Tri-National
Tri-National is a privately held, asset-based US trucking and logistics company operating 1,100+ trucks and 4,400 trailers across 14 service centers in the USMCA Midwest-Southeast corridor, specializing in cross-border dry van freight, dedicated lanes, warehousing, and JIT services for Fortune 500 shippers and automotive nearshoring manufacturers between Mexico, the US, and Canada.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersEarth City, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Tri-National does
Tri-National, Inc. (operating as TNi) is a privately held US asset-based trucking and logistics company headquartered in Saint Charles, Missouri (also referenced as Earth City, MO), founded in the 1990s and active in cross-border freight transportation across the USMCA corridor. The company operates 14 service centers across Missouri, Illinois, Texas, Arkansas, Alabama, and Georgia, with strategically concentrated terminal infrastructure along the South Texas-Mexico border at Laredo, Pharr, Del Rio, and Houston. Its asset base includes 1,100+ late-model Volvo trucks (with 2026 Volvo 860 VNL models being integrated) and 4,400 GPS-enabled dry van trailers, supported by 100k+ sq ft of warehousing at Laredo with 20 trailer bays. Daily milk runs cover approximately 400 miles of the South Texas border with Mexico.
Core offerings span truckload and dedicated dry van transportation, team/expedited services, warehouse and cross-dock capabilities, JIT freight, transportation brokerage, 3PL services, import/export consulting, and online satellite tracking. Operational performance metrics include 90% drop-and-hook and 100% no-touch freight policies, with 24/7 bilingual customer support. The company explicitly avoids East and West Coast routes, focusing on the Midwest-Southeast USMCA corridor, and serves automotive, aerospace, general manufacturing, and high-end retail customers — with automotive representing a primary vertical given that 79% of US-imported auto parts originate from Mexico.
Tri-National generates revenue through transaction-fee freight services (truckload, dedicated, JIT, brokerage), managed-services warehousing and cross-dock operations, and professional-services 3PL and import/export consulting, all sold via direct enterprise field sales to Fortune 500 shippers and high-end retailers. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Distribution combines owned-fleet operations, partner-carrier brokerage, and warehouse capacity, marketed through industry events, blog content, social media, and earned media in Inbound Logistics and FreightWaves. The company has been recognized across multiple years as a Top 100 Trucker (Inbound Logistics), Top Company for Women in Transportation (Women in Trucking Association, 8 consecutive years), SmartWay High Performer (EPA, top 3.6%), and FleetOwner Top 500 For-Hire Carrier.
Tri-National firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tri-National
- Legal name
- Tri-National, Inc.
- Website
- https://tri-nat.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Tri-National is a privately held, asset-based US trucking and logistics company operating 1,100+ trucks and 4,400 trailers across 14 service centers in the USMCA Midwest-Southeast corridor, specializing in cross-border dry van freight, dedicated lanes, warehousing, and JIT services for Fortune 500 shippers and automotive nearshoring manufacturers between Mexico, the US, and Canada.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Tri-National is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Earth City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices13 records
Markets served
Tri-National business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Truckload & Dedicated Dry Van Transportation: Core revenue stream from over-the-road (OTR) dry van transportation services. Services include truckload, dedicated lanes, team and expedited services throughout USMCA Midwest and Southeast corridor. 90% drop & hook, 100% no-touch freight.
- Warehouse & Cross Dock Services: Warehousing and consolidation services including northbound and southbound consolidated freight via Pharr and Laredo terminals. Cross-docking and transloading services. 100k square feet of storage at Laredo facility with 20 trailer bays.
- Transportation Brokerage: Brokerage services using asset fleet or vetted transportation partners to move urgent freight. Allows working directly with TNi rather than through third-party brokers.
- 3rd Party Logistics (3PL): Third-party logistics services with extensive network of partner carriers both in US and MX. Import/export consulting services.
- Just-In-Time (JIT) Freight: JIT freight delivery services for time-sensitive shipments requiring precise scheduling.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Tri-National product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tri-National (TNi) is an asset-based cross-border trucking carrier providing dry van truckload, dedicated, team/expedited, and JIT freight transportation across the USMCA Midwest and Southeast corridor. The company complements its linehaul services with 100k+ sq ft of warehousing and cross-dock capacity in Laredo and Pharr, daily milk runs along 400 miles of the South Texas border, transportation brokerage, 3PL, import/export consulting, and satellite-based shipment tracking. Operations are supported by a 1,100+ truck fleet, 4,400 GPS-equipped trailers, 14 service centers, and 24/7 bilingual customer service.
Product overview
Tri-National (TNi) is a cross-border and nearshoring freight transportation provider offering an integrated suite of asset-based logistics services. The core offering centers on truckload and dedicated dry van transportation, supplemented by team/expedited services for time-critical shipments, and warehouse/cross-dock capabilities including consolidation services at Laredo (100k+ sq ft, 20 bays) and Pharr terminals. Cross-border shipping services span Mexico and Canada with daily milk run capabilities along 400 miles of the South Texas border. Additional services include JIT freight delivery, transportation brokerage, 3PL with partner carrier networks, online satellite tracking, and import/export consulting. All services operate 24/7 with bilingual support throughout the USMCA Midwest and Southeast corridor.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Truckload & Dedicated Dry Van Transportation Asset-based dry van truckload and dedicated freight transportation for enterprise shippers, operating throughout the USMCA Midwest and Southeast corridor with service points along the Mexico and Canada borders.
- Team/Expedited Services Time-critical freight delivery using team driver configurations to accelerate transit times for urgent shipments in the Midwest and Southeast corridor.
- Warehouse & Cross-Dock Capabilities Northbound and southbound freight consolidation, cross-docking, and transloading via the Pharr and Laredo terminals, including 100k+ sq ft of storage and 20 trailer bays in Laredo.
- Cross-Border Shipping Mexico and Canada border-crossing freight services with experienced bilingual Class A CDL drivers, designed for shippers moving freight into and out of the USMCA corridor.
- JIT Freight (Just-In-Time) Just-in-time freight delivery for time-sensitive shipments requiring precise scheduling aligned to manufacturing or production cycles.
- Transportation Brokerage Brokerage service using TNi's asset fleet or vetted partner carriers to move urgent freight when TNi-owned capacity is unavailable.
- 3rd Party Logistics (3PL) Third-party logistics offering with an extensive network of partner carriers in the US and Mexico for end-to-end supply chain coordination.
- Daily Milk Runs Daily consolidated pickup runs along 400 miles of the South Texas border with Mexico, dispatched through TNi terminal locations.
- Import/Export Consulting Consulting services supporting import/export operations across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Companies that use Tri-National
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Tri-National technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature5 records
Tri-National partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- TenstreetminorEmployment application tool used by Tri-National to sort and store qualified applicants' information during the hiring process.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Tri-National competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Schneider National: Major asset-based truckload, intermodal, and logistics carrier with significant cross-border Mexico operations and dedicated fleet services; directly comparable to Tri-National's core TL and cross-border offering at much larger scale.
- Werner Enterprises: Public TL carrier with dedicated, expedited, and cross-border services plus a sizeable brokerage arm; comparable business mix and customer base to Tri-National.
- Knight-Swift Transportation: Largest US truckload carrier with TL, LTL, and Mexico cross-border operations; comparable dry van asset-based model with significantly broader geographic reach.
- J.B. Hunt Transport Services: Asset-based TL and intermodal carrier with dedicated contract services and cross-border Mexico capacity; competes with Tri-National for enterprise JIT and nearshoring freight.
- Hub Group: Intermodal and logistics provider with cross-border Mexico services and dedicated truckload; comparable cross-dock, brokerage, and nearshoring capabilities.
- Heartland Express: Asset-based irregular route TL carrier with no-touch dry van operations; comparable operating model to Tri-National though more Midwest/regional focus without cross-border Mexico depth.
- Averitt Express: Asset-based TL, LTL, and logistics provider with cross-border Mexico and dedicated services; comparable integrated offering across truckload, warehousing, and brokerage.
- Marten Transport: Asset-based TL and intermodal carrier with refrigerated, dedicated, and brokerage services; comparable Midwest operating footprint and enterprise customer mix.
Broad incumbents
- C.H. Robinson Worldwide: Largest North American freight broker and 3PL arranging cross-border Mexico-US shipments; competes with Tri-National's brokerage and 3PL services, though asset-light.
- Ryder System: Provides dedicated truckload, cross-border logistics, and supply chain solutions including Mexico operations; broader portfolio but directly overlaps on dedicated TL and nearshoring.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Tri-National social profiles
Digital presenceTri-National financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tri-National leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Tri-National subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Tri-National funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tri-National M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Tri-National
What does Tri-National do?
Tri-National (TNi) is an asset-based cross-border trucking carrier providing dry van truckload, dedicated, team/expedited, and JIT freight transportation across the USMCA Midwest and Southeast corridor. The company complements its linehaul services with 100k+ sq ft of warehousing and cross-dock capacity in Laredo and Pharr, daily milk runs along 400 miles of the South Texas border, transportation brokerage, 3PL, import/export consulting, and satellite-based shipment tracking. Operations are supported by a 1,100+ truck fleet, 4,400 GPS-equipped trailers, 14 service centers, and 24/7 bilingual customer service.
Is Tri-National a public or private company?
Tri-National is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Tri-National founded?
Tri-National was founded in 2005. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Tri-National based?
Tri-National is headquartered in Earth City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Tri-National make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Truckload & Dedicated Dry Van Transportation is the primary driver. The others are warehouse & Cross Dock Services, transportation Brokerage, 3rd Party Logistics (3PL) and just-In-Time (JIT) Freight.
Who are Tri-National's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Schneider National, Werner Enterprises, Knight-Swift Transportation, J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Hub Group, Heartland Express, Averitt Express and Marten Transport. Broad incumbents are C.H. Robinson Worldwide and Ryder System.
Does Tri-National have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tri-National.