Ace Forwarding

What Ace Forwarding does

Ace Forwarding is a privately held freight forwarding and logistics company founded in 1994 and headquartered in Romulus, Michigan. The company operates an integrated transportation services platform spanning air freight, expedited ground delivery, custom crating, international forwarding, brokerage, and white glove delivery, supported by a company-owned fleet of 30+ vehicles (tractor-trailers, tandem axles, 24ft straight trucks, cargo vans, sprinter vans, and 53' dry vans) and a global partner network of forwarders across 53 countries. Ace serves time-critical shipping requirements across five primary enterprise verticals: aerospace (JIT delivery, customs clearance, reverse logistics, MRO support), automotive (HotShot rapid parts delivery), retail fixtures (multi-location rollout and installation), medical (medical supplies and specialized equipment), and school book publishing/distribution (OTR bulk shipping, white glove, distro center fulfillment). The company holds multiple regulatory credentials including FMCSA MC# 307158, STB Freight Forwarder Docket FF-9243, IATA Indirect Air Carrier status, FAST/CSA trusted trader, EPA SMARTWAY, and TIA membership, and operates as both an asset-based carrier and a non-asset broker.

The business model is transaction-based: revenue is generated through per-shipment transportation rates plus accessorial charges (liftgate $100, stops in transit $50-$100, border fees $75-$150, detention, terminal handling $100+, clearance handling $125+, and a 10% after-hours surcharge with a $15 minimum). Ace functions as a freight forwarder arranging transportation with third-party air, rail, and motor carriers (including owner operators) for portions of its volume, while using its owned fleet for expedited and controlled-capacity work. Go-to-market is sales-led through a three-representative Midwest direct sales team (Paul Lafleur, Tony Rasak, Ryan Harper), toll-free and local phone sales (800.971.0070 / 734.955.1000), online quick-quote forms on aceforwarding.com, and a Freight Broker Agent channel program that recruits independent agents to leverage ACE's capacity and back-office support. The technology stack comprises the Turvo transportation management system for tracking (10000/20000 series numbers), WebTrak for 800000 series tracking, Google Maps for mileage determination in quoting, and the Highway.com platform for carrier onboarding — all third-party SaaS integrations rather than proprietary technology.

The company is independently owned with no disclosed institutional investment, parent company, or public listing. It maintains a Facebook social presence, a Wreaths Across America charitable partnership, and affiliated partner brands including ACE West (air freight) and Ciao Logistics within the ACE Partners ecosystem.

Name

Ace Forwarding

Legal name

Ace Forwarding, Inc.

Website

https://aceforwarding.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Ace Forwarding is a Michigan-based freight forwarding and logistics company founded in 1994, offering air freight, expedited ground shipping, custom crating, international forwarding, brokerage, and white glove delivery to enterprise customers in aerospace, automotive, retail fixture, medical, and education publishing verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Freight Forwarding & Logistics Services

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Scheduled Freight Air Transportation (481112), Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation (481212)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210), Deep Sea Foreign Transportation Of Freight (4412)

akta.pro primary industry

Time-Critical & AOG (Aircraft on Ground) Specialized Forwarding (TLACAJAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Charter Air Freight Forwarding (Full/Part Charter, ACMI Brokerage) (TLACAAAC), Ocean Export Forwarding (Booking/VGM/SI/BL) (TLACABAF), Air–Road Intermodal Forwarding (TLACAEAE), Customs Brokerage for Ocean Shipments (Import/Export Clearance) (TLACABAG)

Keywords

• Freight forwarding
• Air freight services
• Ground expediting
• Logistics brokerage
• White glove delivery

Headquarters

HQ city

Romulus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Transportation Services: Fees charged for freight transportation services including air freight, ground/expedited shipping, and international forwarding. Revenue is generated through base transportation rates plus accessorial charges for additional services.
2. Freight Brokerage: ACE arranges transportation with third-party air, rail, and motor carriers, charging a fee for arranging these services. ACE acts as a broker and not a carrier when using third-party assets.
3. Crating and Packaging Services: Custom crating services provided by full-time carpenters with ISPM 15 compliant materials, including full-service crating and repackaging in various materials.
4. Accessorial Charges: Additional charges for services beyond standard pickup and delivery including liftgate ($100), stops in transit ($50-$100 depending on vehicle type), border fees ($75-$150), detention charges, terminal handling ($100+), and clearance handling ($125+).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Ace Forwarding provides multimodal freight forwarding and logistics services, including air freight, ground expediting, international shipping, custom crating, and white-glove delivery for commercial clients. The company operates a 30+ vehicle company-owned fleet and a network spanning 53 countries, with dedicated programs for aerospace, automotive, retail, medical, and school textbook industries. It also runs a Freight Broker Agent Program that enables third-party agents to sell its services.

Product overview

Ace Forwarding is a freight forwarding and logistics company founded in 1994, offering a comprehensive suite of transportation and logistics services. The core product portfolio consists of Air Freight (including OTC, Next Day, 2nd Day, and Economy options), Crating (custom and ISPM 15 compliant), Expediting (ground delivery), International Services (global forwarding across 53 countries), Logistics/Brokerage (carrier network management), and White Glove Service (premium handling and installation). The company also provides industry-specific vertical solutions for School Books, Medical, Retail Fixtures, Automotive, and Aerospace sectors, plus a Freight Broker Agent partnership program. Services span from time-critical air freight to standard ground transportation, with company-owned vehicles and a vetted carrier network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Wreaths Across America: A charitable partnership program for donating wreaths to veterans' graves.

Products and services

• Air Freight Services
• Ground Expediting
• International Freight Forwarding
• Custom Crating
• White Glove Delivery
• Freight Brokerage
• Freight Broker Agent Program
• Aerospace Industry Logistics
• Automotive Industry Logistics
• Retail Industry Logistics
• Medical Industry Logistics
• School Books Logistics

Quantifiable outcome

• Time-critical shipping expertise developed over nearly 30 years of operation since 1994

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ACE West (Ace Air Freight)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACE West is powered by Ace Forwarding and focuses on air freight operations. This is a related entity within the ACE network providing specialized air freight services as part of the overall ACE Forwarding ecosystem.
• Ciao LogisticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner logistics company within the ACE Partners network, providing additional logistics capabilities and services as part of the partner ecosystem.
• Wreaths Across AmericaminorOthersCharitable partnership where ACE Forwarding supports Wreaths Across America mission to remember fallen U.S. veterans, honor those who serve, and teach children about the value of freedom. ACE participates in donations and logistics support for this cause.
• Railroad Transport and Stack Train OperatorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with railroad transport and stack train operators enables intermodal transportation solutions, providing flexible scheduling options and capacity for diverse freight needs.
• Air Carriers (Various)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorACE contracts with third-party air carriers for air freight transportation services, leveraging their aircraft capacity for same-day OTC (On The Clock), next day, and charter services.
• Motor Carriers (Various)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorACE arranges transportation with contracted motor carriers including owner operators and carriers for truckload, LTL, and specialized freight services across the US, Canada, and Mexico.
• IATA (International Air Transport Association)coreOthersIndustry affiliation demonstrating compliance with international air transport standards and regulations for air freight operations.
• TIA (Transportation Intermediaries Association)coreOthersMembership in TIA, the premier organization for third-party logistics professionals, demonstrating commitment to industry standards and best practices.
• FAST/CSA (Free and Secure Trade)coreOthersParticipation in FAST/CSA trusted traveler program for expedited customs clearance at US-Canada border crossings.
• EPA SMARTWayminorOthersEPA SMARTWay certified partner demonstrating commitment to environmental sustainability and fuel efficiency in transportation operations.
• GFP (Global Freight Exchange)minorOthersIndustry affiliation for global freight operations networking and best practice sharing.
• ECA (Electronic Commerce Alliance)minorOthersIndustry association affiliation for electronic commerce in delivery industry.
• AFA (Air Forwarders Association)minorOthersMembership in air freight industry association for industry networking and advocacy.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• C.H. Robinson Worldwide: One of the largest U.S. freight brokers and forwarders with multi-modal capability across truckload, air, and ocean. Closely comparable to ACE's brokerage-plus-asset and air freight services.
• Expeditors International: Global asset-light freight forwarder with air and ocean forwarding capabilities. Comparable to ACE's international forwarding and customs clearance services but at significantly larger scale.
• Kuehne+Nagel: Top-tier global freight forwarder with strong airfreight, ocean, and customs clearance capabilities. Directly comparable to ACE's international forwarding product across air, ocean, and customs.
• ArcBest: Asset-based logistics provider with truckload, LTL, and air freight forwarding through Panther Premium. Highly comparable to ACE's asset-backed model with mixed fleet and brokerage capacity.
• Hub Group: Asset-based intermodal and logistics provider with truck brokerage, expedited services, and supply chain solutions. Comparable to ACE's intermodal, expediting, and broker-agent model.
• Worldwide Express: U.S. freight broker and 3PL operating a sales-agent/partner model similar to ACE's Freight Broker Agent program across LTL, truckload, and air freight.
• Pilot Freight Services: U.S.-focused freight forwarder and last-mile delivery provider with time-critical, expedited, and white-glove services. Closely comparable to ACE's expedited ground and white-glove product verticals.

Broad incumbents

• DHL Global Forwarding: Global 3PL's freight forwarding division offering air, ocean, road, and customs services across 53+ countries. Larger-scale incumbent with overlapping capabilities to ACE's international forwarding.
• FedEx Logistics: FedEx's freight forwarding and logistics arm offering air, ocean, surface, and customs services. Comparable in service breadth to ACE and competes in the same expedited air freight niche.
• XPO Logistics: Large North American LTL and freight transportation provider with brokerage and last-mile capabilities. Comparable in asset-backed ground freight and time-critical delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/aceforwarding

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Ace Forwarding