Bluewater Logistics

What Bluewater Logistics does

Bluewater Logistics Group LLC is a private logistics association headquartered in Lenoir, North Carolina, operating an asset-light model that pools freight volume from multiple member companies and leverages network carrier contracts to deliver cost-optimized transportation, warehousing, and customs services. Founded on 151 years of combined supply chain experience in furniture, manufacturing, and building materials industries, the company offers a comprehensive service portfolio spanning container drayage, less-than-truckload, truckload, dry van, flat bed, expedited air, consolidated distribution, trade show logistics, premium white glove delivery, and logistics management. Operations extend across three physical nodes: the Lenoir corporate office, a Food & Beverage Distribution Center in Morganton, NC, and a bonded consolidation warehouse in Thu Dau Mot City, Vietnam operated through Bluewater Logistics Asia.

The technology stack centers on integrated third-party platforms rather than proprietary systems: WebTrack Transportation Management System (TMS) provides advanced shipment tracking, reporting, continuous load monitoring, and 24-hour proof of delivery; Secure-WMS handles domestic and international warehouse management; EDI integration enables data exchange with trading partners; the SAFEWATCH protocol validates each carrier's DOT number, MC number, insurance, and safety rating; and the Gnosis and Broker Pro Customer Portals support broker operations and member onboarding. The company has extended into customs brokerage via Customs Services & Solutions, offering clearance at all U.S. ports of entry, customs bonds, CTPAT assistance, cargo insurance, and duty drawback filing that recovers 99% of duties on re-exported products.

Revenue is generated through transaction fees across freight services, warehousing, and customs brokerage under a quote-based pricing model with no publicly disclosed rates. Go-to-market is sales-led and partnership-driven, anchored by a core strategic alliance with Gulfstream Shippers Association (GSA), direct B2B sales to member enterprises, and self-service TMS/WMS portal access for mid-market shippers. Primary customer segments are furniture and home furnishings and manufacturing and building materials companies, with secondary exposure to auto, chemical, hospitality, lumber, textiles, retail, marine, outdoors, sporting goods, and health and beauty verticals. Marketing is executed through content, newsletters, and industry webinars including IHFRA participation.

Name

Bluewater Logistics

Legal name

Bluewater Logistics Group LLC

Website

https://bluewaterlogisticsgroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bluewater Logistics Group LLC is a private North Carolina-based logistics association pooling member volume to deliver domestic freight, warehousing, and customs brokerage services across container drayage, LTL, TL, dry van, and white glove delivery, with operations in the U.S. and Vietnam.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Logistics Services

NAICS

Marine Cargo Handling (488320)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Ocean Import Forwarding (Destination Handling/DO/ISF) (TLACABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

LCL (Less-than-Container Load) Consolidation/Deconsolidation (TLACABAB), Cross-Border E-commerce Ocean Forwarding (DDP/DDU) (TLACABAK)

Keywords

• Freight transportation services
• Container drayage
• Less than truckload shipping
• Warehousing and distribution
• Customs brokerage services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lenoir

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Logistics and Transportation Services: Revenue generated from providing transportation services including container drayage, LTL, TL, dry van, flat bed, expedited shipping, consolidated distribution, and trade show logistics. Services are delivered through a partnership/association model that pools volume from multiple members.
2. Warehousing Services: Revenue from storage and warehouse distribution services including food & beverage distribution center operations
3. Customs Brokerage Services: Customs clearance, customs bonds, CTPAT assistance, and duty drawback filing services offered through Customs Services & Solutions with over 30 years of experience in international trade and customs brokerage
4. Logistics Management: Comprehensive logistics management services for trade shows and premium white glove delivery services

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bluewater Logistics provides domestic and international logistics solutions through an association model that pools freight volume from multiple member companies. Its core offerings include container drayage, LTL, truckload, dry van, flat bed, expedited air, consolidated distribution, warehousing, trade show logistics, and premium white glove delivery, supported by customs clearance, customs bonds, compliance assistance, CTPAT assistance, cargo insurance, and duty drawback filing services.

Product overview

Bluewater Logistics is a logistics association offering a comprehensive suite of transportation, warehousing, and customs services. The portfolio includes core freight services (Container Drayage, LTL, Truckload, Dry Van, Flat Bed, Expedited Air), specialty services (Trade Shows, White Glove), and consolidated distribution. Technology platforms include TMS (WebTrack) for shipment tracking and WMS (Secure-WMS) for inventory management, complemented by EDI Integration and Gnosis/Broker Pro customer portals. Customs services cover clearance, bonds, compliance assistance, cargo insurance, CTPAT, and duty drawback filing. The company serves industries including home furnishings, auto, building materials, chemicals, hospitality, lumber, manufacturing, retail, and more.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Container Drayage Intermodal container transportation service moving containers between ports, rail yards, and distribution centers.
• Less Than Truckload (LTL) Consolidated less-than-truckload freight shipping combining multiple shippers' cargo to optimize cost and capacity.
• Truckload (TL) Full truckload freight transportation for large volume shipments requiring dedicated capacity.
• Dry Van Enclosed trailer freight service protecting cargo from weather and road conditions.
• Flat Bed Open-deck trucking service for oversized or heavy cargo that cannot fit in standard trailers.
• Expedited Air (Hot Shot) Time-critical air freight service for urgent shipments requiring faster delivery than standard ground transport.
• Consolidated Distribution Volume pooling and consolidation service combining multiple members' shipments to optimize delivery routes and reduce costs.
• Warehousing Storage and inventory management services at company-owned facilities including the domestic Food & Beverage Distribution Center in Morganton, NC and the bonded Vietnam consolidation warehouse.
• Trade Shows Specialized logistics for trade show materials including exhibit equipment and display freight.
• Premium White Glove High-touch delivery service including room placement, assembly, and packaging removal for furniture and home goods.
• Logistics Management End-to-end supply chain management and optimization services for members.
• Customs Clearance Customs brokerage services in all U.S. ports of entry for import and export documentation.
• Customs Bonds Affordable annual bonds and single entry bonds for customs clearance at competitive rates.
• Customs Compliance Assistance Guidance ensuring compliance with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol rules and regulations.
• Cargo Insurance Protection coverage against damages, destruction, or theft occurring during transit.
• CTPAT Assistance Support services for Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism certification compliance.
• Duty Drawback U.S. Customs program enabling importers to obtain refunds of 99% of duty paid on products re-exported to other countries.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% duty refund on re-exported products through duty drawback program
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Gulfstream Shippers AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGulfstream Shippers Association (GSA) partners with Bluewater Logistics for navigating global logistics challenges including Panama and Suez Canal issues. GSA/BWL leverages technology and fortified communication to keep members well-informed. The partnership helps navigate pandemic-related disruptions in maritime shipping, domestic trucking, and warehousing.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• C.H. Robinson Worldwide: Largest North American 3PL and freight broker with global forwarding and customs capability; covers the same broad service territory as Bluewater but at vastly greater scale.
• Landstar System: Asset-light truckload and logistics provider leveraging owner-operator capacity; overlaps Bluewater's asset-light broker model at meaningfully greater scale.
• J.B. Hunt Transport Services: Diversified transportation and 3PL provider including intermodal, dedicated, brokerage, and ICS services; broad incumbent across Bluewater's core lanes.

Direct peers

• GlobalTranz: Technology-enabled freight brokerage offering LTL, truckload, intermodal, and logistics services; comparable in offering breadth and target customer segment to Bluewater.
• AIT Worldwide Logistics: Mid-market global 3PL offering ocean/air forwarding, customs brokerage, warehousing, and domestic freight; closely matches Bluewater's customs-plus-domestic bundled service model.
• Echo Global Logistics: Tech-enabled 3PL with TMS and managed transportation across truckload, LTL, and intermodal; similar broker-led service model and multimodal portfolio.
• Coyote Logistics: Asset-light freight brokerage and 3PL offering truckload, LTL, intermodal, and supply chain services; comparable in technology emphasis and broad service mix.
• Redwood Logistics: Multi-modal 3PL offering managed transportation, brokerage, and technology services focused on mid-market shippers; comparable asset-light model and service breadth.
• Worldwide Express: Mid-market focused freight broker and 3PL offering LTL, truckload, and managed transportation; similar asset-light model and SMB shipper base via association-style volume programs.

Emerging players

• Flexport: Technology-forward digital freight forwarder spanning ocean, air, trucking, and customs; an emerging player pushing the same tech-enabled direction Bluewater is pursuing and a structural threat to small brokers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bluewater-logistics-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 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 Bluewater Logistics