Compass Forwarding

What Compass Forwarding does

Compass Forwarding Co. Inc. is a third-generation, family-owned boutique freight forwarder and customs broker founded in 1947 by Joe Shelala in Brooklyn, NY, and currently led by Director Richard J. Shelala. The company provides multimodal international logistics services — air, sea, and land freight forwarding, customs brokerage, cargo insurance, and supply chain optimization — through two U.S. facilities: a 25,000 sq. ft. solar-powered headquarters near JFK International Airport in Jamaica, NY, and a 16,800 sq. ft. warehouse opened in June 2023 in Elk Grove Village, IL near O'Hare. Compass organizes its offering around eight industry verticals (Aerospace, Defense, Automotive & Manufacturing, Commodities, Energy & Chemicals, Fine Art, Food & Beverage, and Health Sciences), serving enterprise clients with specialized requirements such as 24/7 AOG (Aircraft on Ground) response, ITAR-controlled defense cargo, museum-grade art handling, and temperature-controlled pharmaceutical transport.

The underlying technology stack centers on the proprietary Compass Nexus client portal, which delivers real-time shipment tracking, warehouse inventory visibility, door-to-door trace, eBooking, milestone alerts, customized reporting, landed cost reports, and rule-based exception management, supported by industry-leading encryption protocols. The firm's LEO (Logistics Evaluation and Optimization) Audit methodology provides ongoing supply chain consulting — market assessment, carrier allocation review, vendor performance metrics, and strategic planning — that monetizes the company's domain expertise as a managed service. Global coverage in over 50 countries is achieved through membership in the Aerospace Logistics Group (ALG), in which Compass serves as the U.S. representative.

Compass generates revenue primarily through transactional freight forwarding fees on a quote-based, pay-as-you-go pricing model with service tiers (Standard, Express, AOG, Just In Time) priced per shipment based on cargo type, weight, dimensions, urgency, and routing. Additional revenue streams include customs brokerage (professional services), cargo insurance placement through AAA-rated insurers, and LEO Audit supply chain consulting. Go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, with dedicated account representatives, website-driven inbound quote requests for air and sea freight, a 24/7 AOG hotline, and thought leadership content marketing. Customer concentration sits in defense, aerospace, and high-value specialty verticals rather than commodity parcel volume, with named relationships spanning the U.S. Department of Defense, international airlines, aerospace OEMs and MROs, leading eye banks, and the Gunter Sachs Estate fine art collection.

Name

Compass Forwarding

Legal name

Compass Forwarding Co. Inc.

Website

https://compassfwd.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Compass Forwarding is a third-generation, family-owned U.S. boutique freight forwarder and customs broker providing multimodal air, sea, and land logistics for enterprise clients across aerospace, defense, healthcare, fine art, and other specialty verticals from JFK-area and Chicago facilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Freight Forwarding and Logistics Services

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation (481212)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Air–Ocean Multimodal Forwarding (TLACAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Time-Critical & AOG (Aircraft on Ground) Specialized Forwarding (TLACAJAI), Customs Brokerage for Ocean Shipments (Import/Export Clearance) (TLACABAG)

Keywords

• Freight forwarding services
• Customs brokerage
• Multimodal transportation
• Supply chain optimization
• Aerospace logistics

Headquarters

HQ city

Jamaica

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Freight Forwarding Services: Core revenue stream from transportation services including air freight, sea freight, and land transportation. Services are quoted on a per-shipment basis and priced according to cargo type, weight, dimensions, urgency, and routing requirements.
2. Customs Brokerage Services: Comprehensive customs clearance services including import/export clearance, classification, duty management, regulatory compliance, government agency clearances (FDA, USDA), bonded warehousing, C-TPAT management, and duty drawback services.
3. Supply Chain Optimization & Consulting: The LEO Audit process and ongoing optimization services help clients reduce costs and improve supply chain efficiency. Revenue generated through consulting engagements and managed services.
4. Cargo Insurance Services: Compass offers cargo insurance through AAA-rated insurers, providing coverage including All Risk and Free of Particular Average (FPA) policies. Insurance amounts to an additional service layer for client cargo protection.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Compass Forwarding is a boutique international freight forwarder providing multimodal transportation services (air, sea, and land), customs brokerage and regulatory compliance, cargo insurance, and supply chain optimization via its proprietary Compass Nexus client portal and LEO Audit methodology. The company operates specialized industry-vertical practices for aerospace, defense, healthcare, automotive, energy, fine art, and other time-sensitive or highly regulated sectors, with 24/7 AOG support and global reach through the Aerospace Logistics Group network.

Product overview

Compass Forwarding is a third-generation, family-owned freight forwarder and customs broker offering a unified logistics platform combining proprietary technology with specialized industry services. The core of the offering is the Compass Nexus Program, a client portal providing real-time shipment tracking, inventory visibility, milestone alerts, custom reporting, landed cost reports, eBooking, and supply chain analytics. This platform integrates with the company's core services: Transportation (air, sea, trucking), Customs and Compliance, Cargo Insurance, and Supply Chain Optimization (LEO Audit). The company also operates distinct industry vertical practices for Aerospace, Automotive & Manufacturing, Commodities, Defense, Energy & Chemicals, Fine Art, Food & Beverage, and Health Sciences—each offering specialized handling, compliance requirements, and industry-specific protocols. The portfolio includes add-on equipment reference tools for air and sea freight. The combination of Compass Nexus technology with industry expertise and multimodal transportation services creates an integrated logistics solution for clients across aviation, defense, healthcare, and industrial sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Transportation Services Multimodal transportation solutions for land, sea, and air freight, including standard air freight (5-7 day transit), express air freight (3-4 day transit with dedicated truck), AOG Aircraft on Ground critical response (less than 1 day), Just-In-Time delivery for hard-deadline cargo, and full container and bulk ocean freight. Designed for shippers needing tailored service levels across multiple transport modes.
• Customs and Compliance Services Comprehensive customs brokerage services for import and export clearance, HS code classification, duty management, trade agreement consultation, regulatory compliance with FDA and USDA, bonded warehousing, C-TPAT management, ISF filing, ACE portal management, duty drawback, and government agency clearances. Targeted at shippers with cross-border regulatory complexity.
• Cargo Insurance Services Cargo insurance solutions covering loss, damage, and theft through AAA-rated insurers, including Free of Particular Average (FPA) and All Risk policies, with coverage for General Average claims. Designed for shippers of high-value and international cargo needing comprehensive risk protection.
• Supply Chain Optimization / LEO Audit Ongoing Logistics Evaluation and Optimization audit providing assessment of market conditions, shipment flows, sales cycles, carrier allocation, vendor performance, and supply chain threats, creating transparent and testable logistics strategies aligned to client goals. Targeted at shippers seeking measurable supply chain cost reduction and performance improvement.
• Aerospace Logistics Specialized aerospace logistics including 24/7 AOG (Aircraft on Ground) support, airframe and engine transport, on-site surveying, COMAT (Company Materials) programs, next-flight-out services, onboard courier, and dedicated vehicle delivery. Also covers MRO repair-and-return, heavy maintenance C/D checks, and leased aircraft/engine transport. Targeted at aerospace OEMs, MROs, airlines, and engine/aircraft leasing companies requiring global, time-critical service.
• Defense Logistics Defense logistics covering Foreign Military Sales (FMS), direct commercial sales, ITAR/EAR compliance, government approvals management (DDTC, DoD, MAPAD), 24/7 MICAP support, and specialized transport for armament, ordnance, vehicles, and aircraft. Targeted at prime defense contractors and the U.S. Department of Defense requiring secure, compliant military logistics.
• Health Sciences Logistics Specialized healthcare and life sciences logistics including pharmaceutical transport, medical supplies handling, organ and tissue donation logistics, corneal shipment with temperature-sensitive packaging, and cleanroom-equipped facilities. Targeted at eye banks, pharmaceutical manufacturers, medical device firms, and healthcare providers.
• Automotive and Manufacturing Logistics End-to-end logistics for automotive and manufacturing clients including parts handling, consolidation services, inventory control, multimodal distribution, customs clearance, and plant relocations with crating and dismantling. Targeted at OEMs and manufacturers needing supply chain predictability and complex equipment handling.
• Commodities Logistics Global commodities trade logistics including pulp, scrap metal, grain, and nuts, with total managed logistics solutions, international network support, and KPI-based performance guarantees. Targeted at commodities traders managing volatile costs, regulatory complexity, and capacity constraints.
• Energy and Chemicals Logistics Logistics for energy and chemical sectors handling hazardous materials with hazmat-certified transport, including drums, IBCs, ISO tanks, flexi tanks, bulk charters, and just-in-time deliveries to rigs and remote sites. Targeted at energy operators and chemical manufacturers needing time-critical, regulated handling.
• Fine Art Logistics White-glove logistics for fine art including customized packing and crating, climate-controlled specialized transport, exhibition logistics, temporary storage, customs documentation, and high-value insurance with GPS tracking. Targeted at art collectors, galleries, museums, and estates shipping high-value artwork domestically and internationally.
• Food and Beverage Logistics Food-grade logistics compliant with FSMA including refrigerated and climate-controlled containers, bulk liquid and dry bulk transport, and just-in-time inventory management. Targeted at food producers and distributors requiring cold-chain integrity and food safety compliance.
• Compass Nexus Program (Client Portal) Proprietary client portal providing real-time warehouse inventory visibility, door-to-door track and trace, PO tracking, milestone alerts, customized reporting, landed-cost reports, exception reports, integrated courier tracking, rule-based visibility tracking to the order level, shipment approval, document management, eBooking, and secure user-specific access. Used by Compass clients to manage shipments, monitor supply chain performance, and analyze landed costs across all modes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 24/7 AOG support minimizes aircraft downtime for aerospace clients
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Aerospace Logistics Group (ALG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompass Forwarding was selected to represent the United States in the Aerospace Logistics Group (ALG), the world's leading network of specialty aerospace logistics providers. As a member, Compass offers seamless coverage in over 50 countries for AOG movements and specialty aerospace shipments such as engines, airframes, and landing gear sets.
• C-TPAT (Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompass is one of the original U.S. members of C-TPAT, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection initiative that establishes supply chain security standards and provides benefits to participating companies.
• AAA-Rated Insurance ProviderscoreOthersCompass offers cargo insurance exclusively through AAA-rated insurers, ensuring comprehensive coverage for clients. Insurance options include All Risk and Free of Particular Average (FPA) policies.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AIT Worldwide Logistics: Mid-sized U.S.-headquartered global freight forwarder and customs broker with multi-vertical specialization (aerospace, healthcare, automotive, food, government). Closely comparable to Compass in business model, mid-market enterprise focus, and customs brokerage capabilities.
• Mallory Alexander International Logistics: Privately held, multi-generational U.S. freight forwarder with multimodal services across air, ocean, and road, plus customs brokerage. Comparable to Compass in family-owned heritage, boutique positioning, and vertical specialization.
• Scan Global Logistics: Mid-size global freight forwarder with air, ocean, and road services and dedicated verticals including aerospace, defense, healthcare, and renewables. Comparable scale and vertical breadth to Compass.
• Chapman Freeborn: Specialist aerospace charter and time-critical logistics provider with global reach. Directly comparable to Compass in AOG, air charter, and aerospace specialty logistics.
• Air Menzies International: Specialist air cargo handling and forwarding group with strong AOG and time-critical capabilities, particularly in Europe. Comparable to Compass in air freight and AOG specialty logistics, though with regional concentration outside the U.S.

Broad incumbents

• DSV: One of the world's largest freight forwarders with full multimodal services and broad vertical coverage. Comparable to Compass in offering scope but vastly larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
• Kuehne+Nagel: Global mega-forwarder with strong aerospace, defense, healthcare, and perishables verticals. Comparable service categories to Compass but with global scale and enterprise-grade digital platforms.
• Expeditors International: Large U.S.-headquartered global air and ocean freight forwarder with customs brokerage. Comparable in core airfreight and customs capabilities to Compass, but with substantially larger scale and technology investment.
• C.H. Robinson: Large North American freight broker and forwarder with multimodal services and NAST/NAFTA expertise. Comparable multimodal offerings to Compass, with significantly larger scale and a heavy NA road freight focus.

Emerging players

• Flexport: Tech-enabled digital freight forwarder with global air and ocean services. Competes for similar mid-market and enterprise shippers as Compass but differentiates through a software-led, self-service platform model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/compass-forwarding-co.-inc
• Xx.com/compassfwd
• Facebookfacebook.com/CompassForwardingCompany

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Compass Forwarding