Big Freight Systems Inc.

What Big Freight Systems Inc. does

Big Freight Systems Inc. is a privately held, asset-based trucking and freight management company headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with operating roots tracing to 1948 in Steinbach and current corporate offices at 10 Hutchings Street, Winnipeg. The company operates approximately 600 pieces of rolling stock — tractors, flat decks, step decks, specialized vans, and Super-B trailer sets, with 90,000 lbs payload capacity on Super-B configurations — supplemented by a contracted partner carrier network of more than 2,000 power units that collectively serve customers across Canadian provinces from the Maritimes to Western Canada and throughout the U.S., with additional international freight forwarding handled by its wholly owned Big Freight International Business Development subsidiary.

The platform is organized around four business lines: Asset Based Freight Management (own-fleet flat deck, step deck, specialized van, and Super-B transport plus intermodal), Logistics/Asset Support (third-party brokerage using the partner carrier network, with a Quik Pay program for carrier partners), Warehousing & Distribution (a 180,000 sq. ft. Winnipeg warehouse offering bar coding, cross-docking, EDI ordering, and inventory reporting), and Fleet Maintenance (FleetPro, an internal Steinbach facility with 27 technicians including Red Seal certified journeymen, open seven days a week). Specialized Glass Hauling with custom racks and bracing serves glass manufacturers, and an in-house Continuous Improvement (Lean) program has implemented 1,765 ideas.

Revenue is generated on a per-shipment transaction-fee basis across all five streams, with rates quoted based on origin/destination, equipment type, weight/dimensions, service level, and intermodal options; international forwarding quotes include commodity details, hazmat handling, and shipping terms (FCL, LCL, RO-RO, project cargo, air freight). The GTM motion is enterprise and mid-market B2B, driven by direct sales from Winnipeg/Steinbach, a self-service web portal for quotes and tracking, and free supply-chain-analysis offerings as lead generation. Customers are predominantly industrial shippers (flat deck/heavy haul), glass manufacturers/processors, retail and consumer-goods companies (warehousing), and import/export clients. The company is a subsidiary; it was the first Canadian carrier to join Daseke, Inc. in May 2017, merged with Kelsey Trail Trucking on July 1, 2018, and the 2026 website indicates current ownership by TFI International.

Name

Big Freight Systems Inc.

Legal name

Big Freight Systems Inc.

Website

https://bigfreight.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Big Freight Systems is an asset-based trucking and freight management company headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, operating roughly 600 tractors and trailers plus a 2,000-unit partner carrier network. It serves industrial shippers, glass manufacturers, and retail/import-export clients across North America with flatbed, super-B, warehousing, fleet maintenance, and international forwarding services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Flatbed Trucking & Freight Transportation

NAICS

Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance (48423), Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance (484230), Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Freight Transportation Arrangement (48851)

SIC

Trucking (No Local) (4213), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210)

akta.pro primary industry

Heavy Haul / Oversize / Specialized Equipment TL Carriers (TLADADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Heavy Haul & Oversize (OSOW) Trucking (TLADAGAA), Project & Heavy-Haul / Oversize Road Forwarding (Permits/Escorts) (TLACACAH)

Keywords

• Flatbed trucking services
• Freight management
• Logistics services
• Warehousing distribution
• Glass hauling

Headquarters

HQ city

Winnipeg

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices4 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. Freight Transportation Services: Asset-based trucking services using company fleet of 600+ tractors and trailers for flat deck, step deck, specialized van, and super-B operations across North America. Revenue generated through per-shipment transportation fees based on distance, weight, equipment type, and service level (regular vs expedited).
2. Logistics and Asset Support: Third-party freight management combining company assets with partner carrier capacity. Offers Quik Pay on loads for carrier partners.
3. Warehousing and Distribution: 180,000 sq. ft. warehouse in Winnipeg plus partner storage facilities. Revenue from storage fees (short and long-term), inventory management services, distribution, cross-docking, and multimodal consolidation.
4. Fleet Maintenance Services: Commercial truck and trailer maintenance through FleetPro facility. Revenue from repair services, preventative maintenance, parts sales, and professional fleet management services to external customers.
5. International Freight Forwarding: Ocean and air freight forwarding for import/export services worldwide. Revenue from international shipping fees, documentation services, letters of credit handling, and cargo insurance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Big Freight Systems Inc. is an asset-based flatbed trucking and freight management carrier operating more than 600 trucks and trailers across North America. The company provides long-haul and regional flatbed trucking, freight logistics and brokerage, warehousing and distribution, in-house FleetPro fleet maintenance, specialized glass hauling, international freight forwarding, and a Super-B (Kelsey Trail) division serving Western Canada.

Product overview

Big Freight Systems is an asset-based trucking and freight management company offering a multi-service platform centered on four specialties: Freight Management (encompassing Long Haul via Flat Deck and Specialized Van Divisions, Regional Cartage, Intermodal, and the acquired Super-B Division Kelsey Trail Trucking), Logistics/Asset Support (combining proprietary fleet with partner carrier capacity), Fleet Maintenance (via FleetPro sub-brand), and Warehousing & Distribution. The company operates approximately 600+ pieces of rolling stock and provides international freight forwarding (ocean and air), specialized glass hauling, satellite shipment tracking, and cargo claims processing as supporting services. A free supply chain analysis tool serves as a lead generation mechanism.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FleetPro: Commercial truck and trailer maintenance facility providing repair services, parts, fleet management, and shuttle services.
• Kelsey Trail Trucking

Products and services

• Asset Based Freight Management Asset-based flatbed freight transportation covering long-haul and regional cartage across Canada, the U.S., and Mexico, powered by Big Freight's owned fleet of more than 600 trucks and trailers. Offered to industrial and commercial shippers requiring reliable owned-capacity flatbed service.
• Logistics & Asset Support Third-party logistics offering combining freight brokerage, partner-carrier capacity, web-based shipment tracking, and EDI integration with shipper systems for shippers requiring capacity beyond Big Freight's owned fleet.
• FleetPro Fleet Maintenance Big Freight's dedicated in-house fleet maintenance and repair facility providing mechanical upkeep, supporting equipment uptime for the company's 600+ truck fleet.
• Warehousing & Distribution Storage and distribution service providing bonded and non-bonded warehousing, cross-dock operations, pull-through distribution, and just-in-time delivery for retail and consumer-goods shippers.
• Glass Hauling Specialized flatbed hauling service for architectural and flat-glass manufacturers, processors, fabricators, and distributors, using trucks equipped for fragile-glass handling.
• Super-B Division (Kelsey Trail) Super-B-train configured trucking service operating in Western Canada (branded Kelsey Trail) using trailers configured for high-volume regional freight movement.
• International Freight Forwarding Cross-border and overseas freight forwarding service transporting shipments from across North America to worldwide destinations through Big Freight's network of overseas agents.
• Free Supply Chain Analysis Complimentary supply chain review and consultation service provided to shippers as a pre-engagement logistics assessment.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70+ years in business with continuous growth from 4-truck operation to leading specialized carrier
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Kelsey Trail TruckingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2018Kelsey Trail Trucking, one of Canada's largest providers of Super-B flatbed capacity and a 38-year veteran of the industry, merged with Big Freight Systems effective July 1, 2018. Kelsey Trail operated locations in Innisfil, ON and Saskatoon, SK, adding 80 tractors and 90 sets of 5-axle Super-B flatbeds to the combined fleet.
• Partner Carriers NetworkmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBig Freight maintains a comprehensive partner carrier program with capacity of over 2,000 power units. Partner carriers provide additional transportation capacity and geographic coverage, allowing Big Freight to meet supply chain objectives in a cost-effective, efficient manner.
• FleetPro Maintenance ServicescoreOthersFleetPro is Big Freight's own commercial truck and trailer maintenance facility located in Steinbach, Manitoba. Open 7 days a week with 27 onsite technicians. Provides preventative maintenance, repair services, parts, and professional fleet management services customized to company requirements.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mullen Group: Western Canadian diversified trucking and logistics conglomerate operating flatbed, LTL, specialized, and logistics services across Canada and the U.S. — directly comparable asset-based Canadian platform with overlapping flatbed and specialized capacity.
• Day & Ross Transportation Group: Canadian LTL, truckload, and specialized freight carrier headquartered in New Brunswick; now part of TFI International alongside Big Freight. Closest Canadian competitor in LTL/flatbed mix with comparable North American reach.
• Arnold Bros. Transport: Canadian flatbed and specialized trucking operator serving industrial shippers across Canada and the U.S. with comparable flat deck / step deck / super-B equipment configuration.
• Challenger Motor Freight: Cambridge, Ontario-based asset-based carrier operating flatbed, LTL, intermodal, and logistics divisions — a direct competitor for industrial shipper contracts across Ontario and Western Canada.
• Trimac Transportation: Canadian bulk trucking and logistics services company serving industrial and energy customers — comparable specialized-freight positioning with cross-border operating footprint.
• Manitoulin Transport: Canadian less-than-truckload, truckload, and specialized freight carrier with warehousing and logistics divisions — comparable multi-service asset-based platform with North American reach.

Broad incumbents

• Schneider National: Large U.S. publicly listed truckload, intermodal, and logistics provider with significant flatbed/specialized capacity — comparable end-customer segments (industrial shippers) though at much greater scale.
• Werner Enterprises: U.S. publicly listed truckload carrier with dedicated, flatbed, and logistics divisions serving industrial customers — overlapping end markets and specialized equipment mix at materially larger scale.
• Heartland Express: U.S. publicly listed irregular-route truckload carrier focused on longer-haul freight — adjacent specialized/long-haul carrier model serving similar industrial-shipper demand profile.

Emerging players

• Hub Group: U.S. publicly listed intermodal and logistics services company — adjacent asset-light and asset-based brokerage model that competes for the same North American freight-management wallet share.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BigFreight1948
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCCS0OxNkVWM51fLTOS4Dosw
• Facebookfacebook.com/BigFreightSystems
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/big-freight-systems-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Big Freight Systems Inc.