What Craters & Freighters National does

Craters & Freighters National is a private specialty crating, packaging, and shipping company founded in 1990 and headquartered in Golden, Colorado. It operates the largest U.S. footprint in the custom crating industry through a franchise network of 65+ brick-and-mortar locations, supplemented by a sister company, Craters & Freighters Global Logistics (Craters & Freighters Platinum, Inc.), which provides centralized project management for complex multinational shipments. The company designs and builds engineered custom wood crates, ISPM-15 certified international shipping containers, anti-static and vapor-barrier packaging, hard shell cases, and on-site crating solutions, then arranges domestic and international transportation including air freight, ocean freight, white-glove delivery, hazmat shipping, and military/government logistics compliant with MIL-STD-2073-1, MIL-STD-129, MIL-STD-130, 49 CFR, IMDG, IATA, and ICAO regulations.

The franchise model is the core revenue mechanic: franchisees pay an initial fee of $35,000-$45,000 with total initial capital of $207,000-$390,000, plus ongoing royalties for brand use, proprietary business management software, national account access, group cargo insurance, and corporate support. Craters & Freighters National serves both B2B customers (aerospace, medical equipment, manufacturing, technology, government/military, museums, fine art) and B2C residential customers (estate moves, antiques, furniture, motorcycles), with marquee engagements including the ITER fusion reactor project, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum racecar transport to the UK, and National Statuary Hall statue shipments. Technology stack consists of proprietary franchise operations software and the DGIS hazmat compliance platform deployed across 30+ locations, with no disclosed AI/ML capabilities; the company's value proposition rests on physical engineering expertise, regulatory certifications, and the 30+ year brand rather than software differentiation.

Name

Craters & Freighters National

Legal name

Craters and Freighters Franchise Company

Website

https://cratersandfreighters.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Craters & Freighters National is a private Colorado-based franchise company operating 65+ U.S. locations that design custom crating, packaging, and shipping solutions for fragile, oversized, and high-value items across aerospace, medical, military, technology, manufacturing, fine art, and residential customers, with a sister global logistics division serving multinational accounts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Crating, Packaging, and Shipping Services

NAICS

Packing and Crating (488991)

SIC

Wholesale-Machinery, Equipment & Supplies (5080)

akta.pro primary industry

Crates & Cases (Wooden/Plastic/Metal, Export Cases) (IMALAFAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cargo Securing, Packing, Lashing & Crating Services (On-Terminal) (TLAHADAJ), Project & OOG/Breakbulk Ocean Forwarding (Out-of-Gauge, RoRo) (TLACABAH), Dangerous Goods (DGR) Air Freight Forwarding (Hazmat Compliance & Handling) (TLACAAAF)

Keywords

• Custom crating services
• Specialty shipping logistics
• Industrial packaging engineering
• Military hazmat shipping
• Fine art freight handling

Headquarters

HQ city

Golden

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Franchise Fees: Craters & Freighters generates revenue through selling and supporting franchise ownership. Franchise fee ranges from $35,000 to $45,000, with initial capital requirements of $207,000 to $390,000. Franchisees pay ongoing fees for use of the brand, proprietary software, national account access, and corporate support.
2. Custom Crating Services: Revenue generated from providing custom crating, packaging, and shipping services to both commercial and residential customers. Services include custom wood crates, on-site crating, museum crates, art crates, reusable crates, ISPM-15 certified containers, and electronics/server crating.
3. Shipping and Logistics Services: Revenue from transportation and logistics services including domestic and international shipping, air freight, ocean freight, white-glove delivery, freight forwarding, pickup and delivery, and hazmat shipping. Also includes cargo insurance services offered to customers.
4. Relocation Services: Revenue from office moving and relocation, plant relocation, estate moves, senior moving services, and furniture moving services for both residential and commercial customers.
5. Global Logistics (CFGL): Craters & Freighters Global Logistics, a sister company (Craters & Freighters Platinum, Inc. d/b/a Craters & Freighters Global Logistics), provides centralized project management for complex international shipments, serving multinational corporate accounts with single-source crating, packaging, and logistics solutions worldwide.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Craters & Freighters provides custom engineered crating, packaging, and shipping services for fragile, oversized, and high-value items through a nationwide franchise network of 65+ brick-and-mortar locations. Services span ISPM-15 certified wood crates, ESD and vapor barrier packaging, MIL-SPEC and hazmat-compliant packaging, domestic and international freight forwarding, white-glove delivery, and centralized multinational project management through Craters & Freighters Global Logistics.

Product overview

Craters & Freighters is a specialty crating, packaging, and shipping company operating as a nationwide franchise network of 65+ brick-and-mortar locations. The core offering consists of custom crating services (wood crates, ISPM-15 certified containers, on-site crating, electronics/server crating, art and museum crating), custom packaging solutions (anti-static, cushioning, hard shell cases, vapor barrier), and comprehensive shipping services (domestic, international, air freight, ocean freight, white-glove delivery). The company serves both commercial (industrial, manufacturing, aerospace, medical, military/government, technology) and residential (estate moves, senior moving, furniture) customers. Key sub-brands include Craters & Freighters Global Logistics, which provides centralized project management for complex international shipments, and specialized services for hazmat materials (compliant with 49 CFR, IMDG, IATA, ICAO) and military assets (MIL-STD certified).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom Crating Services Engineered custom wood crates and containers designed for fragile, oversized, and high-value items across industries including manufacturing, technology, medical, fine art, and aerospace.
• Custom Packaging Services Specialized packaging solutions including anti-static (ESD) packaging, corrugated packaging, cushioning, heat shrink wrapping, hard shell cases, and vapor barrier packaging for B2B and residential customers.
• Shipping Services Comprehensive shipping solutions including U.S. domestic, international, air freight, ocean freight, fragile shipping, freight forwarding, pickup and delivery, and white-glove delivery services.
• ISPM-15 Certified Wood Crates Heat-treated and certified wood crates and shipping containers compliant with International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 for international shipments, with each location bearing a unique bug stamp number.
• On-Site Crating Crating services performed at customer locations for large, immovable, or difficult-to-transport items, executed by traveling packaging engineers.
• Electronics and Server Crating Specialized crating solutions for sensitive electronics, server racks, robotics, and technology equipment with anti-static protection and custom bracing.
• Art and Museum Crating Custom crating for fine art, museum pieces, and antiques requiring climate-controlled handling and maximum protection, including museum crate design for cultural institutions.
• Hazmat Shipping and Packaging Hazardous materials packaging, labeling, and documentation services compliant with 49 CFR (DOT), IMDG, IATA, and ICAO regulations across ground, ocean, and air transport modes.
• Military and Government Shipping Specialized shipping services compliant with MIL-STD-2073-1, MIL-STD-129, and MIL-STD-130 standards for U.S. military and government assets across all branches.
• White-Glove Delivery Premium delivery service with extra care including uncrating, unpacking, and setup of delivered items for high-value residential and commercial shipments.
• Medical Equipment Shipping Shipping services for sensitive medical equipment and devices requiring specialized handling and compliance for healthcare providers and manufacturers.
• Heavy Equipment Crating and Shipping Crating and shipping services for oversized, heavy industrial equipment and machinery for manufacturing and industrial customers.
• Aerospace Shipping Specialized crating and shipping for aerospace equipment, components, and aircraft parts for commercial and defense aerospace customers.
• Reusable and Trade Show Crates Multi-use crates designed for trade shows, exhibitions, and repeated shipping needs, reducing packaging waste for recurring logistics.
• Commercial Services B2B services including auction services, container loading, cargo insurance, engineering, logistics, office and plant relocation, and turnkey packaging and crating for commercial customers.
• Residential Services Homeowner and personal moving services including estate moves, senior moving services, furniture moving, and specialty item shipping for individuals and families.
• Craters & Freighters Global Logistics Sister company providing centralized project management and worldwide crating, packaging, and logistics solutions for multinational corporate accounts with complex international shipping needs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 65+ brick-and-mortar locations nationwide — largest U.S. footprint of any custom crating company
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DGIS SoftwarecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026Craters & Freighters deployed DGIS hazmat compliance software across 30+ franchise locations to transform hazmat shipping operations. The software supports regulatory compliance under 49 CFR, IMDG, IATA, and ICAO regulations, streamlines hazmat documentation and operations, reduces compliance risk, and builds carrier confidence.
• Trees for the FutureminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Craters & Freighters has partnered with Trees for the Future, an organization dedicated to reforestation and sustainable farming practices, since 2015. The partnership involves tree planting initiatives as part of the company's sustainability and environmental responsibility program, with the company driving sustainability through tree planting to offset environmental impact of operations.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Freedom Crating: U.S. specialty crating and shipping company serving industrial, aerospace, and high-value commercial customers, directly comparable to Craters & Freighters' custom crating and engineered shipping services though operating at a smaller, more regional scale.

Direct peers

• uShip: Online freight marketplace connecting customers with specialty shipping carriers, including for large, fragile, and one-of-a-kind items, competing for the same residential and SMB customers Craters & Freighters targets through its website and inside sales.
• Cadogan Tate: International fine art and luxury goods logistics firm with custom crating, art storage, and global shipping, closely overlapping with Craters & Freighters' fine art, museum, and high-value residential shipping services.
• Plycon Transportation Group: Specialty moving and shipping company offering custom crating, white-glove delivery, and high-value item transport for residential and commercial customers, directly overlapping with Craters & Freighters' relocation, art, and antique shipping services.
• Crown Fine Art (a CML Company): Global art logistics specialist providing custom crating, climate-controlled transport, and installation services for galleries, museums, and collectors, directly comparable to Craters & Freighters' art and museum crating offering.
• Masterpiece International: Specialty fine art and antiques logistics company offering custom crating, climate-controlled transport, and white-glove delivery, directly comparable to Craters & Freighters' museum and art crate business serving galleries, collectors, and institutions.

Broad incumbents

• UPS (United Parcel Service): Global logistics incumbent offering freight forwarding, supply chain, and specialty shipping services, including for oversized and high-value items, competing broadly with Craters & Freighters' international and white-glove shipping services.
• FedEx Custom Critical: FedEx division specializing in time-sensitive, high-value, and oversized shipments, overlapping with Craters & Freighters' white-glove and specialty shipping services but operating as part of a much larger global parcel network.
• DHLSchenker: Global logistics leader providing air, ocean, and road freight forwarding alongside specialized project cargo services, comparable to Craters & Freighters Global Logistics' complex international shipping and project cargo capabilities.

Emerging players

• Hasenkamp Industrieverpackung & Logistik: European industrial packaging and crating specialist serving heavy machinery and project cargo customers, comparable to Craters & Freighters' heavy equipment and aerospace crating and shipping services, though primarily operating in EMEA.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thinkcf
• Facebookfacebook.com/cfntl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/363812

Compliance12 records

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 Craters & Freighters National