W.E.S.T. Forwarding Services

What W.E.S.T. Forwarding Services does

W.E.S.T. Forwarding Services, Inc. (legal name: World Express Shipping, Transportation and Forwarding Services, Inc.) is a privately held U.S. international freight forwarder and customs broker founded in 1987 in Chicago, Illinois. The firm provides an integrated, multimodal logistics portfolio across ocean freight, air freight, domestic freight, warehousing, cargo insurance, and full-service customs brokerage, targeting importers, exporters, and domestic shippers. It is fully licensed as an Ocean Transportation Intermediary (FMC OTI License #3118NF) and Licensed Customs Broker (CHB License #14627), holds IATA agent status, and is a CTPAT-validated partner. Operations are anchored at the corporate headquarters in Middleburg Heights (Cleveland), Ohio, with regional offices in Chicago, Illinois, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and a historical Long Beach, California presence established in 2006.

The business runs on a quote-based, transaction-fee revenue model across services priced on shipment characteristics, destination, and service level. Its proprietary differentiator is an exclusive direct consolidated LCL (Less-than-Container Load) service from Asia to Ohio, alongside an unusually high concentration of licensed U.S. Customs Brokers on staff — approximately 20% of employees, characterized in company materials as higher than competitors — which supports regulatory clearance execution. Cargo visibility is delivered through the Descartes OneView third-party tracking platform rather than proprietary technology; no APIs, AI-driven products, or self-serve digital platforms are disclosed. Go-to-market is relationship-driven direct enterprise sales across the three U.S. offices, augmented by memberships in global logistics networks including WCA World, GOAL Trans, MIFFA, LogNet Global, and Apollo Global Experts.

W.E.S.T. Forwarding is led by CEO Kristi Buckholz and President Derek Weaver. The company has 11-50 employees, no disclosed revenue, no funding history, no M&A activity, and no parent company, and operates as an independent, owner-led firm. Customer mix is horizontal across importers/exporters generally, Asia-focused importers, and domestic shippers; no named customer logos are publicly available and customer-level revenue concentration is unobservable from public sources.

Name

W.E.S.T. Forwarding Services

Legal name

World Express Shipping, Transportation and Forwarding Services, Inc.

Website

https://westforwarding.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

W.E.S.T. Forwarding Services is a privately held U.S. international freight forwarder and licensed customs broker founded in 1987. It provides ocean, air, domestic freight, warehousing, cargo insurance, and customs clearance to importers and exporters across offices in Ohio, Illinois, and Florida.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Logistics Services

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Transportation Services (4700)

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), Ocean Export Forwarding (Booking/VGM/SI/BL) (TLACABAF), Trade Compliance & Ocean Regulatory Services (Sanctions/Export Controls) (TLACABAL), Air–Ocean Multimodal Forwarding (TLACAEAA)

Keywords

• International freight forwarding
• Customs brokerage services
• Ocean freight shipping
• Air freight forwarding
• Warehousing and logistics

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Freight Forwarding Services: Ocean, air, and domestic freight forwarding services. Revenue generated through transportation fees based on shipment size, weight, destination, and service level requirements. Multimodal capabilities allow for flexible pricing based on customer priorities.
2. Customs Brokerage: Full-service customs brokerage including documentation, classification, and regulatory compliance. Revenue derived from brokerage fees for clearing goods through U.S. Customs.
3. Warehousing Services: Storage (short or long term), packaging, pick and pack, and delivery arrangements. Revenue generated from storage fees and handling charges.
4. Cargo Insurance: Comprehensive cargo insurance coverage to protect shipments from loss or damage during transit. Commission-based revenue from insurance partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

W.E.S.T. Forwarding Services provides international and domestic freight forwarding across ocean, air, and ground transportation modes, complemented by customs brokerage, warehousing (storage, pick and pack), and cargo insurance for businesses engaged in import and export trade. The company leverages a global network of carrier partnerships, premier logistics network memberships, and an exclusive direct consolidated LCL service from Asia to Ohio to deliver tailored multimodal shipping solutions. It operates as a fully licensed Ocean Transportation Intermediary (FMC OTI #3118NF), Licensed Customs Broker (CHB #14627), and IATA-certified air agent.

Product overview

W.E.S.T. Forwarding Services operates as a logistics services provider offering an integrated suite of freight forwarding and customs solutions. The core portfolio includes six interconnected services: Ocean Freight (international container and LCL shipping), Domestic Freight (ground transportation), Air Freight (time-sensitive cargo), Warehousing (storage and fulfillment), Cargo Insurance (transit protection), and Customs Brokerage (regulatory compliance and clearance). The company differentiates through direct consolidated LCL shipments from Asia to Ohio and a high ratio of licensed customs brokers (20%) compared to industry standards. Services are delivered through a global network of carrier partnerships and logistics alliances.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ocean Freight International ocean freight forwarding services providing container and LCL (Less-than-Container Load) shipping options across key trade lanes, leveraging master loading contracts with leading ocean carriers. Includes an exclusive direct consolidated LCL service from Asia to Ohio.
• Domestic Freight

Quantifiable outcome

• 40+ years of proven track record in international freight forwarding
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WCA WorldcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMember of WCA World, a global logistics network providing access to trusted partners across international markets for comprehensive transportation solutions.
• GOAL TranscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with GOAL Trans global logistics network to provide comprehensive transportation solutions worldwide.
• MIFFAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with MIFFA Group, a global logistics and freight forwarding network member providing international market coverage.
• Apollo Global ExpertsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliation with Apollo Global Experts network for specialized global logistics expertise.
• LogNet GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of LogNet Global network providing worldwide freight forwarding and logistics services.
• Ocean CarrierscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMaster loading contracts with leading ocean carriers across key trade lanes providing reliable and cost-effective container and LCL service options worldwide.
• IATAcoreTechnology or IntegrationInternational Air Transport Association certified agent status enabling air freight forwarding services globally.
• NCBFAAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMember of National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America for industry representation and professional development.
• CTPATcoreTechnology or IntegrationValidated partner of Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, demonstrating commitment to supply chain security standards.
• CCBFAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMember of California Customs Brokers & Freight Forwarders Association for regional industry representation.
• CFAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMember of Customs Forwarders Association for industry advocacy and networking.
• IFAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMember of International Freighting Association for global logistics industry connections.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• C.H. Robinson Worldwide: One of the largest North American freight forwarders and 3PLs with global ocean, air, and customs capabilities. Comparable to WEST as a freight arrangement and customs brokerage provider, though vastly larger in scale and broader in mode coverage.
• Kuehne+Nagel: Global freight forwarder with extensive ocean, air, road, and customs brokerage operations. Comparable core offering to WEST across all of WEST's services, but with worldwide infrastructure that WEST accesses only via network memberships.
• DHL Global Forwarding: Air, ocean, and road freight forwarding arm of Deutsche Post DHL Group. Directly comparable ocean, air, and customs brokerage services to WEST, with much larger scale and a global owned-network footprint.
• CEVA Logistics: Global 3PL with freight forwarding, contract logistics, and customs offerings. Comparable to WEST in ocean, air, and customs brokerage, but with a much broader warehousing and supply-chain footprint globally.
• Yusen Logistics: Global logistics provider with air, ocean, road forwarding, customs brokerage, and warehousing. Comparable service mix to WEST, including Asia-origin forwarding expertise, though operating at multinational scale with owned offices worldwide.

Direct peers

• Expeditors International: Pure-play international freight forwarder with strong ocean, air, and customs brokerage services. Closely comparable business model to WEST, with a similarly diversified forwarding portfolio and global network model — but operating at global scale.
• AIT Worldwide Logistics: Mid-sized U.S.-headquartered freight forwarder with global ocean, air, and customs brokerage operations and multiple U.S. offices. Closely comparable to WEST in service mix, geographic positioning, and customer-segment focus.
• Crane Worldwide Logistics: Mid-sized global freight forwarder offering air, ocean, and customs brokerage services with strong North American presence. Comparable to WEST in scope of services and mid-market positioning, though with broader international office coverage.
• Scan Global Logistics: Global freight forwarder with strong ocean, air, and road forwarding plus customs services. Comparable to WEST in offering the same suite of forwarding and brokerage services, with particular strength on Asia-U.S. and Europe trade lanes.

Emerging players

• Flexport: Tech-enabled digital freight forwarder offering ocean, air, and customs services through a software platform. Comparable to WEST on services (ocean, air, customs), but differentiates through a self-serve digital platform rather than WEST's relationship-led model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/w.e.s.t.-forwarding-services
• Xx.com/westforwarding

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 W.E.S.T. Forwarding Services