If you’re an importer or exporter, you need a good freight forwarder to help with your international freight shipping. But with so many options, how can you know you’re choosing one that’s a good fit for you and your business?
We’ve got your back. Keep reading for a list of some of the world’s best freight forwarders to get you started.
Along with a list of top forwarders, we’ll share some parameters for evaluating providers, along with an overview of of the difference between larger forwarders and smaller ones.
Finally, we’ll provide greater detail about these top-performing freight forwarders.
Need a refresher on what a freight forwarder does? Head to our guide to learn about the role freight forwarders play in global shipping.
List of top 10 freight forwarders
Here’s a list of the top 10 global ocean forwarders:
| Provider | Gross Logistics Revenue ($ Billions) | Ocean(TEUs) | Air(Metric Tons) |
| Kuehne + Nagel | 20-50 | 4-5 million | 1-2 million |
| DHL | 20-50 | 2-4 million | 1-2 million |
| DSV | 20-50 | 2-4 million | 1-2 million |
| Sinotrans | 10-20 | Â 4-5 million | 1-2 million |
| Expeditors | 10-20 | 1-2 million | 1-2 million |
| C.H. Robinson | 20-50 | 1-2 million | 300K-500K |
| CEVA Logistics | 10-20 | 1-2 million | 300K-500K |
| Nippon Express | 10-20 | 0.5 -1 million | 0.5 -1 million |
| GEODIS | 10-20 | 0.5 -1 million | 300K-500K |
| Hellmann Worldwide Logistics | 3-5 | 0.5 -1 million | 0.5 -1 million |
How were these forwarders ranked?
This list reflects a qualitative assessment of overall scale, including global footprint, breadth of services, and industry presence. Rather than relying on a single metric, the goal is to illustrate relative size and reach among major multinational freight forwarders.
As a result, the list skews toward large enterprise logistics providers and may be less representative of forwarders focused on small businesses.
You know your business best. Choosing your freight forwarder will depend on the parameters that matter the most to you.
How to rank the best freight forwarding services for your business
Finding a reliable freight forwarder is a major business decision. The right freight forwarder can help boost operational efficiency and increase profit margins by providing faster shipping time, lower transportation costs, and exceptional services.
Here are some important factors to consider when choosing a freight forwarder:
Industry expertise
Which businesses and sectors does the company serve? Does it specialize in any particular industries or niches?
Location
Where is the company headquartered? In how many locations and countries does it operate? Does it serve all the countries you trade with?
Services
What solutions does the company provide? Does it provide any extra services? What is its area of service expertise?
Track record
What do experienced customers say about this forwarder? Are services usually late or mostly on time? How is customer support?
Scale of operations and capacity
Does the company have the infrastructure to handle your shipping requirements and freight volume? How many ocean TEUs and air metric tons can it handle annually?
Speaking of TEUs, here’s a brief intro to freight volumes – so you can see what forwarders mean when they talk about the amount of freight they handle.
What are ocean TEUs?
TEU is an acronym for a 20-foot equivalent unit.
In ocean freight, TEU refers to one 20 ft shipping container. A 40 ft container is equal to two TEUs. A vessel with a capacity of 1000 TEUs can fit 1000 standard 20 ft containers.
Ocean TEUs are also used to determine shipping rates.
If freight forwarding companies have higher ocean TEUs, they can handle more ocean freight, which often means a better chance of dependable service for you.
The larger freight forwarders, like Sinotrans, handle more than 10 million TEUs of containers annually – owing to their large network of partners, global logistics operations, and integrated range of services across industries.
What are air metric tons?
As a unit of weight, a metric ton refers to 2204.6 pounds or 1000 kilograms. An air metric ton measures the weight of cargo shipped by air freight in tons.
As with ocean TEUs, freight forwarders with capacity for higher volumes of air metric tons are often more reliable.
Looking for live quotes from vetted forwarders?
Top 10 freight forwarders of 2026 – a closer look
1. Kuene+Nagel
Founded 1890, HQ Schindellegi, Feusisberg, Switzerland
Company Overview
Kuehne + Nagel started as a forwarder and later expanded across different logistics verticals. A global transport conglomerate, it now offers highly specialized integrated logistics solutions across industries.
Services
Kuehne Nagel offers carbon-free global transportation and biofuel shipments to promote sustainable logistics. Their collaborative platform myKN helps customers track and manage shipments in one place.
Expertise
Kuehne Nagel offers carbon-free global transportation and biofuel shipments to promote sustainable logistics. Their collaborative platform myKN helps customers track and manage shipments in one place.
Regions served
1300+ locations in 100+ countries
- Europe (based in Hamburg, Germany)
- Middle East and Africa (based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
- North America (based in Jersey City, New Jersey, United States)
- Central and South America (based in Santiago de Chile, Chile)
- Asia Pacific (based in Singapore, Singapore)
Industries served
- Aerospace
- Automotive
- FMCG
- Healthcare
- High-tech
- Perishables
- Industrial
2. DHL
Founded 1969, HQ Bonn, Germany
Company Overview
DHL is one of the oldest names in freight forwarding. It offers global logistics, supply chain, transportation, e-commerce, and digital freight forwarding services.
Services
The company facilitates all types of freight transportation including air, ocean, rail, and road. They also offer other services like customs, cargo insurance, e-commerce parcel delivery and documentation for small, medium, and large enterprises.
Expertise
Hi-tech infrastructure, global presence, digital solutions and end-to-end tailored freight forwarding services provide a great shipping experience with full transparency over shipments.
Regions served
220+ countries
Industries served
- Auto-mobility
- Chemicals
- Consumer
- Energy
- Engineering
- Manufacturing
- Healthcare
- Retail
- Technology
3. DSV
Founded 1976, HQ Hedenhusene, Denmark
Company Overview
DSV is a Danish logistics company offering global freight shipping by sea, air, road, and rail. The company also provides warehousing and inventory services.
Services
DSV provides service across all freight shipping modes, customizing its service according to business sector.
Expertise
DSV provides end-to-end supply chain solutions, including warehousing and distribution. They are committed to digitalization, and aim to provide customers with real-time visibility over shipments. DSV is also dedicated to sustainability, and has a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
Regions served
DSV operates in over 80 countries, providing global coverage.
Industries served
- Automotive
- Consumer Products
- Healthcare
- High-Tech
- Industrial
- Retail/Fashion
- Chemical
4. Sinotrans
Founded 2002, HQ China
Company Overview
Sinotrans is a global logistics and freight forwarding provider offering integrated air, ocean, rail, and supply chain services. Backed by China Merchants Group, the company focuses on delivering end-to-end and one-stop supply chain solutions supported by intelligent logistics services.
Services
Sinotrans provides comprehensive logistics services, including sea freight, air freight, road and rail transportation, shipping agency services, warehousing and distribution, terminal and container yard operations, feeder and barge services, and supply chain security solutions.
Expertise
Sinotrans structures its operations around three core business segments: agency and related services, supply chain logistics, and e-business. By integrating multiple transport modes with logistics information systems and supply chain management capabilities, the company supports customized logistics solutions and value-added services across complex international supply chains.
Regions served
Sinotrans operates globally, with a strong footprint in Asia and China-connected trade lanes, supporting international supply chains across ocean, air, rail, and multimodal networks.
Industries served
- Consumer and retail
- Electronics and high technology
- Automotive and manufacturing
- Medical and healthcare
- Chemicals
- Cold chain logistics
- Project logistics
- International supply chain services
5. Expeditors International
Founded 1979, HQ Essen, Seattle, Washington, United States
Company Overview
Expeditors is a leading freight forwarding services provider in the US. Along with logistics and transportation, it also provides customized supply chain solutions, with end-to-end service efficiency and optimization.
Services
It offers global air, ocean, multimodal, ground, and project cargo transportation services. Expeditors also provides warehousing, distribution, customs, risk management, and insurance solutions.
Expertise
Expeditors specializes in tech and digital solutions for freight forwarders. Its unique Saas offerings include ocean forecasting, sensor-based logistics, trade management software, and a booking platform.
Regions served
350+ locations across 100+ countries, specializing in Canada and the US
Industries served
- Automotive & mobility
- Fashion & retail
- Aviation & Aerospace
- Healthcare
- Manufacturing
- Oil & energy
- Technology
6. C.H. Robinson
Founded 1905, HQ Essen, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, United States
Company Overview
C.H. Robinson is a global third-party logistics (3PL) company and supply chain management solution provider. It has a huge network of 85,000+ carriers, 17,000+ supply chain experts, and freight forwarding partners. Note that CH Robinson is one of the freight forwarders that is indeed available for freight price comparison, booking and management on Freightos.
Services
With solutions for shippers and carriers, C.H. Robinson provides intermodal, ocean, air, and rail shipping services. Other services include trucking, customs, trade compliance, contract logistics, project logistics, last-mile delivery, supply chain consulting, and warehousing.
Expertise
Along with specializing in comprehensive freight forwarding services and supply chain solutions, CH Robinson also offers surface transportation in North America, Canada, and Mexico for perishables logistics and temperature-controlled goods.
Regions served
150+ countries including major presence in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Oceania
Industries served
- Aerospace
- Automotive
- Energy solutions
- Chemicals and plastic
- Floral
- Food and beverage
- Industrial
- Paper and packaging
- Perishables
Freightos
Founded 2011, Miami, Florida, United States
Company Overview
Freightos isn’t actually a freight forwarder – but it does offer a digital freight booking platform that makes international shipping faster, more cost-effective, and more reliable. In addition, Freightos offers a range of other services and data for logistics professionals.
Services
The Freightos.com marketplace allows importers and exporters to instantly search rates from dozens of freight forwarders, and then book and manage their shipments all in one place. Additional services offered by The Freightos Group include rate management and digital booking for freight forwarders, and global freight pricing data and market intelligence for professionals across the logistics industry.
Expertise
Freight rate comparison and booking, shipment management, e-booking for freight forwarders, industry data, and price benchmarking.
Regions served
Worldwide coverage on digital freight marketplace; specializes in Asia exports, North America, UK, and Western Europe imports, and domestic and cross-border freight within Europe.
Industries served
Commercial shipping; general goods shipped by air, ocean, express, LTL, and rail.
7. CEVA Logistics
Founded 2007, HQ Marseille, France
Company Overview
CEVA Logistics is the logistics arm of the CMA CGM group, one of the top freight forwarders in the world. It is known for its extensive port, maritime, and logistics services with end-to-end supply chain management and e-commerce solutions.
Services
It provides a range of freight forwarding solutions including ocean freight, air freight, ground freight, contract logistics, and project logistics. Other value-added services include customs brokerage, warehousing and storage, cargo insurance, and smart packaging solutions.
Expertise
CEVA Logistics specializes in automotive logistics and is considered one of the best freight forwarders for shipping to China. It is also the official logistics partner of Scuderia Ferrari (Formula 1).
Regions served
1300+ locations across 170+ countries
Industries served
- Automotive
- Consumer Goods
- Healthcare
- Industrial
- Aerospace
- Technology
- Energy
8. Nippon Express
Founded 1872, HQ Tokyo, Japan
Company Overview
Nippon Express is one of the top 10 freight forwarders globally providing one-stop transportation solutions. It started as a ground transportation business and later expanded to integrated logistics solutions provider.
Services
It offers truck, rail, sea, and air freight forwarding services. It also provides other services like cross-border freight solutions, insurance, supply chain management, specialized tr
