J.W. Allen & Company

What J.W. Allen & Company does

J.W. Allen & Company, Inc. is a family-owned international freight forwarder and licensed customs house broker founded in 1932 by Louisville & Nashville Railroad executive Joseph Webster Allen. Headquartered in St. Rose, Louisiana (New Orleans metro), the firm employs 11–50 staff and operates under FMC License No. 067NF. It serves U.S. importers and exporters across all expertise levels with a horizontal segment approach, ranging from first-time international shippers to seasoned traders, and provides door-to-door transportation, hazardous cargo handling, and advisory services through its partnership with the World Cargo Alliance's 5,251-member global network.

The company's technology stack is built on thin-client computing with off-site data center hosting in a Category 5 hurricane-rated facility, encrypted VPN communications, and industry-leading trade software for ISF filing and customs entry. It holds C-TPAT certification and validation from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and is staffed by four Licensed Customs Brokers (three with over 30 years each of experience) plus Certified Customs Specialists across the import department. Modern infrastructure investments, made notably after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and formalized in a 2011 data center relocation, support business continuity and pre-clearance filing capabilities.

J.W. Allen earns revenue through transaction-based fees across freight forwarding (air and ocean), customs brokerage, NVOCC services, advisory and compliance work, cargo insurance referral, and door-to-door transportation coordination. Pricing is pay-as-you-go with a $50 per-entry or per-shipment liability cap, and customer acquisition relies on direct B2B field sales, industry association participation (NCBFAA, IFFCBANO, FIATA, World Trade Center of New Orleans), and referral networks rather than digital marketing. The firm is currently led by CEO Billy App and Chief Operations Officer Kristi App, a third-generation freight forwarder, continuing a multi-generational ownership lineage that has seen only four owners in 80+ years.

Name

J.W. Allen & Company

Legal name

J.W. Allen & Company, Inc.

Website

https://jwallen.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1932

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

J.W. Allen & Company is a family-owned international freight forwarder and licensed customs house broker founded in 1932 in St. Rose, Louisiana. The firm provides air, ocean, NVOCC, compliance, and advisory services to U.S. importers and exporters, leveraging C-TPAT certification and a licensed customs brokerage team.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Freight Forwarding & Customs Brokerage

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Freight Transportation Arrangement (4885)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Deep Sea Foreign Transportation Of Freight (4412)

akta.pro primary industry

Customs Brokerage for Ocean Shipments (Import/Export Clearance) (TLACABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ocean Import Forwarding (Destination Handling/DO/ISF) (TLACABAE), Export/Import Documentation Preparation (Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Shipper’s Letter of Instruction) (TLACAHAD), Ocean Freight Brokerage (FCL/LCL) (TLADAMAF), Air Freight Brokerage (TLADAMAE)

Keywords

• International freight forwarding
• Customs brokerage services
• Ocean and air cargo
• Import and export compliance
• Hazardous cargo handling

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Rose

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. International Freight Forwarding: International air and ocean freight forwarding services including LCL/FCL shipping, project cargo, and door-to-door transportation solutions. Revenue generated through freight charges, handling fees, and transportation costs passed through to customers.
2. Customs Brokerage Services: Customs house brokerage services including entry and clearance services, ISF filing, and pre-clearance services nationwide. Revenue based on brokerage fees per entry.
3. NVOCC Services: Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier services for ocean transportation.
4. Advisory and Consulting Services: Advisory services for importers and exporters including compliance guidance, documentation expertise for Letters of Credit, Consul Certification, Legalization, and other regulatory requirements.
5. Cargo Insurance: Cargo insurance agency services, arranging coverage on behalf of customers who request it in writing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

J.W. Allen & Company is a global logistics provider delivering international air and ocean freight forwarding, customs house brokerage, NVOCC, and import/export services to U.S. importers and exporters. The company combines customs clearance, ISF filing, documentation expertise, hazardous cargo handling, and door-to-door transportation via the WCA global affiliate network. Services are delivered by four licensed customs brokers supported by modern trade software and off-site data center infrastructure.

Product overview

J.W. Allen & Company is a global logistics provider offering a unified suite of freight forwarding and customs brokerage services. The core offering centers on International Air & Ocean Freight Forwarding paired with Customs House Brokerage, supported by specialized modules including Import Services, Export Services, NVOCC, Air Cargo Services, Advisory Services, Compliance Services, Door to Door Transportation, Cargo Insurance, ISF & Pre-clearance Services, Documentation Expertise, and Hazardous Cargo Handling. Services are delivered by four licensed customs brokers and leverage modern trade software technology to provide integrated global logistics solutions since 1932.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• International Air & Ocean Freight Forwarding Core international freight forwarding service managing movement of goods via air and ocean transportation for importers and exporters across global supply chains.
• Customs House Brokerage Licensed customs brokerage enabling import and export compliance, entry filing, and regulatory navigation with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
• Import Services Import services including customs clearance, U.S. Importer Security Filing (ISF), and pre-clearance processing to expedite cargo entry into the United States.
• Export Services Export-related services including documentation preparation, regulatory compliance, and arrangement of international shipments.
• NVOCC (Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier) NVOCC services providing ocean transportation capacity and consolidation options for shippers without their own vessels.
• Air Cargo Services Air freight services including Indirect Air Carrier (IAC) services and IATA agency representation for time-sensitive international shipments.
• Advisory Services Consulting and advisory services to help clients navigate international trade regulations and develop import/export strategies.
• Compliance Services Regulatory compliance services helping clients meet CBP requirements, ISF filing obligations, and Lacey Act declaration requirements.
• Door to Door Transportation End-to-end logistics solutions coordinating origin pickup through destination delivery, leveraging WCA member network of 5,251 affiliates worldwide.
• Cargo Insurance Insurance brokerage services arranging cargo coverage to protect shipments against loss, damage, or theft during international transit.
• Hazardous Cargo Handling Specialized handling of hazardous materials with IATA and IMDG trained specialists ensuring compliance with packaging, labeling, and documentation requirements.

Quantifiable outcome

• C-TPAT certified importers utilizing program participants throughout their supply chain gain competitive advantages such as a reduction in cargo exams and related shipping delays
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• World Cargo Alliance (WCA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOffering nationwide inland transportation services in conjunction with 5,251 WCA members worldwide, enabling personalized door-to-door transportation solutions tailored to meet each shipment's individual needs. Through WCA affiliates, J.W. Allen provides clarity and transparency throughout the supply chain through a single point of contact from point of order placement to final delivery.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• C.H. Robinson Worldwide: One of the largest U.S. third-party logistics providers with full-service freight forwarding, customs brokerage, and NVOCC offerings. Overlaps directly with J.W. Allen's ocean/air forwarding and customs services but operates at vastly greater scale across multiple geographies and modes.
• Expeditors International: Global freight forwarder and customs broker with broad air and ocean forwarding services and significant customs operations. Comparable service mix to J.W. Allen but a publicly traded, multinational incumbent with substantially larger scale and technology investment.
• Kuehne+Nagel: One of the world's largest freight forwarders with strong customs brokerage and NVOCC capabilities globally. Overlaps with J.W. Allen on air/ocean forwarding and customs clearance but serves as a much larger global incumbent across more trade lanes.
• DHL Global Forwarding: Operates freight forwarding (air, ocean, road, rail) and customs services as part of Deutsche Post DHL Group. Directly comparable service portfolio to J.W. Allen (forwarding + customs + documentation) but at global incumbent scale.
• AIT Worldwide Logistics: Global forwarder with strong U.S. customs brokerage, NVOCC, and air/ocean services; PE-backed by The Jordan Company. Overlaps with J.W. Allen on core service lines but operates at significantly greater scale with multiple U.S. and international locations.

Emerging players

• Flexport: Technology-led digital freight forwarder offering ocean, air, and customs brokerage through a unified platform. Competes for the same U.S. importer/exporter customer base as J.W. Allen but with a software-first model and significant venture capital funding.

Direct peers

• Mohawk Global Logistics: U.S.-based mid-sized customs broker and freight forwarder offering import/export, NVOCC, and compliance services. Closely comparable to J.W. Allen in size, service breadth, and customer profile (small/mid-market importers and exporters).
• John S. Connor: Mid-Atlantic U.S. customs broker and freight forwarder offering import/export, NVOCC, and air/ocean services with similar mid-market customer focus. Closely comparable operating model to J.W. Allen's family-owned, multi-service brokerage.
• Livingston International: North American customs broker and trade management specialist with deep compliance expertise across Canada/U.S. trade. Directly comparable customs brokerage service offering with a similar focus on regulatory complexity and documentation.
• Trans American (Trans American Custom Brokers): Mid-sized U.S. customs broker and freight forwarder with full import/export services. Comparable size and service mix to J.W. Allen, competing for similar small-to-mid importer/exporter accounts across the Gulf Coast and broader U.S.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/JWAllenCo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 J.W. Allen & Company