According to Statista, the volume of seaborne trade reached nearly 12.3 billion metric tons in 2024. With so much cargo to move (and so much profit on the line), who do shippers trust to safely shepherd their freight through international waters?
The answer is freight forwarders, third-party providers that work with shippers and their consignees to arrange and oversee the movement of these international shipments.
You can’t afford to work with an untrustworthy or inexperienced freight forwarder.
As a critical part of your supply chain, it’s vital that the forwarder you choose (and their network) is the best possible fit for your business. But how can you determine which company that is — where do you even start?
The international division of Anderson Trucking Service (ATS) has operated as a non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC) since 1992. We’ve seen a lot of freight forwarders enter and exit the market in those three decades, and that experience has shaped our well-rounded freight forwarding services.
Still, no transportation provider can be all things to all customers. In a marketplace full of great options, you may decide ATS isn’t the freight forwarder for you. And that’s okay!
To ensure your supply chain is in good hands whether you utilize ATS International or not, we’ve put together this article of eight of the most successful global freight forwarders — plus four tips for choosing your best-fit partner
By the time you’re finished reading, you’ll have a solid starting place to begin your search. Let’s dive in!
What is a Freight Forwarder?
First, a quick primer: A freight forwarder is an intermediary between a shipper company and the final destination of their goods.
Freight forwarding is often one of many services offered by transportation companies, though some do make freight forwarding their proverbial bread and butter.
Like freight brokers, global freight forwarders don’t carry out the shipments themselves. Instead, they connect shipments to carriers in their network of trusted providers, relying on those relationships to deliver competitive pricing and outstanding service.
This is why choosing the right freight forwarder is so critical: You’re entrusting your cargo (and your company’s reputation) to the strength and quality of their network. The best freight forwarders are discerning when adding carriers to their network, opting for quality over quantity.
While the eight providers on our list below all have large global footprints and substantial networks, they also share a commitment to delivering customer satisfaction through top-tier provider partnerships.
8 Global Freight Forwarding Companies to Consider in 2025
We determined which freight forwarders to include on this list by looking at a number of factors, including longevity in the industry, capabilities, network size, reputation, and volume of twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) shipped annually.
Of course, this is by no means a comprehensive list of the best forwarders — that list would likely be hundreds of carriers long — but rest assured that the companies listed below consistently rank among the most successful and reliable in the industry.
In alphabetical order:
- C.H. Robinson
- CEVA Logistics
- DB Schenker
- DHL Global Forwarding
- DSV
- Expeditors
- Nippon Express
- Sinotrans
Unless otherwise noted, all revenue totals and freight volumes are sourced from third-party logistics (3PL) market research company Armstrong & Associates, Inc. All other company details are sourced from that company’s website.
All additional sources will be denoted with an asterisk (*) and stated at the bottom of the company’s feature.
C.H. Robinson
C.H. Robinson is one of the world’s largest logistics companies and an award-winning freight forwarder. Its offerings include international freight forwarding since 1992, when it acquired C.S. Greene International. Its expansive global network and investment in logistics technologies allow C.H. Robinson to provide comprehensive services to five continents.
2023 Ocean Freight: 1,353,750 TEUs
2023 Air Freight: 266,475 metric tons
2023 Gross Logistics Revenue: $16.75B (est.)
Headquarters: Eden Prairie, Minn.
Founded Date: 1905
Employees: 15,000+
Service Offerings: Air, sea, rail, flatbed, intermodal, less-than-container load (LCL), less-than-truckload (LTL), small parcel, truckload, temperature controlled, expedited freight, cross-border, customs and trade compliance, last mile, managed procurement services, managed services, project logistics, supply chain consulting, warehousing.
Core Industries Served: Aerospace, automotive, chemicals and plastics, energy solutions, floral, food and beverage, healthcare, industrial, paper and packaging, perishables, retail
CEVA Logistics
CEVA Logistics entered the market in 2007 as the fourth-largest global third-party logistics (3PL) company in the world, thanks to its founding merger between TNT Logistics and Eagle Global Logistics (EGL). Since then, CEVA has established a presence in over 170 companies, offering weekly ocean freight services on more than 600 routes connecting 10,000 points.
2023 Ocean Freight: 1,150,000 TEUs
2023 Air Freight: 450,000 metric tons
2023 Gross Logistics Revenue: $15.1B (est.)
Headquarters: Marseille, France
Founded Date: 1946 (as Thomas Nationwide Transport); CEVA Logistics was founded in 2007 following the merger of TNT Logistics and EGL Eagle Global Logistics.
Employees: 110,000+
Service Offerings: Sea (full container load, LCL, reefer), air, ground, rail, contract logistics, project logistics, finished vehicle logistics, customs, warehousing and fulfillment, freight management
Core Industries Served: Aerospace, automotive, consumer packaged goods, e-commerce, energy, healthcare, industrial and manufacturing, retail, showfreight, technology
DB Schenker
A division of German rail operator Deutsche Bahn, DB Schenker focuses on air, land, sea, and contract logistics, with a presence in over 130 countries. In addition to its global freight forwarding services, the company also offers comprehensive solutions for logistics and global supply chain management.
NOTE: In Sept. 2024, Danish logistics company DSV agreed to purchase DB Schenker for $15.85 billion; the deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025.*
2023 Ocean Freight: 1,783,000 TEUs
2023 Air Freight: 1,148,000 metric tons
2023 Gross Logistics Revenue: $21.12B (est.)
Headquarters: Essen, Germany
Founded Date: 1872
Employees: 72,700+
Service Offerings: Sea, air, road, transportation fulfillment, contract logistics, lead logistics, global projects and industry solutions, warehousing
Core Industries Served: Aerospace and defense, automotive, battery, beverages, cloud computing, consumer, electronics, fashion and retail, healthcare, industrial, marine parts, perishables, oil and gas logistics, recyclables, semiconductor, and solar
DHL Global Forwarding
DHL Global Forwarding serves over 167,000 customers daily, facilitating the movement of millions of tons of freight via sea, air, and rail. The oldest company on our list, DHL leverages its 210 years of experience, logistics network of over 40,000 providers, and footprint in over 190 countries to deliver end-to-end global service shippers can rely on.
2023 Ocean Freight: 3,089,000 TEUs
2023 Air Freight: 1,672,000 metric tons
2023 Gross Logistics Revenue: $33.87B (est.)
Headquarters: Bonn, Germany
Founded Date: 1815
Employees: 30,000+
Service Offerings: Sea, air, rail, road transportation fulfillment, customs services, shipment value protection, industrial projects, purchase order management, domestic solutions, multimodal solutions
Core Industries Served: Automotive, chemicals, consumer, engineering and manufacturing, energy, life science and healthcare, perishable foods, public sector, retail, technology, wine and spirits
DSV
DSV is a Danish logistics company specializing in global freight transportation by air, sea, road, and rail. DSV began as a small enterprise of just 10 truckers; upon completion of its acquisition of DB Schenker, the combined company will become the largest logistics company in the world.*
DSV’s “sea-air” service, a combination of the two modes, is purported by the company to be up to 50 percent faster than sea freight and up to 40 percent cheaper than air freight. DSV boasts 95 percent on-time performance.
2023 Ocean Freight: 2,519,295 TEUs
2023 Air Freight: 1,305,827 metric tons
2023 Gross Logistics Revenue: $22.32B (est.)
Headquarters: Hedehusene, Denmark
Founded Date: 1976
Employees: 75,000+
Service Offerings: Sea (full container and LCL), air, road, rail transportation fulfillment, special project transport, courier, customs clearance, insurance, purchase order management, e-commerce, warehousing
Core Industries Served: Aerospace, automotive, chemicals, energy and renewable resources, exhibitions and events, healthcare, industrial, perishables, retail/consumer, technology
Expeditors
With a global network spanning more than 340 locations in over 100 countries and six continents, Expeditors is a service-based (meaning they own no equipment assets) global logistics provider. Their model’s success depends upon a strong, diverse network of air, ocean, ground, and multimodal carriers. Like DSV, Expeditors also offers combination “Sea+Air/Air + Sea” services with the goal of offering cost savings and minimal destination warehouse charges while maintaining reasonable transit times.
2023 Ocean Freight: 791,700 TEUs
2023 Air Freight: 782,000 metric tons
2023 Gross Logistics Revenue: $9.3B (est.)
Headquarters: Seattle, Wash.
Founded Date: 1979
Employees: 18,000+
Service Offerings: Air, ocean (full container and LCL), multimodal, ground, project cargo, customs brokerage, supply chain order management, supply chain security, supply chain design and optimization, supply chain delivery management, warehousing and distribution.
Core Industries Served: Automotive, aviation and aerospace, beer, wine and spirits, fashion, healthcare, manufacturing, oil and energy, retail and fashion, start-ups, technology
Nippon Express
Nippon Express is a Japanese logistics company specializing in global freight movement across modalities — a 2025 ad campaign states it can move “anything to anywhere.” Its global network spanning over 50 countries and decades of experience have made Nippon Express one of the leading freight forwarders worldwide. One of the company’s more colorful claims to fame is its involvement in the transportation of high-profile fine art pieces, including the movement of both the Venus de Milo in 1964 and the Mona Lisa in 1974.
2023 Ocean Freight: 1,698,161 TEUs
2023 Air Freight: 693,546 metric tons
2023 Gross Logistics Revenue: $15.93B (est.)
Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Founded Date: 1937
Employees: 78,000+
Service Offerings: Air, sea (full container load, LCL, temperature and humidity controlled), ground and rail, refrigerated, cross-border, specialized, supply chain management, customs brokerage, warehousing and distribution
Core Industries Served: Aerospace and aviation, automotive, electric and telecommunication, fashion and retail, food, pharmaceuticals, railway, semiconductor
Sinotrans
The youngest provider on our list, Sinotrans was founded in 2002 and is one of the largest logistics companies in China. While perhaps best known for its operation of an expansive railway network throughout China, Southeast Asia, and Europe, Sinotrans also moves more than four million TEUs of ocean freight annually.
2023 Ocean Freight: 4,309,636 TEUs
2023 Air Freight: 902,000 metric tons
2023 Gross Logistics Revenue: $14.34B (est.)
Headquarters: Beijing, China
Founded Date: 2002
Employees*: 32,000+
Service Offerings: Sea, air, rail transportation, supply chain security, terminals and container yards, feeder/barges
Core Industries Served: Consumer goods and retail, electronics and high tech, automotive and industrial manufacturing, international supply chain, medical health, supply chain finance, project logistics, chemical logistics, cold chain logistics, exhibition logistics
4 Tips for Choosing a Freight Forwarder in 2025
With this list of the top freight forwarders in 2025, you have a great foundation upon which to start your search. It’s highly likely that a few of these companies will fit your needs.
That said, there are a few things you should keep in mind when selecting a freight forwarder, regardless of whether they made our list. Think of these factors like additional guardrails helping to ensure your final choice of partner is a solid one:
Industry Affiliations
There are quite a few agent networks, transportation clubs, and organizations where great forwarders come together to share best practices, fine-tune their collective expertise, and increase their understanding of current issues affecting the industry.
Strive to choose a freight forwarder that is involved in these organizations. Membership in one or more of these networks and alliances is a testament to a forwarder’s commitment to top-of-the-line service — the type of commitment your business deserves.
Though this is not a comprehensive list, some well-known forwarder groups and networks to look for are:
- Global Freight Alliance (GFA)
- Octopus Freight Network (OFN)
- Global Logistics Network
- The World Freight Alliance (WCA)
- WCAworld
Experience
Long-term success as a freight forwarder isn’t easy; it takes time and dedication to build a reliable network and a proven track record of quality service.
As such, experience says a lot about a freight forwarder and its ability to come through when it matters most. To ensure the forwarder you choose has the tools and first-hand knowledge to get the job done, be sure to ask questions like:
- Which regions of the world do you move goods to/from most frequently?
- Which regions of the world do you move goods to/from least frequently?
- What commodities do you transport most often?
- What services would you say are your core competencies?
- How many carriers are in your network?
- How many countries do you have an on-the-ground presence in?
- Are there any commodities you don't move/have no experience moving?
The answers to questions like these will give you a good understanding of the depth and breadth of a forwarder’s experience and whether it would be a good fit for your needs.
Technology
There are countless digital solutions designed to help freight forwarders offer their services at the highest possible level, with the highest degree of convenience and visibility for their customers.
When a forwarder makes investments in and utilizes these tools, it’s a good reflection of their commitment to service quality and customer experience. At a minimum, you should look for a freight forwarder with robust load-tracking capabilities, preferably self-service.
To ensure the forwarder you ultimately choose has the technological resources you need to feel supported, ask questions like:
- How do you ensure your technologies are up to date?
- Do you offer digital load tracking?
- Do you offer electronic data interchange (EDI) capabilities?
- Which technological tools do your customers find most helpful?
Financial Stability
Across industries and markets, a business’s ability to service its customer’s needs is far greater if it's in a financially sound position. The ability to operate without any major financial concerns or challenges allows freight forwarders to focus their time, energy, and resources on their core competency: Arranging for the efficient, cost-effective, and successful movement of freight.
Financial stability will look different from business model to business model, but in general, longevity in the industry (especially if the company has weathered difficult economic periods, like the COVID-19 pandemic,) low and/or responsibly managed debt, and a history of smart, sustainable growth are encouraging signs to look for.
These traits are a good indicator of whether a forwarder has the financial resources required to keep your supply chain running.
Furthermore, financially stable freight forwarders can help their customers more easily navigate the international freight shipping market by funding elements of their transportation solution in advance rather than waiting for checks to clear.
Ultimately, financial stability helps keep shipments on track and mitigate cash flow-related delays. Do your due diligence to confirm that the forwarder you select is backed by a history of fiscal stability and has a strong company infrastructure to ensure your service is uninterrupted and free of any unwelcome surprises.
Keep Your International Supply Chain Running Smoothly
Now that you have a handle on what to look for and a list of the top providers in 2025, you’re one step closer to your goal of adding a reliable freight forwarder to your network of trusted transportation providers.
Just as a freight forwarder is only as good as its carrier network, your supply chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
As you continue developing your transportation network, consider re-vetting current providers to assess their success in meeting your needs.
Not all carriers have the flexibility and resources to grow substantially alongside some customers; likewise, your business’s needs may have changed since you first brought them on board.
Our Transportation Provider Scorecard is a great starting place for this kind of vetting. It’s free to download, shareable with your team, and provides a clear, comprehensive rubric for recording and assessing the performance of your providers.
Use it while you decide which companies to retain, which to release, and where there may be service gaps in your existing network.
