Modern Transportation Services

What Modern Transportation Services does

Modern Transportation Services is a privately held bulk logistics carrier founded in 1987 and headquartered in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania (suburban Pittsburgh). The company operates a dedicated fleet of approximately 350 trucks and 500 drivers across 24 terminals in 30+ states, transporting liquid chemicals, specialty chemicals, petrochemicals, food-grade liquids, and dry bulk industrial minerals (sand, lime, limestone, soda ash, gypsum, roofing granules) primarily for Fortune 500 manufacturers. Core service lines include Liquid Bulk Transportation (with Food Grade and Specialty Chemicals sub-segments), Dry Bulk Transportation, and complementary logistics services (Transportation Management, Brokerage, Bid Management, Warehousing, and automated Inventory Management). Named flagship customers include Owens Corning (30+ year partnership), Owens-Illinois, PPG Industries, and Compass Minerals, supported by certifications such as Responsible Care Partner status (American Chemistry Council), EPA SmartWay, Kosher certification (Orthodox Union), and ISO-style safety culture evidenced by nine consecutive Great West Platinum awards.

The business model is anchored on dedicated-fleet, enterprise-direct sales contracts with mission-critical manufacturers, supplemented by asset-light 3PL brokerage, TMS, and managed-services revenue. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Underlying technology comprises a proprietary data warehouse unifying nine operational databases, real-time driver performance and risk detection systems (Idelic Safety Suite, Lytx DriveCam in 300+ tractors), automated silo monitoring for proactive delivery scheduling, and predictive analytics for safety and freight seasonality. Modern was the first commercial carrier to deploy production 12-liter LNG engines (Cummins Westport ISX12 G) in partnership with Owens Corning in 2013, and roughly 10% of the current fleet runs on CNG/LNG. The company is privately held with no institutional investors disclosed, led by President and CEO Patrick Cozzens (joined 2006, promoted 2010), EVP/CFO Robert Bartolacci (since 2011), and CCO Brian Nowak (joined May 2026).

Name

Modern Transportation Services

Legal name

Modern Transportation Services LLC

Website

https://moderntrans.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bulk Transportation and Logistics Services

NAICS

Specialized Freight Trucking (4842), Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance (48423), Freight Transportation Arrangement (48851), Warehousing and Storage (493)

SIC

Trucking (No Local) (4213), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Liquid Bulk (Latex/Resins/Paints/Adhesives) Transport (TLADALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial Minerals & Chemicals (Non-Haz Bulk Powders) Transport (TLADAKAJ), Liquid Bulk / Tanker Freight Brokerage (TLADAMAL), Bulk Terminal Services & Operations (Stevedoring, Sampling, Weighing, Blending) (TLAHABAO), Specialized Freight Marketplaces (Reefer, Flatbed, Oversize, Hazmat) (TLAEAJAH)

Keywords

• Bulk transportation services
• Liquid bulk trucking
• Dry bulk logistics
• Dedicated fleet services
• Chemical transportation

Headquarters

HQ city

Sewickley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices24 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Liquid Bulk Transportation: Transportation of liquid chemicals, food grade products, and specialty chemicals using tanker trucks. Core revenue driver serving sophisticated customers in mission-critical production environments.
2. Dry Bulk Transportation: Transportation of dry bulk materials including sand, lime, limestone, roofing granules, soda ash, clay, dolomite, gypsum, cullet, carbon, coal ash, slag, fertilizers and aggregates. Major sand hauler in the United States.
3. Brokerage Services: Third-party logistics brokerage providing relationships and technology for managing transportation spend, including single shipments to multi-million dollar transportation management.
4. Transportation Management (TMS): Cradle-to-grave management including carrier procurement, carrier performance/compliance, mode optimization, order management/visibility, freight bill audit/payment.
5. Warehousing Services: Managing ordering of inbound materials, monitoring of silo levels, spotting of outbound vans, and shuttling of material from plant to warehouse locations.
6. Inventory Management Services: Carrier Managed Inventory with automated silo monitoring, generating cash-flow savings, labor savings, and transportation cost reductions through proactive delivery schedules.
7. Bid Management Services: Transportation bid evaluation and execution services leveraging industry expertise and best practices.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Modern Transportation Services provides dedicated and contract-based bulk liquid and dry freight transportation for industrial manufacturers, using a fleet of approximately 350 trucks and 500 drivers across 24 U.S. terminals. Its integrated logistics division (Modern Logistics) offers warehousing, inventory management with automated silo monitoring, transportation management, brokerage, and bid management services. The company serves Fortune 500 customers in specialty chemicals, petrochemicals, plastics, glass, industrial minerals, building products, and food-grade liquid industries under multi-year service agreements.

Product overview

Modern Transportation Services is a bulk logistics and trucking company offering a comprehensive suite of transportation and logistics services. The core offerings include Liquid Bulk Transportation (encompassing Food Grade and Specialty Chemicals sub-services) and Dry Bulk Transportation, supported by inventory management through automated silo monitoring and warehousing services. The logistics division provides a modular service platform including Transportation Management, Brokerage, and Bid Management services. The company operates a dedicated fleet of approximately 350 trucks and 500 drivers and has been in operation since 1987, serving Fortune 500 manufacturers across specialty chemicals, petrochemicals, industrial minerals, building products, glass production, and food & beverage industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Liquid Bulk Transportation Transportation of liquid chemicals, food grade products, and specialty chemicals with a focus on safety, supported by US EPA SmartWay Excellence awards and Responsible Care Partnership certification.
• Food Grade Transportation Specialized liquid bulk freight service for food grade products requiring professional, experienced, and reliable handling, including Orthodox Union kosher certification for transporting kosher products.
• Specialty Chemicals Transportation Precision inbound logistics for specialty chemical manufacturers operating batch-processing systems with limited storage capacity, requiring highly precise delivery schedules for production environments with frequent raw material changes.
• Dry Bulk Transportation

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced average injury count by 8.7% using Idelic Safety Suite
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability6 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, flagship, strategic, industry and corporate social responsibility.

• Cummins WestportcoreTechnology or Integration · 18 April 2013Partnership for deployment of 12-liter liquefied natural gas (LNG) engines (ISX12 G) in Freightliner Cascadia day cabs. Industry's first-ever production trucks powered by 12-liter natural gas engines for commercial-order, production-built freight service. Made alternative fuels-based service possible for Owens Corning route from Sanford, NC to Savannah, GA.
• Freightliner Trucks (Daimler Trucks North America)coreTechnology or Integration · 18 April 2013Provided Cascadia day cab vehicles equipped with Cummins Westport 12-liter natural gas engines for production lanes serving Owens Corning. First commercial carrier to run production lanes with 12-liter LNG tractors.
• Clean Energy FuelscoreTechnology or Integration · 18 April 2013Natural gas fueling infrastructure partner providing LNG fueling at Latta, SC station enabling 600-mile roundtrip operations on single fueling for Owens Corning LNG fleet.
• Old Dominion Truck LeasingmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 April 2013Ownership of first production LNG tractors leased directly to Modern Transportation for Owens Corning dedicated service. 50-year-old company with full-service leasing capabilities.
• IdeliccoreTechnology or IntegrationProvider of Safety Suite tool used by Modern to analyze driver performance and proactively predict and prevent crashes. Helped reduce average injury count by 8.7%. Awarded Modern the 2020 Idelic Extra Mile Award.
• Lytx (DriveCam)coreTechnology or IntegrationDriver risk management provider specializing in driver video safety programs. Modern selected Lytx DriveCam Program for installation of inward and outward facing cameras in all power units (300+ tractors) to eliminate collisions and enhance highway safety.
• American Chemistry Council (ACC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerResponsible Care Partnership Program participant since November 2015. ACC Board approved Modern as Responsible Care Partner Company. On October 6, 2019 received RCMS Statement of Conformity Certificate from certified third-party auditing firm. Program extends risk management practices through entire chemical industry supply chain.
• Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregation of America (OU)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerKosher certification body that certified Modern as kosher approved carrier. Collaborated with Modern to specify designated trailers and procedures for transporting kosher products including USP grade glycols and glycerins.
• National Tank Truck CarriersindustryStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association serving as voice of tank truck industry before Congress and Federal Government since 1945. Mission for responsible tank truck carriers to work together providing safe, secure, efficient transportation for North American economy.
• Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD)industryStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational association of chemical distributors and supply-chain partners founded in 1971. Members process, formulate, blend, re-package, warehouse, transport, and market chemical products for over 750,000 customers.
• Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association (PMTA)industryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional trucking association founded in 1928. Mission to identify key issues impacting trucking industry while strengthening industry and jobs in Pennsylvania with elected officials.
• Essential Minerals AssociationindustryStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresentative voice of companies extracting and processing essential minerals used in everyday products. Modern is a long-time member supporting industrial minerals supply chains.
• Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT)corporate social responsibilityStrategic or Co-development Partner501(c)3 organization existing to educate, equip, empower and mobilize trucking and bus industries to combat human trafficking. Modern is a proud corporate sponsor.
• Truckload Carriers Association (TCA)industryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnly trade association sole focus on truckload segment representing dry van, refrigerated, flatbed, tanker, and intermodal carriers. Founded 1938, represents operators of over 220,000 trucks generating $40 billion annual truckload revenue.
• Owens CorningflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner30+ year strategic partnership. Global Supplier Award recipient (2019, 2021). Modern provides critical inbound transportation solutions to North American plants. During 2021 competitor shutdown, Modern stepped in to prevent plant closures. Collaboration includes dedicated natural gas fleet for sustainability.
• Owens-Illinois (O-I)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor glass container manufacturer. 2019 Supplier Collaboration Award recipient, 2015 Logistics Excellence Award Eastern Inbound, 2013 Carrier of the Year Eastern Inbound. Partnership includes Waco, TX plant and multiple facilities requiring daily collaboration.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Dupré Logistics: Dupré Logistics operates dedicated bulk transportation, chemical hauling, and 3PL services, with safety and service quality programs comparable to Modern. A Modern VP (Chris Gallowitz) has prior Dupré experience; the two compete directly on dedicated chemical and bulk motor carrier contracts.
• Kenan Advantage Group: Kenan Advantage Group is a leading provider of specialty bulk transportation services in the U.S. and Canada, with deep focus on chemicals, petroleum, and food-grade products. Like Modern, KAG operates dedicated fleets for industrial customers and is a direct competitor in the specialty chemical and dry bulk segments.
• A&R Logistics: A&R Logistics is a leading transportation, warehousing, and logistics services provider specializing in dry bulk plastics and chemicals, with both dedicated and 3PL offerings. Multiple Modern team members (Alex Cleveland, Chris Perry) previously worked at A&R Logistics, making it a strong direct comparable in dry bulk plastics.
• Trimac Transportation: Trimac is a North American bulk trucking services company specializing in chemicals, liquefied gases, and dry bulk - directly comparable to Modern's specialty chemicals and petrochemicals business. A member of the Modern senior management team has prior experience at Trimac, evidencing direct industry overlap.
• Quality Carriers: Quality Carriers is one of the largest bulk chemical trucking carriers in North America, operating a fleet of tank trucks serving chemicals, food-grade liquids, and industrial gases - directly comparable to Modern's liquid bulk business and a principal competitor for the same Fortune 500 shipper RFPs.
• Superior Carriers: Superior Carriers is a tank truck carrier focused on chemicals, liquid food-grade products, and industrial gases. Modern's newly hired CCO Brian Nowak was formerly President of Superior Carriers, illustrating deep talent and operational overlap between the two specialty bulk fleets.

Broad incumbents

• Schneider National: Schneider National is a large multi-modal logistics provider publicly listed on NYSE, with a Bulk division that hauls chemicals, industrial gases, and specialty liquids. While broader in scope (intermodal, truckload, logistics), Schneider's Bulk unit competes head-to-head with Modern on dedicated chemical tank contracts.

Emerging players

• Odyssey Logistics: Odyssey Logistics & Technology is a non-asset and asset-based chemical logistics provider offering managed transportation, intermodal, and supply chain services for chemical manufacturers - overlapping with Modern's 3PL, TMS, and brokerage offerings in the same enterprise chemical customer base.
• Rinchem Company: Rinchem is a chemical-focused 3PL operating warehousing, transportation, and distribution for the chemical and life sciences sectors. Modern's CCO Brian Nowak was previously Chief Strategy Officer at Rinchem, evidencing direct industry and capability overlap in chemical logistics and TMS-adjacent services.

Others

• Matlack Systems: Matlack Systems is a long-standing bulk transportation and logistics provider specializing in chemicals and tank truck services throughout North America. A Modern VP (Chris Gallowitz) has prior Matlack experience; Matlack is a legacy comparable rather than a direct vertical-peer for Modern's current chemical and minerals focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/moderntranspor
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCjaODDvSqUgD7zX5fWPZKnA
• Facebookfacebook.com/moderntransportationllc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/modern-transportation-services
• Instagraminstagram.com/moderntransportationservices

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Modern Transportation Services