What NRS does

NRS (National Retail Systems, Inc.) is a U.S.-based, founder-controlled third-party logistics (3PL) provider founded in 1952 and headquartered in Lyndhurst, New Jersey. The company delivers end-to-end supply chain solutions spanning drayage at major U.S. container gateways, warehousing and distribution, dedicated and regional transportation, and brokerage-based capacity through four operating brands: NRT (local/urban trucking since 1952), Keystone (dedicated fleet), Keystone Capacity (brokerage/surge), and Keystone Fresh (climate-controlled urban food delivery). Its physical footprint covers more than seven terminal markets — Los Angeles/Long Beach, New York/New Jersey (Secaucus, North Bergen, Jersey City), Savannah (Pooler), Inland Empire (Perris, Fontana, San Bernardino), Columbus, Greensboro, and Philadelphia — positioning NRS as a coast-to-coast, asset-intensive network serving enterprise customers.

The company's core technology is the proprietary Axel Platform™, an enterprise dashboard integrated with yard management, warehouse management, and transportation management systems that exposes receiving, manifesting, and EDI data in real time, with container management, per diem/demurrage tracking, and route-pattern analytics. The platform supports both EDI and API data exchange with partners. NRS monetizes across four streams: drayage via per-container/transaction fees, distribution through storage, handling, and per-order fulfillment fees, transportation through dedicated contract rates and per-mile fees, and capacity via transaction-based brokerage — with all pricing custom and quote-based for enterprise clients.

NRS targets a diversified vertical mix — Retail Lifestyle, FMCG, Healthcare, Technology, and Automotive/Industrial — but its historical center of gravity remains big-box and grocery retail, anchored by long-tenured local delivery operations in Los Angeles and Manhattan and by retail replenishment expertise. The company sells primarily through direct enterprise field sales, with supporting demand generation through industry events (e.g., NJBIZ Business Partners Roundtable), case studies via its 'NRS Media' site section, and earned media. With 501-1,000 employees and privately held since founding, NRS is led by Chairman & CEO Francis Walsh, with no disclosed private-equity sponsor and no public listing.

Name

NRS

Legal name

National Retail Systems, Inc.

Website

https://nrs3pl.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

NRS is a privately held U.S. 3PL founded in 1952 providing drayage, warehousing, dedicated transportation, and brokerage services to enterprise retailers, FMCG, healthcare, technology, and automotive/industrial companies through a coast-to-coast terminal network and its proprietary Axel Platform™.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Third-Party Logistics (3PL) and Supply Chain Services

NAICS

General Warehousing and Storage (493110)

akta.pro primary industry

Intermodal Drayage & Container Haulage (Asset-Based) (TLAIAMAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dedicated Transportation & Private Fleet Operations (Asset-Based) (TLAIAMAA), Cold Chain Asset-Based Logistics (Reefer Fleet & Temp-Control Facilities) (TLAIAMAF), Regional Hub / National Hub Distribution Centers (Multi-node Network Hubs) (TLALAEAN)

Keywords

• Third-party logistics services
• Supply chain management
• Drayage and transportation
• Warehousing and distribution
• Dedicated freight services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lyndhurst

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Drayage Services: Port and terminal drayage services including container pickup, yard overflow management, and chassis solutions. Revenue generated through per-container and per-move transaction fees.
2. Distribution Services: Warehousing, fulfillment, pool distribution, transload, consolidation, and DC bypass services. Revenue from storage fees, handling fees, and fulfillment per-order charges.
3. Transportation Services: Dedicated fleet transportation, store delivery, regional LTL, climate-controlled delivery (Keystone Fresh), and yard services. Revenue from dedicated contract rates and per-mile transportation fees.
4. Capacity/Brokerage Services: Keystone Capacity Solutions provides brokerage and capacity services during volume surges, peaks, and for supplemental capacity needs. Revenue from transaction-based transportation fees.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NRS (National Retail Systems) is a third-party logistics (3PL) provider offering end-to-end supply chain solutions spanning drayage, distribution, transportation, and capacity/brokerage services. The company operates coast-to-coast through four specialized brands (NRT, Keystone, Keystone Capacity, Keystone Fresh) supported by the proprietary Axel Platform enterprise dashboard that integrates yard, warehouse, and transportation management with real-time EDI/API data visibility.

Product overview

NRS operates as a third-party logistics (3PL) provider offering a comprehensive suite of supply chain solutions. The core technology platform is the Axel Platform™, an enterprise dashboard integrated with yard and warehouse management systems. The service portfolio comprises four main solution areas: Drayage (gateway and port operations), Distribution (warehousing, fulfillment, transload, and pool distribution), Transportation (dedicated fleets, store delivery, regional LTL, and climate-controlled delivery), and Capacity (brokerage and storage solutions). The company also operates four sub-brands: NRT (local urban delivery since 1952), Keystone (dedicated fleet), Keystone Capacity (brokerage), and Keystone Fresh (refrigerated/urban food delivery). These divisions work together to provide integrated logistics from ports to store shelves across a nationwide network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NRT: Local and regional trucking division specializing in urban deliveries, operating across West, Pacific Northwest, Midwest, Southeast, and Mid-Atlantic regions since 1952.
• Keystone
• Keystone Capacity
• Keystone Fresh
• Axel Platform

Products and services

• Drayage Solutions Gateway drayage services that simplify port complexities, solve chassis and equipment challenges, and provide yard overflow capacity with predictable speed and timelines for enterprise retailers, manufacturers, and distributors.
• Distribution Solutions Strategic inventory management including warehousing and fulfillment, pool distribution, transload, DC bypass, consolidation, and value-added services aimed at cost control and high service levels.
• Transportation Solutions Dedicated fleet and transportation services including store delivery, regional LTL, climate-controlled delivery, yard services, and drayage with national network coverage.
• Capacity Solutions Brokerage, fulfillment solutions, yard expansion, container management, and storage services (racked and bulk) addressing capacity needs and network challenges during volume surges and seasonal peaks.
• Axel Platform™ Enterprise supply chain management dashboard integrating directly with yard and warehouse management systems to provide real-time visibility into receiving, manifesting, and EDI data across the supply chain, with container management, transportation management, warehouse management, yard management, reporting, and API/EDI data integration capabilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Eliminated need to bring chassis far from ports, saving time and avoiding costly detention and demurrage charges
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• XPO: Major asset-based North American LTL and brokerage provider with dedicated, drayage-adjacent, and supply chain services. Comparable to NRS in offering integrated transportation, dedicated, and last-mile solutions to enterprise shippers.
• J.B. Hunt Transport Services: Large asset-based intermodal, dedicated, and final-mile carrier with proprietary technology. Directly comparable to NRS on dedicated contract services and intermodal/drayage-adjacent offerings.
• Hub Group: Asset-based intermodal and logistics provider with drayage, dedicated, warehousing, and brokerage services. Closely comparable to NRS in port-adjacent intermodal and distribution center footprint.
• Schneider National: Major asset-based carrier with intermodal, dedicated, logistics, and brokerage. Comparable to NRS in dedicated fleet, intermodal, and large-enterprise supply chain services.
• Knight-Swift Transportation: Largest US truckload carrier with significant dedicated, LTL, and logistics (brokerage) segments. Comparable in dedicated fleet and brokerage offerings.
• Werner Enterprises: Asset-based carrier with dedicated, one-way truckload, and logistics services. Comparable to NRS in dedicated contract transportation for enterprise retail and consumer customers.
• RXO: Asset-light brokerage spin-off of XPO, focused on truckload brokerage, managed transportation, and last-mile. Comparable to NRS's Keystone Capacity brokerage arm.
• Echo Global Logistics: Technology-enabled freight brokerage with truckload, LTL, intermodal, and managed transportation offerings. Comparable to NRS on brokerage and tech-enabled visibility.
• Landstar System: Asset-light transportation services company providing truckload, dedicated, and supply chain solutions through a network of independent agents. Comparable in supply chain services for enterprise shippers.
• ArcBest: Asset-based LTL carrier with growing asset-light logistics and dedicated offerings. Comparable to NRS in integrated multi-modal supply chain solutions for large enterprise customers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NRS3PL
• Facebookfacebook.com/NRS3PL
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nrsinc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries4 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 NRS