Priority1

What Priority1 does

Priority1, Inc. is a non-asset freight broker and third-party logistics (3PL) provider headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. Founded in 1995, the company operates a nationwide brokerage footprint across 55+ U.S. offices, with cross-border service into Mexico and Canada. Priority1 brokers less-than-truckload (LTL), truckload, expedited, and intermodal freight, reporting a network of more than 80,000 customers, 47,000+ carriers, and approximately 3.5 million tons shipped annually. The privately held, debt-free company staffs 501–1,000 employees.

The firm's operational backbone is Cabo® (Custom Automated Brokerage Operations), a proprietary transportation management system built in-house over approximately three years and led by CTO Phillip Scholtes. Cabo® is API-native, displacing legacy EDI integrations, and is being extended to beta-test integrations with carrier pricing systems such as Old Dominion's One Rate One Time™. The platform supports both the company's direct enterprise and inside-sales operations and its agent partnership program, which functions as a parallel distribution channel. The recent establishment of a digital self-serve channel under VP Digital Brett Loney introduces a self-serve transactional layer alongside the agent and enterprise motions.

Priority1 generates revenue on brokerage gross margins between shippers and carriers. Its go-to-market is multi-channel: enterprise sales (TeamZK, led by Zach Kyle), an agent partnership program, inside sales, and a digital self-serve channel. Customer end-markets span automotive, energy, manufacturing, food & beverage, paper & packaging, retail, and telecommunications. Leadership is anchored by CEO Dan Berardi and CTO Phillip Scholtes, with recent VP-level additions across digital, enterprise sales, and operations.

Name

Priority1

Legal name

Priority-1, Inc.

Website

https://priority1inc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Priority1 is a non-asset freight broker offering LTL, truckload, expedited, and cross-border freight services through its proprietary Cabo® TMS platform, serving 80,000+ enterprise and mid-market shippers across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Third-Party Logistics / Freight Brokerage

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (48851), Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Support Activities for Transportation (488)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Trucking (No Local) (4213), Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210)

akta.pro primary industry

Truckload (TL) Freight Brokerage (TLADAMAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Brokerage/3PL TMS (Freight Brokerage Operations) (TLAEAAAB), Carrier/Ship-From TMS (Shipper-Facing Execution) (TLAEAAAA), Freight Rating, Tariff & Contract Management (TMS Add-on) (TLAEAAAH)

Keywords

• Freight brokerage services
• Less-than-truckload shipping
• Truckload transportation
• Third-party logistics
• Expedited freight shipping

Headquarters

HQ city

Little Rock

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Freight Brokerage Transaction Fees: Priority1 operates as a non-asset based freight broker registered with the FMCSA. The company earns revenue by arranging transportation between shippers and carriers, charging transaction fees based on shipment characteristics (commodity class, weight, dimensions, volume, service type, and transit time). Rate calculation includes discounts from published carrier rates conditional on payment within carrier terms.
2. Agent Partnership Commissions: Priority1 recruits freight agents who operate under the Priority1 platform. Agents earn competitive uncapped commissions paid twice monthly. The company retains a portion of transaction revenue. No upfront costs for agents to onboard; dedicated back-office support provided.
3. LTL Pricing Solutions: Priority1 offers various LTL pricing products including dimensional, dynamic, lane and weight break pricing. The company has beta tested Old Dominion's One Rate One Time™ technology for address-level rating. Revenue derives from negotiated carrier rates and pricing differentials.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Priority1 is a non-asset based third-party logistics provider and freight broker that arranges LTL, truckload, expedited, and specialized freight transportation across a network of 47,000+ vetted carriers for shippers in Automotive, Energy, Food & Beverage, Manufacturing, Retail, and other verticals. The company sells its own proprietary cloud-hosted TMS, Cabo®, providing multi-modal quoting, dispatch, tracking, freight bill auditing, and dispute workflow, and operates an Agent Partnership Program that recruits freight agents to source shipments under the Priority1 brand.

Product overview

Priority1 is a non-asset based third-party logistics (3PL) company offering a comprehensive suite of freight services. The core product is Cabo® TMS, a proprietary transportation management system providing multi-modal quoting, dispatch, tracking, freight bill auditing, and dispute workflow in a cloud-hosted platform. Services include LTL (with Enterprise, Project, and Roadshow sub-services), Truckload (encompassing Drayage, Dry Van, Temperature Control, Flatbed, Mexico, and Canada routes), Expedited shipping, and Freight Management. The company also operates an Agent Partnership Program enabling freight agents to leverage Cabo® TMS and access over 47,000 carrier partnerships for commission-based logistics services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cabo®: Priority1's proprietary transportation management system (TMS) that offers multi-modal quoting, dispatch, tracking, freight bill auditing, and dispute workflow in a cloud-hosted, mobile-friendly platform.

Products and services

• Cabo® TMS Proprietary cloud-hosted transportation management system offering multi-modal quoting, dispatch, real-time tracking, freight bill auditing, dispute workflow, and customizable reporting in a single mobile-friendly dashboard, sold as the technology backbone of Priority1's freight brokerage.
• LTL Services Less-than-truckload freight brokerage services leveraging a diverse carrier portfolio of National, Regional, and Micro-Regional partners who are service leaders in their geographical footprints.
• Truckload Services Full truckload freight brokerage solutions encompassing drayage, flatbed, dry van, step deck, RGN, hazmat, high-value, and temperature-controlled options across the United States and into Mexico and Canada.
• Expedited Services Time-sensitive freight shipping options from sprinter vans to dedicated driver teams, providing the quickest and most efficient way to move cargo for time-critical shipments.
• Freight Management Comprehensive freight management services providing end-to-end logistics coordination and optimization for shippers across multiple transportation modes.
• Agent Partnership Program Partnership program for freight agents and logistics entrepreneurs to source shipments under the Priority1 brand, with access to Cabo® TMS, the 47,000+ carrier network, dedicated back-office support (billing, claims, collections), and uncapped commissions paid twice monthly with no upfront costs and no territory restrictions.
• Drayage Services Container drayage services for port and rail terminal operations, moving containers between ports, rail yards, and final destinations.
• Temperature Control Services Temperature-controlled truckload shipping for perishable and temperature-sensitive cargo such as food & beverage and pharmaceutical-grade freight.
• Enterprise LTL Enterprise-level LTL freight solutions for large-volume shippers requiring dedicated pricing, service arrangements, and project/roadshow-specific logistics planning.
• Mexico Cross-Border Truckload Truckload services for cross-border freight between the United States and Mexico, including cross-border capacity and customs-aware routing.
• Canada Cross-Border Truckload Truckload services for cross-border freight between the United States and Canada, including cross-border capacity and customs-aware routing.
• Priority1 API Full real-time API allowing customers and partners to obtain rates, dispatch and track shipments, and access documents needed for managing freight, with support for geocode metadata, text messaging, PDF manipulation, and currency conversion, designed as a faster and more scalable alternative to EDI.

Quantifiable outcome

• 47,000+ vetted carriers available
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• EPA SmartWay ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPriority1 participates in the EPA SmartWay program which helps companies improve supply chain sustainability through measurement, benchmarking, and transportation efficiency improvements. The partnership enables Priority1 to offer sustainability-focused logistics solutions and demonstrate environmental commitment.
• National, Regional, and Micro-Regional LTL CarrierscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPriority1 maintains carrier partnerships with National, Regional, and Micro-Regional LTL carriers who are service leaders in their geographic footprints. These partnerships provide the foundation for Priority1's LTL freight brokerage services.
• 47,000+ Full-Truckload CarrierscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPriority1's extensive truckload carrier network includes over 47,000 vetted, high-quality carriers providing drayage, dry van, temperature-controlled, flatbed, step deck, RGN, hazmat, and high-value freight services.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Worldwide Express: PE-backed non-asset freight broker with LTL, truckload, and parcel services. Operates a similar agent partnership model and enterprise sales motion as Priority1.
• RXO: Pure-play North American freight brokerage spun out from XPO Logistics. Closest direct competitor in TL brokerage with similar multi-modal service mix and asset-light carrier-network model.
• Coyote Logistics: Non-asset freight broker owned by UPS, offering truckload, LTL, and intermodal services. Same asset-light brokerage model with digital and agent-driven channels.
• Echo Global Logistics: Non-asset 3PL providing truckload, LTL, intermodal, and managed transportation services. Directly comparable asset-light brokerage model with proprietary technology platform.
• Landstar System: Non-asset freight transportation services provider using independent agents and owner-operators. Closely comparable agent-driven brokerage model to Priority1's freight agent partnership program.

Broad incumbents

• C.H. Robinson Worldwide: Largest US non-asset freight broker with multi-modal TL, LTL, intermodal, and global forwarding. Directly comparable TL brokerage model and enterprise customer base, though at much larger scale and with public-company rigor.
• XPO Logistics: Major North American LTL and transportation services provider. Broad incumbent with overlapping LTL/tl brokerage capabilities and enterprise customer relationships, though LTL is asset-based.
• J.B. Hunt Transport Services: Large multi-modal carrier with significant brokerage segment (J.B. Hunt 360). Broad incumbent providing TL brokerage at scale alongside asset-based intermodal and dedicated services.
• Hub Group: Asset-light intermodal and logistics provider with brokerage capabilities. Overlapping enterprise customer base and multi-modal service portfolio though with asset-based intermodal focus.
• ArcBest: Asset-based LTL carrier (ABF Freight) with growing asset-light brokerage segment. Overlapping LTL focus and enterprise customer base, with a different asset mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/priority1inc
• Facebookfacebook.com/priority1-inc-148382325329517
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/priority1
• Instagraminstagram.com/priority1inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Priority1