CtrlChain
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersEindhoven, Netherlands
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What CtrlChain does
CtrlChain is a transportation management company founded in 2018 in Eindhoven, Netherlands, and previously known as ChainCargo until its August 2024 rebrand. It operates a cloud-based SaaS Transportation Management System that connects shippers needing road freight capacity with vetted carriers across Europe and the United States, with regional offices in Eindhoven (headquarters), Barcelona, and Chicago. The platform covers full truckload, less-than-truckload, groupage, and parcel shipments, and includes modules for live GPS tracking with geofencing, automated carrier validation, proof-of-delivery capture, lane management, and integrated CO2 emissions calculation with offsetting.
The product architecture is organized around a core Shipper TMS, a Carrier TMS variant (cTMS), a driver-facing mobile application, and an in-development CO3 control tower co-built with NewCold. Underlying technical components include real-time telematics ingestion, geofenced milestone automation, machine-learning-driven carrier verification, and route optimization supported by an external ML partner (Enjins). The company employs over 80 people, including more than 100 engineers referenced in third-party coverage, with explicit emphasis on integration interoperability via a dedicated developer team.
The revenue model is a digital freight forwarder construct: the TMS platform is provided free of charge to both shippers and carriers, and CtrlChain earns the spread between rates charged to shippers and rates paid to carriers on each shipment, plus managed transportation service fees where it executes transport on behalf of shippers. Enterprise customers such as Ingram Micro, Transcom, Ralu Logistika, Grupo TGF, VDL, and DHL are served through dedicated account management alongside the self-serve channel. Strategic capital and governance are anchored by Haven Ventures (sister company to NewCold), which became the lead investor in 2023 after prior backers BOM Brabant Ventures and informal investors exited.
CtrlChain firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CtrlChain
- Legal name
- CtrlChain
- Website
- https://ctrlchain.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CtrlChain industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Transportation Management Software
- NAICS
- Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Support Activities for Transportation (488), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518)
- SIC
- Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Transportation Services (4700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Brokerage/3PL TMS (Freight Brokerage Operations) (TLAEAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Digital Freight Brokerage / Freight Marketplace Platforms (TLADAMAO), Dynamic Pricing / Instant Quote & Book (API/Embedded Freight) (TLAEAJAF), Fleet Tracking, Mapping & Real-Time Location Services (RTLS) (TLAEAFAD)
Keywords
Where CtrlChain is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Eindhoven
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
CtrlChain business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Transportation Management System Services: CtrlChain provides a TMS platform that connects shippers needing transport capacity with vetted carriers. The platform is free for both carriers and shippers to use, suggesting the revenue model is not a direct platform fee. Instead, CtrlChain acts as a digital freight forwarder, earning revenue through the margin between rates charged to shippers and rates paid to carriers for transport services. Additional revenue comes from managed transportation services where CtrlChain handles execution on behalf of shippers.
- Managed Transportation Services: CtrlChain handles transport execution on behalf of shippers by digitizing their carrier networks, automating bookings, and resolving issues. Shippers retain full visibility while CtrlChain ensures operations run smoothly. This service generates revenue as a managed service offering with pricing based on the scope of logistics operations handled.
- Road Freight Capacity Services: CtrlChain fills planning gaps and secures carrier capacity for shippers by connecting them with vetted carriers across Europe for full truckloads (FTL), pallets, and parcels. Revenue is generated through transport service fees built into the freight rates.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free Platform Access for Carriers and Shippers |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Managed Transportation Services |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Freight / TMS Services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
CtrlChain product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CtrlChain provides a cloud-based SaaS Transportation Management System (TMS) that connects shippers needing road freight capacity with vetted carriers across Europe and the United States, supporting FTL, LTL, groupage, and parcel shipments. The platform is offered free of charge to both shippers and carriers, with revenue generated through freight-margin (digital freight forwarding) and paid Managed Transportation services where CtrlChain executes transport on the shipper's behalf. Additional capabilities include AI-driven carrier validation, real-time GPS tracking with geofencing, automated fraud prevention, and integrated CO2 offsetting.
Product overview
CtrlChain offers a unified logistics platform built around a core SaaS product — its Transport Management System (TMS) — supported by service layers and modular add-ons. The TMS serves as the central hub, available in a Shipper version (for freight management, carrier coordination, and order tracking) and a Carrier version (cTMS, for managing loads, trucks, and drivers). Road Freight Services and Managed Transportation are the two primary service offerings, providing FTL/courier capacity and fully managed execution respectively. The CtrlChain Mobile App adds driver-facing capabilities (GPS tracking, POD upload, status updates), while Pallet Shipping extends the platform into LTL/groupage shipment types with a digital pricing calculator. The architecture is designed as one integrated system replacing fragmented logistics tools, with an all-in-one approach for planning through delivery.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Transport Management System (TMS) for Shippers Centralized SaaS Transport Management System for shippers that streamlines carrier coordination, data entry, location status updates, planning, scheduling, and tracking of road freight loads (FTL, LTL, groupage, parcel). Designed for fast onboarding within weeks and connects with shippers' existing systems.
- Carrier TMS (cTMS) SaaS Transport Management System variant for carriers, enabling management of loads, trucks, and drivers from a single interface with intuitive planning, reduced administrative workload, and seamless integrations with shipper systems.
- Road Freight Services FTL (full truckload), pallet, and parcel shipment services connecting shippers with vetted carriers across Europe. Includes capacity matching, automated order updates, and access to CtrlChain's vetted carrier network.
- Managed Transportation Full-service managed transportation offering in which CtrlChain handles transport execution on behalf of shippers by digitizing their carrier networks, automating bookings, and resolving issues, while shippers retain full visibility.
- Pallet Shipping Pallet transport service across Europe offering LTL and FTL capacity for euro pallets, industrial pallets, and half pallets, with a digital pallet calculator for instant pricing, timeslot deliveries, ADR hazardous materials shipments, and high-care handling for sensitive goods.
Quantifiable outcome
- Carriers spend up to 87% less time planning orders
- +10 more outcomes
Companies that use CtrlChain
Customer profileNamed customers23 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
CtrlChain technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature13 records
CtrlChain partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and flagship.
- NewColdcoreCtrlChain and NewCold are deepening their strategic partnership to develop a fully integrated, technology-driven solution for the cold storage and transportation industry. The collaboration combines warehousing, transport, and digital systems into a unified ecosystem. CtrlChain CEO Giovanni Gubbels was appointed Vice President of Transport and Digital at NewCold to accelerate digital transformation across their joint offering. The partnership aims to address fragmented logistics tools by creating a connected ecosystem with transportation management systems, real-time data, and a control tower (CO3) currently in development.
- EnjinssupportingCtrlChain partnered with Enjins, a machine learning specialist, to utilize the power of Machine Learning in driving logistics efficiency and process optimization. The partnership is aimed at making CtrlChain's processes more efficient through advanced ML-driven approaches.
- Ingram MicroflagshipIngram Micro Spain uses CtrlChain to manage its complex logistics operations in Spain. Currently 42% of Ingram Micro Spain's shipments are managed through CtrlChain with plans to increase this share. The partnership aligns with Ingram Micro's strategy of reducing carriers managed globally by using CtrlChain as a single point of contact. CtrlChain's team handles carrier coordination, enabling Ingram's team to focus on strategic priorities.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CtrlChain competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- sennder: Berlin-based digital freight forwarder connecting shippers with vetted road freight carriers across Europe. Closely comparable to CtrlChain on business model (asset-light, technology-led forwarding), target customers (enterprise European shippers), and TMS-style platform stack.
- Forto: European digital freight forwarder offering a managed platform for shippers, with TMS, visibility, and carrier matching. Directly comparable to CtrlChain's combination of TMS SaaS, road freight services, and managed transportation for European shippers.
- InstaFreight: German digital freight broker focused on full truckload matching between shippers and carriers in Europe. Closely comparable to CtrlChain on FTL brokerage, carrier vetting and shipper self-service tooling.
- Trans.eu: European freight exchange and TMS provider offering load boards, carrier matching and transport management for shippers and carriers. Overlaps with CtrlChain on carrier-side TMS and freight marketplace functionality.
- TIMOCOM: European digital freight marketplace connecting shippers and carriers with capacity matching and integrated TMS tools. Comparable as a pan-European load board + TMS hybrid competing for the same SMB and mid-market carrier-shipper pool.
Broad incumbents
- Uber Freight: Global digital freight brokerage from Uber spanning North America and Europe. Comparable to CtrlChain on digital brokerage model and enterprise TMS-adjacent offering, but at materially larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
- Flexport: Digital-first global freight forwarder with TMS, visibility and brokerage services. Overlaps with CtrlChain's managed transportation and digital forwarding model, especially for European/US cross-border road freight, but operates much more broadly across modes.
Emerging players
- Loadsmart: Digital freight broker and TMS provider with strong US presence and growing European operations. Comparable to CtrlChain on digital brokerage, instant quoting and API-driven capacity sourcing for road freight.
Regional players
- Wtransnet: Southern European (notably Iberian) freight exchange with TMS-adjacent tools for shippers and carriers. Comparable as a freight marketplace peer where CtrlChain is active through its Barcelona office and Spanish carrier network.
Others
- project44: Global supply chain visibility and orchestration platform with deep TMS integrations. Comparable as an enabling technology layer that CtrlChain's control tower (CO3) and real-time visibility features increasingly compete against in Europe.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CtrlChain social profiles
Digital presenceCtrlChain financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CtrlChain leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
CtrlChain funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CtrlChain M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CtrlChain
What does CtrlChain do?
CtrlChain provides a cloud-based SaaS Transportation Management System (TMS) that connects shippers needing road freight capacity with vetted carriers across Europe and the United States, supporting FTL, LTL, groupage, and parcel shipments. The platform is offered free of charge to both shippers and carriers, with revenue generated through freight-margin (digital freight forwarding) and paid Managed Transportation services where CtrlChain executes transport on the shipper's behalf. Additional capabilities include AI-driven carrier validation, real-time GPS tracking with geofencing, automated fraud prevention, and integrated CO2 offsetting.
Is CtrlChain a public or private company?
CtrlChain is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was CtrlChain founded?
CtrlChain was founded in 2018. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is CtrlChain based?
CtrlChain is headquartered in Eindhoven, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does CtrlChain make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Transportation Management System Services are the primary driver. The others are managed Transportation Services and road Freight Capacity Services.
Who are CtrlChain's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are sennder, Forto, InstaFreight, Trans.eu and TIMOCOM. Broad incumbents are Uber Freight and Flexport. Loadsmart is listed as an emerging player. Wtransnet is listed as a regional player. project44 is listed as an others.
Does CtrlChain have an API?
Yes. CtrlChain supports API-based order placement for shippers. Orders can be requested via API call; however, at this time only lane bookings are supported via API.
What industry is CtrlChain in?
CtrlChain's product category is Transportation Management Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAEAAAB, Brokerage/3PL TMS (Freight Brokerage Operations), with a secondary code of TLADAMAO, Digital Freight Brokerage / Freight Marketplace Platforms. Its NAICS code is 488510 and its SIC code is 4731.