More than 175 countries are serviced by this division of the United Parcel Service (global revenue $45.3bn) which offers ‘transportation and freight’, ‘contract logistics’, ‘customs brokerage’, ‘consulting services’ and ‘industry solutions’. UPS SCS owns more than 500 facilities in more than 115 countries, totalling 36.6mn sq. ft with a delivery fleet of 517 vehicles. In 2016, it posted a revenue of $6.793bn.

State-owned French logistics provider Geodis, part of SNCF Logistics (a business line of the SNCF Group), is the number one transport and logistics operator in France and ranks number four in Europe, with an international reach of 120 countries. Formed in 1904 as Calberson, GEODIS comprises of five lines of business: supply chain optimization, freight forwarding, contract logistics, distribution and express and road transport. In 2015, GEODIS enhanced its freight forwarding and contract logistics offering in the US by acquiring OHL (Ozburn-Hessey Logistics). Its revenue for 2016 stands at $6.83bn.

Sinotrans is state-owned by the Chinese government and has split into three divisions since its formation in 1950: Sinotrans Air Transportation, Sinotrans Limited and Sinotrans Shipping. Sinotrans is the largest logictics company in China and its main focus is trucking and express services. It employs 66,157 staff and recently announced revenue figures of $7.046bn. It announced in September that it is quit its shipbuilding business.

Ranked as the world’s second largest supplier of freight brokerage and contract logistics services in the world, XPO also has the largest owned trucking fleet in Europe and operates the largest platform for outsourced e-fulfilment. XPO is also the leading supplier of ‘less than truckload’ (LTL) services in western Europe. The US company – with 90,000 employees – is the second largest LTL carrier in its home territory. Its current revenue sits at $8.638bn.

Founded in 1976, this Danish company is structured into three divisions: DSV Road, DSV Air & Sea and DSV Solutions. DSV keeps its assets light and does not own any of the ships or aeroplanes it uses, although it does keep a relatively small fleet of trucks and trailers in a bid to maintain fixed costs, thus freeing it up to be able to react more flexibly to changes in the market. DSV has offices in more than 80 countries and employs over 40,000 staff. In 2017, DSV posted a revenue of $10.073bn.

Dubbing itself ‘the original 3PL,’ C. H. Robinson delivers supply chain solutions to over 113,000 customers across the world including transporting goods via land, sea and air, as well as offering supply chain consultancy. Founded in North Dakota in 1905, it currently employs over 13,000 people and has over 280 offices. It also has a focus on sustainability, and is currently working with institutions such as MIRT to measure carbon emissions while attempting to reduce its miles while using its equipment more efficiently. As of April 2017, C. H. Robinson grossed $13.144bn. 

DB Schenker as a whole comprises both the DB Schenker Rail and DB Schenker Logistics Business Units. The company has around 2,000 locations worldwide and the logistics branch has a presence in 140 countries with over 64,000 staff. It grossed $16.746bn as of April 2017. 

Grossing $16,976bn last year, Nippon Express describes itself as a ‘logistics consultant’ which aims to provide ‘one-stop business solutions’ by integrating transport across air, land and sea. Though established in 1937, the original company which forms its basis has been around since 1872. It currently employees 32,094 people and while its head office is in Tokyo, it has locations in 262 cities across the globe. 

Kuehne + Nagel had a gross revenue of $20,294bn as of April 2017. The business was founded in Bremen, Germany in 1890 and is now present in over 100 countries, employing over 70,000 workers. It focuses mainly on sea freight, airfreight, contract and integrated logistics, and overland transport. Kuehne + Nagel concentrates on several key industry sectors, which include aerospace, automotive, oil and gas logistics, pharma and healthcare and retail.  

With a gross revenue of $26.1bn, DHL describes itself as the North American leader in contract logistics. Indeed, it has a recognisable logo and household name, and is present in over 220 countries. Having been founded in 1969 in San Francisco, its workforce now exceeds 325,000. It is therefore well ahead of target in its aim to be ‘the logistics company for the world’.