Key Takeaways
- Amazon is the biggest 3PL by 2025 gross logistics revenue, at $172.2 billion, according to Armstrong & Associates. That figure is Amazon’s Third-Party Seller Services segment, so Amazon is not a conventional standalone 3PL.[1]
- Among traditional 3PLs, DSV ranks first globally at $37.4 billion, followed by DHL Supply Chain & Global Forwarding at $35.5 billion and Kuehne + Nagel at $33.8 billion.[1]
- In the U.S., C.H. Robinson is the largest non-Amazon 3PL at $14.8 billion, followed by GXO Logistics and J.B. Hunt.[1]
- Rankings shift depending on whether a list counts gross revenue, net revenue, in-house logistics, or a single business segment.
- Acquisitions are reshaping the leaderboard. DSV absorbed DB Schenker, and CMA CGM completed its purchase of FedEx Supply Chain for CEVA Logistics on October 1, 2026.[2]
You want a clear answer to who leads the 3PL market, but revenue figures vary by company scope, reporting method, and geography. This article uses the 2026 Armstrong & Associates Top 50 rankings based on 2025 gross logistics revenue. It explains why Amazon leads, which traditional providers follow, how U.S. and global rankings differ, and what revenue rankings can and cannot tell a shipper.
Who Is the Biggest 3PL Company in 2026?
Amazon is the biggest 3PL by gross logistics revenue, and DSV is the biggest traditional 3PL. Amazon reported $172.2 billion in 2025 gross logistics revenue, far ahead of every other provider on both the U.S. and global lists.[1]
Top 10 Global 3PLs by 2025 Gross Logistics Revenue
| Rank | Company | 2025 gross logistics revenue (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amazon | $172.2 billion |
| 2 | DSV | $37.4 billion |
| 3 | DHL Supply Chain & Global Forwarding | $35.5 billion |
| 4 | Kuehne + Nagel | $33.8 billion |
| 5 | CEVA Logistics | $18.3 billion |
| 6 | Nippon Express | $17.2 billion |
| 7 | Maersk Logistics | $15.1 billion |
| 8 | C.H. Robinson | $14.8 billion |
| 9 | Sinotrans | $13.6 billion |
| 10 | GXO Logistics | $13.2 billion |
Source: Armstrong & Associates, 2026 Top 50 Global 3PLs.[1] Revenues are company-reported or Armstrong & Associates estimates, converted to USD at average annual exchange rates.
Why Amazon Ranks First
Amazon’s figure is not directly comparable to a traditional 3PL’s revenue. Armstrong & Associates uses Amazon’s Third-Party Seller Services segment, which includes 3PL operations alongside seller commissions, fulfillment and shipping fees, and other seller services. The firm estimates that most of this segment comes from 3PL services, based on Amazon’s warehousing footprint and e-commerce fulfillment focus.[1]
Amazon does not publicly split that figure into fulfillment, transportation, and other services. It also built its network to serve its own retail business first, then sold capacity to outside merchants. Because of that difference in reporting scope, DSV provides a more direct comparison when evaluating the largest conventional 3PL..
DSV, DHL, and Kuehne + Nagel Lead Traditional 3PLs
DSV ranks second globally at $37.4 billion.[1] Its acquisition of DB Schenker added significant scale in road, air, sea, and contract logistics. Because acquisitions inflate reported revenue, part of DSV’s jump reflects the combination rather than organic growth.
DHL Supply Chain & Global Forwarding ranks third at $35.5 billion.[1] This figure combines DHL’s contract logistics business with its global forwarding division, so it is not the revenue of DHL Supply Chain alone.
Kuehne + Nagel ranks fourth at $33.8 billion.[1] It is one of the largest international freight forwarders, with heavy exposure to sea and air freight, customs, and global trade lanes.
Top 10 U.S. 3PLs by 2025 Gross Logistics Revenue
The U.S. list looks different because it favors companies with large domestic brokerage, trucking, intermodal, and warehousing operations. Global forwarders appear only through their North American revenue.
| Rank | Company | 2025 gross logistics revenue (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amazon | $172.2 billion |
| 2 | C.H. Robinson | $14.8 billion |
| 3 | GXO Logistics | $13.2 billion |
| 4 | J.B. Hunt Transport Services | $11.3 billion |
| 5 | Expeditors | $11.1 billion |
| 6 | UPS Supply Chain Solutions | $8.8 billion |
| 7 | Kuehne + Nagel (North America) | $8.4 billion |
| 8 | Ryder Supply Chain Solutions | $7.8 billion |
| 9 | Total Quality Logistics | $7.4 billion |
| 10 | DSV (North America) | $7.3 billion |
Source: Armstrong & Associates, 2026 Top 50 U.S. 3PLs.[1]
Why 3PL Rankings Differ
The answer to “who is the biggest 3PL?” depends on what a ranking counts. Three factors cause most of the differences between lists.
Revenue Basis
Companies report revenue differently. A freight broker may book the full customer charge as gross revenue even when most of it passes through to the carrier, while net revenue shows only what the broker keeps. A forwarder may report net turnover or gross profit. Large parent companies may combine logistics with parcel, express, or leasing businesses. Armstrong & Associates also caps in-house logistics revenue at 50% of a company’s total logistics revenue in its global ranking.[1]
| Company | Revenue basis that affects comparison | When the measure matters |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | Third-Party Seller Services segment, including 3PL and seller fees | Measuring e-commerce fulfillment scale |
| DSV | Group revenue, including forwarding and contract logistics, enlarged by DB Schenker | Comparing traditional global 3PL scale |
| DHL | Supply Chain and Global Forwarding divisions combined | Comparing contract logistics plus forwarding scale |
| Kuehne + Nagel | Forwarding-heavy revenue across sea, air, road, and contract logistics | Comparing international trade exposure |
| C.H. Robinson | Gross revenue versus net revenue from brokerage and managed transportation | Comparing freight brokerage economics |
Business Model and Assets
Non-asset-based 3PLs such as C.H. Robinson and Total Quality Logistics coordinate freight without owning most of the trucks they use. Asset-heavier providers such as J.B. Hunt, Ryder, and GXO carry fleets, warehouses, and labor on their own books. A broker can manage huge shipment volumes while reporting different revenue than an asset-based provider handling similar freight.
Geography and Service Mix
Global forwarders lead the global list because they capture cross-border sea and air freight. The U.S. list rewards dense domestic networks in brokerage, truckload, intermodal, and warehousing. Contract logistics, forwarding, brokerage, and last-mile delivery each produce different revenue profiles, so a provider’s rank often says as much about its service mix as its size.
Acquisitions Reshape the Leaderboard
Mergers move rankings faster than organic growth. DSV’s combination with DB Schenker reshaped the top of the global list. CMA CGM completed its $1.4 billion acquisition of FedEx Supply Chain on October 1, 2026, folding it into CEVA Logistics and nearly tripling CEVA’s North American contract logistics business.[2] Rankings based on 2025 revenue do not yet reflect that deal.
What Revenue Rankings Don’t Tell a Shipper
A provider’s size shows network reach and capacity. It does not show pricing accuracy, contract compliance, or whether invoices match what was agreed. For a shipper, the more useful question is not who is biggest, but whether charges from your current 3PL and carriers can be traced to the applicable contract, lane and shipment
That is where transportation spend analysis comes in. Auditing invoices against contract rates, flagging duplicate or incorrect charges, and tracking cost drivers by carrier and lane give finance and logistics teams evidence they can act on in renewals and negotiations, whichever provider they use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the top 10 3PL companies?
By 2025 global gross logistics revenue, the top 10 are Amazon, DSV, DHL Supply Chain & Global Forwarding, Kuehne + Nagel, CEVA Logistics, Nippon Express, Maersk Logistics, C.H. Robinson, Sinotrans, and GXO Logistics.[1]
Which 3PL company is the biggest in the world?
Amazon is the biggest by gross logistics revenue at $172.2 billion. Excluding Amazon, DSV is the largest traditional 3PL at $37.4 billion.[1]
What are the top 3PL companies in the USA?
The top 10 U.S. 3PLs by 2025 gross logistics revenue are Amazon, C.H. Robinson, GXO Logistics, J.B. Hunt, Expeditors, UPS Supply Chain Solutions, Kuehne + Nagel (North America), Ryder Supply Chain Solutions, Total Quality Logistics, and DSV (North America). The full Top 50 also includes providers such as RXO, Lineage, Uber Freight, Penske Logistics, Schneider, Hub Group, and Landstar.[1]
What are the top 3 logistics companies in the world?
It depends on the definition. Among 3PLs ranked by gross logistics revenue, the top three are Amazon, DSV, and DHL Supply Chain & Global Forwarding.[1] Broader logistics rankings that include parcel carriers and ocean shipping often name companies such as DHL Group, UPS, FedEx, and Maersk.
Why do 3PL rankings differ between sources?
Sources use different revenue measures, such as gross revenue, net revenue, or a single business segment. They also treat in-house logistics, acquisitions, and regional revenue differently, so the same company can rank higher on one list than another.
Look Past Revenue Rankings to Your Own 3PL Spend
The largest providers lead through broad networks, multimodal capacity, and long-term shipper contracts. Size alone does not prove pricing discipline or accurate billing.
FreightOptics helps shippers verify what their 3PLs and carriers actually bill. It validates invoices against applicable contractual rates and terms, surfaces anomalies, and explains cost drivers by carrier and lane.
Verify what your current provider bills with a FreightOptics 3PL audit.
