C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. is a third-party logistics (3PL) provider operating a predominantly non-asset-based business model. Rather than owning the trucks, ships, or aircraft used to transport goods, the company acts as a freight broker and logistics manager, connecting tens of thousands of shippers with a large network of contract carriers. The company generates revenue by earning a margin on the difference between what it charges customers for transportation services and what it pays carriers to execute the shipments.
C.H. Robinson operates through two primary segments: North American Surface Transportation (NAST) and Global Forwarding. The NAST segment, which accounts for the majority of the company's revenue (approximately 66% of its $17.7 billion revenue in 2024), provides freight brokerage services across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, focusing on truckload and less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation. The Global Forwarding segment (approximately 21% of revenue) manages international logistics, including ocean freight, air freight, and customs brokerage services across North America, Europe, Asia, and South America. The remainder of its revenue comes from Robinson Fresh, which provides logistics and sourcing for fresh produce, and Managed Services.
A notable characteristic of C.H. Robinson is its proprietary Navisphere technology platform, which offers customers global supply chain visibility, predictive analytics, and automated pricing. The company's scale and data capabilities allow it to efficiently match freight demand with carrier capacity and manage supply chain operations for its clients.
