CRST International

What CRST International does

CRST International (legal entity CRST The Transportation Solution, Inc.) is a privately held, family-owned transportation and logistics company founded in 1955 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, by Herald "Smitty" Smith Jr. and Miriam Smith. The company operates as a $1.5 billion enterprise and one of the largest privately held carriers in the United States, employing between 5,001 and 10,000 people across North America. CRST delivers asset-based and asset-light transportation across five core service lines: Dedicated Solutions (customized fleets for specific shipper operations), Capacity Solutions (truckload capacity across dry van, refrigerated, and flatbed), Final Mile Solutions (white-glove delivery, in-home installation, and complex assembly for retail and e-commerce), Specialized Solutions (padded LTL for high-value freight), and Flatbed Freight (oversized and open-deck cargo). Adjacent offerings include Health Sciences Transportation, Warehousing Solutions, Team Expedited, an equipment lease-purchase program, and a Logistics Solutions division launched in 1991.

CRST's underlying technology platform includes a 24/7 real-time shipment tracking portal, a proprietary event management system for final mile delivery with point-of-sale scheduling and signature capture, an Order Management System (OMS), and a customer-facing Warehouse Management System (WMS). The company distributes capacity through company-operated fleets plus an agent and owner-operator network of more than 30,000 third-party providers, supported by a driver referral program. Revenue is generated transactionally per mile for capacity services, on managed-services contracts for dedicated fleets, via professional-services pricing for final mile and installation work, and through equipment lease-purchase arrangements. Named enterprise customers include Dollar Tree (dedicated regional lanes), Caterpillar (two consecutive years as a top supplier), International Paper (yard operations), and C.H. Robinson (2024 Carrier of the Year), spanning retail, heavy equipment, forest products, and logistics verticals. The company is headquartered in Cedar Rapids with regional headquarters in Birmingham (Flatbed), Ontario, California (Dedicated), Amherst, New York (Home Solutions), and Fort Wayne, Indiana (Specialized), and holds SmartWay Transport Partner environmental certification.

Name

CRST International

Legal name

CRST The Transportation Solution, Inc.

Website

https://crst.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

CRST International is a privately held, family-owned transportation and logistics company founded in 1955, operating a $1.5 billion North American enterprise offering dedicated, capacity, final mile, specialized, and flatbed freight services to enterprise shippers across retail, industrial, and logistics verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Truckload Transportation and Logistics Services

NAICS

Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance (48423), Specialized Freight Trucking (4842), Used Household and Office Goods Moving (484210)

SIC

Trucking (No Local) (4213)

akta.pro primary industry

Controlled Room Temperature (CRT) Transport (15–25°C) (TLADAHAH)

Keywords

• Truckload transportation
• Dedicated fleet solutions
• Final mile delivery
• Flatbed freight services
• Logistics management

Headquarters

HQ city

Cedar Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Truckload Transportation Services: Revenue generated from transporting freight via dedicated and capacity solutions fleets including dry van, refrigerated, flatbed, and specialized trailers. Compensated based on miles driven, with additional revenue from accessorial charges.
2. Dedicated Fleet Solutions: Customized fleet solutions engineered for specific customer operations, providing predictable capacity and performance metrics.
3. Final Mile and Installation Services: White-glove delivery services including in-home installation, assembly, and warehousing for retail and e-commerce customers.
4. Owner-Operator Leasing Program: Revenue from lease-purchase arrangements where independent contractors lease equipment with potential for ownership.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CRST International is a privately held transportation and logistics company that provides truckload, dedicated, capacity, final mile, specialized, and flatbed freight services across North America. The company operates company-owned fleets and an owner-operator network to move dry van, refrigerated, flatbed, and specialized high-value freight for enterprise shippers. It also offers white-glove in-home delivery, installation, and warehousing for retail and e-commerce customers.

Product overview

CRST is one of the nation's largest privately held transportation and logistics companies, offering a comprehensive suite of solutions including Dedicated Solutions, Capacity Solutions, Final Mile Solutions, Specialized Solutions, and Flatbed Freight. The company operates a platform-plus-services model with core transportation offerings complemented by specialized sub-products such as Health Sciences Transportation, Home Solutions with warehousing, and Equipment Leasing. Additional services include Team Expedited and Logistics Solutions. CRST serves customers throughout North America with both company drivers and owner-operator arrangements, providing integrated transportation management, white-glove services, and comprehensive logistics support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dedicated Solutions Engineered dedicated fleet performance offering customized fleet solutions with collaborative fleet design and implementation to optimize or build networks for specific customer operations. Designed for enterprise shippers needing predictable capacity and performance metrics.
• Capacity Solutions Maximum capacity truckload transportation solutions providing freight movement options across North America for shippers requiring flexible dry van, refrigerated, and general freight capacity.
• Final Mile Solutions Final mile delivery and complex installation services including unboxing, deluxing, assembly, installation, and room-of-choice delivery within four hours or less, with home delivery coverage across the USA and Canada. Targeted at retail and e-commerce shippers needing white-glove service.
• Specialized Solutions Nationwide padded Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) services for high-value products requiring specialized handling and white-glove treatment, including home delivery and installation support.
• Flatbed Freight Safe, secure nationwide flatbed transportation solutions for oversized or specialized cargo requiring open-deck hauling, such as construction materials, machinery, and industrial equipment.
• Health Sciences Transportation Temperature-controlled transportation services for health sciences and pharmaceuticals, featuring refrigerated truck monitoring and specialized handling for sensitive medical cargo.
• Home Solutions Comprehensive home delivery services including in-home installation, warehousing, and event management with real-time inventory tracking, designed for retail and consumer goods shippers.
• Warehousing Solutions Nationwide off-site storage, pick-and-pack fulfillment, cataloging, cross-docking, quality control, same-day/next-day transfers, and long-term storage services for retail and e-commerce customers.
• Logistics Solutions Transportation management and logistics services providing comprehensive supply chain management for enterprise shippers.
• Equipment Leasing Program Lease purchase program for experienced over-the-road Class A CDL drivers to operate under CRST's fleet with industry-leading discounts and benefits, providing equipment and potential ownership.
• Team Expedited Expedited freight transportation using team drivers for time-sensitive deliveries across the CRST network.

Quantifiable outcome

• CRST Dedicated recognized among Caterpillar's top suppliers for 2nd consecutive year
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Schneider National: Schneider National is a large publicly traded truckload, intermodal, and logistics carrier offering dedicated, dry van, refrigerated, and final mile services. Closely overlaps CRST's service portfolio across long-haul, dedicated, and logistics solutions for enterprise shippers.
• Werner Enterprises: Werner Enterprises is a publicly traded truckload carrier specializing in dedicated, one-way truckload, and logistics services. Comparable to CRST in dedicated fleet focus, refrigerated capabilities, and enterprise customer base.
• U.S. Xpress Enterprises: U.S. Xpress is a large truckload carrier offering dedicated, refrigerated, flatbed, and brokerage services. Now owned by Knight-Swift, it remains a direct comparison for CRST's long-haul and dedicated truckload services.
• Heartland Express: Heartland Express operates irregular route truckload services with a focus on long-haul dry van freight. Comparable to CRST in asset-based truckload services for enterprise shippers, though Heartland is more narrowly focused.
• ArcBest Corporation: ArcBest is an asset-based truckload and LTL carrier (via ABF Freight) plus logistics services. Comparable to CRST's mix of truckload, dedicated, and logistics offerings for enterprise customers.
• Forward Air Corporation: Forward Air provides expedited LTL, truckload, and final mile logistics services, with particular strength in high-value, time-sensitive freight. Closely parallels CRST's Specialized Solutions (padded LTL for high-value products) and Final Mile offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Knight-Swift Transportation: Knight-Swift is the largest truckload carrier in North America, offering truckload, refrigerated, LTL (via AAA Cooper and U.S. Xpress), and logistics services. Competes directly with CRST but with substantially broader scale and service mix.
• J.B. Hunt Transport Services: J.B. Hunt operates one of the largest intermodal fleets in North America along with dedicated contract, truckload, and final mile services. Overlaps with CRST on dedicated, capacity, and final mile offerings for enterprise shippers.
• Ryder System: Ryder is a large fleet management, dedicated transportation, and supply chain solutions provider. Overlaps with CRST on dedicated transportation services and final mile delivery capabilities for large enterprise customers.
• Hub Group: Hub Group is an asset-light freight and logistics provider offering intermodal, truckload, dedicated, and final mile services. Comparable to CRST's logistics solutions, dedicated, and final mile business lines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CRSTInternational
• Instagraminstagram.com/crstcareers

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CRST International