Transport and logistics
Moving, storing, and coordinating physical goods.
Logistics matches a shipment to a route, capacity, handling requirements, and a delivery promise. Networks create connections, but each movement consumes time, equipment, and energy. Transport providers and asset-light intermediaries take different risks even when they sell the same delivery outcome.
What to look for
Follow the shipment across handoffs. Empty movements, dwell time, congestion, missed connections, and inventory delays can erase an apparent rate advantage. Compare utilization with reliability and service scope rather than treating all tonnage or distance as equally valuable.
Explore this sector
- Container shippingScheduled freight capacity
Container shipping sells scheduled space in a global transport network. Profit depends on freight rates, loaded capacity, voyage costs, and how quickly ships and containers return to service.
- TruckingLoads, miles, and stops
Trucking turns vehicles, drivers and dispatch decisions into reliable freight movement. Its economics depend on paid miles, empty repositioning, waiting time and the fit between outbound and return loads.
- WarehousingStorage and handling
Warehouses keep goods available, accurate and ready to move. The business combines storage space with receiving, picking and dispatch capacity; a building can have empty shelves and still run out of throughput.
10 companies to know
Selected examples from the industries covered in this sector, spanning different operating roles. This is an editorial selection, not a ranking by revenue, market value, or size.
Listed alphabetically. Names link to official sources. Checked . How we select examples.
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Americold
Temperature-controlled warehousing
Provides cold-chain storage and related services for producers, retailers and foodservice customers, connecting temperature-controlled facilities with transportation and other handling activities for perishable products.
Explore Warehousing -
C.H. Robinson
Freight brokerage
Arranges truckload transportation through contracted carriers, connecting shippers with capacity. It represents the brokerage model, where arranging a movement differs from owning the truck.
Explore Trucking -
CMA CGM’s logistics subsidiary provides contract logistics across industries, including warehouse operations and value-added services that connect receiving, inventory management and customer distribution.
Explore Warehousing -
Operates container services alongside logistics and terminal activities. Its shipping network connects with CEVA’s warehousing and inland services within the same group.
Explore Container shipping -
Carries containerized freight on international and domestic routes within the COSCO SHIPPING group, combining ocean transportation with booking, tracking and related cargo services.
Explore Container shipping -
DHL’s freight division organizes European road and rail transportation through a cross-border network, combining local shipping access with broader regional freight services.
Explore Trucking -
DHL Group’s contract logistics division operates customer warehousing and related supply-chain processes, including specialized frozen-food storage and on-site logistics under long-term commercial partnerships.
Explore Warehousing -
Estes Express Lines
Less-than-truckload freight
Moves less-than-truckload shipments through a North American service-center network. Multiple customers’ freight shares transportation capacity, making terminal coordination and reliable handling central to operations.
Explore Trucking -
Hapag-Lloyd
Global liner shipping
Operates scheduled container shipping services across international trade routes. Customers buy cargo transport through its vessel network, supported by local offices and shipment services.
Explore Container shipping -
HMM
Container and bulk shipping
Provides container transport for dry, refrigerated and special cargo, alongside separate bulk-shipping operations. Its services connect ocean movements with inland logistics networks.
Explore Container shipping
This is a developing reference. This sector currently contains 3 detailed profiles; the index does not claim exhaustive coverage of every subsector.
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Try this workflow with ERP.AI
Plan shipments and transport legs, compare contracted rates, tender work to carriers, and connect delivery evidence with freight invoice audits and accessorial charge reviews.
2 Run it with Proto
Get the desktop agent, then return to the app page to continue setup.