KLLM

What KLLM does

KLLM Transport Services, LLC is a privately held, asset-based temperature-controlled (refrigerated) trucking company founded in 1962 and headquartered in Richland/Jackson, Mississippi. The company operates one of the largest reefer truckload fleets in North America, with 2,500 tractors, 3,500+ refrigerated trailers, and 610+ intermodal containers, running more than 250,000 shipments per year across the 48 contiguous U.S. states and into Mexico via its Laredo, TX terminal. Its service portfolio spans OTR, Regional (Southeast and Midwest domiciles), Dedicated, Intermodal, Logistics/3PL, and Expedited Teams, complemented by wholly owned operating subsidiaries covering equipment rental and sales (Equipment Solutions), LTL reefer (Frozen Food Express), same-day expedited (Koolshot Expedited), and expedited team service (KLLM Expedited Services, acquired from Quest Global Inc. in July 2022). The company also operates the KLLM Driving Academy in partnership with Hinds Community College, creating an in-house driver training pipeline.

KLLM's revenue model is primarily transactional freight transportation: shippers pay per-load or per-mile rates for asset-based temperature-controlled capacity, while the KLLM Logistics division generates transaction-fee brokerage revenue from a network of more than 10,000 partner carriers, and Equipment Solutions generates hardware-sale and rental revenue from trailer leasing and used equipment sales. Go-to-market is B2B enterprise sales, organized by regional account teams covering California, Texas, Midsouth, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, and Ohio Valley, supported by a national inside-sales logistics desk and a self-serve asset-tracking portal for affiliated customers. Customer segments are dominated by food and beverage shippers (including named anchor Tyson for a dedicated lane) and pharmaceutical companies requiring strict cold-chain integrity.

The underlying technology stack combines satellite-based fleet-wide communications (an industry first for nationwide reefer carriers), Omnitracs communication network, Platform Science in-cab telematics on Freightliner Cascadia Evolution tractors, Qualcomm driver messaging, EDI-based paperless transactions, ELD compliance, and a customer-facing Asset Tracking System. The proprietary intermodal "Slim-Line" containers deliver a 7% capacity advantage (605 linear inches versus the industry-standard 596 inches) with payloads up to 42,500 pounds. Quantified operational performance is a 98% on-time delivery rate and an accident frequency of 0.20 per million miles, supporting a reputation for safety and reliability built over six decades.

Name

KLLM

Legal name

KLLM Transport Services, LLC

Website

https://kllm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

KLLM Transport Services is a privately held temperature-controlled truckload carrier operating one of the largest reefer fleets in North America, serving food and pharmaceutical shippers across the 48 contiguous states and Mexico with OTR, regional, dedicated, intermodal, and logistics services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Refrigerated Truckload Transportation

NAICS

Specialized Freight Trucking (4842), Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance (484230), Truck Transportation (484), Couriers and Express Delivery Services (492110)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Refrigerated (Temp-Controlled) TL Carriers (TLADADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Chilled / Fresh Transport (Refrigerated) (TLADAHAG), LTL Temperature-Controlled / Perishable Carriers (TLADAEAK), Cold‑Chain Same‑Day (Refrigerated/Frozen) (TLAAADAF), Pharmaceutical Cold-Chain Delivery (2–8°C / CRT) (TLAAAJAC), Biologics, Vaccines & Specialty Pharma Ultra-Cold Delivery (TLAAAJAD), Refrigerated Truck & Reefer Van Rentals (THADAJAD)

Keywords

• Refrigerated trucking
• Temperature-controlled transportation
• Intermodal shipping
• Third-party logistics
• Dedicated fleet services

Headquarters

HQ city

Richland

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, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Temperature-Controlled Truckload Transportation: Over-the-road, regional, and dedicated temperature-controlled trucking services throughout the United States and Mexico. Revenue generated through freight transportation fees based on miles, shipments, and contracted rates.
2. Logistics Services: Third-party logistics and freight brokerage services leveraging a carrier network of over 10,000 fleets. Additional capacity across multiple modes and equipment types for shipper overflow and surge needs.
3. Intermodal Transportation: Temperature-controlled intermodal services using company-owned containers and drayage by company drivers at ramps across the country.
4. Equipment Rental & Sales: Trailer leasing and rentals nationwide through sister-company Equipment Solutions, including dry-vans, reefers, and flatbeds. Also sells used equipment from operating inventory.
5. Company Merchandise Store: Branded merchandise sold to employees through company store with payroll deduction processing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

KLLM Transport Services operates as one of the largest temperature-controlled (refrigerated) truckload carriers in North America, transporting perishable commodities across the 48 contiguous U.S. states and into/out of Mexico via Laredo, TX. Its asset-based fleet of 2,500 tractors, 3,500 refrigerated trailers, and 1,010 intermodal containers supports OTR, Regional, Dedicated, Intermodal, Expedited Team, and third-party Logistics services for major food brands, pharmaceutical companies, and large shippers.

Product overview

KLLM Transport Services operates as a temperature-controlled truckload carrier offering a comprehensive portfolio of transportation services. The core offerings include OTR (Over-the-Road), Regional, Dedicated, Intermodal, and Logistics services, supported by sister companies for equipment rental/sales and an internal CDL training academy. The company added KLLM Expedited Services following the 2022 acquisition of Quest Global Inc., and operates the Express Fleet as a dedicated lane product. Customers can track shipments through the Asset Tracking System. The portfolio spans asset-based trucking (2,500+ tractors, 3,500+ trailers, 1,010 containers) combined with logistics management services and 10,000+ carrier network access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Equipment Solutions: Trailer leasing and rentals nationwide including dry-vans, reefers, and flatbeds, plus used equipment sales.
• KLLM Expedited Services
• KLLM Driving Academy

Products and services

• OTR (Over-the-Road)

Quantifiable outcome

• 0.20 accident frequency rate per million miles traveled
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Frozen Food ExpresscoreOthers · 14 July 2022Part of the KLLM family of companies, Frozen Food Express is an LTL carrier providing complementary less-than-truckload temperature-controlled services.
• Quest Global Inc.coreOthers · 14 July 2022Acquired refrigerated transporter located in Cartersville, GA. Now branded as KLLM Expedited Services, providing expedited, team-driven temperature-controlled operation enhancing premium service offerings nationwide.
• Hinds Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 September 2018KLLM Driving Academy operates in partnership with Hinds Community College in Jackson, MS. The partnership provides accredited Class-A CDL training and apprenticeship programs. Students receive CDL-A certification, U.S. Department of Labor certification, and scholarships covering full training costs plus salary during training. The partnership also connects Mississippi National Guard servicemembers with apprenticeship opportunities.
• Equipment SolutionscoreOthersSister-company providing trailer leasing and rentals nationwide, including dry-vans, reefers, and flatbeds. Offers options tailored to specific needs from short-term seasonal warehousing to long-term transportation. Also sells used equipment from KLLM family companies maintained above industry standards.
• Koolshot ExpeditedminorOthersTime-sensitive same-day expedited carrier as part of the KLLM family of companies, complementing full menu of refrigerated transportation services.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Schneider National: One of the largest US truckload carriers with a sizable Schneider Refrigerated division operating asset-based reefer capacity across North America. Direct competitor in OTR refrigerated, intermodal, and logistics brokerage serving food and pharma shippers.
• Werner Enterprises: Major US truckload carrier with significant refrigerated and dedicated temperature-controlled capacity. Competes directly with KLLM for food and pharma reefer volume across OTR and regional lanes.
• Knight-Swift Transportation: One of the largest US TL operators with a dedicated Knight Refrigerated division and intermodal services. Directly comparable in asset-based reefer scale and multi-mode service breadth.
• Marten Transport: Mid-size public TL carrier with a heavy concentration in refrigerated and time-sensitive freight. Closely comparable in business model emphasis on reefer truckload with intermodal and brokerage adjacencies.
• Hirschbach Motor Lines: Private asset-based refrigerated specialist operating a fleet comparable in temperature-controlled focus to KLLM. Overlaps heavily in food grade reefer and dedicated capacity.
• Prime Inc. Large private TL operator with a refrigerated division serving food and pharmaceutical shippers across the US. Overlaps with KLLM on reefer OTR, refrigerated intermodal, and dedicated fleets.
• Stevens Transport: Major temperature-controlled TL carrier with a family of refrigerated brands including Sun Logistics. Direct overlap with KLLM in OTR reefer, dedicated, and expedited refrigerated services.
• Premier Truckload Group: Asset-based truckload carrier operating a dedicated refrigerated division. Comparable to KLLM in reefer OTR, dedicated capacity, and food-grade shipper relationships.

Broad incumbents

• J.B. Hunt Transport Services: Largest US intermodal operator and one of the largest TL carriers, with a J.B. Hunt 360 brokerage platform and dedicated reefer capacity. Overlaps KLLM on intermodal, dedicated, brokerage, and refrigerated segments but as part of a much wider portfolio.
• C.H. Robinson Worldwide: Largest US third-party logistics provider with significant cold-chain and temperature-controlled brokerage. Comparable to KLLM Logistics Services on freight brokerage, managed transportation, and overflow capacity for shippers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/kllmtransport
• Xx.com/kllmtransport
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kllm-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KLLM