United States Freight Brokerage Market Size and Share
United States Freight Brokerage Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence
The United States freight brokerage market is valued at USD 19.68 billion in 2025 and is set to reach USD 28.17 billion by 2030, registering a 7.44% CAGR through the forecast period. Growth momentum is supported by the rapid uptake of digital freight platforms, sustained e-commerce demand, and continued federal investment in infrastructure. Tech-enabled brokers are scaling automation to compress transaction time, while traditional intermediaries look to mergers for scale advantages. Driver shortages and heightened spot-market reliance continue to favor intermediaries that maintain deep carrier networks and real-time pricing engines. At the same time, asset-based carriers are bolting on brokerage desks to protect margins, forcing pure-play brokers to differentiate through specialized compliance, temperature-controlled capacity, or managed-transport contracts. The convergence of predictive analytics, electronic logging data, and venture funding is expected to widen the performance gap between digitally mature and lagging firms, thereby reshaping competitive hierarchies across the United States freight brokerage market.
Key Report Takeaways
- By service, Full-Truckload (FTL) led with 63.75% of the United States freight brokerage market share in 2024. The United States freight brokerage market for Less-than-Truckload (LTL) is projected to expand at a 9.0% CAGR between 2025-2030.
- By equipment, dry vans commanded a 44.65% of the United States freight brokerage market share in 2024. The United States freight brokerage market for refrigerated trailers is advancing at a 10.1% CAGR between 2025-2030.
- By haul length, long-haul lanes held 53.15% of the United States freight brokerage market share in 2024. The United States freight brokerage market for regional routes (100-500 miles) is the fastest-growing at 8.4% CAGR between 2025-2030.
- By business model, traditional brokerage accounted for 54.3% of the United States freight brokerage market revenue in 2024. The United States freight brokerage market for digital brokerage is accelerating at 17.0% CAGR between 2025-2030.
- By end-user, retail, FMCG & wholesale distribution led with 29.6% of the United States freight brokerage market share in 2024. The United States freight brokerage market for e-commerce & 3PL fulfillment shows the strongest 13.5% CAGR between 2025-2030.
- By customer size, large shippers contributed 56.3% of the United States freight brokerage market turnover in 2024. The United States freight brokerage market for small businesses is expected to grow at 10.4% CAGR between 2025-2030.
- By geography, the Midwest captured 26.6% of the United States freight brokerage market revenue in 2024. The United States freight brokerage market for the Southwest is forecast to post the highest regional CAGR at 8.2% between 2025-2030.
United States Freight Brokerage Market Trends and Insights
Drivers Impact Analysis
Driver | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
---|---|---|---|
Tight domestic truckload capacity & driver shortage | +1.8% | National, stronger in Midwest & Southeast | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Heightened e-commerce parcel volumes | +1.5% | National, concentration in urban centers | Long term (≥4 years) |
Shipper demand for managed transportation | +1.0% | National, emphasis on manufacturing hubs | Medium term (2-4 years) |
ELD mandate compliance requirements | +0.8% | National | Short term (≤2 years) |
Venture-capital funding for digital platforms | +1.6% | National, focus on tech hubs | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act | +0.7% | National, infrastructure-poor regions | Long term (≥4 years) |
Source: Mordor Intelligence
Tight Domestic Truckload Capacity and Driver Shortage
Persistent driver turnover keeps capacity tight and lifts spot tender rejection rates, pushing more loads toward brokers with agile matching engines. Mid-sized shippers increasingly depend on intermediaries to secure trucks when contract carriers reject tenders. Digital load boards capture rising volume because automated postings reduce the time needed to cover urgent freight. Driver scarcity is most acute for long-haul refrigerated lanes, intensifying broker leverage in that sub-market[1]Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Staff, “Safety Measurement System Methodology,” Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, fmcsa.dot.gov. Carriers are demanding higher rates to offset retention bonuses, and savvy brokers bundle back-haul opportunities to keep trucks moving. Tight capacity, therefore, sustains brokerage relevance even as asset-based fleets expand direct sales.
Heightened E-Commerce Parcel Volumes
Rapid-fire online ordering pivots shipment profiles toward smaller, more frequent loads that favor Less-than-Truckload capacity. General rate increases of 4.9%–7.9% across major LTL carriers in 2025 signal constrained pallet space and bolster broker margins when they secure capacity in advance. Density-based freight re-classification slated for July 2025 will lift costs on lightweight e-commerce parcels, reinforcing the need for brokerage expertise in class assignment. Digital LTL portals offering dynamic quoting stand to gain market share as shippers seek rapid cost visibility. Brokers capable of pre-consolidating parcel freight into LTL moves can capture incremental value by reducing per-unit shipping costs. The United States freight brokerage market thus benefits from the structural e-commerce shift toward middle- and final-mile optimization.
Shipper Demand for Managed Transportation
Large enterprises with USD 100 million freight spend increasingly outsource network planning, procurement, and performance management to 4PL-style brokers. Complexity from omnichannel fulfilment, fluctuating fuel costs, and multimodal routing drives demand for continuous optimization. Brokers respond by integrating predictive analytics that simulate modal choices, inventory positioning, and lane consolidation. Managed-transport contracts extend three to five years, giving brokers annuity-like revenue and deeper customer intimacy. This model lowers shippers’ administrative overhead and grants brokers a higher wallet share per client. Adoption is prominent among chemical, automotive, and industrial clusters in the Midwest and the Gulf Coast.
ELD Mandate Compliance Requirements
FMCSA’s ongoing purge of non-compliant electronic logging devices compels tens of thousands of carriers to transition platforms, raising the value of brokers that maintain real-time compliance dashboards[2]Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Staff, “Registered ELD Revocations List,” Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, fmcsa.dot.gov. The planned elimination of MC numbers by October 2025 consolidates authority under a single USDOT identifier, simplifying verification workflows for brokers. Shippers shift liability by routing loads through intermediaries who guarantee safety-rated capacity and insurance validity. Smaller brokers lacking automated vetting tools struggle to keep pace, accelerating consolidation. Compliance visibility becomes a critical selling point in bids for food, pharma, and hazmat freight where chain-of-responsibility audits are stringent.
Restraints Impact Analysis
Restraint | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
---|---|---|---|
Volatile diesel prices | -1.2% | National | Short term (≤2 years) |
Port congestion & chassis shortages | -0.9% | Coastal regions & port cities | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Asset-based carrier direct brokerage | -1.4% | National | Long term (≥4 years) |
Federal scrutiny on broker requirements | -0.7% | National | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Source: Mordor Intelligence
Volatile Diesel Prices
Average U.S. diesel swung between USD 3.43 and USD 4.58 per gallon in 2024, outpacing fuel-surcharge recalibration and compressing broker spot margins. Large brokers deploy hedging models that ingest Energy Information Administration data to anticipate surcharges, but smaller players often misprice loads, eroding net revenue[3]U.S. Energy Information Administration Staff, “Weekly U.S. No. 2 Diesel Retail Prices,” Energy Information Administration, eia.gov. Refrigerated lanes are hit hard because reefer units consume extra fuel. Some brokers now publish “all-in” offers with real-time fuel clauses to shield margins while maintaining price transparency. Fluctuation uncertainty discourages shippers from locking year-long rates, nudging them to transactional spot brokerage.
Port Congestion and Chassis Shortages
Intermodal queues at Los Angeles-Long Beach and Savannah extend dwell times, driving up detention charges that neither shippers nor brokers can fully pass through. Chassis scarcity inflates drayage premiums and disrupts transload schedules, especially during peak import surges. Brokers struggle to secure container-ready capacity on short notice, risking customer service failures. Coastal brokerage offices divert freight inland via rail, but limited ramp slots create new bottlenecks. Persistent congestion dampens market growth until chassis pools expand and port automation projects materialize.
Segment Analysis
By Service: LTL Gains Momentum in the E-Commerce Era
The United States freight brokerage market size for service lines continues to skew toward FTL, which generated 63.75% of revenue in 2024, yet the LTL corridor is on track for a 9.0% CAGR through 2030. Digital platforms that quote pallet-level rates within seconds are winning volume from manual call-and-fax workflows. The density-based re-classification in July 2025 will reward brokers able to re-engineer packaging dimensions so that shippers avoid higher classes for light bulky products.
FTL still commands the bulk of long-haul industrial freight, but driver scarcity and equipment constraints are nudging shippers to multistop LTL consolidations. Parcel-to-LTL consolidation hubs reduce last-mile congestion and cut per-unit cost, giving brokers new margins on value-added cross-dock services. Specialized brokers also exploit “partial truckload” offerings to bridge the gap between LTL and FTL. Consequently, multi-service capability is now a benchmark for winning diversified RFPs across the United States freight brokerage market.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
By Equipment / Trailer Type: Refrigerated Demand Outpaces Market
Dry vans produced 44.65% of revenue in 2024, but refrigerated units are advancing at 10.1% CAGR, lifting the equipment segment’s United States freight brokerage market size over the forecast horizon. Food-grade and pharmaceutical shippers require temperature verification and electronic seals, favoring brokers with telematics-equipped carrier pools.
Rising specialty produce exports out of the West Coast elevate back-haul demand for reefers into the Midwest and East. Brokers bundle harmonized temperature monitoring and detention mitigation into premium pricing. Flatbed and step-deck equipment remains cyclical, spiking during spring construction, while tanker brokerage stays niche due to hazmat compliance burdens. Equipment flexibility, therefore, became central to winning multi-modal contracts in 2025.
By Haul Length: Regional Routes Gain Strategic Importance
Long-hauls accounted for 53.15% of 2024 turnover, yet regional lanes are projected to compound at 8.4% CAGR as shippers rebalance inventories closer to demand nodes. Average broker margin on sub-250-mile hauls reaches 15.2% compared with 11.7% on 1,000-mile moves, supporting profitability for specialists in short-haul aggregation.
Retailers deploying micro-fulfillment centers need high-frequency middle-mile replenishment, creating consistent volume for brokers with dense carrier clusters. Local freight benefits from urban consolidation programs designed to curb emissions. Brokers offering drop-trailer pools and cross-dock transloads are particularly well-positioned, sustaining lane density across the United States freight brokerage market.
By Business Model: Digital Platforms Disrupt Traditional Brokerage
Traditional brokers controlled 54.3% of 2024 gross revenue, but digital models are surging at 17.0% CAGR, signaling a tectonic shift in how loads are sourced and priced. AI tender bots parse emails and spreadsheets, post structured data to carrier marketplaces, and execute automatic counteroffers, shrinking load-coverage time to minutes.
Asset-based carriers now blend committed capacity with on-demand brokerage to improve asset utilization, complicating value propositions for non-asset firms. The agency model survives in niche geographies where personal relationships trump algorithmic matching. However, multi-tenant SaaS freight platforms are lowering the cost for small brokers to access the same digital rails, preserving competition across the United States freight brokerage market.
By End-User Industry: E-Commerce Reshapes Freight Patterns
Retail, FMCG & wholesale distribution generated 29.6% of 2024 revenue, but e-commerce & 3PL fulfillment is climbing at 13.5% CAGR, enlarging its share of the United States freight brokerage market size. Same-day delivery expectations force omnichannel retailers to split inventory into regional nodes, resulting in more LTL and parcel-consolidation shipments.
Manufacturing and automotive freight have stabilized as reshoring projects in the Midwest drive steady inbound raw material and outbound component flows. Infrastructure spending renews demand for flatbed moves in the construction segment, while healthcare logistics calls for GDP-certified carriers and detailed chain-of-custody documentation. Brokers with vertical expertise, therefore, earn premium margins by navigating complex regulatory and temperature-controlled requirements.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
By Customer Size: Small Businesses Drive Incremental Growth
Large shippers accounted for 56.3% of 2024 revenue, yet small businesses are on a 10.4% CAGR trajectory because digital self-service portals now lower entry barriers. Instant pallet quotes, embedded financing, and mobile status alerts mimic parcel-shipping experiences, drawing micro-shippers toward brokerage solutions.
Mid-market firms straddle transactional and strategic buying behaviors, demanding both negotiated annual rates and spot flexibility during seasonal surges. Brokers segment account management to tailor SLA levels, using CRM and analytics to identify upsell opportunities in managed transportation. Inclusive platform design thus allows the United States freight brokerage market to broaden its addressable customer base while maintaining service differentiation.
Geography Analysis
The Midwest held 26.6% of 2024 revenue, supported by a dense interstate grid and proximity to automotive, machinery, and agribusiness production clusters. Intermodal ramps in Chicago and Kansas City provide seamless rail-to-truck transfers, sustaining brokerage volumes across dry and refrigerated categories. Robust managed-transport adoption among industrial shippers further cements the region’s leadership within the United States freight brokerage market.
The Southwest is the fastest-growing region at 8.2% CAGR through 2030, buoyed by population inflow, semiconductor plant construction, and cross-border automotive supply chains. Near-shoring to Mexico increases trans-load brokerage in Laredo and El Paso as production parts flow north. While 2024 saw trade softness, rail ramp bottlenecks in Dallas and Phoenix are improving, creating expansion opportunities for brokers aligning with maquiladora schedules.
The West benefits from robust import flows through Los Angeles-Long Beach, Oakland, and Seattle-Tacoma, driving drayage and transcontinental intermodal brokerage. Port automation pilots and expanded chassis pools are expected to ease congestion by 2026, improving schedule reliability. Meanwhile, freight activity in the Southeast tracks housing-starts volatility, and the Northeast contends with retail inventory corrections, giving brokers in those regions variable revenue streams that reward operational agility.
Competitive Landscape
Competition spans global 3PLs, tech-forward start-ups, and asset-light regional specialists. C.H. Robinson maintains category leadership through USD 1 billion in annual technology spend and an AI engine credited with automating more than 3 million transactions. Total Quality Logistics leverages deep carrier relationships for high-service truckload coverage, whereas XPO Logistics continues to specialize in LTL optimization after its 2024 global spin-off.
Consolidation is reshaping market structure. RXO’s USD 1.025 billion purchase of Coyote Logistics from UPS in June 2024 vaulted the firm into the top North American brokerage tier. Radiant Logistics acquired Universal Logistics in May 2025 to bolster oilfield and HVAC project freight, while DP World agreed to buy Unique Logistics International for USD 35.855 million in March 2025, expanding global forwarding reach.
Start-ups are capturing niche whitespaces. FreightVana’s planned acquisition of Loadsmith’s brokerage arm adds a power-only trailer pool for drop operations. World Group’s March 2025 buyout of Dray Alliance integrates digital drayage scheduling into its ContainerPort network, offering real-time marine terminal visibility. UPS targets USD 20 billion in healthcare logistics revenue by 2026, intensifying vertical competition. Firms that fuse industry expertise with automation are best positioned to protect margins amid volatile fuel and contract cycles in the United States freight brokerage market.
United States Freight Brokerage Industry Leaders
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C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc.
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Total Quality Logistics (TQL)
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XPO Logistics Inc.
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Echo Global Logistics
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Worldwide Express
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order

Recent Industry Developments
- May 2025: Radiant Logistics acquired Universal Logistics, strengthening time-critical air and ocean freight services in oilfield and HVAC verticals.
- March 2025: Unique Logistics International signed a USD 35.855 million merger agreement with DP World Logistics to expand global freight management reach.
- December 2024: FreightVana announced plans to buy Loadsmith’s brokerage arm, enlarging its power-only trailer network.
- June 2024: RXO acquired Coyote Logistics from UPS for USD 1.025 billion, creating one of the largest freight brokerage companies in North America and significantly reshaping the competitive landscape through this major consolidation RXO
United States Freight Brokerage Market Report Scope
Freight brokerage companies facilitate the shipment and delivery of goods across geographical borders for individuals and organizations. Freight brokers provide a service by linking customers with shippers and trucking companies.
The report provides a comprehensive background analysis of the United States freight brokerage market, covering the current market trends, restraints, technological updates, and detailed information on various segments and the competitive landscape of the industry. Additionally, the COVID-19 impact has been incorporated and considered during the study.
The report covers freight brokerage companies, and the market is segmented by service (less than truckload (LTL), full truckload (FTL), and other services) and end user (manufacturing and automotive, oil and gas, mining, and quarrying, agriculture, fishing and forestry, construction, distributive trade (wholesale and retail segments, FMCG included) and other end users (telecommunications, pharmaceutical, etc.)).
The report offers market sizes and forecasts in value (USD) for all the above segments.
By Service | Full-Truckload (FTL) |
Less-than-Truckload (LTL) | |
Others | |
By Equipment / Trailer Type | Dry Van |
Refrigerated Van | |
Flatbed / Step-Deck | |
Tanker (Bulk Liquid & Chemical) | |
Others | |
By Haul Length | Long-Haul (More than 500 miles) |
Regional (100–500 miles) | |
Local (Less than 100 miles) | |
By Business Model | Traditional Freight Brokerage |
Asset-Based Freight Brokerage | |
Agent Model Freight Brokerage | |
Digital Freight Brokerage | |
By End-User Industry | Manufacturing & Automotive |
Construction & Infrastructure Projects | |
Oil, Gas, Mining & Chemicals | |
Agriculture & Food / Beverage | |
Retail, FMCG & Wholesale Distribution | |
Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals | |
E-commerce & 3PL Fulfilment | |
Other End-User Industry | |
By Customer Size | Large Enterprise Shippers (More than $100 M Freight Spend) |
Mid-Market Shippers ($10–100 M) | |
Small Businesses (Less than $10 M) | |
By Geography | Northeast |
Midwest | |
Southeast | |
Southwest | |
West |
Full-Truckload (FTL) |
Less-than-Truckload (LTL) |
Others |
Dry Van |
Refrigerated Van |
Flatbed / Step-Deck |
Tanker (Bulk Liquid & Chemical) |
Others |
Long-Haul (More than 500 miles) |
Regional (100–500 miles) |
Local (Less than 100 miles) |
Traditional Freight Brokerage |
Asset-Based Freight Brokerage |
Agent Model Freight Brokerage |
Digital Freight Brokerage |
Manufacturing & Automotive |
Construction & Infrastructure Projects |
Oil, Gas, Mining & Chemicals |
Agriculture & Food / Beverage |
Retail, FMCG & Wholesale Distribution |
Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals |
E-commerce & 3PL Fulfilment |
Other End-User Industry |
Large Enterprise Shippers (More than $100 M Freight Spend) |
Mid-Market Shippers ($10–100 M) |
Small Businesses (Less than $10 M) |
Northeast |
Midwest |
Southeast |
Southwest |
West |
Key Questions Answered in the Report
What is the current size of the United States freight brokerage market and how fast is it growing?
The market is valued at USD 19.68 billion in 2025 and is forecast to reach USD 28.17 billion by 2030, reflecting a 7.44% CAGR.
Which service type is expanding the fastest within the United States freight brokerage market?
Less-than-Truckload (LTL) brokerage is the growth leader, progressing at a 9.0% CAGR through 2030 as e-commerce pushes smaller, more frequent shipments.
How are digital freight platforms reshaping competitive dynamics?
Digital brokers are growing at 17.0% CAGR and use AI tools to automate load tendering, dynamic pricing, and compliance checks, shortening transaction cycles and compressing costs.
Which region offers the highest growth potential for freight brokers?
The Southwest is projected to expand at 8.2% CAGR, supported by cross-border trade with Mexico, semiconductor investment, and population growth.
Why are refrigerated trailers attracting increased brokerage interest?
Rising demand from food, pharmaceutical, and healthcare customers is propelling refrigerated van revenue at a 10.1% CAGR, the highest rate among trailer categories.
How is the driver shortage influencing broker margins?
Carrier scarcity elevates spot tender rejections and allows brokers with strong carrier networks to negotiate higher service premiums while maintaining high load-coverage velocity.