Air-Sea Forwarders
Air-Sea Forwarders is a privately held U.S. freight forwarder founded in 1948, providing air, ocean, customs brokerage, warehousing, and special project logistics through ten U.S. gateway branches and a 100+ country agent network, serving enterprise and mid-market international shippers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1948
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Air-Sea Forwarders does
Air-Sea Forwarders, Inc. is a privately held U.S. freight forwarder and customs broker founded in 1948 in Los Angeles by Erwin Rautenberg. The company provides end-to-end international logistics across air export/import, ocean export/import (including NVOCC, LCL, and FCL), customs brokerage, warehousing, and a Special Projects division handling oversized and sensitive cargo such as art exhibits and jet engines. Services are delivered through ten owned-and-operated U.S. branch offices at major gateways (Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Seattle) and an overseas agent network covering more than 100 countries.
The technology stack centers on operational logistics IT rather than proprietary platforms: the EZFreight Tracking system provides shipment visibility by multiple reference types (shipper/consignee, purchase order, airway bill, date range), Automated Broker Interface (ABI) enables in-house customs clearance at U.S. branches, and integration with CHAMP Cargosystems supports public tracking across international airline carriers. There is no evidence of APIs, SDKs, mobile applications, or AI/ML capabilities.
The business model is transaction-fee based: pricing is quote-driven with no published rate cards, and customers initiate engagement through a website request-quote form. The go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, targeting enterprise and mid-market shippers in the international trade community, with a vertical emphasis on aerospace (Airbus Industries is a named account) and institutional/research clients (University of California system, Howard Hughes Medical Center, Scripts Institute). Recognized with the U.S. President's 'E' Award and 'E' Star Award for export excellence, the company competes on personalized service and gateway coverage rather than technology differentiation. Current leadership is Todd Hinkley as President & CEO.
Air-Sea Forwarders firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Air-Sea Forwarders
- Legal name
- Air-Sea Forwarders, Inc.
- Website
- https://airseainc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1948
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Air-Sea Forwarders is a privately held U.S. freight forwarder founded in 1948, providing air, ocean, customs brokerage, warehousing, and special project logistics through ten U.S. gateway branches and a 100+ country agent network, serving enterprise and mid-market international shippers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Air-Sea Forwarders industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Freight Forwarding and Logistics Services
- NAICS
- Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Deep Sea Freight Transportation (483111)
- SIC
- Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Water Transportation (4400)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Air–Ocean Multimodal Forwarding (TLACAEAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Ocean Export Forwarding (Booking/VGM/SI/BL) (TLACABAF), Ocean Import Forwarding (Destination Handling/DO/ISF) (TLACABAE), Customs Brokerage for Ocean Shipments (Import/Export Clearance) (TLACABAG), Project & OOG/Breakbulk Ocean Forwarding (Out-of-Gauge, RoRo) (TLACABAH), Trade Compliance & Ocean Regulatory Services (Sanctions/Export Controls) (TLACABAL)
Keywords
Where Air-Sea Forwarders is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices8 records
Markets served
Air-Sea Forwarders business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Air Freight Services: Full-service air export and import transportation including local pickup/delivery, containerization, consolidation services, documentation, and dangerous goods handling.
- Ocean Freight Services: Full-service ocean export and import including NVOCC services, LCL/FCL shipments, live loading, documentation (AES filings, letters of credit, certificates of origin), and special project services.
- Customs Brokerage: Customs clearance at all branches with ABI capability, Immediate Transportation (IT), T&E, Immediate Export (IE), and advance clearances up to 5 days prior to arrival.
- Warehousing Services: Short-term and long-term warehousing at all destinations with daily updates, pick and pack operations, and packing/crating services.
- Special Projects: Transportation of large and complicated shipments including art exhibits, jet engines, and long-term or short-term project logistics.
- Additional Services: Cargo insurance covering marine and air shipments, charter service, and computerized revenue/cargo statistics reports.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels1 record
Air-Sea Forwarders product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Air-Sea Forwarders is a U.S.-headquartered international freight forwarder providing full-service air and ocean export/import transportation, customs brokerage, warehousing, and special project logistics for businesses engaged in international trade. Services are delivered through ten owned U.S. branch offices and a global agency network spanning 100+ countries, with the in-house EZFreight Tracking portal providing real-time door-to-door shipment visibility.
Product overview
Air-Sea Forwarders is a freight forwarding and logistics company offering a unified portfolio of core services centered on international cargo transportation. The main offerings include Air Shipping, Ocean Shipping, Customs Brokerage, Warehousing, and Special Projects. The company also provides a digital tracking product called ASF EZFreight Tracking for door-to-door shipment visibility. The services are delivered through ten U.S. branch offices at major gateways, supported by an extended network of overseas agencies in over 100 countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Air Shipping Services Full-service air export and air import transportation to and from all parts of the world, including local and long-distance pickup/delivery, containerization, direct and consolidation shipments, dangerous goods handling, and full documentation. Targeted at businesses engaged in international air freight trade.
- Ocean Shipping Services Full-service ocean export and ocean import transportation worldwide, including fully computerized bookings, NVOCC services, LCL and FCL shipments, live loading, and full documentation including AES filings, letters of credit, and certificates of origin. Targeted at businesses moving containerized and break-bulk ocean cargo.
- Customs Brokerage Services U.S. customs clearance at all branches in the United States and abroad, with ABI-equipped US branches for quick clearance, offering IT, T&E, and IE services, wheels-up clearances, ocean advance clearances (up to 5 days prior to arrival), and import consultation on traffics and Harmonized tariffs. Targeted at importers/exporters needing compliant customs processing.
- Warehousing Services Short-term and long-term warehousing at all destinations, with daily updates of stored goods, pick and pack operations, and packing and crating services available at all locations. Targeted at shippers needing storage and value-added handling at U.S. gateway points.
- Special Projects Division Transportation of large and complicated shipments for long-term or short-term projects, including art exhibit moves, jet engine transport, and oversized industrial equipment, with full documentation and tailored communications. Targeted at customers with one-off or project-based oversized, high-value, or sensitive cargo needs.
- ASF EZFreight Tracking Online tracking and tracing portal that lets users check shipment status by shipper/consignee name, purchase order/invoice number, airway bill number, date range, and other references, with proof of delivery information; includes a public tracking capability via CHAMP Cargosystems covering multiple airline carriers. Targeted at existing enterprise and mid-market shippers needing door-to-door visibility.
Companies that use Air-Sea Forwarders
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Air-Sea Forwarders technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Air-Sea Forwarders partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Air-Sea Forwarders competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Flexport: Digital-first freight forwarder offering air, ocean, and customs services through a tech-enabled platform. Comparable in core services but represents the digital-disruption threat to traditional forwarders like Air-Sea.
Broad incumbents
- C.H. Robinson Worldwide: Major U.S.-based freight forwarder and logistics provider covering air, ocean, and customs services. Closely comparable service model to Air-Sea's air/ocean and customs brokerage offering, though C.H. Robinson spans trucking and managed transportation as well.
- Kuehne+Nagel: One of the world's largest freight forwarders with full air, ocean, and customs brokerage capabilities. Overlaps entirely with Air-Sea's core services but operates globally at far greater scale across all verticals.
- UPS Supply Chain Solutions (Coyote, Freight, Customs): UPS's freight forwarding and customs brokerage arm offering air, ocean, and brokerage services. Comparable across the forwarding and customs brokerage value chain but bundled within UPS's broader logistics and parcel network.
- DHL Global Forwarding: DHL's freight forwarding arm providing air, ocean, and customs brokerage worldwide. Directly comparable in service portfolio but offers much larger network breadth and integrated logistics capabilities.
- CEVA Logistics: Global contract logistics and freight forwarding player operating air, ocean, and customs brokerage. Overlaps with Air-Sea's forwarding and brokerage services within a far larger integrated supply chain offering.
Regional players
- Kerry Logistics Network: Asia-headquartered international freight forwarder with air, ocean, and customs services. Comparable in service mix but with primary strength in Asia-Pacific trade lanes versus Air-Sea's U.S. gateway focus.
Direct peers
- Transgroup Worldwide Logistics: U.S.-based mid-sized international freight forwarder offering air, ocean, customs brokerage, and warehousing. Highly comparable in size, service mix, and U.S. branch-driven model to Air-Sea Forwarders.
- Expeditors International of Washington: U.S.-headquartered global freight forwarder offering air and ocean forwarding plus customs brokerage. Directly comparable to Air-Sea Forwarders in service mix, though materially larger and publicly traded.
- Pilot Freight Services: Mid-sized U.S. freight forwarder offering air, ocean, customs, and warehousing with a multi-branch U.S. network. Closely comparable mid-sized competitor with similar service portfolio targeting enterprise shippers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Air-Sea Forwarders social profiles
Digital presenceAir-Sea Forwarders financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Air-Sea Forwarders leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Air-Sea Forwarders funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Air-Sea Forwarders 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 Air-Sea Forwarders
What does Air-Sea Forwarders do?
Air-Sea Forwarders is a U.S.-headquartered international freight forwarder providing full-service air and ocean export/import transportation, customs brokerage, warehousing, and special project logistics for businesses engaged in international trade. Services are delivered through ten owned U.S. branch offices and a global agency network spanning 100+ countries, with the in-house EZFreight Tracking portal providing real-time door-to-door shipment visibility.
Is Air-Sea Forwarders a public or private company?
Air-Sea Forwarders is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Air-Sea Forwarders founded?
Air-Sea Forwarders was founded in 1948. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Air-Sea Forwarders based?
Air-Sea Forwarders is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Air-Sea Forwarders make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Air Freight Services are the primary driver. The others are ocean Freight Services, customs Brokerage, warehousing Services, special Projects and additional Services.
Who are Air-Sea Forwarders's main competitors?
Flexport is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Kuehne+Nagel, UPS Supply Chain Solutions (Coyote, Freight, Customs), DHL Global Forwarding and CEVA Logistics. Kerry Logistics Network is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Transgroup Worldwide Logistics, Expeditors International of Washington and Pilot Freight Services.
Does Air-Sea Forwarders have an API?
No public API is recorded for Air-Sea Forwarders.
What industry is Air-Sea Forwarders in?
Air-Sea Forwarders's product category is International Freight Forwarding and Logistics Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLACAEAA, Air–Ocean Multimodal Forwarding, with a secondary code of TLACABAF, Ocean Export Forwarding (Booking/VGM/SI/BL). Its NAICS code is 488510 and its SIC code is 4731.