Specialized Transportation Service, Inc.

What Specialized Transportation Service, Inc. does

Specialized Transportation Service, Inc. (STS), doing business as STS, is a privately held, family-owned dry-van trucking and logistics carrier founded in 1995 and headquartered in Smyrna, Tennessee, approximately 25 miles from Nashville. The company provides truckload dry-van transportation, expedited delivery, milk-run consolidation, local cartage, freight bill auditing, and electronic data interchange (EDI) integration, primarily serving manufacturing, industrial, and automotive OEM and supplier customers in the Southeast and Midwest United States. Operations are anchored by named enterprise relationships with General Motors (recognized for 100% on-time delivery in March 2020) and Nissan, both with significant manufacturing presence in Middle Tennessee.

The operating model is asset-based and direct: STS owns its fleet of 2020 and newer Volvo and Freightliner tractors operated by company-employed CDL-A drivers, supported by terminals in Smyrna TN (headquarters and corporate office), Jackson MS, Canton MS, College Park GA, and Holladay TN. The technology stack is built on commercial third-party platforms rather than proprietary systems — Geotab, Omnitracs, and Peoplenet for in-cab satellite communications and fleet management; the Transflo Mobile Express app for in-cab document scanning; and EDI for customer shipment tracking and reporting. There is no indication of proprietary AI or data products.

Revenue is generated on a transaction-fee basis through mileage-based truckload charges, with driver compensation structured around guaranteed weekly minimums plus stop, layover, and detention pay; customer pricing is not publicly disclosed. The customer mix is concentrated in enterprise automotive and industrial shippers. Driver recruitment is a parallel go-to-market motion, run through company career pages, job fairs, terminal family days, and the StratasJobs application portal, with positions segmented into regional (up to $84,000/year), dedicated (up to $80,000), local, and casual CDL-A roles. Since 2007 the company has been led by President & CEO Ramsey Hassan, who acquired it from founder Pat Sharbel; the current leadership team includes a Senior Director of Operations (Amy Reed, joined 2020), Directors of Fleet Driver Management, Maintenance and Equipment, Customer Satisfaction, and Fleet Planning.

Name

Specialized Transportation Service, Inc.

Legal name

Specialized Transportation Services, INC.

Website

https://shipsts.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Specialized Transportation Service, Inc. (STS) is a privately held, asset-based dry-van trucking and logistics carrier based in Smyrna, Tennessee, providing truckload, expedited, milk-run, local cartage, freight bill audit, and EDI services to manufacturing, industrial, and automotive OEM and supplier customers across the Southeast and Midwest United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Smyrna

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 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. Truckload Transportation Services: STS generates revenue through truckload dry van transportation services, including dedicated runs, regional routes, local deliveries, and expedited delivery. Revenue is earned through mileage-based pay, guaranteed weekly minimums, and additional compensation for stops, layovers, and detention time.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

STS operates an asset-based regional trucking carrier providing truckload dry van freight transportation, expedited delivery, milk runs, local cartage, freight bill auditing, and EDI-enabled shipment tracking for manufacturing, automotive, and industrial customers across the Southeast and Midwest United States. Revenue is generated through contracted dedicated-route and regional truckload services executed with company-employed CDL-A drivers using a modern 2020-and-newer Volvo and Freightliner fleet.

Product overview

Specialized Transportation Service, Inc. (STS) operates as a trucking and logistics carrier offering a unified transportation service portfolio centered on truckload dry van freight services. The core service offering encompasses six integrated logistics capabilities: Truckload Dry Van, Expedited Delivery, Milk Runs, Local Cartage, Freight Bill Auditing, and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). These services work together to provide end-to-end supply chain management from order placement through delivery. STS complements its transportation services with driver positions (Regional, Dedicated, Local, and Casual CDL-A truck driver roles) and non-driving career opportunities (Customer Service Coordinator, Night Dispatcher, Tractor Trailer Mechanics, and Driver Recruiter/Safety Coordinator). The company leverages 2020 and newer Volvo and Freightliner fleet equipment, in-cab satellite communication systems, and digital logistics management practices to deliver just-in-time solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Truckload Dry Van Transportation Full truckload dry van transportation service delivering safe, damage-free freight on time for manufacturing, industrial, and automotive customers across the Southeast and Midwest.
• Expedited Delivery Just-in-time expedited delivery service meeting urgent, time-sensitive shipping requirements for customers with production-line or schedule-critical freight.
• Milk Runs Consolidated route service that plans pickups across multiple suppliers to optimize efficiency and cost savings for shippers with multi-stop freight patterns.
• Local Cartage Economical local pickup and delivery service for short-haul, regional freight handling within STS's operating radius.
• Freight Bill Auditing Freight bill processing and invoice review service using specialized software and knowledgeable billing staff to ensure accuracy and identify cost-saving opportunities for shippers.
• Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Integration Electronic data interchange system providing seamless integration with customer systems for shipment tracking and logistics reporting.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% on-time delivery performance with General Motors in March 2020
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Cowan Systems: Lynchburg, VA-based dedicated truckload carrier serving manufacturing and retail customers across the Eastern US. Closely mirrors STS's dedicated-services business model, no-touch freight positioning, and manufacturing-segment focus.
• Covenant Logistics Group: Chattanooga, TN-based truckload carrier offering dedicated, expedited, and managed transportation with strong Southeast/Midwest regional coverage. Direct comparable to STS on geography, dedicated offering, and target verticals including automotive and manufacturing.
• P&S Transportation: Birmingham, AL-based regional flatbed and dry van carrier with strong Southeast presence and dedicated fleet services. Comparable to STS in fleet size range, geographic focus, and dedication to manufacturing/industrial shippers.
• Averitt Express: Cookeville, TN-based regional less-than-truckload and truckload carrier serving the Southeast and beyond with dedicated and expedited services. Highly comparable to STS in geographic base, dedicated/automotive customer mix, and family-style culture.
• KLLM Transport Services: Jackson, MS-headquartered truckload and logistics carrier with refrigerated and dry van capabilities serving the Southeast. Comparable to STS in Mississippi operating footprint, dry van/dedicated model, and Southeast manufacturing customer base.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Xpress: Tennessee-headquartered national truckload and dedicated carrier historically strong in automotive and manufacturing. Comparable to STS on regional Southeast roots, dedicated offerings, and automotive customer base, though much larger.
• Heartland Express: Public dry van truckload carrier running irregular route and dedicated services nationwide. Overlaps STS on dry van truckload and dedicated capacity, though Heartland operates a national network well beyond the Southeast/Midwest.
• Schneider National: Mega-carrier with extensive dedicated, intermodal, and truckload services and a major automotive OEM customer roster. Directly comparable to STS on dedicated automotive manufacturing service, but at a national scale.
• Knight-Swift Transportation: Largest US truckload carrier operating nationwide truckload, LTL, and logistics services including dedicated contracts. Competes with STS for automotive and manufacturing dedicated lanes but at vastly greater scale and with national network density.
• Werner Enterprises: National truckload and dedicated services carrier with significant dedicated automotive exposure. Overlaps STS in dedicated manufacturing and automotive verticals, though Werner operates at dramatically larger scale across the entire US.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/STStrucking
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/specialized-transportation-services

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Specialized Transportation Service, Inc.