2018 Top 50 Global Freight

2018 Essential Revenue and Operating Information for the 50 Largest Global Freight Carriers

Up Front

Here’s how rail intermodal projects are boosting development in cities across America.
This year, the world’s biggest freight carriers all got a little bigger as demand for transportation surged.
Several of the most daring and promising concepts for the future of transportation.

Rankings

Rank This Year Rank Last Year Company Headquarters Freight Revenue (Millions) Total Revenue (Millions) Freight Revenue Share
1 1 FedEx Logistics United States $57,198 $62,335 91.8%
2 2 UPS Inc. United States $57,100 $65,872 86.7%
3 3 China Railway Corp. China $39,395 $150,274 26.2%
4 4 Maersk Denmark $29,096 $30,945 94%
5 5 Russian Railways Russia $26,285 $38,594 68.1%
6 6 Deutsche Post DHL Group Germany $21,915 $68,271 32.1%
7 9 Mediterranean Shipping Co. Switzerland $21,428 $21,428 100%
8 7 Union Pacific Corp. United States $21,240 $21,240 100%
9 10 CMA CGM Group France $21,116 $21,116 100%
10 8 BNSF Railway United States $20,406 $21,387 95.4%
11 11 Indian Railways India $17,948 $25,311 64.8%
12 13 Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Japan $13,958 $14,830 94.1%
13 12 NYK Group Japan $13,869 $19,903 69.7%
14 18 Cosco Shipping Group China $13,378 $13,378 100%
15 14 Deutsche Bahn AG Germany $12,578 $48,234 26.1%
16 17 CSX Corp. United States $11,408 $11,408 100%
17 15 Hapag-Lloyd AG Germany $11,264 $11,264 100%
18 16 Yamato Holdings Japan $11,190 $15,459 72%
19 19 Norfolk Southern Corp. United States $10,551 $10,551 100%
20 22 SF Express China $10,522 $10,522 100%
21 20 Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd. (K Line) Japan $10,166 $10,166 100%
22 21 Canadian National Railway Canada $9,766 $10,054 97%
23 23 XPO United States $7,516 $15,381 48.9%
24 25 GeoPost Group France $7,350 $7,699 95.5%
25 24 SG Holdings Japan $7,302 $9,003 81.1%
26 27 J.B. Hunt Transport Services United States $6,181 $7,190 86%
27 28 Orient Overseas (International) Ltd. Hong Kong $6,108 $6,108 100%
28 30 Canadian Pacific Railway Canada $4,915 $5,053 97.3%
29 29 Yellow Corp. United States $4,891 $4,891 100%
30 32 Knight-Swift Transportation United States $4,634 $5,186 89.4%
31 35 Evergreen Marine Corp. Taiwan $4,444 $4,947 88.9%
32 31 Hyundai Merchant Marine Co. South Korea $4,438 $4,438 100%
33 33 Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp. Taiwan $4,303 $4,303 100%
34 34 Transnet Group South Africa $3,775 $4,918 76.8%
35 36 Schneider United States $3,647 $4,384 83.2%
36 40 TFI International Canada $3,460 $3,655 94.7%
37 39 Emirates Group United Arab Emirates $3,386 $24,831 13.6%
38 38 Old Dominion Freight Line United States $3,358 $3,358 100%
39 37 Nippon Express Japan $3,117 $17,798 17.5%
40 43 Cathay Pacific Airways Hong Kong $3,067 $12,483 24.6%
41 41 Toll Group Australia $3,023 $6,282 48.1%
42 44 ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Israel $2,978 $2,978 100%
43 46 Lufthansa Group Germany $2,851 $40,186 7.1%
44 38 Pacific International Lines Singapore $2,616 $3,798 68.9%
45 45 Kansas City Southern United States $2,583 $2,583 100%
46 48 Estes Express Lines United States $2,476 $2,746 90.2%
47 50 Korean Air South Korea $2,473 $10,387 23.8%
48 42 Aurizon Australia $2,409 $2,409 100%
49 - Wallenius Wilhelmsen Group Norway $2,404 $3,024 79.5%
50 - Kazakhstan Temir Zholy Kazakhstan $2,349 $2,785 84.3%

Extras

A look at what logistics companies can do to compete in the age of Amazon.
An increase in global shipping volume is adding urgency to efforts to optimize cargo handling.
Railroads push to boost earnings while trying to accommodate an increase in demand for intermodal shipping.
Find out where the Top Global Freight Carriers are around the world.
Learn more about Transport Topics' Top 50 Global Freight Carriers Publication
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Global Freight News

Business, Technology, Logistics, For-Hire, Global Freight, Top 100

UPS in Talks With Startup Figure AI to Use Humanoid Robots

UPS Inc. is in talks with robotics startup Figure AI to use humanoid robots for some tasks in the logistics giant’s network, according to people familiar with the matter.

April 28, 2025
Business, Technology, Fuel, Logistics, Private, Global Freight

Hydrogen Maker Plug Power Makes $525 Million Debt Deal

Plug Power announced a $525 million secured debt facility, and said it completed construction of a hydrogen production plant in Louisiana.

April 28, 2025
Government, Business, Logistics, Private, Global Freight

Trump’s Tariffs Set to Unleash Supply Chain Jolt on Economy

Since the U.S. raised levies on China to 145% in early April, cargo shipments have plummeted. That drastic reduction in goods hasn’t been felt by many Americans yet, but that’s about to change.

April 28, 2025
Business, Logistics, For-Hire, Global Freight, Top 100

Knight-Swift Posts Q1 Profit as LTL Revenue Soars

Knight-Swift Transportation returned to the black in the first quarter of 2025 on the back of a jump in less-than-truckload revenue.

April 24, 2025
Business, Logistics, For-Hire, Global Freight, Top 100

TFI Q1 Profit Falls on Freight Weakness, TL Tariff Pain

Profit at TFI International fell 39.6% in Q1 2025 because of continued freight market weakness and an industrywide decline in truckload volume due to Trump administration tariffs.

April 24, 2025
Government, Business, Logistics, For-Hire, Private, Global Freight

US-China Tariffs Hit Amazon, FedEx, UPS Distribution Links

President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Chinese imports threaten to disrupt Southern California’s trade and logistics economy, a sector that moves a third of the nation’s container cargo.

April 22, 2025
Government, Business, Logistics, Global Freight

Logistics and Shipping Players Are Doubling Down on Mexico

Rather than pulling back in the face of U.S. tariff threats, major logistics and shipping players like DHL, Echo Global and CPKC are doubling down on Mexico. 

April 22, 2025
Government, Business, Logistics, Global Freight, TCA

DHL Partially Suspends US Parcel Deliveries

The Germany-based logistics company DHL will no longer deliver parcels worth more than $800 to private individuals in North America with immediate effect.

April 21, 2025
Government, Business, Logistics, Private, Global Freight

Trump Trade War Sparks Run on US Warehouses

U.S. importers looking to sidestep Trump administration tariffs are seeking space in a type of warehouse that lets them stash merchandise for as long as five years without paying duties.

April 16, 2025
Government, Business, Logistics, Global Freight

Trump’s China Ship Fees Set to Hit Global Shipping Giants

President Donald Trump has proposed a fee of at least $1 million each time a Chinese-operated or Chinese-built ship enters a U.S. port.

April 15, 2025

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