National Carriers

What National Carriers does

National Carriers, Inc. (NCI) is a privately held, diversified motor carrier founded in 1968 by the Jacobson family and headquartered in Irving, Texas, with a secondary operations office in Liberal, Kansas. The company operates the 'Elite Fleet' of 700+ trucks across the 48 continental United States, providing three core service lines: refrigerated freight transportation, livestock and cattle hide transportation, and complementary logistics services. Equipment is built around Utility refrigerated trailers equipped with ThermoKing SB-230 refrigeration units and EPA SmartWay-verified SmartTruck UT6 aerodynamic undertrays, with a 100% automatic-transmission Kenworth T-680 tractor fleet and satellite communications via Blue Tree units maintained in-house since the late 1990s. Named enterprise customers include National Beef Packing Company (primary livestock/hide anchor), Winn Dixie, and NBP Leathers, with dedicated routes running between Southwest Kansas processing plants and downstream facilities.

The company employs 501-1000 people and generates revenue on a freight-transaction-fee basis. Its go-to-market motion combines direct outreach via dedicated recruiter phone lines for CDL drivers with a multi-channel digital presence (drivenci.com, DriverAPPOline, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, NCI Magazine) and physical presence at industry events such as Mid-America Trucking Show and GATS. Driver compensation is positioned competitively at $72,000-$88,000 first-year for experienced company drivers and up to $93,000+ for five-year drivers, with a $3,000 sign-on bonus, $5,000 Driver-of-the-Year prize, and a lease-purchase program.

Strategic positioning centers on driver retention and brand reputation as defenses against the trucking industry's chronic labor churn. NCI has been recognized as a 'Best Fleet to Drive For' by the Truckload Carriers Association in both 2017 and 2024, holds Iron Apple food-safety certification, has received the Department of Defense Patriot Award, and is a Veterans in Trucking partner. The company is led by President Steve Hart (appointed 2025, succeeding Jim Franck) and has expanded via the Dodge City acquisition. Ownership remains with the Jacobson family; there are no disclosed institutional investors, parent companies, or publicly traded securities.

Name

National Carriers

Legal name

National Carriers, Inc.

Website

https://drivenci.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

National Carriers is a privately held, diversified U.S. motor carrier operating a 700-truck 'Elite Fleet' across 48 states, providing refrigerated freight, livestock/hide transportation, and logistics services to enterprise customers in food processing, food retail, and food manufacturing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Refrigerated Truckload Transportation Services

NAICS

General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Truckload (484121), Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance (48423), Freight Transportation Arrangement (48851)

SIC

Trucking (No Local) (4213), Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Livestock & Agricultural Commodity TL Carriers (TLADADAK)

Keywords

• Refrigerated freight transportation
• Livestock trucking services
• Truckload carrier services
• Truck leasing programs
• Logistics management services

Headquarters

HQ city

Irving

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Freight Transportation Services: As a diversified motor carrier, National Carriers generates revenue by transporting freight including refrigerated goods, livestock, and logistics services across the 48 continental United States

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

National Carriers is a diversified motor carrier that transports freight — primarily temperature-controlled goods, livestock, and general cargo — across the 48 continental United States using a fleet of 700+ trucks and Utility refrigerated trailers. The company sells truckload transportation services to enterprise shippers and also offers owner-operator, lease-purchase, and company-driver programs that supply and retain the drivers who operate its equipment.

Product overview

National Carriers is a diversified motor carrier operating as the 'Elite Fleet,' servicing all 48 continental United States with three core transportation service lines: refrigerated freight (using Utility trailers with SmartTruck aerodynamics and ThermoKing refrigeration units), livestock/cattle hide transport, and logistics services. The company offers multiple employment models including company driver positions (operating late-model Kenworth T-680 automatic transmission trucks), owner operator programs, and a lease purchase program with no money down. Supporting services include NCI Leasing Division for truck rentals, a Driver Training Program for new CDL holders, and an NCI Driver Resources online portal providing settlement access, training materials, and third-party service links. The company also publishes NCI Magazine as a customer and driver engagement channel. Drivers earn $72,000-$88,000 annually with comprehensive benefits including health insurance, 401(k), and paid time off.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Refrigerated Transportation Temperature-controlled freight transportation services covering the 48 continental United States, utilizing Utility refrigerated trailers with SmartTruck UT6 aerodynamics and ThermoKing SB-230 refrigeration units. Sold to enterprise food shippers.
• Livestock Transportation Specialized livestock and cattle hide transport services operating throughout the 48 states, including dedicated routes between processing plants and tanneries. Sold to enterprise meat processors and tanneries.
• Logistics Services Comprehensive logistics management services coordinating freight movements across the carrier network, including load planning and dispatch operations. Sold to enterprise shippers.
• Owner Operator Program Independent contractor program for truck owners who operate under the National Carriers banner, with access to consistent freight and fleet support.
• Lease Purchase Program Truck lease-to-own program featuring new tractors with no money down and a comprehensive maintenance plan lasting the entire lease term, including revenue potential.
• NCI Leasing Division Truck leasing services offering vehicles to drivers with flexible terms and support for new and existing owner-operators.

Quantifiable outcome

• Drivers earn $72,000-$88,000 their first year with up to $93,000+ for 5-year drivers
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TravelCenters of America LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with TravelCenters of America LLC to promote their StayFit program offering fitness rooms, walking tracks, and healthy eating options for drivers as part of NCI's Better Choices health initiative.
• Heroes 2 HireminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecruiting department partnership with military program that helps military staff find civilian jobs before finishing their duty obligations. NCI actively recruits at military posts.
• Truckload Carriers Association (TCA)coreOthersMembership in TCA for Best Fleet to Drive For recognition and industry networking

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Werner Enterprises: Public long-haul truckload carrier with a dedicated and refrigerated mix across the US. Closely comparable to NCI on fleet size scale (700+ trucks), enterprise customer base, and the dedicated/long-haul hybrid model.
• Knight-Swift Transportation: Largest US truckload operator with refrigerated, dedicated, and logistics service lines. Directly comparable to NCI on diversified TL services, scale of fleet, and presence in food/cold-chain freight.
• Schneider National: Major US carrier with dedicated, intermodal, and refrigerated capacity. Comparable to NCI across the refrigerated and dedicated service lines, and as a similarly diversified mid-to-large TL platform.
• Heartland Express: Public irregular route and dedicated truckload carrier. Comparable to NCI on long-haul TL operations, asset-based model, and serving US shippers nationally.
• Marten Transport: Mid-cap truckload carrier with refrigerated, intermodal, and dry van services. Direct comparable to NCI's refrigerated/long-haul TL model and similar size profile.
• KLLM Transport Services: Large US refrigerated truckload carrier serving food manufacturers and grocers. Closely comparable to NCI's refrigerated and dedicated service lines and the same enterprise food/cold-chain customer base.
• Prime Inc. Privately held US truckload carrier with refrigerated, flatbed, and tanker divisions. Direct comparable to NCI as a privately held, multi-segment truckload operator with similar fleet scale.
• Crete Carrier Corporation: Privately held US truckload and refrigerated carrier (Shaffer Trucking). Comparable to NCI on private ownership structure, refrigerated TL focus, and dedicated/refrigerated service mix.

Broad incumbents

• J.B. Hunt Transport Services: Largest US publicly listed carrier with dedicated, intermodal, and truckload services. Comparable to NCI on dedicated and TL service lines, but materially larger and more diversified.
• U.S. Xpress Enterprises: Public US truckload carrier with dedicated and brokerage services. Broadly comparable to NCI on dedicated and TL operations, though broader in scope and scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nationalci
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/NationalCarriers
• Facebookfacebook.com/nationalcarriersinc
• Instagraminstagram.com/nationalcarriers
• Pinterestpinterest.com/drivenci

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 National Carriers