Northstar Logistics

What Northstar Logistics does

Northstar Logistics LLC is a private, independently owned freight transportation agency operating under contract with Landstar as one of Landstar's independent commission sales agents. Headquartered in Carmel, Indiana, the company functions as a non-asset freight brokerage intermediary, arranging shipments for shippers rather than operating its own fleet. Its revenue model is transaction-fee based, earning commissions on freight arranged through the Landstar network across 11 service lines spanning truckload van, LTL, heavy/specialized, cross-border Mexico, cross-border Canada, expedited, cold chain, rail intermodal, international air and ocean, customs brokerage, and hazardous materials transportation.

Technically, Northstar does not own proprietary systems; it leverages Landstar's platform infrastructure, including Agent Analytics for business intelligence, Landstar Clarity for real-time shipment tracking and exception management, and Landstar's pricing tools that integrate historical and real-time market data. The company's go-to-market is consultative and relationship-driven, combining direct sales outreach with a website-based quote request funnel, targeting enterprise and mid-market shippers across North America, with cross-border and global capabilities for Mexico, Canada, and international air/ocean lanes.

The business model is essentially a franchise-style agency: Northstar retains independent ownership and customer relationships, marketing flexibility, and dedicated customer service, while Landstar provides the carrier network (70,000+ approved carriers, 17,400+ trailers, 2,700+ specialized units), compliance certifications (ISO 9001, C-TPAT, FAST, CSA, IATA, SmartWay), and technology backbone. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and no headcount, funding, or management team information is available beyond a single named point of contact (Mark Jordan).

Name

Northstar Logistics

Legal name

Northstar Logistics LLC

Website

https://northstar-logistics.net

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Northstar Logistics LLC is an independent Landstar agency based in Carmel, Indiana, operating as a non-asset freight broker arranging truckload, LTL, cross-border, cold chain, and international shipments for enterprise and mid-market shippers across North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Freight Brokerage Services

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Specialized Freight Trucking (4842), Nonscheduled Air Transportation (4812)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Cross-Border Consolidation (Landbridge / Intra-Regional) (TLACALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Project & Heavy-Haul / Oversize Road Forwarding (Permits/Escorts) (TLACACAH), High-Value & Secure Air Cargo (Valuables, Security Screening, Escort) (TLACAAAH)

Keywords

• Freight brokerage
• Truckload shipping
• Less-than-truckload shipping
• Cold chain logistics
• Cross-border freight

Headquarters

HQ city

Carmel

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Freight Transportation Services: Northstar Logistics LLC generates revenue as a freight brokerage intermediary, arranging transportation of cargo for shippers. The company acts as an agent within the Landstar network, earning commissions on arranged shipments. Services span truckload, LTL, specialized, cross-border, expedited, cold chain, and international freight.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Northstar Logistics LLC operates as an independent Landstar agency and freight transportation intermediary, arranging the movement of cargo for shippers. The company matches freight requirements with capacity from Landstar's network of tens of thousands of owner-operators and approved carriers across truckload, LTL, specialized, cross-border, expedited, cold chain, rail intermodal, and international modes. Services are sold to businesses on a quote-by-quote basis, with Northstar acting as a single point of contact backed by Landstar's tools, tracking, and compliance infrastructure.

Product overview

Northstar Logistics LLC is an independent Landstar agency offering a comprehensive suite of freight shipping solutions through the Landstar network. The company provides 11 distinct service offerings: Truckload Van, Heavy/Specialized, Less-Than-Truckload (LTL), Cross-Border Mexico, Cross-Border Canada, Expedited, Cold Chain, Rail Intermodal, International - Air/Ocean, Customs Brokerage, and Hazardous Materials. These services range from domestic truckload and LTL shipping to specialized heavy haul, temperature-controlled cold chain, cross-border North American trade, global air/ocean freight, and hazmat transportation. The services leverage Landstar's network of tens of thousands of capacity providers, over 13,700 vans, and 2,700+ specialized trailers to provide shipping capacity, technology, and custom logistics solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Truckload Van Full truckload van shipping for single tractor-trailers or fleet operations supporting drop-and-hook, covering short and long haul routes with access to 8,500+ leased owner-operator trucks and 62,700+ approved truckload capacity providers. For businesses requiring full-capacity freight movement.
• Heavy/Specialized Over-dimensional and heavy haul freight transportation using specialized equipment including flatbeds, stepdecks, double drops, extendables, multi-axles, steerables, and lowboys with 40-80 ton capacity. For shippers moving oversized or unusually heavy loads.
• Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) Less-than-truckload shipping solutions for freight that does not require a full truck, utilizing Landstar's network of tens of thousands of capacity providers for competitive LTL pricing. For shippers with smaller freight volumes.
• Cross-Border Mexico Door-to-door cross-border transportation across all major U.S.-Mexico border gateways with secure transloading at C-TPAT-compliant facilities, including Landstar's U.S.-Mexico Logistics Service Center in Laredo, Texas. For companies shipping between the U.S. and Mexico.
• Cross-Border Canada Intra-Canadian freight transportation and cross-border services between the U.S. and Canada, with access to Canadian-domiciled owner-operators and bilingual billing in U.S. and Canadian currencies. For shippers needing U.S.-Canada freight movement.
• Expedited Expedited and emergency transportation including ground or air expedite, disaster relief transport, white glove delivery, guaranteed delivery, and temperature-validated transportation with access to cargo vans, straight trucks, tractor trailers, and air charter services. For time-critical shipments.
• Cold Chain Temperature-sensitive freight solutions with 24-hour temperature monitoring, thermal mapped equipment, pharmaceutical compliance processes, and skilled owner-operators for shipping pharmaceuticals, produce, plants, and frozen foods. For shippers of temperature-controlled cargo.
• Rail Intermodal Door-to-door rail intermodal service extending into Canada and Mexico with dynamic shipment status reports, supporting COFC, TOFC, and specialty rail car options through major North American railroads. For shippers seeking rail-based intermodal capacity.
• International - Air, Ocean Global freight forwarding services for air and ocean shipments including international import/export, documentation coordination, insurance placement, door-to-door service, and over-dimensional cargo handling with NVOCC services. For businesses shipping internationally.
• Customs Brokerage U.S. customs broker services through Landstar including customs surety bond arrangement, import process consultation, ISF filing, partner government agency clearance coordination, and various entry types (I.T., I.E., T&E, Warehouse, F.T.Z.). For businesses engaged in cross-border trade.
• Hazardous Materials Hazardous materials transportation with all independent owner-operators required to obtain and maintain hazmat certification, enforcing compliance requirements beyond state and federal mandates. For shippers of regulated hazardous cargo.

Quantifiable outcome

• Landstar has approximately 990 Million Mile Safe Drivers demonstrating industry-leading safety performance

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• LandstarcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNorthstar Logistics LLC is an independent Landstar agency operating under contract with Landstar affiliates. As an independent commission sales agent, Northstar has access to Landstar's vast logistics network including tens of thousands of capacity providers, proprietary technology (Agent Analytics, Landstar Clarity, pricing tools), and specialized support departments. This partnership provides Northstar with the infrastructure of a multi-billion dollar company while maintaining independent business operations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• C.H. Robinson Worldwide: Largest North American non-asset-based freight broker, arranging truckload, LTL, intermodal, and cross-border capacity for shippers. Highly comparable to Northstar's asset-light brokerage model and shipper-customer focus, though at vastly greater scale.
• Hub Group: Asset-based intermodal and logistics provider with significant brokerage and dedicated capacity operations. Comparable service mix including intermodal and cross-border, though with owned equipment.
• Coyote Logistics: UPS-owned freight brokerage arranging truckload, LTL, intermodal, and cross-border capacity through a large carrier network. Comparable asset-light model serving similar shipper customers, with digital platform emphasis.
• ArcBest: LTL carrier with growing asset-light logistics segment including truckload brokerage, managed transportation, and international forwarding. Comparable hybrid model spanning owned assets and brokerage services.
• RXO: Pure-play freight brokerage spin-off from XPO, offering truckload, LTL, and managed transportation across North America. Directly comparable asset-light brokerage model with similar shipper-facing service portfolio.
• Echo Global Logistics: Technology-enabled 3PL and freight broker offering truckload, LTL, intermodal, and managed transportation. Directly comparable asset-light model serving enterprise and mid-market shippers.

Broad incumbents

• J.B. Hunt Transport Services: Large multi-segment transportation and logistics provider with significant intermodal, dedicated, and ICS brokerage operations. Overlaps with Northstar's intermodal and truckload brokerage services at much greater scale.
• Landstar System: Parent network operator and asset-light truckload broker with a publicly traded independent agency model. Comparable business model and customer base, but operates at parent-network scale rather than as a single agency.
• XPO Inc. LTL-focused carrier with North American less-than-truckload operations following the RXO brokerage spin-off. Overlapping service categories (LTL, brokerage, last-mile) though concentrated in owned-asset LTL.
• Schneider National: Asset-based truckload, intermodal, and logistics provider with brokerage operations. Comparable intermodal and truckload service portfolio, though Schneider operates with significant owned equipment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Northstar Logistics