Nationwide

What Nationwide does

Nationwide Transportation, Inc. is a privately held third-party logistics (3PL) freight brokerage founded in 1980 and headquartered in Woodridge, Illinois. The company operates from nine offices across the Chicagoland area (Aurora, Bolingbrook, Buffalo Grove, Libertyville, Mundelein, Northlake, Romeoville, Vernon Hills) and connects shippers in North America to a vetted carrier network that sources cite between 12,000 and nearly 27,000 transportation providers. Its service portfolio spans six core modes — expedited (team-driver time-critical), truckload/full-truckload (FTL), flatbed/over-dimensional, less-than-truckload (LTL), intermodal (rail plus truck for long-haul over 500 miles), and specialized logistics (hazmat, temperature-controlled, food-grade, oversized) — supplemented by a freight density calculator and satellite-based load tracking that operates without driver input. Underlying infrastructure includes EDI integration for shipper and carrier data exchange, an automated billing and invoice-auditing system, and a carrier safety-screening program. The firm is EPA SmartWay-certified with a top-tier 1.25 rating since 2009 and has held complaint-free status with the Better Business Bureau since 2014.

The company generates revenue through transaction-fee brokerage: it matches shipper freight to carriers and earns the spread between buy and sell rates, quote-based with no publicly disclosed pricing tiers. Go-to-market is direct sales through a 24/7 toll-free line (800-922-1246), the company's website quote-request workflow, social channels (X, Facebook, LinkedIn), and in-person consultations at the nine Chicagoland offices. Customer segmentation is horizontal, addressing Fortune 500 enterprises with complex multi-modal needs alongside mid-sized regional businesses and small local start-ups; named relationships include long-tenured shipper Element Food Solutions (10+ years in food and beverage) and carrier partners such as Delta Express, AM Trans, GP Corp, Recycling House Corp, and Hakem. Marketing emphasizes reputation, including a testimonial archive of 100+ customer leaders and content marketing via a logistics news blog. Ownership passed from founder Mark Hecht to Scott Hecht in 2013; the firm remains private with no disclosed outside investors, funding rounds, or M&A activity.

Name

Nationwide

Legal name

Nationwide Transportation, Inc.

Website

https://nwtransportation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nationwide Transportation is a privately held North American 3PL freight brokerage matching shippers with a 12,000-27,000 carrier network across truckload, LTL, intermodal, expedited, flatbed, and specialized logistics, served from nine Chicagoland offices and serving Fortune 500, mid-market, and SMB customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Freight Logistics Services (3PL)

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Freight Transportation Arrangement (4885), Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance (48423), General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance (48412)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Transportation Services (4700), Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210)

akta.pro primary industry

National/Regional LTL General Freight Carriers (TLADAEAA)

Keywords

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

Headquarters

HQ city

Woodridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Freight Brokerage and 3PL Services: Nationwide generates revenue as a third-party logistics provider by offering freight management solutions including truckload, LTL, flatbed, intermodal, expedited, and specialized shipping services. They charge fees for coordinating and managing freight shipments using their carrier network, providing services to Fortune 500 companies, mid-sized regional businesses, and small local start-ups across North America.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Nationwide Transportation is a third-party logistics (3PL) provider and freight broker that coordinates and manages freight shipments across North America. It connects shippers with a carrier network of over 12,000 (up to ~27,000) trucks, offering expedited, truckload, flatbed, LTL, intermodal, and specialized freight services.

Product overview

Nationwide Transportation is a third-party logistics (3PL) provider offering a unified, full-service freight management platform across North America. The portfolio consists of six core shipping services: Expedited (time-critical with team drivers and air freight), Truckload/FTL (full truckload with over 12,000 carriers), Flatbed (custom solutions for oversized/over-dimensional loads), LTL (less-than-truckload shared-space shipping with deep discounts), Intermodal (rail plus truck for cost-efficient long-haul), and Specialized Logistics (hazmat, temperature-controlled, food-grade). These services are supported by ancillary tools including a Freight Density Calculator and Satellite Tracking. The company leverages a carrier network of nearly 27,000 carriers, offers EDI integration and online quoting, and is recognized as a SmartWay Transportation Solutions partner with a 1.25 environmental rating.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Expedited Shipping Time-critical shipment service using a team driver system to ensure on-time delivery, with same-day, next-day, and air freight options available 24/7 including weekends and holidays. For shippers with urgent freight needs.
• Truckload (FTL) Full truckload freight shipping leveraging a network of over 12,000 carriers across North America, offering scheduling, pickup validation, tracking, data management, order processing, invoice auditing, and bill payment through an automated system.
• Flatbed Custom freight solutions for oversized, overweight, and over-dimensional cargo, offering standard flatbeds, step-decks, drop-decks, lowboys, removable goosenecks, and side kit trailers, along with special permits, escorts, and route planning.
• LTL (Less than Truckload) Shared-space freight shipping for cargo that does not fill a standard trailer, offering deep discounts, lift gates, temperature controls, hazmat service, expedited services, direct delivery, and freight class optimization.
• Intermodal Combined rail and truck transportation service for shipments over 500 miles, offering door-to-door service with multiple container options (53', 48', 40', 20', double stacking) and reduced environmental impact.
• Specialized Logistics Custom logistics solutions for cargo with special requirements including hazmat, temperature-controlled trailers, refrigerated and frozen/heated transport, food-grade trailers, and logistics vans/drop trailers.
• Satellite Tracking Real-time load tracking via satellite technology enabling location monitoring without driver input, providing enhanced accuracy and security for cargo shipments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Improves customer satisfaction by up to 50%
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• SmartWay Transportation SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009EPA SmartWay Transportation Solutions partnership since 2009. SmartWay is an EPA program that helps freight companies improve fuel efficiency and reduce environmental impact. Nationwide has achieved the highest SmartWay rating of 1.25, demonstrating environmental leadership. The partnership promotes idling restrictions, tractor aerodynamics, tire improvements, and conservation-focused driver education across the carrier network.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• C.H. Robinson Worldwide: The largest non-asset-based North American 3PL/freight broker. Closest comparable to Nationwide in terms of multi-modal (truckload, LTL, intermodal, expedited) brokerage offering, broad North American coverage, and shipper-carrier matching business model, though significantly larger in scale and publicly traded.
• RXO (Coyote Logistics spin-off): Tech-forward asset-light brokerage spun off from XPO, absorbing Coyote Logistics. Directly comparable to Nationwide's truckload brokerage, LTL, and managed transportation services, but with greater digital platform investment and enterprise-grade technology stack.
• Echo Global Logistics: Chicago-based non-asset 3PL offering truckload, LTL, intermodal, and managed transportation. Highly comparable to Nationwide on multi-modal asset-light brokerage, similar regional Midwest origin, and overlapping SMB-to-enterprise customer base (acquired by The Jordan Company in 2021).
• Hub Group: Asset-light intermodal and logistics provider with truckload brokerage and dedicated capacity. Comparable to Nationwide on intermodal rail-truck service and freight brokerage, though Hub Group operates with owned/controlled intermodal containers and drayage capacity.
• Landstar System: Non-asset-based freight transportation provider using a network of independent agents and owner-operators. Comparable to Nationwide's asset-light brokerage model and broad multi-modal offering (truckload, expedited, flatbed, specialized), with a similar relationship-driven GTM.

Broad incumbents

• J.B. Hunt Transport Services: Large diversified carrier and logistics provider with significant intermodal, dedicated, and brokerage operations. Overlaps with Nationwide on intermodal and truckload brokerage, though J.B. Hunt operates owned intermodal and dedicated capacity at much larger scale.
• Schneider National: Diversified asset-based and asset-light logistics provider offering truckload, intermodal, and logistics services. Comparable to Nationwide on intermodal and brokerage offerings, but operates owned trucks and containers at meaningful scale.
• DSV A/S: Global freight forwarder and 3PL with North American truckload brokerage and intermodal operations (post-Schenker acquisition). Competes with Nationwide on multi-modal North American freight services, particularly for enterprise customers with cross-border needs.

Emerging players

• Mode Global (formerly Mode Transportation): Non-asset 3PL offering truckload, LTL, intermodal, and specialty services through a network of agents. Closely comparable to Nationwide on multi-modal asset-light brokerage and SMB/mid-market customer base, with a similar agent-based distribution model.
• Uber Freight: Digital-first freight brokerage built on Uber's technology platform, offering instant quoting and carrier-direct booking across truckload and LTL. Represents the technology-driven competitive threat to traditional brokers like Nationwide, particularly in spot and SMB truckload.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NWTrans
• Facebookfacebook.com/nationwidetransportationinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nationwide-transportation-inc.

Compliance1 record

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 Nationwide