What Tri-State does

Tri-State Motor Transit is a U.S.-based specialized secured freight transportation company headquartered in Glendale, Arizona, operating as a subsidiary of Roadmaster Group II LLC. The firm runs a fleet of approximately 500 GPS-tracked trucks (predominantly team-driver operations) and employs 800+ background-checked, government-secured drivers across 12+ terminal locations spanning the continental U.S., Alaska, Canada, and a Mexico border crossing in Eagle Pass, Texas. Its core offering is high-security transportation of hazardous, sensitive, and high-value cargo — including explosives, radioactive waste (LLRW), defense materials, and general hazmat — under Department of Defense Tier 1 and Department of Energy approved carrier status. Service modalities include 53-foot dry vans, flatbeds, tankers, Conestoga trailers, and Dromedary (DROM) trains, supplemented by Transportation Protective Services (DDP, CIS, PSS, SEV, DCS).

The underlying technology stack combines GPS fleet tracking, E-Logs, real-time load tracking, a 24/7 Operations Center, and the McLeod dispatch and payroll system, with driver-facing workflows delivered through the RMG Connect mobile application (built on AWS Cognito for authentication and AWS S3 for document storage). Customers access shipment visibility via a dedicated load-tracking portal. Business model is primarily transaction-based freight revenue (rates driven by mileage, commodity, and security requirements), supplemented by recurring trailer leasing, brokerage/logistics through Roadmaster Specialized (Carmel, IN), and owner-operator programs paying 70% of freight revenue plus 100% fuel surcharge. Customer segments are dominated by federal government (DoD, DOE), defense contractors, hazardous waste operators, commercial explosives, and high-value secured cargo shippers, served through a direct enterprise field-sales motion anchored by a VP of National Accounts and dedicated DOE/Radioactive and hazardous-waste sales reps.

Name

Tri-State

Legal name

Tri-State Motor Transit

Website

https://tristatesecured.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Tri-State Motor Transit is a Glendale, Arizona-based secured freight carrier operating 500+ GPS-tracked trucks and 800+ cleared drivers to transport hazardous, sensitive, and government freight for the U.S. Department of Defense, Department of Energy, and commercial hazmat customers across North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secured Freight Transportation

NAICS

Specialized Freight Trucking (4842), Other Support Activities for Transportation (4889)

SIC

Trucking (No Local) (4213), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) TL Carriers (TLADADAH)

Keywords

• Secured freight transportation
• Hazardous materials hauling
• High-value cargo transport
• Government freight services
• Specialized hazmat trucking

Headquarters

HQ city

Glendale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Freight Transportation Services: Core revenue from transporting secure freight, hazardous materials, explosives, radioactive waste, and high-value cargo across the U.S. and Canada. Revenue generated through freight rates based on mileage, commodity type, and security requirements.
2. Team Driver Services: Team driver operations generating revenue through guaranteed daily pay rates for customers requiring expedited or continuous freight movement
3. Trailer Leasing: Trailer leasing services offering dry vans and storage trailers to businesses with flexible rental and leasing options

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Tri-State Motor Transit provides specialized secured ground transportation of hazardous, sensitive, explosive, radioactive, and high-value freight across the continental U.S., Alaska, and Canada. The company operates a fleet of 500+ GPS-tracked trucks (dry vans, flatbeds, tankers, Conestoga trailers, and Dromedary trains) staffed by 800+ background-checked, government-cleared drivers, and is a Tier 1 carrier approved by the U.S. Department of Defense and Department of Energy for protective transportation services.

Product overview

Tri-State is a specialized secured transportation company operating as a single unified service platform offering multiple freight transportation modalities. The core offering centers on high-security transportation services for hazardous, sensitive, and high-value freight using a diversified fleet of dry vans, flatbeds, tankers, Conestoga trailers, and Dromedary trains. The company operates approved Department of Defense and Department of Energy transportation protective services including Dual Driver Protective Service, Constant Surveillance Service, and Protective Security Service. Supporting the core transportation services, Tri-State provides driver services (team, solo, and owner operator programs), trailer leasing, and technology tools including the RMG Connect mobile app and customer load tracking portal. All services are supported by hazmat-certified, government-cleared professional drivers with 24/7 operations center monitoring and GPS tracking across the continental U.S., Alaska, and Canada.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Secured Freight Transportation Specialized high-security transportation of hazardous, sensitive, and high-value freight across the continental U.S., Alaska, and Canada using a fleet of GPS-tracked trucks with background-checked, government-cleared drivers.
• Dry Van Transportation 53-foot high-security dry van trailer transportation with trailer tracking and air ride suspension for secure freight delivery.
• Tanker/Liquid Bulk Transportation Specialized liquid bulk freight transportation with tanker trailers, handling hazmat compliance, regulatory navigation, and hazardous materials transport.
• Flatbed Transportation 48-foot flatbed trailer transportation with twist lock and air ride capabilities for oversized and heavy haul freight.
• Conestoga Trailer Service 53-foot Conestoga trailers with twist locks and air ride for protected transport of sensitive or specialized cargo.
• Dromedary Train Service Dromedary (DROM) train transportation featuring individual DROM boxes for secure freight movement.
• Transportation Protective Services Department of Defense and Department of Energy-approved protective services including Dual Driver Protective Service (DDP), Constant Surveillance Service (CIS), Protective Security Service (PSS), Security Escort Vehicle (SEV), and Trailer Tracking Service (DCS).
• Trailer Leasing Trailer leasing program offering dry van and storage trailers with various lengths, swing-door configurations, hardwood floors, and 24,000 lb.-rated floors.
• OTR Team Driver Services Over-the-road team driver operations with guaranteed daily pay rates, serving the contiguous U.S. and Canada with hazmat and tanker endorsed drivers.
• OTR Solo Driver Services Solo over-the-road driver services operating in select regions including California, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Missouri, Illinois, and Pacific Northwest corridors.
• Owner Operator Program Nationwide owner operator program offering 70% freight rate plus 100% FSC, with lease/rental options and truck model requirements of 3 years or newer with CARB compliance.
• RMG Connect Mobile App Internal mobile application for iOS and Android providing drivers access to assignments, payroll, document scanning, contacts, news, and resources through McLeod dispatch system integration.
• Load Tracking Portal Real-time load tracking system allowing customers to monitor shipment status 24/7 through tsmt.loadtracking.com.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.7% on-time delivery rate
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Department of DefensecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTri-State is approved by the Department of Defense for transportation protective services, including Dual Driver Protective Service (DDP), Constant Surveillance Service (CIS), and Protective Security Service (PSS). This approval positions Tri-State among the elite Tier 1 carriers for secure government freight transportation.
• Department of EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTri-State is approved by the Department of Energy for specialized transportation services, particularly for Low Level Radioactive Waste (LLRW) transportation. DOE/Radioactive Sales handled by Mark McDermott at 865.882.7077.
• McLeod SoftwarecoreTechnology or IntegrationRMG's dispatch and payroll system used for driver records, assignment data, payroll history, and document submissions. Integrated into RMG Connect mobile app for drivers.
• CTPAT (Canada)coreOthersC-TPAT (Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism) Partner Certified in Canada. Certified along with FAST, SMARTWAY, and MCEP programs.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Groendyke Transport: One of the largest tank truck carriers in North America specializing in bulk liquids, chemicals, and hazardous materials. Directly comparable to Tri-State's hazmat tanker and liquid bulk operations across similar regulated cargo and customer verticals.
• Quality Distribution / Quality Carriers: Bulk chemical and hazmat tank truck carrier serving specialty chemical producers across North America; directly comparable to Tri-State on hazardous liquid freight, regulatory compliance, and terminal-based operations.
• Kenan Advantage Group: Bulk transport specialist in chemicals, fuels, and hazmat with a nationwide terminal network; directly comparable to Tri-State on hazmat tanker coverage, customer verticals, and regulatory operating model.

Broad incumbents

• Werner Enterprises: Large diversified truckload carrier with dedicated, refrigerated, and specialized freight divisions. Comparable to Tri-State at the broad TL operating level and on hazmat capability scope, though Werner is far broader in mix.
• Schneider National: Multimodal carrier operating truckload, intermodal, and logistics across North America with specialty capabilities; comparable as a broad incumbent with overlapping hazmat, secured, and large-enterprise service lines.
• Heartland Express: Major truckload carrier with asset-based and dedicated operations including secure and time-sensitive freight; comparable as a broad incumbent overlapping Tri-State's expedited secure service tier and national lanes.
• Knight-Swift Transportation: Largest U.S. truckload carrier with diversified LTL, refrigerated, dedicated, and specialized services; comparable as a broad incumbent with overlapping hazmat freight programs and government customer exposure.
• J.B. Hunt Transport Services: Diversified multimodal carrier with dedicated contract services, intermodal, and truckload; comparable on dedicated government and large-enterprise freight programs that overlap Tri-State's enterprise sales motion.

Others

• Daseke: Specialized trucking conglomerate and former parent entity (per Tri-State's website privacy policy linking to daseke.com), aggregating flatbed, heavy-haul, and secure carriers; comparable as related/specialized industry consolidator and adjacent specialized services.

Emerging players

• Anderson Trucking Service (ATS): Specialized flatbed and heavy-haul carrier serving construction, agricultural, and oversized freight; comparable on the specialized freight side of Tri-State's flatbed and Conestoga business, though with different cargo profiles.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/tristatesecuredtrucking
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tri-state-roadmaster

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Tri-State