What Wilson Logistics does

Wilson Logistics is a family-owned, asset-based truckload carrier founded in 1980 by Darrel Wilson and headquartered in Strafford, Missouri. The company operates a fleet of several hundred tractors with an industry-leading average vehicle age of 16 months, offering Full Truckload (FTL) dry-van service, dedicated fleet management, yard management/spottling, and equipment sales and leasing through its Wil-Lease subsidiary. Named enterprise customers include Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Kraft, and Smucker's, with PepsiCo having recognized Wilson as its 2019 Northwest Region Carrier of the Year. The company also generates revenue and drives its supply-side growth through a lease-purchase program for owner-operators (Freightliner tractors under 2 years old, 70% load revenue, 100% fuel surcharge, no credit check, $14K-$30K completion bonus) and a federally recognized, no-upfront-cost CDL apprenticeship program that pays trainees $900/week during on-road training with L3Harris driving simulators.

The business model is hybrid: enterprise sales-led for shipper relationships (direct to Coca-Cola/Pepsi/Kraft/Smucker's-type accounts plus freight broker channels), combined with a direct-to-consumer driver acquisition engine (online applications via IntelliApp, phone recruiting, $2K referral bonuses, military/veterans and Women in Trucking programs). Wil-Lease extends the operating model into equipment rental, full-service fleet management, and Samsara-powered telematics for third-party fleets, creating an adjacent B2B service line. Driver compensation is structured by mileage and role (company drivers $55K-$100K, regional drivers $55K-$85K, driver trainers up to $160K) with $10K longevity bonuses at 60 months, and 24/7 road assistance, designed to support retention in a chronically tight driver market. The company is TCA Elite Fleet certified (2026), EPA SmartWay designated, and a multi-year recipient of TCA, Missouri Trucking Association, and Women in Trucking safety and workplace awards.

Strategically, Wilson divested its Pacific Northwest and Western assets to Ashley Distribution in 2021 and refocused on its Midwest heartland, subsequently re-expanding with a Dallas regional office. Technology adoption is third-party-led but forward-leaning: an April 2026 commercial trial with Locomation demonstrated 30% fuel efficiency gains via autonomous truck platooning, and Samsara telematics power Wil-Lease's vehicle safety monitoring. The company remains privately held with no disclosed external funding rounds, with the Wilson family maintaining control through founder/CEO Darrel Wilson, President Ryan Farrell, and CFO Brooke Morgan.

Name

Wilson Logistics

Legal name

Wilson Logistics, Inc.

Website

https://wilsonlogistics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Wilson Logistics is a family-owned, asset-based truckload carrier founded in 1980 and headquartered in Strafford, Missouri, operating a fleet of several hundred tractors to provide full truckload, dedicated fleet, yard management, and equipment leasing services to enterprise shippers including Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Kraft, and Smucker's.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Strafford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Full Truckload (FTL) Transportation: Revenue generated from transporting freight in 53' dry-van trailers. FTL shipping is used for large shipments from one company, providing predictable, dedicated capacity for shippers.
2. Dedicated Fleet Services: Managed fleet services where Wilson operates dedicated equipment for specific customers, handling compliance, safety, and service. Customers gain elimination of management time and costs while Wilson generates recurring revenue from fleet management fees.
3. Yard Management: Yard operations management including spotting and shuttling services to maximize inbound and outbound load efficiency for customers.
4. Equipment Sales & Leasing: Wil-Lease division offers equipment sales and leasing including pre-owned late-model tractors and trailers (dry-van and refrigerated). Fleet management services are also provided to third parties.
5. Lease Purchase Program: Drivers can lease-purchase trucks (Freightliners, less than 2 years old, max 395,000 miles) with 70% of load revenue and 100% of fuel surcharge. Walk-away lease terms with no credit check. Lease completion bonuses of $14,000-$30,000.
6. Driver Training Program: CDL training program with no upfront costs, covered when drivers complete one year of service. Guaranteed $900/week during on-road training. Part of driver recruitment and retention strategy.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Wilson Logistics is a family-owned trucking company that provides freight transportation across the U.S. using 53' dry-van trailers via Full Truckload (FTL), Dedicated Fleet, and Yard Management services. The company also operates Wil-Lease, a subsidiary offering equipment rental, leasing, and full-service fleet management. Driver development is supported through a federally recognized CDL Training Program, a Lease Operator Program, and equipment sales/leasing through Wilson Truck & Trailer Sales.

Product overview

Wilson Logistics is a family-owned trucking and logistics company founded in 1980, offering a portfolio of freight transportation and driver development services. The core offerings include Full Truckload (FTL) services with 53' dry-van trailers, Dedicated Fleet management, and Yard Management. The company operates a sub-brand called Wil-Lease that provides equipment rental, leasing, and full-service fleet management including Samsara-powered vehicle safety telematics. Driver development programs include a federally-recognized CDL Training Program and a Lease Operator Program for independent contractors. Equipment Sales & Leasing is available through Wilson Truck & Trailer Sales. These services are designed to serve both commercial freight customers and professional drivers seeking career opportunities in the trucking industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Wil-Lease: Equipment rental, leasing, and fleet management services including maintenance and telematics

Products and services

• Full Truckload (FTL) Full truckload shipping service using 53' dry-van trailers for transporting large shipments from one company, providing predictable, dedicated capacity for enterprise shippers including food & beverage and CPG manufacturers.
• Dedicated Fleet Custom fleet management service where Wilson manages all aspects of customer operations including compliance, safety, service delivery, and equipment. Customers eliminate fleet management overhead while retaining operational visibility.
• Yard Management Inbound and outbound load management with efficient spotting and shuttling services for yard operations at distribution centers and facilities.
• Wil-Lease Equipment Rental, Leasing & Fleet Management Wholly-owned subsidiary offering equipment rental, leasing, and full-service fleet management including driver supply, Federal & State compliance, operational coordination, logistics, and Samsara-powered vehicle safety telematics. Serves owner-operators and small fleet owners with options ranging from equipment-only rental to complete outsourced transportation solutions.
• Equipment Sales & Leasing Sales and leasing of pre-owned late-model tractors and dry-van or refrigerated trailers through Wilson Truck & Trailer Sales, available to owner-operators and small fleet buyers.
• CDL Training Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 30% fuel efficiency gains demonstrated in commercial platooning trial with Locomation

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• LocomationnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2026Wilson Logistics completed a commercial trial with Locomation demonstrating 30% fuel efficiency gains through autonomous convoy technology. This strategic partnership explored truck platooning technology where convoys of trucks communicate and coordinate for optimized highway driving, improving fuel efficiency through reduced wind resistance and coordinated acceleration/braking.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Werner Enterprises: Werner Enterprises is one of the largest dedicated truckload and logistics carriers in the U.S., operating a similar dry-van fleet and dedicated transportation services for enterprise shippers. Comparable in customer base (large CPG/retail), business model (TL and dedicated), and Midwest operational roots.
• Heartland Express: Heartland Express is a publicly traded truckload carrier operating irregular route TL and dedicated services with a Midwest operational base. Closely comparable in size, dry-van focus, dedicated offering, and asset-based driver employment model.
• Marten Transport: Marten Transport operates TL, dedicated, and intermodal services with refrigerated and dry-van equipment and a similar Midwest-based private/closely-held operating history. Comparable in size, asset-light dedicated offering, and target customers in CPG and food manufacturing.
• Covenant Logistics Group: Covenant Logistics operates dedicated, irregular route TL, and refrigerated truckload services with a comparable fleet profile and enterprise customer mix. Similar scale, similar mix of dedicated and spot TL, and overlapping safety culture.
• Crete Carrier Corporation: Crete Carrier is a privately held, family-owned truckload carrier headquartered in Nebraska with TL and dedicated services, and a similarly conservative, family-led operating philosophy. Comparable in private family ownership, Midwest base, and dedicated/safety reputation.
• U.S. Xpress Enterprises: U.S. Xpress is a major asset-based truckload carrier with dedicated, OTR, and brokerage services, including technology-driven fleet optimization. Comparable in dedicated and OTR TL services, technology adoption, and enterprise shipper relationships.
• Anderson Trucking Service (ATS): ATS is a privately held, family-owned truckload and specialized transportation carrier with similar size, family-ownership structure, and Midwest heritage. Comparable in dry-van/specialized TL focus, dedicated services, and asset-based operating model.

Broad incumbents

• Knight-Swift Transportation: Knight-Swift is the largest truckload carrier in North America, with broad TL, LTL, intermodal, and logistics services. Direct overlap with Wilson's TL/dry-van and dedicated fleet services; a much larger incumbent offering national capacity that Wilson cannot match alone.
• Schneider National: Schneider operates one of the largest dedicated, intermodal, and truckload networks in North America, serving enterprise shippers across CPG and manufacturing. Comparable in dedicated fleet model, safety reputation, and scale of enterprise customer relationships.
• Ryder System: Ryder operates dedicated transportation, fleet management, and supply chain solutions for enterprises, including third-party fleet leasing comparable to Wil-Lease. Direct overlap with Wilson's dedicated fleet and Wil-Lease equipment rental/leasing offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wilsondriven
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/wilsonlogistics
• Facebookfacebook.com/wilsonlogistics
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wilsonlogistics
• Instagraminstagram.com/wilson_logistics

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Wilson Logistics