Dawson Logistics

What Dawson Logistics does

Dawson Logistics is a privately held, full-service third-party logistics (3PL) provider headquartered in Danville, Illinois, founded in 2000 by industry veteran Doug Dawson. The company operates over 2 million square feet of contracted and public warehouse and distribution space across a six-facility network spanning Danville and Hoopeston, Illinois, and West Chester (Cincinnati), Ohio. It serves enterprise and mid-market shippers across e-commerce, retail, consumer goods, and industrial-equipment verticals, with named customers including Target, Walmart, and Costco for retail fulfillment and several of the nation's largest consumer goods companies for kitting and assembly.

The company's service portfolio is organized around four core lines: warehousing and distribution, fulfillment, reverse logistics, and transportation brokerage/transportation solutions, complemented by sub-products such as contract warehousing, kitting and assembly, cross-docking, and pick-and-pack fulfillment. Warehousing capabilities span dry goods, food-grade, pharmaceutical, and HazMat storage. The technology backbone is a proprietary warehouse management system (WMS) that integrates RF scanning, EDI/API electronic integrations, and online inventory tracking, paired with a parcel analytics portal that surfaces real-time LTL pricing, transit times, and dispatch-to-delivery tracking. These tools enable EDI/API-driven automation for e-commerce customers, custom cross-docking programs, and so-called "distributed inventory" configurations that the company markets as reducing customer shipping costs by up to 25%.

Dawson Logistics generates revenue through custom, quote-based pricing under multi-year contracts - primarily via managed-services arrangements (warehousing, fulfillment, reverse logistics) with a transaction-fee component for transportation brokerage and parcel analytics. Go-to-market is sales-led enterprise field sales anchored on a "Request a Quote" conversion path, supplemented by an IndyCar sponsorship (Felix Rosenqvist partnership for the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES), content marketing through the company's blog, and LinkedIn/Instagram presence. The company is founder-led: Doug Dawson remains CEO and serves on the Board of ParcelShield following the 2018 merger of his healthcare-logistics spin-out (Dawson Healthcare Solutions) with ParcelShield, while Brooks Bennett-Miller, who joined in 2011 and previously led the financial division, was elevated to President in 2023 to lead day-to-day operations.

Name

Dawson Logistics

Legal name

Dawson Logistics Inc.

Website

https://dawsonlogistics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Dawson Logistics is a full-service, private U.S. 3PL headquartered in Danville, Illinois, operating 2M+ sq ft of warehousing across Illinois and Ohio. It provides contract warehousing, pick-and-pack fulfillment, reverse logistics, and transportation brokerage to enterprise e-commerce, retail, consumer goods, and industrial customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Danville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Contract Warehousing: Dedicated distribution facilities for companies seeking customized warehousing programs with strategic positioning for optimal service. Includes storage for dry goods, food grade, pharmaceutical, and HazMat materials.
2. Public Warehouse and Distribution Services: Over 2 million square feet of contracted and public warehouse and distribution space available for customers of all shapes and sizes.
3. Fulfillment Services: 3PL fulfillment services including B2B/B2C order fulfillment, retail fulfillment for major retailers (Target, Walmart, Costco), pick-and-pack services, kitting and assembly, and eCommerce fulfillment.
4. Transportation Brokering: Access to broad network of carriers for small parcel, full truckload, LTL, air and international shipping. Negotiates favorable rates and handles all paperwork and documentation.
5. Reverse Logistics Services: Manages flow of goods from destination back to origin or disposal, including credit returns, inventory updates, product resell/recycle determination, and replacement shipping.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Dawson Logistics provides customized third-party logistics (3PL) supply chain solutions including warehousing and distribution, order fulfillment, and reverse logistics, complemented by a transportation brokerage offering. Services are delivered through more than 2 million square feet of warehouse space across Illinois and Ohio, supported by a proprietary Warehouse Management System with EDI/API integrations and a Parcel Analytics Portal for real-time visibility and parcel spend analytics.

Product overview

Dawson Logistics is a full-service third-party logistics (3PL) company offering a comprehensive suite of supply chain solutions. The core offering consists of four main service lines: Warehousing & Distribution Services (with over 2 million sq ft of storage space including food-grade, pharmaceutical, and HazMat capabilities), Fulfillment Services (including retail fulfillment, pick-and-pack, kitting, and eCommerce fulfillment), Reverse Logistics (returns management and disposition), and Transportation Solutions (brokerage with parcel analytics and LTL integration). These services are powered by the company's proprietary Warehouse Management System (WMS) with RF Scanning, EDI, and Online Inventory Tracking capabilities. Contract Warehousing, Kitting and Assembly, and Cross-Docking are key sub-products that complement the core service lines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Warehousing and Distribution Warehouse storage and distribution services delivered through more than 2 million square feet of multi-site warehouse space in Illinois and Ohio, supporting retail-compliant storage and shipment of customer inventory to major U.S. retailers.
• Order Fulfillment Custom-built fulfillment services including pick-and-pack, kitting and assembly, contract warehousing, and cross-docking for retail and e-commerce shippers, powered by the proprietary Warehouse Management System.
• Reverse Logistics Returns management service providing customers with a structured process for receiving, inspecting, and restocking returned goods from retail and e-commerce channels.
• Transportation Solutions Transportation brokerage and trucking services operating alongside Dawson Logistics' warehousing and fulfillment operations, including an IndyCar-sponsoring truck fleet, to move customer goods between facilities and to end destinations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduce shipping costs by up to 25% through distributed inventory across multiple warehouse locations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Felix RosenqvistflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 May 2026Dawson Logistics has partnered with Felix Rosenqvist, Swedish NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver, for the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 and the balance of the 2026 season. The partnership includes branding on Rosenqvist's helmet for the remainder of the IndyCar schedule. The collaboration highlights shared values of precision, speed, execution, and performance under pressure, aligning the company's logistics expertise with high-performance racing.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Verst Logistics: Mid-market multi-service 3PL operating warehousing, fulfillment, kitting, and transportation across multiple U.S. facilities, with a similar mix of B2B/B2C e-commerce and retail customers. Most directly comparable in scale and service breadth to Dawson's offering.
• Saddle Creek Logistics Services: Multi-service 3PL providing warehousing, fulfillment, and transportation services to retail and consumer goods brands across multiple U.S. locations. Highly comparable in service mix (pick-pack-ship, kitting, retail compliance) and customer profile.
• Kane Is Able: Specialty 3PL providing contract warehousing, fulfillment, kitting, packaging, and value-added services, with strong emphasis on customized supply chain solutions for consumer goods and retail customers. Closely aligned with Dawson's tailored-solution positioning.
• Radial: E-commerce fulfillment specialist providing omnichannel fulfillment, order management, and returns services to enterprise brands. Comparable e-commerce fulfillment focus and B2C order processing capability.
• PFS (PFS Group): Specialty e-commerce fulfillment and omnichannel commerce services provider for fashion and lifestyle brands. Direct competition for brand e-commerce fulfillment accounts in the same target market.

Emerging players

• ShipMonk: Tech-enabled e-commerce fulfillment 3PL focused on SMB and mid-market brands with proprietary WMS technology. Comparable in fulfillment and e-commerce focus but primarily targets a smaller account size than Dawson's enterprise focus.
• Echo Global Logistics: Third-party freight broker arranging truckload, LTL, and intermodal services with proprietary technology platform. Direct comparable for Dawson's transportation brokerage service line and parcel analytics portal capability.

Broad incumbents

• NFI Industries: Large multi-service 3PL operating dedicated warehousing, distribution, transportation, and e-commerce fulfillment across North America. Overlaps with Dawson's full-service 3PL positioning but operates at substantially greater scale and broader geographic footprint.
• DHL Supply Chain: Global contract logistics leader offering warehousing, fulfillment, transportation, and value-added services across all major U.S. regions. Overlaps with Dawson's services as part of a much broader portfolio; competes for the same enterprise customer base.
• XPO Logistics: Large North American provider of LTL freight transportation, warehousing, and last-mile services. Competes with Dawson in warehousing and through its brokerage, transportation management, and supply chain capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dawson-logistics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Dawson Logistics