WorldNet Associates
WorldNet Associates is a 30-year-old, member-owned association of 110 independent freight forwarders, customs brokers, and logistics specialists across 85 countries, providing coordinated customs brokerage, freight forwarding, and logistics services through exclusive territorial representation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersHouston, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What WorldNet Associates does
WorldNet Associates, Inc. (WNA) is a privately-held, member-owned association of independent freight forwarders, customs brokers, and logistics specialists, incorporated in Texas and headquartered at 3030 Greens Road, Houston. Founded approximately 30 years ago, WNA grants its roughly 110 member firms exclusive representation of the WNA Network on city, regional, or country territories spanning 85 countries and employing nearly 2,000 people in aggregate. The association is owned and governed by founding shareholder/members who retain ownership today, with no outside venture or private-equity sponsorship disclosed.
The association's product surface consists of the WNA Network itself — a coordinated suite of export, import, logistics-management, information-management, and transportation-insurance services delivered locally by members and unified globally under a single Code of Conduct. Underlying technology includes EDI-enabled client interface systems and the CargoWise freight forwarding platform (a WiseTech Global product) used across the partner base. Core service lines comprise customhouse brokerage, ocean and air export/import, warehousing, packing, assembly, distribution, inland transportation, and door-to-door traffic coordination.
WNA monetizes through three streams: (1) recurring annual membership dues from its ~110 members; (2) mandatory annual conference registration fees (USD 800 first attendee, USD 600 additional, USD 250 spouse/guest), with billing standardized to January 1st starting 2026; and (3) member-level service revenue, which flows through independent member P&Ls rather than WNA Inc.'s books. GTM is channel-based: members acquire end customers directly in their exclusive territories, supported by member-directory listings, annual conferences, and newsletters. End customers are global importers and exporters requiring multi-modal transportation and customs brokerage with local owner attention.
WorldNet Associates firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WorldNet Associates
- Legal name
- WorldNet Associates, Inc.
- Website
- https://wnaweb.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- WorldNet Associates is a 30-year-old, member-owned association of 110 independent freight forwarders, customs brokers, and logistics specialists across 85 countries, providing coordinated customs brokerage, freight forwarding, and logistics services through exclusive territorial representation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WorldNet Associates industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Freight Forwarding & Logistics Services
- NAICS
- Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Freight Transportation Arrangement (48851), Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation (48311)
- SIC
- Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Deep Sea Foreign Transportation Of Freight (4412)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Customs Brokerage for Ocean Shipments (Import/Export Clearance) (TLACABAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Ocean Import Forwarding (Destination Handling/DO/ISF) (TLACABAE), Ocean Export Forwarding (Booking/VGM/SI/BL) (TLACABAF)
Keywords
Where WorldNet Associates is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Houston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
WorldNet Associates business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Annual Membership Fees: WNA generates revenue through annual membership fees from its network of freight forwarders, customs brokers, and logistics specialists. Members pay dues for exclusive representation rights and access to the global network, Credit Protection Program, and collaborative business opportunities.
- Conference Registration Fees: Mandatory conference registration fees for annual events. First attendee from each member pays USD 800, additional attendees USD 600, and spouses/guests USD 250.
- Member Services Revenue: Members provide custom brokerage, air and ocean exports/imports, warehousing, packing, assembly, distribution, transportation insurance, and inland transportation services to customers worldwide.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | First Conference Attendee |
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | Additional Conference Attendees |
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | Spouse/Guest Conference Pass |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
WorldNet Associates product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WorldNet Associates is an international association of independent, locally-owned freight forwarders, customs brokers, and logistics specialists. Through its member network spanning 110 locations across 85 countries, WNA delivers export services (ocean/air freight, documentation, licensing, consolidation), import services (customhouse brokerage, customs clearance, transportation), logistics management (warehousing, distribution, JIT inventory, project coordination), information management (EDI), and transportation insurance to importers and exporters worldwide.
Product overview
WorldNet Associates is an international consortium of independent freight forwarders, customs brokers, and logistics specialists operating as a network-based association. The company offers a coordinated suite of services centered on export services (ocean/air freight, documentation, licensing, consolidation), import services (customhouse brokerage, customs clearance, transportation), logistics management (warehousing, distribution, JIT inventory, project coordination), and transportation insurance (via Roanoke Insurance Group partner). The organization mobilizes a network of approximately 2000 employees at 110 member locations worldwide, providing multi-modal transportation services for international cargo movement. Members are offered exclusive representation of the WNA Network on a city, regional, or country basis, operating under a WNA Code of Conduct.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Export Services Ocean and air export services provided through the WNA member network, including LCL, full container, ocean consolidation (NVOCC), export assembly and consolidation services, documentation, export licensing, consular legalization, and letter of credit analysis and negotiation. Offered to importers and exporters worldwide requiring outbound international freight services.
- Import Services Customhouse brokerage at all ports of entry, electronic interface with government agencies, customs clearance (entry, classification, valuation), custom bonds, cost-effective air/sea/land transportation, air express and cargo, consolidation, ocean freight (LCL, full container, consolidation), international freight forwarding, domestic transportation, air and ocean charters, and door-to-door traffic coordination. Offered to importers worldwide.
- Information Management State of the art computer equipment with complete EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) capabilities and client interface for seamless data exchange with clients and government agencies. Offered to members and their end customers requiring electronic shipment information exchange.
- Logistics Management Comprehensive logistical support through the WNA member network, including domestic and international transportation services, pick-up and delivery coordination, bonded warehousing, distribution, consolidation, break bulk, assembly, storage, container loading/unloading, just-in-time inventory control, project coordination, foreign trade zone services, customs and international trade consulting, and risk management and cargo loss prevention.
- Transportation Insurance Cargo insurance services delivered through partner Roanoke Insurance Group, offering high-volume coverage with major underwriters, loss prevention and risk management services, customized door-to-door or world-to-world coverage, and 'All Risks' coverage against physical loss or damage. Offered to importers and exporters worldwide shipping cargo.
Companies that use WorldNet Associates
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
WorldNet Associates technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
WorldNet Associates partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Roanoke Insurance GroupcoreRoanoke Insurance Group is a key partner providing transportation insurance services to WNA members. They offer high-volume coverage with major underwriters, providing best coverage at competitive rates. The partnership includes loss prevention, risk management services, and customized door-to-door coverage.
- CargoWisesupportingCargoWise (a WiseTech Global product) is a technology platform partner providing logistics and freight forwarding software solutions to WNA members.
- PSA Business GroupsupportingPSA Business Group is listed as a member and partner organization within the WNA network.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
WorldNet Associates competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- WCA Family of Logistics Networks: WCA operates multiple logistics networks (WCA First, WCA Projects, etc.) of independent forwarders and agents globally, with annual conferences, exclusive memberships, and EDI/technology partnerships. It is one of the largest and most established direct competitors to WNA.
- ICON (International Cooperative of Logistics Networks): ICON is a worldwide cooperative network of independent freight forwarders and customs brokers, operating on an exclusive-territory membership model very similar to WNA. It is the closest direct competitor in structure, services, and target member profile.
- Alliance Freight Network (AFN): AFN is an international network of independent freight forwarders and customs brokers, organized through annual conferences and exclusive territories. It is comparable to WNA in both services offered and membership-driven GTM.
- Globalink Logistics Network: Globalink operates a global membership network of freight forwarders, customs brokers, and logistics providers with annual conferences and partner-to-partner referrals. It directly competes with WNA for independent forwarder members worldwide.
- CGLN (Cooperative Global Logistics Network): CGLN is a member-owned cooperative of independent freight forwarders and customs brokers with exclusive territories, very similar to WNA's structure. It competes for the same independent forwarder membership base and operates on a similar dues-plus-conference revenue model.
- Global Logistics Network (GLN): GLN is an invitation-only, exclusive-membership network of independent freight forwarders and customs brokers serving importers and exporters. Its member model, code of conduct, and conference-driven GTM overlap directly with WNA.
- Lognet Global: Lognet Global is an exclusive-membership network of independent air and ocean freight forwarders with annual conferences and a Code of Ethics. It targets the same audience as WNA and competes on coverage and member exclusivity.
Emerging players
- Flexport: Flexport is a technology-led digital freight forwarder offering customs brokerage, ocean/air forwarding, and supply chain software. While it competes with WNA primarily for digital-savvy SME and mid-market shippers rather than for member recruitment, its tech-forward model represents an emerging competitive threat to networked associations.
Broad incumbents
- Expeditors International: Expeditors is a large global logistics integrator providing airfreight, ocean freight, customs brokerage, and supply chain services through owned offices worldwide. It competes with WNA for enterprise import/export accounts and represents the broad-incumbent alternative to a member-based network.
- Kuehne+Nagel International AG: Kuehne+Nagel is one of the world's largest integrated freight forwarders, offering global customs brokerage, ocean/air forwarding, and contract logistics. As a broad incumbent with owned offices in most major trade lanes, it competes with the WNA member network for the same enterprise shipper customers — though through a wholly-owned rather than member-owned model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
WorldNet Associates social profiles
Digital presenceWorldNet Associates financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WorldNet Associates leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
WorldNet Associates funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WorldNet Associates 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 WorldNet Associates
What does WorldNet Associates do?
WorldNet Associates is an international association of independent, locally-owned freight forwarders, customs brokers, and logistics specialists. Through its member network spanning 110 locations across 85 countries, WNA delivers export services (ocean/air freight, documentation, licensing, consolidation), import services (customhouse brokerage, customs clearance, transportation), logistics management (warehousing, distribution, JIT inventory, project coordination), information management (EDI), and transportation insurance to importers and exporters worldwide.
Is WorldNet Associates a public or private company?
WorldNet Associates is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was WorldNet Associates founded?
WorldNet Associates was founded in 1995. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is WorldNet Associates based?
WorldNet Associates is headquartered in Houston, United States, in the North America region.
How does WorldNet Associates make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Annual Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are conference Registration Fees and member Services Revenue.
Who are WorldNet Associates's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are WCA Family of Logistics Networks, ICON (International Cooperative of Logistics Networks), Alliance Freight Network (AFN), Globalink Logistics Network, CGLN (Cooperative Global Logistics Network), Global Logistics Network (GLN) and Lognet Global. Flexport is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Expeditors International and Kuehne+Nagel International AG.
Does WorldNet Associates have an API?
No public API is recorded for WorldNet Associates.
What industry is WorldNet Associates in?
WorldNet Associates's product category is International Freight Forwarding & Logistics Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLACABAG, Customs Brokerage for Ocean Shipments (Import/Export Clearance), with a secondary code of TLACABAE, Ocean Import Forwarding (Destination Handling/DO/ISF). Its NAICS code is 488510 and its SIC code is 4731.