The Preferred Network
The Preferred Network is a Sugar Land, Texas-based holding company coordinating four logistics subsidiaries that provide domestic and international shipping, courier and heavy freight delivery, ecommerce fulfillment, and 3PL truckload services to small and medium businesses in the Greater Houston area.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersSugar Land, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Preferred Network does
The Preferred Network is a privately held logistics holding company founded in 1992 and headquartered in Sugar Land, Texas, that operates four wholly-owned member companies delivering shipping, courier, fulfillment, and 3PL services. Preferred Shipping serves small and medium businesses with domestic and international shipping as a 25-year DHL Express reseller and through domestic partnerships with LSO and USPS. River Oaks Couriers provides expedited heavy freight and courier services across the Greater Houston area using a mixed fleet of cars, vans, flatbeds, stepdecks, and box trucks. Shipping and Handling of Texas operates a 63,000 sq ft warehouse in Sugar Land for ecommerce fulfillment, distribution, and last-mile delivery, and Preferred Logistics functions as a full-service 3PL offering full truckload services with a single point of contact.
The network's go-to-market is sales-led and decentralized: each subsidiary maintains its own website, brand, and direct sales motion targeting SMB customers in the Greater Houston area, with international reach enabled by the DHL partnership. Revenue is generated through transaction fees on shipping, courier, fulfillment, and truckload services, with pricing customized by shipment size, destination, and service level rather than publicly disclosed. The company has no disclosed technology platform, proprietary software, or AI capabilities, and competes primarily on multi-carrier aggregation, local market presence, and over 30 years of cumulative operational experience. No public listing, venture capital backing, or acquisition activity is disclosed in the available data.
The Preferred Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Preferred Network
- Website
- https://thepreferrednetwork.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- The Preferred Network is a Sugar Land, Texas-based holding company coordinating four logistics subsidiaries that provide domestic and international shipping, courier and heavy freight delivery, ecommerce fulfillment, and 3PL truckload services to small and medium businesses in the Greater Houston area.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Preferred Network industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Third-Party Logistics (3PL)
- NAICS
- Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance (48423)
- SIC
- Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Shipper-Carrier Direct Contracting Networks (TLAEAJAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Private Load Boards & Community Networks (Closed/Invite-Only) (TLAEAJAL)
Keywords
Where The Preferred Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sugar Land
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Preferred Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Logistics and Shipping Services: The Preferred Network generates revenue through its member companies providing comprehensive logistics services including domestic and international shipping, courier services, expedited heavy freight, ecommerce fulfillment, and full truckload 3PL services. Revenue is derived from service fees charged to businesses for transportation, fulfillment, and logistics solutions.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
The Preferred Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Preferred Network is a Houston-area logistics holding company that operates four member companies providing end-to-end shipping and logistics services. Its offerings span domestic and international parcel shipping (via a long-standing DHL Express reseller partnership), expedited heavy freight and courier delivery, ecommerce fulfillment from a 63,000 sq ft warehouse, and full truckload 3PL services. The network collectively transports any size package or freight anywhere in the world.
Product overview
The Preferred Network is a logistics platform comprising four member companies that together provide comprehensive logistics solutions. The network includes Preferred Shipping (domestic and international shipping, DHL Express reseller), River Oaks Couriers (expedited heavy freight delivery), Shipping and Handling of Texas (ecommerce fulfillment with 63,000 sq ft warehouse), and Preferred Logistics (full truckload 3PL services). The combined member companies can transport any size package or freight to nearly anywhere in the world, offering centralized fulfillment near Houston, Texas.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Preferred Shipping Preferred Shipping provides domestic and international shipping services as a DHL Express reseller, serving businesses that need parcel and package delivery globally.
- River Oaks Couriers
Companies that use The Preferred Network
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
The Preferred Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Preferred Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- DHL ExpresscorePreferred Shipping has been a DHL Express reseller for 25 years, providing international shipping solutions. This strategic partnership enables The Preferred Network to offer comprehensive global shipping services with access to DHL's international network.
- LSOcoreLSO (Lone Star Overnight) is a domestic shipping partner providing domestic shipping solutions. The partnership complements DHL Express international services with robust US domestic shipping capabilities.
- USPSminorUSPS (United States Postal Service) is a domestic shipping partner offering additional domestic shipping options and last-mile delivery capabilities through the Preferred Shipping network.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights3 records
The Preferred Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Hub Group: Large intermodal and logistics services provider with truck brokerage, dedicated, and final-mile capabilities. Comparable as a multi-mode 3PL with a final-mile/ecommerce component that overlaps with Shipping and Handling of Texas and Preferred Logistics.
- C.H. Robinson Worldwide: Largest U.S. freight broker and 3PL with global reach across truckload, LTL, intermodal, and ocean. Comparable as a freight transportation arranger serving SMB through enterprise shippers, though at vastly greater scale and with proprietary Navisphere technology.
- XPO Logistics: Major North American LTL carrier and 3PL with significant brokerage, last-mile, and managed transportation operations. Comparable as a broad-based logistics services provider with overlapping parcel, freight, and final-mile capabilities.
Direct peers
- Landstar System: Asset-light freight transportation and logistics provider using an agent-based network of owner-operators. Comparable as an asset-light freight arranger serving SMB shippers across the U.S., with a similar relationship-driven, decentralized model.
- RXO: Tech-enabled freight brokerage spun off from XPO, focused on truckload and last-mile capacity for shippers of all sizes. Directly comparable as a digital-forward freight arranger competing for the same SMB and mid-market parcel/freight dollars Preferred Shipping serves.
- Echo Global Logistics: Technology-enabled 3PL providing truckload, LTL, and managed transportation across North America. Comparable as a digitally enabled freight arranger serving SMB and mid-market customers through a multi-modal service portfolio.
- GlobalTranz (Worldwide Express): Sales-driven 3PL and freight broker serving SMBs across parcel, LTL, and truckload through a multi-carrier platform. Comparable as a relationship-driven SMB logistics aggregator with multi-mode service offerings similar to Preferred Network.
- AIT Worldwide Logistics: Privately held global 3PL providing domestic and international freight forwarding, brokerage, and ecommerce fulfillment. Comparable to Preferred Network as a privately held, multi-modal logistics platform serving SMB and mid-market customers.
- Coyote Logistics: Asset-based 3PL owned by UPS, serving SMB and mid-market shippers across North America with truckload, LTL, and intermodal. Closely comparable to Preferred Network as a multi-modal 3PL serving SMBs with brokered and asset-based capacity.
- SEKO Logistics: Mid-market global 3PL with strong ecommerce fulfillment, white-glove final mile, and international parcel capabilities. Closely comparable to Preferred Network in the SMB ecommerce fulfillment and international shipping niches.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Preferred Network social profiles
Digital presenceThe Preferred Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Preferred Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
The Preferred Network subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
The Preferred Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Preferred Network 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 The Preferred Network
What does The Preferred Network do?
The Preferred Network is a Houston-area logistics holding company that operates four member companies providing end-to-end shipping and logistics services. Its offerings span domestic and international parcel shipping (via a long-standing DHL Express reseller partnership), expedited heavy freight and courier delivery, ecommerce fulfillment from a 63,000 sq ft warehouse, and full truckload 3PL services. The network collectively transports any size package or freight anywhere in the world.
Is The Preferred Network a public or private company?
The Preferred Network is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was The Preferred Network founded?
The Preferred Network was founded in 1992. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is The Preferred Network based?
The Preferred Network is headquartered in Sugar Land, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Preferred Network make money?
One revenue line is on record: logistics and Shipping Services.
Who are The Preferred Network's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Hub Group, C.H. Robinson Worldwide and XPO Logistics. Direct peers are Landstar System, RXO, Echo Global Logistics, GlobalTranz (Worldwide Express), AIT Worldwide Logistics, Coyote Logistics and SEKO Logistics.
Does The Preferred Network have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Preferred Network.
What industry is The Preferred Network in?
The Preferred Network's product category is Third-Party Logistics (3PL). Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAEAJAC, Shipper-Carrier Direct Contracting Networks, with a secondary code of TLAEAJAL, Private Load Boards & Community Networks (Closed/Invite-Only). Its NAICS code is 488510 and its SIC code is 4731.