Grane
Grane is a third-generation, family-owned Chicago-based logistics company providing integrated multi-modal transportation, warehousing, cross-dock, intermodal drayage, air cargo/CFS, and 3PL services to enterprise customers — anchored in food & beverage, manufacturing, and high-value/hazmat freight.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1925
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Grane does
Grane is a third-generation, family-owned transportation and logistics company headquartered in Chicago with operations dating to 1925. Through its subsidiaries — Grane Transportation Lines (regional common/contract carrier), Grane Logistics Express/GLX (3PL brokerage), and The Grane Leasing Company (founded 1960) — it offers an integrated multi-modal service portfolio spanning full truckload transportation, dedicated fleet contracts, third-party warehousing (including AIB-compliant food grade), cross-dock and consolidation (10,000 pallets/week capacity), intermodal container drayage, air cargo and bonded Container Freight Station operations (175,000+ sq ft facility near O'Hare), and 3PL/brokerage services backed by a 25,000+ vetted carrier network. Its owned fleet consists of 800+ pieces of equipment (275 power units, 600 trailers) operated by 200+ drivers, with a modern average fleet age of four years.
The company operates a multi-modal transportation management platform built on integrated third-party technology — McLeod TMS for load tracking and dispatch, Extensiv WMS for warehouse inventory, Profit Tools intermodal TMS for drayage operations, Omnitrax in-cab ELD and dispatch systems, and SkyBitz GPS trailer tracking — overlaid with EDI load tendering, real-time GPS shipment visibility, and customizable client analytics dashboards. The platform supports single-point-of-contact customer coordination across asset-based and brokered services.
Grane generates revenue primarily through transaction-based transportation fees (TL, LTL, specialized, drayage, 3PL brokerage) and managed-services contracts for dedicated fleets, warehousing, and cross-dock operations. Pricing follows unit-based models (e.g., road freight at $130 per 100 miles, air at $550, ocean at $420) with custom enterprise quotes. Its go-to-market is direct B2B enterprise sales with single-point-of-contact account management, 24/7 availability, and quote-driven acquisition via website and phone. Customers are concentrated in food and beverage (primary vertical), manufacturing, hazmat/high-value freight, and air freight forwarding, with documented multi-decade customer relationships.
Grane firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Grane
- Legal name
- Grane Transportation
- Website
- https://gograne.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1925
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Grane is a third-generation, family-owned Chicago-based logistics company providing integrated multi-modal transportation, warehousing, cross-dock, intermodal drayage, air cargo/CFS, and 3PL services to enterprise customers — anchored in food & beverage, manufacturing, and high-value/hazmat freight.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Grane is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Grane business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Transportation Services: Full truckload, LTL, and specialized transportation services. Dry van, flatbed, refrigerated capacity. Expedited services and peddle runs.
- Dedicated Fleet Services: Dedicated fleet solutions with contracted capacity. Weekly, monthly, and yearly contract options. Full-service team including account management and fleet maintenance.
- Warehousing and Storage: Third-party warehousing, cross-docking, food-grade storage. Break bulk, pick and pack, pallet storage, hazardous material storage. AIB Compliant food-grade facilities.
- Cross-Dock and Consolidation: Cross-docking services with capacity for 10,000 pallets per week. 30+ dock doors. Ocean container devanning and spotting services.
- Intermodal Container Drayage: Drayage services across Chicagoland and Houston railroads. Pre-pull services. Hazmat-certified drivers. TWIC-endorsed teams.
- Air Cargo and CFS: Air cargo handling near O'Hare International Airport. CFS (Container Freight Station) operations. Bonded facilities. 175,000+ sq ft CFS near O'Hare.
- 3PL Solutions (GLX): Third-party logistics with 25,000+ vetted carriers. Truckload, LTL, flatbed, intermodal, expedited, temperature-controlled. EDI and API capabilities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Road freight at $130 per 100 miles |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Air freight at $550 per 100 miles |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Ocean freight at $420 per 100 miles |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Grane product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Grane is a third-generation, family-owned transportation and logistics provider founded in 1925, offering asset-based and non-asset logistics services. The company operates truckload transportation, dedicated fleet solutions, third-party warehousing, cross-dock/consolidation, intermodal container drayage, air cargo and CFS services, and a 3PL brokerage division (Grane Logistics Express). With 800+ pieces of equipment, 200+ drivers, multi-modal capabilities across truck/rail/air/ocean, and 25,000+ vetted carriers, Grane serves enterprise shippers primarily in the Midwest and nationwide U.S. markets.
Product overview
Grane is a third-generation family-owned logistics and transportation company founded in 1925, offering a comprehensive suite of asset-based and non-asset logistics services. The portfolio includes Transportation Services (truckload with 800+ equipment), Dedicated Fleets (200+ drivers, 275 power units, 600 trailers), Warehousing/Container Devanning (food-grade AIB Compliant facilities), Cross-Dock/Consolidation (10,000 pallets/week capacity), Intermodal Container Drayage (Chicagoland and Houston), Air Cargo & CFS (near O'Hare with 175,000+ sq ft facility), Technology Services (McLeod TMS, Extensiv WMS, Profit Tools, Omnitrax, SkyBitz), and Grane Logistics Express (GLX) - a 3PL division with 25,000+ vetted carriers. The company differentiates through a single point of contact, 24/7/365 availability, and coast-to-coast coverage backed by 100 years of industry experience.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Transportation Services Full-service truckload transportation with 800+ pieces of equipment including 53-foot trailers, flatbeds, lift-gate trailers, and specialty vehicles, powered by 275 power units, 600 trailers, and 200+ professional drivers with GPS tracking on all equipment. Designed for enterprise shippers requiring reliable over-the-road freight.
- Dedicated Fleets Dedicated fleet services integrating seamlessly with customer operations, providing 200+ drivers, 275 power units, 20 spotting tractors, and 600 trailers running seven days a week to keep freight moving. Includes full-service team with account management and fleet maintenance.
- Warehousing / Container Devanning Third-party warehousing, cross-docking, and food-grade storage services with AIB Compliant facilities, featuring break bulk, pick and pack, pallet storage, hazardous material storage, RFID real-time inventory capabilities, and cloud-based inventory management. Includes ocean container devanning services.
- Cross-Dock / Consolidation Cross-docking services with capacity for 10,000 pallets per week, 30+ dock doors, breakbulk services for floor-loaded or palletized container shipments, pre-pull containers, and 24/7 drop and hook trailer access. Consolidates TL and LTL shipments into full truckloads.
- Intermodal Container Drayage Drayage services across Chicagoland and Houston railroads handling international and domestic shipments, import/export ocean containers through Port of Houston, with pre-pull/secured lots and hazmat-certified drivers. Serves high-value and hazardous material freight.
- Air Cargo & CFS Air cargo and Container Freight Station (CFS) services located less than a mile from O'Hare International Airport, featuring 175,000+ square feet bonded CFS facility, 200 drivers, 40 roller bed van trailers, and 550 53-foot dry van trailers. Supports aircraft including 747-8 Freighters.
- Technology Services Technology solutions including TMS (McLeod), WMS (Extensiv), Intermodal TMS (Profit Tools), In-Cab Truck Tech (Omnitrax), and Trailer Tracking (SkyBitz) for real-time tracking, proof-of-delivery access, and centralized data management across the supply chain.
- Grane Logistics Express (GLX) - 3PL Solutions Third-party logistics (3PL) solutions division offering truckload, flatbed, LTL, consolidated shipping, drayage and intermodal, expedited, temperature-controlled, and special handling services with access to 25,000+ vetted contract carriers and EDI/API capabilities.
Quantifiable outcome
- 39+ year customer relationship demonstrating consistent reliability
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Grane
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Grane technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature9 records
Grane partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- McLeodcoreTransportation Management System (TMS) provider for load tracking, dispatch, freight management, and EDI communications. McLeod software is central to Grane's operations for managing shipments.
- ExtensivcoreWarehouse Management System (WMS) provider for real-time inventory controls, pallet tracking with IO tags, and cloud-based inventory management.
- Profit ToolscoreIntermodal TMS provider for managing drayage and rail operations across Chicagoland and Houston railroads.
- OmnitraxcoreIn-cab truck technology for electronic dispatching, ELD logging compliance, and driver communication. Integral to fleet operations.
- SkyBitzcoreTrailer tracking and GPS monitoring for real-time location visibility of trailers and shipments across the fleet.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Grane competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- RXO: RXO is a pure-play freight brokerage spin-out of XPO Logistics operating truckload, less-than-truckload, and managed transportation. Direct comparable to GLX's brokerage-led 3PL model and contract carrier network scale.
- Schneider National: Schneider National is a large multi-modal provider offering truckload, intermodal, dedicated, and logistics services across North America. Comparable to Grane across all owned-asset and brokerage service lines, though at substantially larger scale.
- Hub Group: Hub Group is an asset-based intermodal and logistics provider with strong Midwest operations and significant drayage exposure. Highly comparable to Grane Intermodal Express and dedicated fleet offerings, with similar multi-modal mix.
- Werner Enterprises: Werner Enterprises is a premier dedicated truckload carrier with substantial owned fleet and complementary logistics services. Closely mirrors Grane's dedicated fleet and one-way truckload revenue mix at similar mid-market scale.
- ArcBest: ArcBest combines an LTL network (ABF Freight) with asset-based truckload, dedicated, and 3PL services. Comparable multi-modal mix with emphasis on integrated supply chain solutions similar to Grane's full-service positioning.
- Echo Global Logistics: Echo Global Logistics is a tech-enabled non-asset 3PL headquartered in Chicago with truckload, LTL, and managed transportation offerings. Direct comparable to Grane Logistics Express on brokerage, technology, and Midwest customer base.
- Landstar System: Landstar is an asset-light logistics provider using business capacity owners (owner-operators) and agents to deliver truckload and expedited services. Comparable non-asset / variable-cost model and multi-modal capabilities to GLX.
- Forward Air: Forward Air offers expedited LTL, truckload, and intermodal drayage with strong air cargo adjacency. Overlaps with Grane's expedited, drayage, and air cargo CFS service lines across similar customer verticals.
Broad incumbents
- J.B. Hunt Transport Services: J.B. Hunt is a large diversified carrier with dedicated, intermodal, truckload, and ICS brokerage segments. Overlaps with Grane's full service portfolio but at substantially larger scale and broader geographic coverage.
- Knight-Swift Transportation: Knight-Swift is one of the largest asset-based truckload carriers in North America with a growing LTL and logistics segment. Comparable truckload, dedicated, and logistics mix, but with national reach and fleet scale far beyond Grane's.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Grane social profiles
Digital presenceGrane compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance9 records
Grane financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Grane leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Grane subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Grane funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Grane 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 Grane
What does Grane do?
Grane is a third-generation, family-owned transportation and logistics provider founded in 1925, offering asset-based and non-asset logistics services. The company operates truckload transportation, dedicated fleet solutions, third-party warehousing, cross-dock/consolidation, intermodal container drayage, air cargo and CFS services, and a 3PL brokerage division (Grane Logistics Express). With 800+ pieces of equipment, 200+ drivers, multi-modal capabilities across truck/rail/air/ocean, and 25,000+ vetted carriers, Grane serves enterprise shippers primarily in the Midwest and nationwide U.S. markets.
Is Grane a public or private company?
Grane is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Grane founded?
Grane was founded in 1925. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Grane based?
Grane is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Grane make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Transportation Services are the primary driver. The others are dedicated Fleet Services, warehousing and Storage, cross-Dock and Consolidation, intermodal Container Drayage, air Cargo and CFS and 3PL Solutions (GLX).
Who are Grane's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are RXO, Schneider National, Hub Group, Werner Enterprises, ArcBest, Echo Global Logistics, Landstar System and Forward Air. Broad incumbents are J.B. Hunt Transport Services and Knight-Swift Transportation.
Does Grane have an API?
Yes. Grane Logistics Express (GLX) offers EDI Load Tendering capabilities for fast, direct electronic communications with their network carriers for load tender and confirmation, freight invoices, and daily pickup/delivery information messages. The system makes load information available to customers. EDI Load Tendering is part of a competitive tech stack with API capabilities for centralized tracking, scheduling, and cost analysis.