Blue Collar Transportation

What Blue Collar Transportation does

Blue Collar Transportation is a US-based logistics company founded in October 2009 in Mattoon, Illinois, operating a dual-division model that combines a freight brokerage (Blue Collar Transportation) with an asset-based trucking operation (Blue Collar Express, launched October 2014 and headquartered in El Paso, TX). The company serves shippers across retail, food & beverage, and manufacturing & distribution verticals with truckload, less-than-truckload, international, expedited, refrigerated, and flatbed services, focusing on a stated niche of 11 western states while offering nationwide capacity through a screened network of more than 20,000 carriers.

The platform is anchored by a proprietary Transportation Management System built on the McLeod Software stack, augmented by integrations with Macropoint (driver tracking), Samsara (fleet safety), Tchek (carrier payments and fuel advances), PrePass (weigh-station bypass), and Loves RFID. Functional capabilities include route planning and optimization, automated dispatch, freight audit and payment, yard management, EDI integration, and real-time shipment tracking in 5-minute increments. The asset fleet operates concentrated AZ, NM, TX, and MS lanes with a stated target of 150+ trucks and 300+ trailers by 2029 across Phoenix, El Paso, Dallas, and Houston terminals.

Go-to-market is sales-led with dedicated phone outreach under a VP of Sales, enterprise account management, and self-serve website quotes, targeting mid-market and enterprise shippers who require customized logistics analysis, trend reporting, and forecasting. Revenue is earned transactionally: per-shipment fees on asset and brokered loads, plus a 3.5% (or $35 minimum) quick-pay processing fee for carriers, ancillary revenue from used Freightliner, Utility, and Great Dane equipment sales, and driver pay is publicly disclosed starting at $0.46 per mile with weekly direct deposit. The company is privately held, founder-led by CEO Mark Williams, with no disclosed institutional or PE backing and a stated 100% organic growth strategy.

Name

Blue Collar Transportation

Legal name

Blue Collar Transportation Inc.

Website

https://shipbc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Blue Collar Transportation is a privately held US logistics operator combining a freight brokerage with asset-based trucking (Blue Collar Express), serving enterprise and mid-market shippers in retail, food & beverage, and manufacturing across 11 western states via a proprietary TMS and 20,000+ carrier network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Freight Brokerage and Trucking Logistics Services

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Freight Transportation Arrangement (4885), General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Truckload (484121), Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance (484230)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Specialized Freight Marketplaces (Reefer, Flatbed, Oversize, Hazmat) (TLAEAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Carrier/Ship-From TMS (Shipper-Facing Execution) (TLAEAAAA), Flatbed & Open-Deck TL Carriers (TLADADAC), Spot Load Boards (Open Marketplace) (TLAEAJAA)

Keywords

• Freight brokerage services
• Truckload transportation
• Less-than-truckload shipping
• Refrigerated flatbed shipping
• Logistics management solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Mattoon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Truckload (TL) Transportation: Company-owned trucking division (Blue Collar Express) provides asset-based truckload services with company drivers operating AZ, NM, TX, and MS routes. Revenue generated per shipment based on mileage and lane.
2. Freight Brokerage: Blue Collar Transportation brokerage division matches shippers with carriers from their network of 20,000+ screened carriers. Earns brokerage commissions on facilitated shipments. Leverages both brokerage and trucking divisions to maximize capacity.
3. LTL and Specialty Services: Less-than-truckload services plus specialty offerings including refrigerated, flatbed, expedited, and international shipments. Services designed for specific industry verticals including retail, food & beverage, and manufacturing.
4. Carrier Quick Pay Processing: Quick pay services for carriers with 3.5% fee or $35 minimum. Provides faster payment within 24 hours after receipt of paperwork and receiver confirmation.
5. Used Equipment Sales: Sale of used trucks and trailers from the company's fleet rotation. Equipment is well-maintained with regular inspections at El Paso yard. Trucks include Freightliner brands; trailers include Utility and Great Dane brands.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Blue Collar Transportation operates a dual-division logistics model consisting of a non-asset freight brokerage (Blue Collar Transportation) and an asset-based trucking arm (Blue Collar Express). The company moves truckload, less-than-truckload, refrigerated, flatbed, expedited, and international freight using its proprietary TMS, a network of 20,000+ screened carriers, and a planned fleet of 150+ trucks and 300+ trailers across terminals in El Paso, Phoenix, Dallas, and Houston.

Product overview

Blue Collar Transportation operates a dual-division model consisting of Blue Collar Transportation (brokerage) and Blue Collar Express (trucking), unified by a proprietary Transportation Management System. The company offers a comprehensive suite of logistics services including Truckload, LTL, International, Expedited, Refrigerated, and Flatbed shipping. The TMS platform provides real-time shipment tracking in 5-minute increments, route optimization, automated dispatching, and integrates with the company's carrier network and trucking assets. Additional offerings include drop yard services and equipment sales.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Blue Collar Transportation (Brokerage Division) Non-asset freight brokerage services matching shippers with carriers from a network of 20,000+ screened carriers. Offers TL, LTL, refrigerated, flatbed, expedited, and international shipments for retail, food & beverage, and manufacturing & distribution customers.
• Blue Collar Express (Trucking Division) Asset-based trucking services with company-owned trucks and trailers (Freightliner, Utility, Great Dane) operated by company drivers on AZ, NM, TX, and MS lanes. Equipment inspected 3-4 times per week and goals of 150+ trucks and 300+ trailers by end of 2025.
• Transportation Management System (TMS) Proprietary best-in-class TMS platform providing shipment tracking in 5-minute increments, route planning and optimization, automated dispatching, load building, operations execution, freight audit and payment, yard management, order visibility, carrier management, DOT compliance, and customized automated customer reports delivered via a secure Web-based application.
• Carrier Portal Online carrier portal providing access to freight availability, paperwork submission, payment information, and integration with technology partners including Macropoint tracking and Tchek quick pay. Used by Blue Collar's 20,000+ screened carrier partners.
• Used Equipment Sales Sale of used trucks (Freightliner) and trailers (Utility, Great Dane) rotated out of the Blue Collar Express fleet, all maintained through a preventive maintenance program with regular inspections.
• Drop Yard Services Trailer drop and hook services available at customer locations depending on volume, rates, and other factors. Phoenix drop yard operates M-F 0800-1700 Mountain Time at 5335 N 55th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85031.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5-minute real-time shipment tracking increments
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability1 record

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• McLeod SoftwarecoreTechnology or IntegrationPrimary TMS provider powering Blue Collar's transportation management system. McLeod Software is one of the leading TMS providers in the industry over the last 30 years. The partnership enables route planning, optimization, load building, operations execution, freight audit and payment, yard management, order visibility, and carrier management capabilities.
• MacropointcoreTechnology or IntegrationRequired driver tracking and communication technology on all carriers. Minimizes communication between dispatchers and drivers, allowing drivers to focus on driving. Provides real-time location data and compliance monitoring.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Hub Group: Intermodal and logistics provider with brokerage capabilities. Comparable enterprise customer focus and technology investments, though larger and intermodal-led.
• Knight-Swift Transportation: Largest TL carrier in North America with substantial logistics/brokerage segment. Comparable asset-plus-brokerage structure but acquisitive growth strategy in contrast to Blue Collar's organic approach.
• Schneider National: Large multi-modal carrier offering truckload, intermodal, and logistics services. Comparable broad service portfolio but at significantly greater scale and with public-market access.

Direct peers

• Landstar System: Asset-light logistics provider with BCO (business capacity owner) agent network. Comparable variable-cost, capital-light operating model and asset-plus-brokerage hybrid.
• Echo Global Logistics: Technology-driven freight broker and managed transportation provider serving shippers across TL, LTL, and intermodal. Direct overlap in TMS-driven brokerage model.
• Heartland Express: Asset-based irregular route TL carrier with similar asset-light operating philosophy and focus on premium service levels for shippers.
• NFI Industries: Privately held, family-led logistics company with dedicated trucking, brokerage, warehousing, and drayage. Highly comparable private ownership, hybrid model, and similar verticals served.
• U.S. Xpress: Asset-based TL carrier with brokerage arm serving retail, food & beverage, and manufacturing customers. Direct overlap in service mix and customer verticals.
• RXO: Pure-play tech-enabled freight brokerage spun out of XPO. Comparable brokerage economics, technology-driven shipper experience, and carrier network dynamics.
• Werner Enterprises: Mid-to-large TL carrier and logistics provider offering truckload, dedicated, and brokerage services. Highly comparable hybrid asset-plus-brokerage model serving similar enterprise verticals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/shipbluecollar
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC9lq_ZKF3Km67mh7rhxg9SA?view_as=public
• Facebookfacebook.com/shipbluecollar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blue-collar-transportation
• Instagraminstagram.com/shipbluecollar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Blue Collar Transportation