DSL Logistics

What DSL Logistics does

DSL Logistics is a privately held, family-owned intermodal logistics company founded in 1943 and headquartered in Buckeye, Arizona. The company coordinates container movement across West Coast ports (Long Beach and Los Angeles), the Phoenix intermodal hub, and the Memphis rail yard, combining intermodal trucking, container drayage, container depot operations, and a 3,000+ private chassis pool. Its service portfolio includes Intermodal Logistics & Services, Container Drayage, Container Depot Services, Intermodal Trucking, and ancillary Container Sales and used Truck Sales. The platform integrates real-time GPS tracking, AI-driven appointment scheduling, and route optimization tools marketed under its Supply Chain Visibility suite.

DSL serves enterprise shippers across retail (Costco, Five Below, Dick's Sporting Goods), healthcare (Abbott Laboratories), agriculture/commodities (Cargill, Hoogwegt US), manufacturing (Conair), and ocean carriers (CMA CGM, COSCO, Evergreen Marine, APL), with Hapag-Lloyd designating DSL as its Phoenix Container Yard provider. Operations are delivered through an exclusive carrier network — most notably sister companies Duncan and Son Lines (220+ late-model trucks, multi-year EPA SmartWay awardee) and 4Gen Logistics (79 zero-emission vehicles and 30 hyper-fast 350 kW chargers at the Port of Long Beach, with 90 chargers planned across Rialto and Long Beach in partnership with Electrify America). The fleet totals 450+ power units (including 60+ electric units via 4Gen), and the firm cites $10M+ in demurrage savings delivered to customers through depot efficiency.

DSL's go-to-market is direct B2B enterprise sales with field account management and a request-a-quote funnel on its website; pricing is quote-based across all logistics services and one-time transactional for container and truck sales. The company has no institutional external funding, no public listing, and its ownership is concentrated in the Duncan family, which also controls the partner carrier network. Recent strategic moves center on the Union Pacific Phoenix Intermodal Terminal partnership (Jan 2024), Hapag-Lloyd depot designation, and continued EV-charging infrastructure buildout, positioning DSL as a sustainability-led, asset-rich drayage and depot operator in the I-10 corridor.

Name

DSL Logistics

Legal name

DSL Logistics

Website

https://dsllog.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1943

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DSL Logistics is a privately held, family-owned intermodal logistics and container drayage operator founded in 1943, serving enterprise retailers, manufacturers, ocean carriers, and agriculture shippers across the West Coast, Arizona, and Memphis rail corridors through six owned depots and a 3,000+ private chassis pool.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Intermodal Logistics Services

NAICS

Marine Cargo Handling (48832), Deep Sea Freight Transportation (483111)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Intermodal Drayage Coordination & Port/Rail Ramp Transfers (TLACAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

FCL (Full Container Load) Ocean Forwarding (TLACABAA), Off-Dock Container Yards (Near-Port Overflow Yards) (TLALAJAK), Ocean Freight Brokerage (FCL/LCL) (TLADAMAF)

Keywords

• Intermodal logistics
• Container drayage
• Shipping container sales
• Intermodal trucking
• Container depot services

Headquarters

HQ city

Buckeye

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Intermodal Logistics Services: Revenue generated from coordinating and executing intermodal transportation services combining rail, road, and sea transport. Services include port drayage, rail services, and terminal operations with pricing based on shipment volume and distance.
2. Container Drayage Services: Short-haul container transportation services between ports, rail yards, warehouses, and distribution centers. Revenue is earned per container moved with pricing based on distance and container type.
3. Container Sales: Sale of new and used shipping containers in various sizes (20', 40', 45') including standard and high cube options. One-time transaction revenue from container sales with pricing based on size, condition (wind/water-tight or one-trip), and specifications.
4. Truck Sales: Sale of used fleet trucks including semis with comprehensive warranty programs. One-time purchase revenue with financing options available, targeting owner-operators and fleet buyers.
5. Container Depot Services: Container storage, demurrage reduction services, and free drop/pick operations at container yards. Revenue generated through container handling fees and storage charges.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

DSL Logistics provides intermodal transportation, container drayage, container depot operations, and sales of shipping containers and used trucks. The company moves containers between West Coast ports (Long Beach, Los Angeles), inland rail hubs in Phoenix and Memphis, and customer distribution centers using a mix of company-owned and partner carrier assets. Its service portfolio is anchored by a 3,000+ private chassis pool and exclusive carrier partnerships with sustainability-focused fleets.

Product overview

DSL Logistics offers a unified logistics platform centered on intermodal transportation services, combining container drayage, intermodal trucking, and container/truck sales into an integrated service portfolio. The core offering includes Intermodal Logistics & Services, Container Drayage Services, and the Intermodal Trucking Company, supplemented by Container Depot Services and a Private Chassis Pool of over 3,000 owned chassis. Additional offerings include Container Sales (new one-trip and used containers in multiple sizes) and Truck Sales (premium used fleet trucks). The company differentiates through sustainable logistics practices with low-emission vehicles and partnerships with zero-emission carriers, plus real-time tracking and supply chain visibility tools as integrated service components.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Intermodal Logistics & Services Core intermodal logistics service integrating rail, road, and sea transport for seamless cargo movement from port to final destination, featuring real-time tracking and supply chain visibility tools for enterprise shippers and steamship lines.
• Container Drayage Services Short-distance container transport between ports, terminals, rail yards, and warehouses, including local pickup and delivery, inter-facility moves, and expedited drayage options for enterprise shippers along the I-10 corridor and Memphis rail hub.
• Container Depot Services Container storage and depot operations providing free drop/pick services with extended drop times across 50+ acres to reduce per diem exposure and optimize transportation costs for steamship lines and shippers.
• Container Sales Sales of new one-trip and used wind-and-water-tight shipping containers in 20', 40', 40' High Cube, and 45' High Cube sizes for storage and shipping needs, with 400+ containers in inventory.
• Truck Sales Sale of premium, meticulously maintained used fleet trucks including family-owned fleet trucks with Diesel APU, low mileage options, and comprehensive warranty programs, targeting owner-operators and fleet buyers.
• Intermodal Trucking Company Services Comprehensive intermodal trucking services connecting road, rail, and sea transport with exclusive drayage carrier network, private chassis fleet, and customized supply chain solutions for enterprise shippers.

Quantifiable outcome

• $10,000,000+ in demurrage charges saved for customers
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Duncan and Son Lines Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFourth-generation family-owned logistics company providing international container drayage between Long Beach/Los Angeles ports and Phoenix. Fleet of 220+ late-model trucks with latest clean emission and safety technologies. Multi-year recipient of EPA SmartWay Excellence Award. Strategic partnership as exclusive trucking provider for Phoenix Intermodal Terminal developed with Union Pacific Railroad.
• 4Gen LogisticscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily-owned trucking company operating at Port of Long Beach and Inland Empire. Pioneer in zero-emission drayage with commitment to 100% zero-tailpipe emissions fleet by 2025. Operates 79+ zero-emission vehicles including Class 8 Volvo VNRs, Kenworth T680E BEVs, and Nikola hydrogen fuel cell trucks. Installed 30+ hyper-fast 350 kW chargers at Port of Long Beach.
• Electrify AmericamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to install commercial EV charging infrastructure for 4Gen Logistics' electric truck fleet. Part of Electrify America's $25 million 'Green City' investment in Long Beach and Wilmington. First phase includes 30 hyper-fast 350 kW chargers at Port of Long Beach facility with plans for 90+ total chargers across Rialto and Long Beach locations.
• Union Pacific RailroadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership for Phoenix Intermodal Terminal development. Duncan and Son Lines named exclusive trucking provider for this state-of-the-art intermodal rail terminal in Phoenix. Partnership enables sustainable freight movement by shifting long-haul truck traffic to rail, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Hapag-LloydcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDSL Logistics named as Phoenix Container Yard provider for Hapag-Lloyd, a leading global liner shipping company. Provides container storage, handling, and distribution services for Hapag-Lloyd customers in the Phoenix region.
• Duncan Trucking LTDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership providing dedicated dispatch and safety services to support DSL operations. Collaboration enhances operational excellence with team supported by dedicated dispatch and safety services staff.
• Complete 380minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMemphis-based drayage partner specializing in efficient rail yard logistics. Provides specialized drayage services for Memphis TN rail yard, enabling seamless cargo transitions from rail to road.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• XPO Logistics: Large public 3PL with North American LTL, brokerage, and dedicated transportation; competes for similar enterprise supply-chain contracts and container drayage at major US ports.
• Knight-Swift Transportation: Largest US truckload carrier with growing intermodal and logistics segments; overlaps with DSL on trucking, intermodal, and used-truck sales activity.
• Schneider National: Public asset-based trucking, intermodal, and logistics provider competing for the same enterprise drayage and intermodal contracts; offers broader national network than DSL's regional concentration.
• Hub Group: Public, large-scale intermodal, drayage, trucking, and logistics provider; competes with DSL for the same enterprise shippers and steamship line depot work, but at national scale across rail, road, and final mile.
• J.B. Hunt Transport Services: Largest US intermodal operator and a major drayage/trucking competitor; JB Hunt's Intermodal and ICS segments directly overlap DSL's I-10 corridor volumes and enterprise customer relationships.

Emerging players

• DrayNow: Digital drayage marketplace and platform; competes with DSL in port drayage with a software-led model rather than owned assets — represents the tech-enabled challenger to DSL's traditional drayage approach.

Direct peers

• IMC Companies: One of the largest US drayage operators with depot, chassis, and intermodal services concentrated at East and Gulf Coast ports; directly comparable business model to DSL's port drayage + depot + chassis strategy.
• NFI Industries: Family-owned, asset-based 3PL with dedicated drayage, intermodal, warehousing, and dedicated trucking — comparable scale and customer mix to DSL's family-led operating model.
• ContainerPort Group: Privately-held intermodal drayage and container depot operator with similar coast-and-inland US footprint, providing port drayage, container storage, and chassis services to retailers and steamship lines — the closest direct comparable to DSL's core offering.
• Pacer Cartage: Asset-based intermodal drayage and cartage provider serving major US ports with container trucking, chassis pools, and depot operations — highly analogous to DSL's mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dsllog

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 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 DSL Logistics