CH Powell Company

What CH Powell Company does

CH Powell Company is a fourth-generation, family-owned freight forwarding and customs brokerage firm founded in 1919 in Boston, Massachusetts and headquartered in Canton, MA. The company provides import clearance, export forwarding, ocean and air transportation, project cargo handling, value-added warehousing, duty drawback, domestic transportation, cargo insurance, and compliance consulting to mid-market and enterprise shippers across nine verticals including food and beverage, retail and consumer goods, chemicals, life sciences, publishing, metals, lighting and electronics, automotive, and defense-related cargo.

The company operates a custom-built technology stack comprising Supply Chain Visibility, Integration Ecosystem, Analytics, Automation, and Application Development services that integrate with client ERP and compliance systems. Global reach is delivered through Tandem Global Logistics, a non-competing network co-founded by CH Powell in 2007 that spans 80+ countries, 200+ offices, and 6 continents, with strategic equity positions in China, Hong Kong, India, and the Netherlands.

CH Powell generates revenue through professional services fees on a quote-based and per-entry basis for customs brokerage and freight forwarding. The go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales supplemented by inside sales and a 'Let's Talk' consultative process. The company holds an extensive regulatory license stack including U.S. Customs and Border Protection Broker Permit, Federal Maritime Commission license, TSA Indirect Air Carrier approval, FMCSA registration, IATA accreditation, and CTPAT Validated status since 2003, and is actively represented in NCBFAA, BIS, COAC, and ICPA.

Name

CH Powell Company

Legal name

C.H. Powell Company

Website

https://chpowell.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Fourth-generation family-owned U.S. freight forwarder and customs broker founded in 1919, serving food and beverage, retail, chemicals, life sciences, and other verticals through 11 U.S. offices and the Tandem Global Logistics network spanning 80+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Freight Forwarding & Customs Brokerage

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (4885), Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Export Customs Clearance (Export Declarations & AES/EEI) (TLACAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Customs Declaration & Filing (Import/Export Entry) Platforms (TLAEAOAA)

Keywords

• Freight forwarding services
• Customs brokerage services
• International logistics solutions
• Supply chain management
• Trade compliance consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

College Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Freight Forwarding Services: Core revenue from ocean and air transportation, export forwarding, import clearance, and project cargo handling services. Services are provided internationally across 80+ countries through the Tandem Global network.
2. Customs Brokerage: Import clearance services including U.S. Customs and Border Protection processing, compliance consulting, and trade documentation preparation. Revenue is generated through brokerage fees per entry.
3. Value Added Services: Supporting services including duty drawback, domestic transportation, cargo insurance, and warehousing. These services complement core forwarding and brokerage offerings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CH Powell Company is a fourth-generation family-owned freight forwarding and customs brokerage business that provides international trade logistics services. Its core offerings include import clearance, export forwarding, ocean and air transportation, project cargo handling, value-added warehousing, duty drawback, domestic transportation, cargo insurance, compliance consulting, and enterprise technology solutions for supply chain visibility, integration, analytics, and automation. Services are delivered globally through the Tandem Global Logistics network spanning 80+ countries and 200+ offices.

Product overview

CH Powell Company is a fourth-generation family-owned logistics and freight forwarding services provider founded in 1919. The company operates a multi-layered portfolio organized into core logistics services (import clearance, export forwarding, ocean/air transportation, project cargo, and value-added warehousing), supporting services (duty drawback, domestic transportation, cargo insurance, and compliance consulting), and technology solutions (application development, integration ecosystem, supply chain visibility, analytics, and automation). The company extends its global reach through Tandem Global Logistics, a collaborative network of freight forwarders it co-founded, offering worldwide ocean freight, air freight, supply chain management, and customs clearance services across 80+ countries, 200+ offices, and 6 continents.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tandem Global Logistics: A collaborative network of the world's most established logistics providers established in 2007, serving the global trading market under a common vision and value strategy. CH Powell is co-founder, brand owner, and equity partner with ownership interests in strategic global trading markets – China, Hong Kong, India, and The Netherlands.

Products and services

• Import Clearance Customs clearance services for imported goods, facilitating entry and release through U.S. Customs and Border Protection for businesses engaged in international trade.
• Export Forwarding International freight forwarding services for export shipments, including documentation and regulatory compliance for businesses exporting goods globally.
• Ocean Transportation Global ocean freight services for full container load (FCL) and less than container load (LCL) shipments, including NVOCC operations for businesses with international shipping needs.
• Air Transportation International air freight services including direct express, consolidated services, charter flights, and sea/air solutions for time-sensitive cargo.
• Project Cargo

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 years of logistics expertise and service excellence
• +2 more outcomes

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Tandem Global LogisticsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Tandem Global Logistics was established in 2007 as a worldwide transportation network with CH Powell Company as co-founder, brand owner, and equity partner. CH Powell founded Tandem with the vision of building a logistics platform that intertwined localized market expertise and customer service with integrated systems and a global brand. CH Powell has ownership interests in strategic global trading markets including China, Hong Kong, India, and The Netherlands.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Kerry Logistics: Asia-headquartered integrated logistics provider with freight forwarding and customs capabilities; comparable in serving multinational shippers across similar verticals.
• Kuehne+Nagel: One of the world's largest freight forwarders with full ocean/air/customs offering; significant overlap with CH Powell's service portfolio and similar enterprise customer base.
• C.H. Robinson: Major North American freight forwarder and customs broker with global NVOCC operations; direct competitor for US exporters and import clearance, and operates at much larger scale.
• DHL Global Forwarding: Global freight forwarding arm of DHL offering air, ocean, customs, and supply chain services; competes head-to-head across CH Powell's international lanes and verticals.
• Yusen Logistics: Asia-rooted global forwarder offering ocean, air, contract logistics, and customs services; comparable multi-vertical, multi-region coverage focused on international trade lanes.

Direct peers

• Expeditors International: Global freight forwarding and customs brokerage competitor offering air, ocean, and customs services; competes directly for US exporters/importers across similar verticals and lane structures.
• Livingston International: North American-focused customs broker and freight forwarder; highly comparable business model and customer base, particularly for US/Canada cross-border trade compliance.
• Hellmann Worldwide Logistics: Global freight forwarder with strong air/ocean forwarding and customs capabilities; comparable mid-to-large enterprise customer profile and full-service international offering.

Emerging players

• Crane Worldwide Logistics: Mid-sized global forwarder offering air, ocean, customs brokerage, and project cargo; comparable size tier and service mix, particularly relevant for project-cargo and specialized verticals.
• Flexport: Digital-first freight forwarder with technology-led customs and forwarding capabilities; represents the platform-based disruption that could compress traditional brokerage economics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CHPowellCompany
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ch-powell-company

Compliance11 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries1 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 CH Powell Company