What Transportation Intermediaries Association does

The Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) is a nonprofit trade association founded in 1978 and headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, that serves as the only association exclusively representing transportation intermediaries — primarily third-party logistics (3PL) companies and freight brokers — in North American domestic and international commerce. TIA claims approximately 2,000 member companies representing the center of the $343 billion third-party transportation logistics industry, with 70% of members described as small family-owned businesses.

TIA's product portfolio is built around a membership subscription model across three tiers: Regular Membership for established 3PLs (3+ years), Associate Membership for suppliers and shippers, and New Broker Certification for newer entrants. Core technology platforms include TIA Watchdog (a carrier vetting and fraud-prevention database used by 3,400+ users), TIA Connect (member-only networking community), TIA Bond (surety protection at $75K-$250K coverage tiers), and a Learning Management System delivering certification courses and live virtual instructor-led training. The association also produces attorney-reviewed model contracts (Broker Carrier, Shipper Freight Forwarder, Co-Broker, and others) and best-practice frameworks including the Carrier Selection Framework.

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring annual membership dues, supplemented by conference fees (Capital Ideas Conference, Policy Forum, Technovations), certification and education program revenue, and ancillary programs including the TIAPAC political action committee. Go-to-market emphasizes direct member engagement through three annual national conferences, regional networking meetings, an annual Policy Forum where members meet directly with Members of Congress (100+ members met with 145 legislators in 2025), and federal regulatory advocacy on broker liability, cargo theft, and FMCSA oversight.

Name

Transportation Intermediaries Association

Legal name

Transportation Intermediaries Association

Website

https://tianet.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) is a 1978-founded nonprofit trade association serving approximately 2,000 third-party logistics and freight broker member companies in North America through membership dues, certification, model contracts, carrier-vetting tools, and federal advocacy on broker liability and supply-chain security.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Alexandria

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: TIA generates revenue primarily through membership dues from 3PL companies. Three membership tiers: Regular Membership for established 3PLs (3+ years), Associate Membership for suppliers/shippers, and New Broker Certification for newer brokers. Members pay for access to resources, training, networking, and advocacy services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

TIA is a membership-based nonprofit trade association that provides third-party logistics (3PL) and freight broker companies with advocacy, standardized contracts, carrier-vetting tools, surety bonding, education/certification, networking, and industry conferences. Its core deliverables are TIA Watchdog (carrier fraud prevention database), TIA Connect (member networking), TIA Bond (surety coverage), model contracts, certification programs, and Policy Forum advocacy before Congress and federal agencies.

Product overview

The Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) operates as a professional trade association offering a portfolio of member services rather than a single unified product. The core offerings include TIA Watchdog (carrier vetting and fraud prevention tool), TIA Connect (online networking platform), TIA Model Contracts (a suite of standardized agreements including Broker Carrier Agreement, Shipper Freight Forwarder Agreement, and Co-Broker Agreement), TIA Frameworks (best practice guidelines including Carrier Selection Framework), TIA Bond (surety protection), and comprehensive education/training programs including certifications and live virtual instructor-led trainings. TIA also organizes major industry events including the Capital Ideas Conference, Policy Forum, and Technovations technology conference. The association serves as the central hub for the 3PL industry, providing advocacy, member resources, and professional development through both digital platforms and in-person gatherings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TIA Watchdog

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FBIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2026TIA is in active collaboration with the FBI to combat both traditional cargo theft and emerging forms of strategic theft. TIA provides a dedicated Cargo Theft and Strategic Theft Submission Form for members to quickly report suspicious activity or theft incidents to law enforcement.
• U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2026TIA filed an amicus brief supporting C.H. Robinson's position in Montgomery v. Caribe, arguing that federal law preempts state-level negligent selection claims against brokers. TIA represents over 1,500 freight brokers in advocating for uniform federal deregulation. Additionally, TIA is a member of DOT's Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking (TLAHT) initiative.
• Amazon and WayfairminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2026Amazon and Wayfair filed amicus briefs alongside TIA supporting C.H. Robinson's position in Montgomery v. Caribe, arguing that federal law preempts state-level negligence claims against freight brokers.
• U.S. Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2026The U.S. Chamber of Commerce filed an amicus brief supporting C.H. Robinson's position in Montgomery v. Caribe, aligning with TIA's advocacy for broad preemption of state negligence claims against brokers.
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 December 2025CBP launched a five-year pilot program allowing freight brokers and non-asset-based 3PLs to apply for CTPAT membership for the first time. TIA welcomed this expansion, stating it recognizes how freight moves today and will strengthen visibility and accountability across the logistics chain.
• Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021TIA partnered with TAT in 2021 as a Gold Level Sponsor. TIA provides members complimentary access to TAT's 30-minute online certification training through the TIA Learning Management System. The partnership focuses on educating, equipping, and mobilizing the 3PL industry to combat human trafficking through industry training, policy development, public awareness, and information sharing.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• American Association of Exporters and Importers (AAEI): AAEI represents US exporters and importers with policy advocacy, education, and networking. Partially comparable to TIA as a trade association serving global trade intermediaries, though focused on cross-border compliance rather than domestic freight brokerage.

Broad incumbents

• American Trucking Associations: The ATA is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry, representing motor carriers and the broader supply chain. While it covers asset-based trucking rather than TIA's broker/intermediary focus, both organizations operate as Washington-DC-area advocacy bodies serving overlapping transportation constituencies and competing for member mindshare.
• National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA): NMFTA develops freight classification standards (NMFC codes) and represents LTL motor carriers. Comparable to TIA as a transportation trade association with regulatory influence, though focused on LTL carriers and classification standards rather than freight intermediaries.

Regional players

• Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA): OOIDA represents independent truck drivers and small carriers with strong federal advocacy presence. While TIA serves brokers and OOIDA serves carriers, both organizations engage on overlapping federal issues (FMCSA, broker-carrier relations) and represent similar small-business-oriented industry segments.

Direct peers

• Intermodal Association of North America (IANA): IANA represents the combined intermodal transportation industry including intermodal marketing companies (IMCs) that function similarly to 3PLs. Comparable to TIA as a North American transportation trade association with conferences, advocacy, and member services.
• NASSTRAC (National Shippers Strategic Transportation Council): NASSTRAC is a shipper-focused transportation association providing advocacy, education, and networking for shippers using 3PL and brokerage services. Highly comparable to TIA as both serve the freight intermediary ecosystem and engage on overlapping federal regulatory issues like broker liability.
• Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP): CSCMP is a professional association for supply chain management practitioners, offering education, certification (SCOR-P), networking, and research. Comparable to TIA in membership-based model, education products, and advocacy orientation, though CSCMP serves a broader logistics audience while TIA focuses specifically on transportation intermediaries.
• National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA): NCBFAA represents customs brokers and freight forwarders, providing advocacy, education, and industry resources similar to TIA's model. Directly comparable as a niche transportation trade association focused on intermediaries, with strong federal regulatory engagement especially with CBP.
• Airforwarders Association: The Airforwarders Association represents air freight forwarding companies with advocacy, education, and networking. Highly comparable to TIA in business model and intermediary focus, though scoped to air rather than multi-modal transportation intermediaries.

Others

• Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITSA): ITSA promotes technology-driven transportation innovation across modes. Related ecosystem peer to TIA through shared technology-policy themes and overlapping membership among tech-forward 3PLs like those represented on TIA's Logistics Leadership Council.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/3plassociation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCEQz3NP-dkdlz7nlaQNkPMQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/117074095521
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/transportation-intermediaries-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/tianetdotorg

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Transportation Intermediaries Association