Strong consumer demand, continued supply chain bottlenecks and tight carrier capacity sent air, ground and ocean transportation rates soaring to historic levels in 2021 as shippers leaned on third-party logistics providers to bolster inventories and avoid product stockouts.
April 8, 2022Evan Armstrong
Business, Logistics 
Expeditors International is the largest U.S.-based ITM 3PL revenue-wise. (Expeditors International via Facebook)
High Demand Drives 3PLs to Best Growth Year on Record
Expeditors International is the largest U.S.-based ITM 3PL revenue-wise. (Expeditors International via Facebook) Business, Technology, Logistics, Top 50 
An XPO Logistics employee works in a warehouse. (XPO Logistics)
Pandemic Upends Logistics Market
An XPO Logistics employee works in a warehouse. (XPO Logistics)The COVID-19 outbreak created a volatile U.S. third-party logistics market in 2020, which presented growth opportunities for 3PLs with strong carrier management, e-commerce and airfreight forwarding capabilities, while other 3PLs did not fare as well.
April 3, 2021 Business, Logistics, Top 50 
The airfreight forwarding sector, in which DHL ranks No. 1, logged one of the weakest years for logistics subsegments. (Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg News)
After Mixed Financial Results in 2019, 3PLs Face Coronavirus Headwinds
The airfreight forwarding sector, in which DHL ranks No. 1, logged one of the weakest years for logistics subsegments. (Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg News)Coming off an extraordinary growth market in 2018, third-party logistics companies operating in the United States experienced a more mixed year in 2019.
March 19, 2020 Business, Logistics, Top 50 
C.H. Robinson led the nonasset-based domestic transportation management segment. TT File Photo
2018 Was a Year of Extraordinary Growth for 3PLs
C.H. Robinson led the nonasset-based domestic transportation management segment. TT File PhotoThe two main drivers of growth for logistics companies in 2018 were an inventory buildup to beat tariffs and solid expansion in the domestic economy.
April 8, 2019