportation, and reverse logistics.
There is no publicly available information on the CEO or financials of Rakuten Supply Chain. Rakuten Group is on the Tokyo Stock Exchange with the ticker symbol “4755” and on the NASDAQ with the ticker symbol “RKUNY.”
Red Stag – Knoxville, Tennessee
Red Stag Fulfillment is a third-party logistics provider specializing in ecommerce businesses and order fulfillment. It was founded in 2013 in Knoxville, Tennessee, its current headquarters location. Red Stag Fulfillment is an independent company and does not have a parent or subsidiary organization.
Its primary offerings include warehousing and distribution services, inventory management, pick and pack, shipping needs, and returns management services. The company is privately owned and does not have a stock ticker.
Ruan – Des Moines, Iowa
Ruan is a transportation company that was founded in 1932 with a location in Des Moines, Iowa. It operates as a subsidiary of Ruan Transportation Management Systems, Inc. and has no subsidiary organizations.
The primary offerings of Ruan include dedicated contract carriage, freight management, logistics, and supply chain solutions. The company is privately owned, and there is no publicly available financial information or stock ticker. Ben McLean is the CEO of Ruan Transportation Management Systems, Inc.
Ryder System – Medley, Florida
Ryder System, Inc. is a logistics and transportation solutions provider founded in 1933 and headquartered in Florida. It offers fleet management solutions, supply chain solutions, and dedicated transportation services. Ryder’s CEO and Chairman is Robert Sanchez.
Ryder is on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “R.” The company has a market capitalization of approximately $4.9 billion.
Saddle Creek Logistics Services – Lakeland, Florida
Saddle Creek Logistics Services was founded in 1966 in Lakeland, Florida. It is a subsidiary of Saddle Creek Corporation, which offers integrated logistics solutions, including transportation, warehousing, and fulfillment services.
Saddle Creek Logistics Services specializes in omnichannel fulfillment, direct-to-consumer fulfillment, and transportation management. Its CEO is Cliff Otto, and it is not publicly traded.
SEKO Logistics – Schaumburg, Illinois
SEKO Logistics is a global logistics and supply chain solutions provider headquartered in Illinois, with operations in over 40 countries. The company was founded in 1976 and has subsidiary organizations in various parts of the world.
Its primary offerings include air, ocean, ground transportation, customs brokerage, warehousing, and value-added services. SEKO is a privately held company, so it does not have a stock ticker. The CEO of SEKO Logistics is James T. Gagne.
ShipBob – Chicago, Illinois
ShipBob is a Chicago-based e-commerce fulfillment company that was founded in 2014. It provides services such as order fulfillment, inventory management, and shipping. The company’s primary offerings include software integrations with various e-commerce platforms, multichannel order management, and two-day shipping.
Dhruv Saxena is the CEO and co-founder of ShipBob. The company is privately held and has raised over $330 million in funding to date. As a privately held company, it does not have a stock ticker or public financial information available.
Final Thoughts
3PL companies are essential to the logistics industry, offering various services to help businesses manage their supply chain and meet their customers’ demands.
The companies we’ve discussed provide different primary offerings and have various backgrounds, but they all play a crucial role in helping companies optimize their logistics operations.
Overall, 3PL companies are a critical component of the modern business landscape, and their importance is on track to grow in the coming years.
To see some top-notch brands and shippers in action, read our story in the 10 best supply chains in 2021.