TMC Transportation

What TMC Transportation does

TMC Transportation is a privately held, employee-owned open-deck freight carrier headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, founded in 1972 by Harrold Annett. It operates flatbed, step deck, and RGN (Removable Goose Neck) trucking services across all 48 contiguous US states and Canada using a fleet of late-model Peterbilt tractors, with a stated 99.7% claim-free delivery record over 50 years of operation. The company markets itself as the largest employee-owned flatbed freight carrier in the United States, having transitioned to 100% ESOP ownership under parent Annett Holdings, Inc. in October 2013 following the founder's death in 2021.

TMC's product portfolio centers on asset-based open-deck trucking but extends into third-party logistics through its TMC Logistics division, which provides 3PL, LTL, Special Operations, Intermodal, Bulk, and Truckload brokerage services on the MasterMind TMS platform. Supporting technology includes LoadTrack! (satellite-based real-time shipment visibility for customers), AI-powered driver-facing safety cameras (facial geometry scanning, distraction and fatigue detection), the Driver Total Quality Management training program, and a DOL-registered CDL apprenticeship. Customer-facing proprietary assets are relatively narrow; differentiation leans on operational safety record, equipment quality, and ESOP-driven service culture rather than deep technology IP.

Commercially, TMC runs a sales-led go-to-market anchored by a Business Development organization of 14+ Regional and National Accounts VPs covering defined US geographies and Canadian provinces. Revenue is generated transactionally through flatbed haul contracts, dedicated transportation arrangements, and 3PL brokerage fees, with driver compensation structured predominantly as performance-based percentage pay (26-30% of load revenue) plus a tuition-reimbursed CDL pipeline. Customer segments span construction materials, steel, agricultural and construction equipment, manufacturing, and dedicated contract carriage, with named enterprise customers including NEUAG LLC, Distran Steel, and Worthington Steel.

Name

TMC Transportation

Legal name

Annett Holdings, Inc.

Website

https://tmctrans.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

TMC Transportation is a privately held, employee-owned open-deck freight carrier headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, providing flatbed, step deck, and RGN trucking plus 3PL logistics across the 48 contiguous US states and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Flatbed Trucking & Open-Deck Freight Services

NAICS

Specialized Freight Trucking (4842), Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Freight Transportation Arrangement (48851)

SIC

Trucking (No Local) (4213), Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Flatbed & Open-Deck TL Carriers (TLADADAC)

Keywords

• Flatbed trucking services
• Open deck transportation
• Third party logistics
• Dedicated transportation services
• Heavy haul trucking

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 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. Flatbed Trucking Services: TMC provides flatbed, step deck, and RGN trucking services for transporting construction materials, steel, machinery, agricultural equipment, and other heavy cargo throughout the 48 contiguous states and Canada.
2. TMC Logistics (3PL Services): Third-party logistics services including 3PL, LTL, Special Operations, Intermodal, Bulk, and Truckload services. Provides comprehensive logistics and supply chain management solutions.
3. Dedicated Transportation Services: Dedicated transportation solutions for specific customers with guaranteed driver and equipment availability, utilizing premiere equipment and professional drivers.
4. Specialized Heavy Haul Services: Transportation of heavy, oversized cargo requiring special permits and documentation. Includes construction and agricultural machinery transport using RGN trailers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

TMC Transportation provides flatbed, step deck, and RGN (Removable Goose Neck) trucking services for hauling construction materials, steel, machinery, and agricultural equipment across the 48 contiguous US states and Canada, complemented by TMC Logistics third-party logistics services including 3PL, LTL, intermodal, bulk, and truckload brokerage. The company also offers dedicated transportation contracts, specialized heavy haul for oversized cargo, and the LoadTrack! real-time shipment visibility platform.

Product overview

TMC Transportation operates as the nation's largest employee-owned flatbed freight carrier, offering a unified platform of transportation solutions centered on open deck trucking. The core product portfolio consists of flatbed, step deck, and RGN (Removable Goose Neck) trucking services for hauling diverse cargo including construction materials, steel, machinery, and agricultural equipment. TMC Logistics provides third-party logistics capabilities including 3PL, LTL, intermodal, and bulk services that complement the asset-based trucking operations. Additional value-added services include LoadTrack! for shipment visibility, CDL training programs for driver development, performance-based percentage pay for driver compensation, and an ESOP program for employee ownership. The company also offers specialized heavy haul services for oversized cargo and dedicated transportation solutions for specific customer accounts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Flatbed Trucking Services Open-deck trucking services using flatbed, step deck, and RGN (Removable Goose Neck) trailers for hauling construction materials, steel, machinery, agricultural equipment, and other heavy cargo across the 48 contiguous US states and Canada, operated from a fleet of late-model Peterbilt tractors.
• TMC Logistics (3PL Services) Third-party logistics services for customers requiring supply chain solutions beyond asset-based flatbed trucking, including 3PL, LTL (Less Than Truckload), Special Operations, Intermodal, Bulk transportation, and Truckload brokerage.
• Dedicated Transportation Services Dedicated trucking solutions for specific customers in the 48 contiguous states, offering guaranteed driver and equipment availability, premium late-model equipment, professional drivers, reduced transportation costs, and improved service levels.
• Specialized Heavy Haul Services Transportation of heavy and oversized cargo using RGN (Removable Goose Neck) trailers, including construction and agricultural machinery requiring special permits, documentation, and specialized loading/unloading.
• LoadTrack! Shipment Visibility Standalone online shipment tracking portal allowing customers to monitor TMC freight in real time using satellite position tracking, accessible to shippers and consignees for end-to-end visibility.
• Company-Sponsored CDL Training & Apprenticeship Program Paid Class A CDL training program with no upfront student costs and a job placement guarantee at TMC upon completion. Registered apprenticeship with the Department of Labor, typically completed in under 3 months.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.7% Claim-Free Delivery Record for 50 Years
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Iowa State University (Ivy College of Business / Ivy Sales Forum)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 January 2023TMC became a corporate member of the Ivy College of Business at Iowa State University in 2023 to expand internship opportunities and emphasize professional growth. The partnership includes membership in the Ivy Sales Forum for sales certificate student experiential learning. TMC opened its Ames office at Iowa State Research Park in 2017 and has been hiring ISU interns since the 1980s.
• Special Olympics IowacoreOthersTMC has participated in the annual Special Olympics Iowa Truck Convoy for 20 consecutive years. Drivers clean and polish trucks and escort Special Olympics athletes. The convoy raises funds and changes attitudes about people with intellectual disabilities. TMC also won the prestigious lead spot in the 2025 convoy.
• Special Olympics South CarolinaminorOthersTMC expanded involvement with Special Olympics by participating in the South Carolina Special Olympics Convoy in addition to the Iowa event.
• Iowa State Research ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTMC's Ames Student Training Center is located in the Iowa State Research Park, facilitating collaboration with Iowa State University and providing a location for sales development internships.
• Food Bank of IowaminorOthersTMC supports the Food Bank of Iowa as part of their annual corporate giving program focused on health, children, and military veterans.
• St. Jude Children's HospitalminorOthersTMC supports St. Jude Children's Hospital as part of their corporate giving program.
• Special OlympicscoreOthersTMC is a longtime supporter of Special Olympics, participating in truck convoys in both Iowa and South Carolina to raise funds and awareness.
• ETI (Ethical Trading Initiative)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTMC has partnered with suppliers and vendors to support the ETI base code, reflecting commitment to ethical trade and improving working conditions in the supply chain.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Schneider National: Large publicly traded truckload and intermodal carrier with a sizable flatbed segment serving construction and industrial customers. Comparable in end markets and dedicated/large-account model, though significantly larger and more diversified than TMC.
• Werner Enterprises: Public truckload carrier operating dedicated, one-way, and flatbed services across the U.S. Closely comparable in flatbed specialization, dedicated contract carriage, and enterprise customer mix.
• Melton Truck Lines: Privately held flatbed carrier focused on open-deck transportation in the 48 contiguous states. Directly comparable in equipment mix (flatbed/step deck/RGN), customer base, and weekend-home-time driver model.
• Anderson Trucking Service (ATS): Family-owned flatbed and specialized heavy-haul carrier serving construction, agriculture, and industrial customers. Comparable in flatbed specialization, heavy-haul capability, and similar privately held / culture-driven positioning.
• Heartland Express: Public truckload carrier with a mix of dry van and dedicated services, overlapping with TMC in long-haul, asset-based trucking serving industrial customers. Less flatbed-focused but directly comparable in long-haul U.S. operations.
• U.S. Xpress: Large asset-based truckload carrier offering dedicated, flatbed, and brokerage services. Comparable in scale of long-haul U.S. operations and dedicated contract carriage for enterprise shippers.
• Covenant Logistics Group: Public truckload carrier with dedicated, expedited, and refrigerated services plus logistics. Comparable mix of asset-based trucking and logistics services for enterprise customers.
• Daseke: Specialized flatbed and heavy-haul carrier formed through roll-up of open-deck operators. Directly comparable to TMC in flatbed/specialized focus serving industrial end markets.

Broad incumbents

• J.B. Hunt Transport Services: Largest publicly traded truckload/intermodal/dedicated carrier in the U.S. with a flatbed segment (J.B. Hunt 360). Comparable in dedicated contract carriage and large-account serving, but broader portfolio than TMC's flatbed specialization.
• Knight-Swift Transportation: Largest truckload carrier in North America operating truckload, LTL, logistics, and flatbed segments. Comparable in long-haul U.S. trucking and dedicated services, but much larger and more diversified than TMC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tmctrans
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCvev1_jYY9fypYmxVRGMj8w
• Facebookfacebook.com/tmctrans
• Instagraminstagram.com/tmc_trans
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tmc-transportation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 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 TMC Transportation