Continental Express

What Continental Express does

Continental Express is a privately-held, family-owned truckload carrier and full-service logistics company headquartered in Sidney, Ohio. Founded in 1976 by Russ Gottemoeller and incorporated in 1984, the company specializes in temperature-controlled (refrigerated) freight and dedicated-route transportation, operating a fleet of 2,000+ trucks and trailers across 8 terminals in the U.S. (Sidney OH, Louisville KY, Gaffney SC, Danville VA, Fort Worth TX, Indianapolis IN, Columbus OH, Fishersville VA, plus a 2024-opened Chicago IL terminal and a planned Virginia Danone-dedicated facility). Service coverage spans all 48 continental U.S. states and Canada.

The company's product portfolio centers on Refrigerated Transport Solutions, Dedicated Route Services, Over-the-Road (OTR), Regional, and Local services, augmented by Team Driver arrangements. The proprietary CE-GO in-house mobile app handles dispatch, navigation, HOS/ELD management, and load-end communication; AI camera systems deliver real-time driver safety alerts; iPads are deployed fleet-wide. Customer-facing digital tools include Load Tracking, Proof of Delivery, Price Quote, and Terminal Maps portals. Workforce development offerings include a Paid CDL School, ongoing Driver Training, and the Women at the Wheel advisory committee. The Electric Yard Truck Program, including deployments at Nestlé's Fort Worth facility, supports customer sustainability mandates.

Continental Express derives revenue primarily from contracted freight services with enterprise food, beverage, and consumer goods manufacturers (transaction-fee pricing model under dedicated and standard truckload contracts). Major customers include Abbott Nutrition (2020 Carrier of the Year, 2024 Truckload Provider of the Year), Tyson Foods (2025 Rising Star Carrier of the Year), Kroger, Kraft, Danone, Nestlé, Hormel, SK Foods, Marzetti, JBS, Aunt Millie's, and Agrana. GTM motion is sales-led, B2B direct, with deep dedicated-fleet relationships; demand-side marketing relies on content, social media, community involvement, and driver referral programs rather than freight marketplace platforms.

Name

Continental Express

Legal name

Continental Express Inc.

Website

https://continentalexpressinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Continental Express is a privately-held, family-owned truckload carrier and logistics company specializing in temperature-controlled (refrigerated) freight and dedicated-route services, operating 2,000+ trucks and 8 terminals across the U.S. to serve major food, beverage, and CPG manufacturers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Refrigerated Truckload Freight Transportation

NAICS

Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance (48423), Specialized Freight Trucking (4842)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Refrigerated (Chilled) Freight Forwarding (TLACAMAA)

Keywords

• Refrigerated truckload freight
• Dedicated route trucking
• Temperature-controlled logistics
• Over-the-road transportation
• Food and beverage carrier

Headquarters

HQ city

Sidney

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Truckload Freight Services: Core revenue from transporting temperature-controlled (refrigerated) and dedicated-route truckload freight across all 48 Continental U.S. states and into Canada, serving major food and consumer goods brands under dedicated arrangements and standard truckload contracts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Continental Express is a truckload carrier and full-service logistics company that specializes in transporting temperature-controlled (refrigerated) and dedicated-route freight across all 48 continental U.S. states and into Canada. Its core offering combines refrigerated transport solutions, dedicated-route services, OTR and regional trucking with the proprietary CE-GO technology platform and AI-driven safety systems to serve enterprise food and beverage manufacturers.

Product overview

Continental Express is a truckload carrier and full-service logistics company offering a unified platform of transportation services centered on temperature-controlled and dedicated-route freight. The core portfolio consists of Refrigerated Transport Solutions for temperature-sensitive cargo, paired with Dedicated Route, OTR, Regional, and Local service options. Team Driver Services enable continuous freight movement. The CE-GO App serves as the proprietary technology platform powering dispatch, navigation, and ELD management. Customer-facing digital tools include Load Tracking, Price Quote, Proof of Delivery, and Terminal Maps & Lanes portals. The company also operates an Electric Yard Truck Program for sustainable customer facility operations. Supporting offerings include Paid CDL School and Driver Training Programs for workforce development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Refrigerated Transport Solutions Temperature-controlled freight transport services using a fleet of refrigerated (reefer) trucks and trailers to maintain precise temperature ranges during transit for perishable goods.
• Dedicated Route Services Customized transportation services with dedicated routes, equipment, and drivers assigned exclusively to contracted clients such as Abbott, Kroger, Kraft, Danone, and Hormel.
• Over-the-Road (OTR) Services Long-haul trucking services covering all 48 continental United States and into Canada, featuring consistent weekly home time for drivers.
• Regional Services Shorter-haul transportation services operating within defined geographic regions, providing faster turnaround times and regional coverage for shippers.
• Local Services Short-distance transportation services within localized areas, complementing Continental's regional and OTR offerings.
• Team Driver Services Two-driver teams operating continuously to keep freight moving 24/7, enabling faster delivery times and extended operational hours for customers.
• CE-GO App Proprietary in-house built mobile application for dispatching, communication from load beginning to end, expert navigation, HOS/ELD management, and other driving tools.
• Load Tracking Portal Real-time shipment visibility system allowing customers to track their freight throughout the transportation process.
• Price Quote Tool Self-service pricing request system for customers to obtain freight transportation quotes.
• Proof of Delivery Document delivery confirmation system providing proof that shipments have been successfully delivered to their destinations.
• Terminal Maps & Lanes Geographic service coverage viewer showing terminal locations and available transportation lanes across Continental's network.
• Electric Yard Truck Program All-electric spotter truck fleet for yard operations, with deployments at customer facilities such as Nestlé distribution centers, supporting sustainability initiatives.
• Paid CDL School Company-sponsored CDL-A training program for new drivers, providing paid schooling as a pathway to employment with the carrier.
• Driver Training Program Ongoing training and development opportunities for existing drivers to enhance skills and advance their careers.
• Women at the Wheel Initiative and advisory committee supporting female drivers, established in response to a 44% increase in female drivers at the company.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% on-time delivery rate
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nestlé (Fort Worth)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2025Continental Express has expanded its electric yard truck (electric spotter) program with Nestlé at their Fort Worth, Texas distribution center. Continental rolled out its second electric yard truck at Nestlé's facility, demonstrating a sustainability-focused operational partnership for intra-facility transport.
• DanonecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContinental Express has a purchase agreement in Virginia to build a dedicated facility for Danone's milk plant. The planned facility will require 50 drivers and 10 office workers. Danone is also listed as a customer logo on Continental's recognition page, indicating an established dedicated-route freight relationship.
• Abbott NutritioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContinental Express serves Abbott Nutrition with dedicated freight services from its Columbus, Ohio terminal. The company has been recognized as Abbott's 2020 Carrier of the Year and 2024 Truckload Provider of the Year, indicating a strong, long-standing strategic relationship.
• Wreaths Across AmericaminorOthersContinental Express joined Wreaths Across America's Honor Fleet in 2021 and has participated for 4+ years, delivering wreaths to Ohio memorial sites. This is a community service partnership driven by driver interest.
• Bikes for Kids (Indiana)minorOthersContinental Express partnered with Indiana non-profit Bikes for Kids in April 2021 and April 2022, supplying a truck, trailers, and extra hands to provide free bicycles to children from underprivileged households. The initiative was driven by OTR driver Gary's personal passion.
• Mission 22minorOthersContinental Express created a Mission 22 wrapped truck as part of its Fleet of Heroes program to support veteran suicide awareness. The initiative was inspired by OTR driver Cody at the Fort Worth terminal, whose father is a U.S. Veteran.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves15 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hirschbach Motor Lines: Hirschbach is a privately-held refrigerated and dedicated truckload carrier with a similar mix of dedicated CPG customers and OTR reefer service. Closely comparable in business model and customer segment.
• Prime Inc. Prime Inc. operates a major refrigerated truckload fleet alongside flatbed and tanker divisions, serving many of the same food and consumer goods manufacturers. Comparable in refrigerated scale and customer mix.
• CR England: CR England operates one of the largest refrigerated/dedicated trucking fleets in North America and is closely comparable to Continental in reefer specialization, dedicated-lane contracts, and OTR refrigerated service.
• Marten Transport: Marten Transport is a temperature-controlled and dedicated truckload carrier serving similar CPG and food manufacturing customers with reefer and dedicated-route service. Closest publicly traded comparable to Continental Express in customer mix, equipment type, and dedicated/drop-trailer model.
• KLLM Transport Services: KLLM is a refrigerated truckload carrier with a strong dedicated and intermodal franchise serving food and consumer goods manufacturers. Directly comparable in reefer specialization and dedicated customer profile.

Broad incumbents

• Werner Enterprises: Werner Enterprises is a large multi-segment truckload carrier with a meaningful dedicated and refrigerated business serving CPG and retail customers. Comparable as a broader incumbent with overlapping dedicated/reefer exposure.
• Schneider National: Schneider National operates one of the largest dedicated truckload networks in North America alongside intermodal and logistics. Comparable as a broad incumbent with a strong dedicated/refrigerated presence serving similar food customers.
• Knight-Swift Transportation: Knight-Swift is the largest truckload carrier in the U.S., with refrigerated and dedicated capacity serving national CPG and retail accounts. Comparable as a broad incumbent operating at a larger scale with overlapping service lines.
• J.B. Hunt Transport Services: J.B. Hunt operates dedicated contract services, intermodal, and truckload serving many of the same large food and CPG shippers. Comparable as a broad logistics incumbent with overlapping dedicated and refrigerated exposure.

Others

• Heartland Express: Heartland Express is primarily a dry van truckload carrier, but comparable as a privately-originated, asset-based long-haul trucker with similar cost-conscious operating philosophy. Provides useful scale/margin benchmarking even though refrigerated is not its core.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCEEbef-A3NyRmd0v2ceyZCA/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/continentalexpressinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ceiohio
• Instagraminstagram.com/continental_express

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Continental Express