What Mercer Transportation does

Mercer Transportation is a privately held, asset-light flatbed and specialized trucking carrier headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, founded in 1977 and operating for more than 45 years. The company runs a 100% owner-operator model — no company-owned tractors — supplemented by a brokerage arm, an Independent Agent Program, and a network of more than 30,000 approved carriers. Its equipment base includes 1,300+ flatbeds, 600+ drop decks, 850 dry vans, and 30+ Conestogas, moving more than 250,000 loads per year across the United States, Canada, and Mexico for approximately 3,100 annual customers, with self-reported 98.5% on-time and 99% safe-delivery KPIs. Mercer has been repeatedly recognized as a Transport Topics Top-100 carrier and ranks among America's largest flatbed carriers, including as a Top-Five carrier for U.S. Department of Defense/government freight.

Revenue mechanics combine per-load owner-operator settlements, brokerage spreads on third-party carrier freight, and dedicated capacity contracts with anchor shippers such as BRP (Bombardier Recreational Products) and multiple Fortune 500 manufacturers in construction, recreational vehicles, and industrial end markets. The go-to-market blends direct sales, a 92-office Independent Agent Program, and government/military channels. Technology supporting the operation consists of MercerTrac (a proprietary real-time shipment visibility portal), full EDI integration (204/990/214/210), API connectivity to shipper transportation management systems, and Transflo integration for driver workflow — positioning Mercer as a traditional, EDI-centric carrier with strong regulatory standing rather than an AI-native logistics platform.

Name

Mercer Transportation

Legal name

Mercer Transportation Co., Inc.

Website

https://mercer-trans.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Mercer Transportation is a privately held, asset-light flatbed and specialized trucking carrier founded in 1977 in Louisville, KY, using a 100% owner-operator model, an Independent Agent Program, and a brokerage network to move 250,000+ loads annually for government, manufacturing, and recreational-vehicle shippers across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Freight Transportation Services

NAICS

Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance (484230), Freight Transportation Arrangement (48851)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Trucking (No Local) (4213)

akta.pro primary industry

Construction & Infrastructure Equipment Transport (Cranes, Excavators, Bridge Beams) (TLADAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Heavy Haul / Oversize / Project Cargo Brokerage (TLADAMAJ)

Keywords

• Flatbed trucking
• Freight brokerage
• Heavy haul transport
• Dry van shipping
• Military freight services

Headquarters

HQ city

Louisville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Freight Transportation Services: Revenue generated from transporting freight for shippers using the company's network of owner-operators. The company acts as a carrier providing flatbed, dry van, heavy haul, and specialized freight services across North America. Payments are received from shippers for completed deliveries.
2. Freight Brokerage: Revenue generated by brokering freight to a network of 30,000+ approved carriers. Mercer coordinates logistics, handles paperwork, and takes a margin on transactions between shippers and carriers.
3. Owner-Operator Leasing: Revenue from the owner-operator model where independent drivers lease to Mercer. The company provides freight opportunities, back-office support, fleet discounts, and fast pay programs while taking a share of revenue from load settlements.
4. Agent Commission Structure: Independent agents operate under Mercer's brokerage authority and receive commissions for facilitating freight shipments. Agents bring their own customer relationships and manage day-to-day operations.
5. Freight Management Services: Through Mercer Total Services, the company offers logistics solutions including carrier selection, rate negotiation, documentation, freight payments, and cargo claims management for shippers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Mercer Transportation provides flatbed, heavy haul, dry van, and specialized freight transportation services across North America using a 100% owner-operator model with over 2,200 trucks. The company serves commercial businesses, government/defense agencies, construction firms, and manufacturers through a network of 100+ independent agent offices and access to 30,000+ approved carriers via its brokerage operation. It also offers logistics management through Mercer Total Services and real-time shipment visibility through its proprietary MercerTrac tracking platform.

Product overview

Mercer Transportation operates a 100% owner-operator business model offering a comprehensive freight transportation platform. The core offerings include Freight Brokerage (connecting shippers with 30,000+ approved carriers) and Freight Solutions (spanning commercial, construction, cross-border, equipment, flatbed, full-truckload, heavy-haul, industrial, manufacturing, military, and short-haul services). The Freight Management module (Mercer Total Services) provides logistics oversight. Supporting infrastructure includes MercerTrac for real-time tracking, a Custom Trailer Program for specialized builds, and an Independent Agent Program for freight brokers. The company maintains a network of over 2,200 owner-operator trucks serving all 50 states, Alaska, and Canada.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MercerTrac: Free real-time freight tracking platform offered to customers for 24/7 shipment visibility from pickup to delivery
• Mercer Transportation Co., Inc.

Products and services

• Freight Solutions Comprehensive freight transportation services including commercial freight, construction trucking, cross-border shipping, equipment hauling, flatbed trucking, full-truckload, heavy-haul, industrial shipping, manufacturing equipment transport, military freight, and short-haul services for commercial and government shippers across North America.
• Freight Brokerage Brokerage services connecting shippers with a network of 30,000+ approved carriers, with carrier qualification processing, quick pay options, fuel and tire discounts, and personal coordinator support for qualified carriers across North America.
• Freight Management Services (Mercer Total Services) Logistics division providing tailored transportation management solutions including rate negotiation, carrier coordination, freight settlement, cargo claims handling, and customized reporting for shippers seeking outsourced logistics management.
• Custom Trailer Program
• Short-Haul Trucking Local and regional trucking services focused on distances under 150 miles, offering speed, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness for distribution centers, retail hubs, and manufacturers requiring regional freight movement.
• Cross-Border Freight Shipping Freight shipping services to and from Canada and Mexico, handling customs clearance, customs regulations, and logistics services with 45+ years of cross-border experience for North American trade shippers.
• Construction Trucking Construction material and heavy equipment transportation services including crane, excavator, bulldozer, grader, forklift, compactor, asphalt paver, and concrete equipment shipping for construction companies and contractors.
• Flatbed Trucking Flatbed freight shipping for oversized, heavy, or irregularly shaped cargo including steel, lumber, machinery, and building materials, utilizing a fleet of 1,300+ flatbed trailers across North America.
• Heavy Haul Trucking Oversized and overweight load transportation with specialized trailers (flatbeds, double drops, step decks), permit handling, route planning, and pilot car coordination for loads exceeding 55,000 pounds.
• Manufacturing Equipment Shipping Manufacturing equipment transportation including assembly line components, replacement parts, raw materials, injection molding machines, turbines, motors, and production line machinery for manufacturing facilities.
• Military Freight Services Department of Defense and government freight transportation with specialized security measures, constant surveillance services, protective service options, and 24/7 tracking for sensitive military cargo including TPS, CIS, DDP, EXD, PSS, SNS, and SEV services.
• Full-Truckload (FTL) Shipping Dedicated truck capacity for single-shipper cargo with direct origin-to-destination delivery, no shared space, and minimal handling across flatbed, dry van, and step-deck trailer options.
• Independent Agent Program Partnership program for freight brokers and agents allowing them to bring existing books of business while accessing Mercer's 1,600 owner-operator fleet, back-office support, claims handling, and carrier/customer onboarding.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98.5% on-time pickup and delivery performance
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• FaithFestminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 April 2026North Carolina-based trucking company Mercer Transportation assumed naming rights for the 2026 FaithFest 250 race at North Wilkesboro Speedway alongside FaithFest Christian music festival.
• Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2020Nearly 20-year partnership for freight transportation. Mercer developed custom trailers with internal ramp systems and deck systems for shipping completed ATVs. Approximately 20 owner-operators dedicated to BRP freight routes year-round from distribution centers across the US.
• Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMercer Brokerage is a proud member of TIA and has TIA Certified Transportation Brokers among their ranks. This is the highest broker certification in the industry and the most widely recognized designation amongst logistics companies.
• Veterans in TruckingminorOthersMercer is a proud partner of Veterans in Trucking. The team includes many veteran truck drivers representing several generations who bring discipline, dedication, and expertise to ensure high quality service.
• Intrepid Fallen Heroes FundminorOthersMercer proudly supports the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund through charitable contributions.
• Tunnels to Tower FoundationminorOthersMercer supports the Tunnels to Tower Foundation through charitable contributions to honor firefighters, military personnel, and first responders.
• The Healing PlaceminorOthersMercer Transportation volunteers monthly with The Healing Place, a recovery organization for individuals suffering from drug and alcohol addiction. Mercer provides lunch support for the organization.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Landstar System: Landstar combines an owner-operator network with freight brokerage and specialized transportation services. Its business model, independent-agent channel, and mix of shipper solutions closely resemble Mercer's core operations.
• Total Quality Logistics: Total Quality Logistics is a large freight brokerage that connects shippers with transportation capacity and offers carrier services. It is directly comparable to Mercer Brokerage in customer acquisition, carrier network, and transaction-based logistics model.
• RXO: RXO is an asset-light freight transportation provider with a large brokerage operation serving shippers and carriers. It competes with Mercer in arranging truck freight and managing variable transportation capacity.
• Echo Global Logistics: Echo provides freight brokerage and transportation-management services across truckload and other modes. Its intermediary role, carrier network, and shipper-focused logistics offering directly overlap Mercer's brokerage and freight-management activities.
• Coyote Logistics: Coyote Logistics provides truckload freight brokerage and carrier capacity through a technology-enabled network. It is a direct comparison for Mercer's shipper-carrier matching, brokerage authority, and carrier recruitment model.
• U.S. Xpress: U.S. Xpress is a large North American truckload carrier serving enterprise and commercial shippers. It is relevant to Mercer's asset-based carrier side, although Mercer is more heavily differentiated by its owner-operator model, brokerage network, and flatbed specialization.

Broad incumbents

• C.H. Robinson: C.H. Robinson is a global logistics incumbent offering freight brokerage, managed transportation, and carrier services. It overlaps directly with Mercer's freight arrangement and management operations, but across a much broader geography and mode portfolio.
• J.B. Hunt Transport Services: J.B. Hunt operates truckload, intermodal, dedicated, and brokerage services for enterprise shippers. It is a broad incumbent comparator for Mercer's full-truckload, dedicated capacity, and freight brokerage offerings.
• Schneider National: Schneider provides truckload, intermodal, logistics, and brokerage services across North America. Its irregular-route transportation and enterprise shipper relationships are comparable to Mercer's North American carrier and brokerage platform.
• Werner Enterprises: Werner operates a broad truckload and logistics platform serving commercial customers and carriers. Its dedicated, one-way truckload, and logistics capabilities overlap with Mercer's core freight transportation and management services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@mercertransportationcompan7715
• Facebookfacebook.com/mercertown
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mercer-transportation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Mercer Transportation