What PAF Transportation does

PAF Transportation is a regional, asset-based trucking and logistics operator founded in 1950 in Scarborough, Maine as Portland Air Freight, providing less-than-truckload (LTL), short-haul truckload, residential skid delivery, dedicated delivery, and cross-dock services across Maine, New Hampshire, and Eastern Massachusetts. The company operates five owned terminals (Scarborough, Hampden, Presque Isle, Auburn, and Concord) and runs a modern fleet of 53' high-cube air-ride dry van trailers equipped with onboard GPS, real-time Proof of Delivery, and online tracking; it also operates a 30,000 sq ft heated warehouse for storage, cross-dock, and load rework. PAF became a 100% Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) in 2011, and is staffed by HazMat-certified and TSA-trained drivers, with EDI integration via Crown Data and NMFTA membership supporting shipper system interoperability.

The company serves both B2B shippers requiring volume LTL and next-day lane coverage in northern New England and residential customers needing appointment-based last-mile delivery, generating revenue on a quote-based, transaction-fee model across multiple service lines. Its go-to-market is sales-led and direct: customers obtain pricing via a website quote form, phone, or email, and book deliveries through an online scheduling portal. With just over 100 employees, PAF competes on regional density, terminal coverage, equipment breadth, and 73 years of operating history rather than technology differentiation. Its owned-fleet, no-intermediary model, combined with its ESOP ownership structure, creates employee-aligned service economics but limits access to external growth capital.

Name

PAF Transportation

Legal name

Portland Air Freight

Website

https://paftrans.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

PAF Transportation is a 100% employee-owned regional trucking and logistics carrier providing LTL, truckload, residential delivery, warehousing, and cross-dock services across Maine, New Hampshire, and Eastern Massachusetts via five owned terminals and a modern GPS-tracked fleet.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Scarborough

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Transportation and Logistics Services: PAF generates revenue through various transportation and logistics services including volume LTL, short haul truckload, residential and in-state skid delivery, next-day business service, and dedicated delivery services across Maine, New Hampshire, and Eastern Massachusetts.
2. Warehousing and Storage Services: Revenue from providing heated warehouse storage (30,000 sq ft) for both long and short term needs, cross dock services, and load rework services. Storage can be combined with delivery services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

PAF Transportation provides regional freight transportation, volume LTL and short-haul truckload, residential and in-state skid delivery, next-day business service, and dedicated delivery across Maine, New Hampshire, and Eastern Massachusetts. The company also operates a 30,000 sq ft heated warehouse offering long- and short-term storage, cross-dock, and load rework services. Operations are supported by a modern fleet of 53' high cube air ride dry van trailers equipped with GPS tracking, real-time POD updates, online shipment tracking, and online residential appointment scheduling.

Product overview

PAF Transportation is a regional logistics and transportation company operating as a single unified service offering. The company provides transportation and delivery services across Maine and New Hampshire, featuring five terminal locations (Scarborough, Hampden, Concord, Presque Isle, and Auburn). The core service portfolio consists of Local Maine Service (regional delivery with next-day options and appointment scheduling), Truckload & Volume LTL (53' dry van services with air ride equipment), Warehousing/Cross Dock Services (30,000 sq ft heated warehouse with cross-dock capabilities), and New Hampshire Service (expanded in 2019 with next-day delivery options). The company also offers dedicated delivery services and residential skid delivery. Services include real-time tracking, HazMat-certified drivers, GPS tracking, and EDI connectivity as a Crown Data EDI partner.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Local Maine Service Regional delivery service covering the state of Maine, offering next-day Boston-Maine and Maine-Maine service, residential appointment scheduling, expedited and time-specific delivery options, and competitive in-state pallet pricing.
• Truckload & Volume LTL Full truckload and less-than-truckload (LTL) freight services using a modern fleet of 53' high cube, air ride, dry van trailers equipped with post logistics, straps, and bars. Offers next day, same day, time sensitive, exclusive use, and load-to-ride services throughout New England.
• Warehousing/Cross Dock Services Storage services featuring a heated 30,000 sq ft warehouse for both long and short term storage. Includes cross-dock and load rework services, and freight handling for Portland area appointments.
• New Hampshire Service Delivery services for New Hampshire, featuring next-day Boston-NH, NH-NH, and NH-Maine service, cartage, interline and contract agent services, real-time POD updates, and online tracking. Includes TSA-trained drivers with STA numbers and HazMat certification.
• Dedicated Delivery Services Dedicated delivery services providing customized transportation solutions for specific customer needs, including dedicated customer positions for drivers.
• Residential Delivery In-state skid delivery and residential delivery services within Maine and New Hampshire service areas, with online appointment scheduling through schedule.paftrans.com.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Wreaths Across AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing charitable partnership where PAF delivers wreaths to veteran's cemeteries in Central and Southern Maine annually. PAF participates in the national initiative that lays wreaths on graves of veterans at Arlington and 1,200 cemeteries across the United States.
• Trucking for Kids ConvoyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable collaboration between Maine Professional Driver's Association and Lion's Clubs of South Portland. PAF drivers have a tradition of participating in this convoy. A PAF Driver has taken the top fundraising spot for the last 10 years.
• Maine Professional Driver's AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association partnership for the Trucking for Kids Convoy event supporting Camp Sunshine for critically ill children.
• Lion's Clubs of South PortlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal community organization co-hosting the Trucking for Kids Convoy event with proceeds benefiting Camp Sunshine and officer friendly programs.
• NMFTA (National Motor Freight Traffic Association)minorOthersNMFTA Certificate of Participation holder (2023), indicating membership and participation in the association supporting uniform freight classification.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• XPO: XPO operates one of the largest LTL networks in North America with national terminal coverage. PAF encounters XPO on regional lanes and competes for shipper volume on next-day service to Maine and New Hampshire.
• Estes Express Lines: Estes is a large national LTL carrier with expanding terminal density in secondary markets including New England. Direct overlap with PAF on regional LTL and terminal-based service.
• FedEx Freight: FedEx Freight is the LTL arm of FedEx with nationwide coverage and significant New England presence. PAF competes with FedEx Freight on priority and economy LTL shipments into and out of Maine and New Hampshire.
• Old Dominion Freight Line: Old Dominion is the largest US LTL carrier with national density, premium service standards and aggressive terminal expansion. PAF competes in shared lanes and faces ODFL as the primary benchmark on LTL pricing and transit time in its region.
• Saia: Saia is a publicly traded national LTL carrier that has expanded aggressively into new geographies including the Northeast. Comparable LTL service offering and a competitive threat on regional lanes.

Regional players

• AAA Cooper Transportation: AAA Cooper is a regional LTL carrier operating primarily in the Southeast US with similar asset-based, multi-terminal operating model. Comparable in size and service mix to PAF though geographic markets differ.
• Southeastern Freight Lines: Southeastern Freight Lines is a regional LTL carrier serving the Southeast with an employee-focused culture and terminal-based service model analogous to PAF's regional approach, though operating in a different geography.
• Day & Ross: Day & Ross is a Canadian regional LTL, truckload and logistics provider with cross-border New England service. Comparable multi-mode regional carrier model serving adjacent geography with New England exposure.

Direct peers

• A. Duie Pyle: A. Duie Pyle is a regional LTL and truckload carrier serving the Northeast US, with a comparable service mix of LTL, truckload, warehousing and dedicated services. Most analogous direct peer to PAF given shared Northeast geography, multi-mode service portfolio and family/employee-oriented operating culture.

Emerging players

• Forward Air: Forward Air operates an expedited LTL and logistics network focused on time-sensitive freight across North America. Comparable on next-day, expedited service mix that PAF offers into Maine and New Hampshire.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks3 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/paf-transportation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 PAF Transportation