What The Custom Companies does

The Custom Companies, Inc. is a privately held, family-run multi-modal transportation and logistics provider founded in 1986 by Perry Mandera and headquartered in Northlake, Illinois, with a second operating hub in Los Angeles/Santa Fe Springs, California. The company operates across eight primary service lines: Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) as its largest division, truckload brokerage with 1,000+ carrier partners and 350-500+ owned power units, expedited ground, air freight through its Custom Global Logistics LLC subsidiary, local cartage within an 80-mile radius of Chicago and Los Angeles, temperature-controlled transport, rail/intermodal (COFC/TOFC/drayage), and warehousing with full pick-and-pack capabilities. The core technical differentiator is a proprietary Direct Line-Haul System that eliminates break-bulk handling, producing a 99.5% claim-free LTL ratio and 0.1-0.2% claims ratios.

The underlying technology platform comprises a proprietary Dock Management System (DMS) using zip-code routing, a web-based Warehouse Management System (WMS) with piece-level inventory visibility, ELD and cellular GPS tracking, and customer-facing EDI and API integrations alongside a self-service web portal providing quoting, pickup requests, bill-of-lading requests, real-time tracking, customized reporting and My Analytics. Customers include 4,000+ shippers served by 30,000+ carriers in the network, with dedicated Territory Managers providing 24/7/365 account support.

Go-to-market is sales-led with an inside-sales overlay and a self-service channel for LTL quoting via customco.com. Revenue is generated primarily on a transaction-fee basis across all transportation streams, with managed-services pricing on dedicated contract cartage and warehousing. LTL quotes carry 30-day validity against published account pricing; spot quotes are valid for 7 days; standard payment terms are net 30. The company is ISO 9001:2008 certified, has approximately 251-500 employees, and reports no external institutional ownership.

Name

The Custom Companies

Legal name

The Custom Companies, Inc.

Website

https://customco.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The Custom Companies is a privately held, family-run multi-modal transportation and logistics provider founded in 1986, operating dual hubs in Chicago and Los Angeles. It serves 4,000+ shippers via LTL, truckload, expedited, air freight, local cartage, warehousing and intermodal services using proprietary direct line-haul technology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Transportation & Logistics Services

NAICS

General Freight Trucking (4841), General Freight Trucking, Local (48411), General Warehousing and Storage (493110), Freight Transportation Arrangement (48851)

SIC

Trucking (No Local) (4213), Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210)

akta.pro primary industry

National/Regional LTL General Freight Carriers (TLADAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ambient General Merchandise Warehousing (Dry Storage) (TLAIACAA), Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) Freight Brokerage (TLADAMAC)

Keywords

• Less than truckload shipping
• Freight brokerage services
• Expedited ground transport
• Warehousing and distribution
• Intermodal rail logistics

Headquarters

HQ city

Elmhurst

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Less than Truckload (LTL) Services: Core LTL division providing services to continental US and Canada with direct line haul system. Single largest division of the company.
2. Truckload Services: Full service brokerage unit with access to over 1000 truckload partners. Asset-based truckload division with 350+ power units serving all U.S. points.
3. Expedited Ground Services: Expedited ground service for faster-than-standard delivery from single skids to 53-foot truckloads.
4. Air Freight Services: Through Custom Global Logistics LLC - air freight services including same-day and next-day options.
5. Local Cartage: Same Day pick-up and Next Day delivery within 80-mile radius of Chicago and Los Angeles metro areas.
6. Warehousing Services: Short and long-term product housing and distribution handling including devanning, palletizing, shrink wrapping, inventory control, cycle counts, and pick and pack services.
7. Intermodal Services: Rail/intermodal transportation including COFC, TOFC, and drayage services.
8. Temperature-Controlled Shipping: Temperature-controlled freight transportation with GPS tracking and remote monitoring.
9. Dedicated/Contract Driver Services: Customized dedicated contract cartage tailored to specific customer needs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Custom Companies is a full-service transportation solutions provider offering Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) shipping as its largest division, Truckload brokerage, Expedited ground and air freight, Local Cartage in Chicago and Los Angeles, Rail/Intermodal, Temperature-Controlled transportation, Warehousing, Trade Show logistics, and Dedicated Contract Cartage. Services are enabled by a proprietary Direct Line-Haul network, Dock Management System (DMS), Warehouse Management System (WMS), flexible EDI/API integrations, and a customer web portal supporting 24/7/365 operations.

Product overview

The Custom Companies is a full-service transportation solutions provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of logistics services. The core offerings include Less Than Truckload (LTL) as the largest division, Truckload Services with brokerage capabilities, Expedited Services, and Local Cartage Programs. The company operates a proprietary Direct Line-Haul Network that differentiates their LTL service. Specialized services include Warehousing, Temperature-Controlled Transportation, Rail/Intermodal, Air Freight (via Custom Global Logistics subsidiary), Trade Show Transportation, and Dedicated Contract Cartage. Technology products include the Dock Management System (DMS) for shipment routing and the Warehouse Management System (WMS) for inventory visibility. The company supports EDI and API integrations for customer connectivity. Services are delivered through company-owned fleets (500+ trucks) and partnership networks (30,000+ carriers, 4,000+ shippers) across Chicago and Los Angeles hubs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Less Than Truckload (LTL) Shipping LTL division is the backbone and single largest division of The Custom Companies, providing services to and from any point in the continental United States and Canada via a direct line-haul system that reduces handling and claims while delivering consistent on-time service.
• Truckload Services Full-service brokerage unit with access to over 1,000 truckload partners and 350+ company power units nationwide, covering all U.S. points for shipments ranging from one skid to partial truckloads to full 53-foot trailers.
• Expedited Services Expedited ground service of any volume from single skids to full 53-foot truckloads for shipments requiring faster-than-standard delivery, integrated with air freight through Custom Global Logistics for same-day and next-day shipments.
• Local Cartage Program Local pickup and delivery division operating within an 80-mile radius of Chicago and Los Angeles metropolitan areas, offering Same Day pickup and Next Day delivery, including Dedicated Services.
• Rail/Intermodal Services Rail and multi-modal transportation handling rail-ready equipment and direct rail partnerships, including COFC (Container on Flat Car), TOFC (Trailer on Flat Car) and drayage services.
• Temperature-Controlled Transportation Temperature-controlled shipping with GPS tracking and remote monitoring to ensure temperature-sensitive freight remains safe at desired temperatures throughout transit.
• Air Freight Services Air freight services through Custom Global Logistics, LLC providing easy and affordable expedited shipments as early as same-day and next-day at any volume.
• Trade Show Transportation Full trade show transportation services through Custom Global Logistics including transportation of equipment to, from, and between facilities and shows.
• Warehousing Services Complete warehousing services including devanning, palletizing, shrink wrapping, inventory control, cycle counts, and pick and pack services for all fulfillment needs.
• Customized Solutions Tailored transportation solutions for unique supply chain requirements, including customized Truckload, LTL, Expedited, and Intermodal Transportation to specific customer needs.
• Dedicated Contract Cartage Customized dedicated cartage services tailored to specific customer needs, providing flexible accommodations for changes with minimal notice.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.5% claim-free ratio for LTL shipments
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Custom Global Logistics LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001Subsidiary acquired in 2001 through DSI acquisition. Provides air freight services including same-day and next-day options, trade show transportation, and specialized logistics solutions. Easy and affordable air services.
• Choice Direct Logistics Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelated entity providing Direct Mail Services. Part of the Custom Companies ecosystem of logistics solutions.
• Over 1,000 Truckload PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExtensive brokerage network of service-centric carrier partners. Access to all types of trucks and trailers including vans, straight trucks, and flatbeds. Long-standing partnerships enable reliable capacity.
• 30,000+ CarrierscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLarge carrier network providing transportation capacity across the nation. Carriers benefit from consistent freight availability and good-paying loads.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Old Dominion Freight Line: Old Dominion is the leading national LTL carrier in the U.S. Both Old Dominion and The Custom Companies compete head-to-head in domestic less-than-truckload general freight with direct line-haul operating models; Custom's Direct Line-Haul System is explicitly framed as a comparable (smaller-scale) LTL franchise targeting the same shipper base.
• Saia, Inc. Saia operates a national LTL network with terminal-based direct line-haul operations, the same model Custom leverages as its single largest division. Both serve enterprise and mid-market shippers seeking lower damage ratios and faster transit.
• Estes Express Lines: Estes is one of the largest privately-held LTL carriers in the U.S. with national LTL general freight coverage. It directly competes with Custom's LTL division across the continental U.S. and is a close analog as a family-controlled, multi-modal LTL operator.
• Southeastern Freight Lines: Southeastern is a privately-held, family-run regional/national LTL carrier built on a direct line-haul model identical in principle to Custom's LTL proposition. Both target similar shippers seeking low-claims, end-to-end LTL service.
• ArcBest: ArcBest, through its ABF Freight brand, is one of the largest national LTL carriers. It competes with Custom in core LTL, asset-based truckload, and integrated logistics — a similar multi-mode mix to Custom's LTL/TL/warehousing/air services.
• R+L Carriers: R+L is a privately-held, family-owned national LTL and truckload provider with comparable multi-mode service breadth (LTL, TL, intermodal, logistics). It is a closely analogous private competitor in Custom's core LTL franchise.
• AAA Cooper Transportation: AAA Cooper is a privately-held regional LTL carrier in the Southeast U.S. with direct line-haul operations, competing in the same LTL segment as Custom and offering similar asset-based and brokerage truckload.
• Averitt Express: Averitt is a privately-held LTL and truckload carrier with warehousing and expedited services, very closely matching Custom's mix of LTL, TL, expedited, warehousing, and dedicated services.
• Dayton Freight Lines: Dayton Freight is a privately-held regional/national LTL carrier operating a direct line-haul system analogous to Custom's LTL backbone, with similar mid-market private-company positioning and customer profile.

Broad incumbents

• NFI Industries: NFI is a large, privately-held, family-run supply chain solutions provider spanning dedicated truckload, LTL, warehousing, and intermodal — directly mirroring Custom's multi-modal portfolio and family-run private ownership model, though at materially greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 records

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 The Custom Companies