Product Code: GVR-4-68040-540-0
Digital Freight Brokerage Market Trends:
The global digital freight brokerage market size is estimated at USD 5.87 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 27.3% from 2025 to 2030. Today, traditional freight brokerage faces several challenges, such as a lack of real-time tracking, unpredictable pricing fluctuations, inefficiencies due to manual processes, and capacity constraints. To overcome such challenges companies are focusing on digital freight brokerage solutions by leveraging automation, AI, and real-time data analytics. Digital freight brokerage is a freight brokerage model that uses technology, often online platforms or apps, to connect shippers with carriers, automating processes such as tendering, booking, and shipment execution, and aiming for more efficient and real-time freight matching. This modern approach is widely used across industries such as retail, manufacturing, and e-commerce, where fast and efficient logistics are crucial.
Growth in cross-border & intermodal freight transport is a key driver of the digital freight brokerage industry. As global trade expands, businesses face challenges such as customs delays, inefficient coordination between transport modes, and high costs associated with cross-border freight. Digital freight brokerage platforms offer real-time tracking, automated customs documentation, and AI-powered route optimization, enabling seamless transitions between different modes of transport. Major companies are increasingly focusing on expanding intermodal and cross-border capabilities to enhance supply chain resilience. For instance, in November 2024, Schneider National, Inc. (U.S.) launched a new intermodal service between the Southeast U.S. and Mexico in collaboration with CSX (U.S.) and CPKC (Canada). This service eliminates border delays common in trucking, ensuring faster, more secure freight movement, which aligns with the benefits provided by digital freight brokerage solutions.
The rise of e-commerce and on-demand deliveries is a significant driver of the digital freight brokerage industry. The rapid growth of e-commerce is driving demand for faster, more flexible, and cost-effective shipping solutions. Digital freight brokerage platforms enable instant carrier sourcing, reduce transit times, and improve delivery efficiency. According to The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce, total e-commerce sales for 2024 were estimated at USD 1,192.6 billion, reflecting an 8.1% increase from 2023, while total retail sales grew by only 2.8%. This rapid e-commerce expansion has heightened the increasing reliance on advanced freight solutions to handle growing shipment volumes efficiently.
Regulatory complexities and trade policies are essential for security and trade standardization. However, it creates operational hurdles for freight companies, requiring them to invest in compliance management and digital solutions to streamline processes and minimize disruptions. Compliance with different countries' transportation laws, customs regulations, and environmental mandates can lead to delays, fines, and increased operational costs. For instance, United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) regulations impose stricter labor laws, regional content requirements, and customs enforcement, directly affecting cross-border freight operations. In addition, The FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) mandates the use of Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs), which limits driving hours, requiring carriers to adhere to strict compliance measures, which increases operational costs and reduces driver flexibility.
Fluctuations in freight demand and excess carrier capacity present significant challenges for logistics and transportation companies. When demand is low, there are more available trucks than shipments, leading to intense competition among carriers and driving freight rates down. This reduces profitability and forces some carriers to operate at a loss or exit the market entirely. Conversely, when demand spikes, there may not be enough carrier capacity to meet shipping needs, causing delays and higher transportation costs for shippers. This volatility disrupts market stability and affects platform reliability, as inconsistent pricing and availability can deter both shippers and carriers. In addition, digital freight platforms rely on large volumes of transactions for profitability, and unpredictable demand cycles can make revenue growth inconsistent.
Global Digital Freight Brokerage Market Report Segmentation
This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global digital freight brokerage market report based on transportation mode, service type, customer type, end-user industry, and region:
- Transportation Mode Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)
- Road Freight
- Rail Freight
- Air Freight
- Ocean Freight
- Service Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)
- Full-truckload (FTL) Brokerage
- Less-than-Truckload (LTL) Brokerage
- Intermodal Brokerage
- Expedited Freight
- Refrigerated Freight (Temp-Controlled)
- Cross-border Freight Brokerage
- Other Services Type
- Customer Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)
- Business-to-Business (B2B)
- Business-to-Consumer (B2C)
- End-User Industry Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)
- Retail & E-commerce
- Manufacturing
- Automotive
- Food & Beverages
- Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals
- Oil & Gas
- Other End-user Industries
- Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)
- North America
- Europe
- Asia Pacific
- China
- India
- Japan
- Australia
- South Korea
- Latin America
- Middle East & Africa (MEA)
- UAE
- Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)
- South Africa
Table of Contents
Chapter 1. Methodology and Scope
- 1.1. Market Segmentation and Scope
- 1.2. Research Methodology
- 1.2.1. Information Procurement
- 1.3. Information or Data Analysis
- 1.4. Methodology
- 1.5. Research Scope and Assumptions
- 1.6. Market Formulation & Validation
- 1.7. List of Data Sources
Chapter 2. Executive Summary
- 2.1. Market Outlook
- 2.2. Segment Outlook
- 2.3. Competitive Insights
Chapter 3. Digital Freight Brokerage Market Variables, Trends, & Scope
- 3.1. Market Lineage Outlook
- 3.2. Market Dynamics
- 3.2.1. Market Driver Analysis
- 3.2.2. Market Restraint Analysis
- 3.2.3. Industry Challenge
- 3.3. Digital Freight Brokerage Market Analysis Tools
- 3.3.1. Industry Analysis - Porter's
- 3.3.1.1. Bargaining power of the suppliers
- 3.3.1.2. Bargaining power of the buyers
- 3.3.1.3. Threats of substitution
- 3.3.1.4. Threats from new entrants
- 3.3.1.5. Competitive rivalry
- 3.3.2. PESTEL Analysis
- 3.3.2.1. Political landscape
- 3.3.2.2. Economic landscape
- 3.3.2.3. Social landscape
- 3.3.2.4. Technological landscape
- 3.3.2.5. Environmental landscape
- 3.3.2.6. Legal landscape
Chapter 4. Digital Freight Brokerage Market: Transportation Mode Estimates & Trend Analysis
- 4.1. Segment Dashboard
- 4.1.1. Digital Freight Brokerage Market: Transportation Mode Movement Analysis, USD Million, 2024 & 2030
- 4.2. Road Freight
- 4.2.1. Road Freight Market Revenue Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 4.3. Rail Freight
- 4.3.1. Rail Freight Market Revenue Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 4.4. Air Freight
- 4.4.1. Air Freight Market Revenue Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 4.5. Ocean Freight
- 4.5.1. Ocean Freight Market Revenue Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
Chapter 5. Digital Freight Brokerage Market: Service Type Estimates & Trend Analysis
- 5.1. Segment Dashboard
- 5.2. Digital Freight Brokerage Market: Service Type Movement Analysis, USD Million, 2024 & 2030
- 5.3. Full-Truckload (FTL) Brokerage
- 5.3.1. Full-Truckload (FTL) Brokerage Market Revenue Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 5.4. Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) Brokerage
- 5.4.1. Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) Brokerage Market Revenue Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 5.5. Intermodal Brokerage
- 5.5.1. Intermodal Brokerage Market Revenue Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 5.6. Expedited Freight
- 5.6.1. Expedited Freight Market Revenue Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 5.7. Refrigerated Freight (Temp-Controlled)
- 5.7.1. Refrigerated Freight (Temp-Controlled) Market Revenue Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 5.8. Cross-Border Freight Brokerage
- 5.8.1. Cross-Border Freight Brokerage Market Revenue Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 5.9. Other Services Type
- 5.9.1. Other Services Type Market Revenue Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
Chapter 6. Digital Freight Brokerage Market: By Customer Type Estimates & Trend Analysis
- 6.1. Segment Dashboard
- 6.2. Digital Freight Brokerage Market: By Customer Type Movement Analysis, USD Million, 2024 & 2030
- 6.3. Business-to-Business (B2B)
- 6.3.1. Business-to-Business (B2B) Market Revenue Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 6.4. Business-to-Consumer (B2C)
- 6.4.1. Business-to-Consumer (B2C) Market Revenue Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
Chapter 7. Digital Freight Brokerage Market: End-User Industry Estimates & Trend Analysis
- 7.1. Segment Dashboard
- 7.2. Digital Freight Brokerage Market: End-User Industry Movement Analysis, USD Million, 2024 & 2030
- 7.3. Retail & E-commerce
- 7.3.1. Retail & E-commerce Market Revenue Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 7.4. Manufacturing
- 7.4.1. Manufacturing Market Revenue Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 7.5. Automotive
- 7.5.1. Automotive Market Revenue Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 7.6. Food & Beverages
- 7.6.1. Food & Beverages Market Revenue Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 7.7. Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals
- 7.7.1. Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals Market Revenue Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 7.8. Oil & Gas
- 7.8.1. Oil & Gas Market Revenue Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 7.9. Other End-user Industries
- 7.9.1. Other End-user Industries Market Revenue Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
Chapter 8. Digital Freight Brokerage Market: Regional Estimates & Trend Analysis
- 8.1. Digital Freight Brokerage Market Share, By Region, 2024 & 2030, USD Million
- 8.2. North America
- 8.2.1. North America Digital Freight Brokerage Market Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 8.2.2. U.S.
- 8.2.2.1. U.S. Digital Freight Brokerage Market Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 8.2.3. Canada
- 8.2.3.1. Canada Digital Freight Brokerage Market Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 8.2.4. Mexico
- 8.2.4.1. Mexico Digital Freight Brokerage Market Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 8.3. Europe
- 8.3.1. Europe Digital Freight Brokerage Market Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 8.3.2. UK
- 8.3.2.1. UK Digital Freight Brokerage Market Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 8.3.3. Germany
- 8.3.3.1. Germany Digital Freight Brokerage Market Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 8.3.4. Italy
- 8.3.4.1. Italy Digital Freight Brokerage Market Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 8.3.5. Poland
- 8.3.5.1. Poland Digital Freight Brokerage Market Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 8.4. Asia Pacific
- 8.4.1. Asia Pacific Digital Freight Brokerage Market Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 8.4.2. China
- 8.4.2.1. China Digital Freight Brokerage Market Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 8.4.3. Japan
- 8.4.3.1. Japan Digital Freight Brokerage Market Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 8.4.4. India
- 8.4.4.1. India Digital Freight Brokerage Market Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 8.4.5. South Korea
- 8.4.5.1. South Korea Digital Freight Brokerage Market Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 8.4.6. Australia
- 8.4.6.1. Australia Digital Freight Brokerage Market Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 8.5. Latin America
- 8.5.1. Latin America Digital Freight Brokerage Market Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 8.5.2. Brazil
- 8.5.2.1. Brazil Digital Freight Brokerage Market Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 8.6. Middle East and Africa
- 8.6.1. Middle East and Africa Digital Freight Brokerage Market Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 8.6.2. UAE
- 8.6.2.1. UAE Digital Freight Brokerage Market Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 8.6.3. KSA
- 8.6.3.1. KSA Digital Freight Brokerage Market Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
- 8.6.4. South Africa
- 8.6.4.1. South Africa Digital Freight Brokerage Market Estimates and Forecasts, 2018 - 2030 (USD Million)
Chapter 9. Competitive Landscape
- 9.1. Company Categorization
- 9.2. Company Market Positioning
- 9.3. Company Heat Map Analysis
- 9.4. Company Profiles/Listing
- 9.4.1. C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.
- 9.4.1.1. Participant's Overview
- 9.4.1.2. Financial Performance
- 9.4.1.3. Product Benchmarking
- 9.4.1.4. Strategic Initiatives
- 9.4.2. Total Quality Logistics, LLC
- 9.4.2.1. Participant's Overview
- 9.4.2.2. Financial Performance
- 9.4.2.3. Product Benchmarking
- 9.4.2.4. Strategic Initiatives
- 9.4.3. Coyote Logistics, LLC (a subsidiary of RXO, Inc.)
- 9.4.3.1. Participant's Overview
- 9.4.3.2. Financial Performance
- 9.4.3.3. Product Benchmarking
- 9.4.3.4. Strategic Initiatives
- 9.4.4. WWEX Group
- 9.4.4.1. Participant's Overview
- 9.4.4.2. Financial Performance
- 9.4.4.3. Product Benchmarking
- 9.4.4.4. Strategic Initiatives
- 9.4.5. Landstar System Holdings, Inc.
- 9.4.5.1. Participant's Overview
- 9.4.5.2. Financial Performance
- 9.4.5.3. Product Benchmarking
- 9.4.5.4. Strategic Initiatives
- 9.4.6. Mode Global
- 9.4.6.1. Participant's Overview
- 9.4.6.2. Financial Performance
- 9.4.6.3. Product Benchmarking
- 9.4.6.4. Strategic Initiatives
- 9.4.7. Echo Global Logistics, Inc.
- 9.4.7.1. Participant's Overview
- 9.4.7.2. Financial Performance
- 9.4.7.3. Product Benchmarking
- 9.4.7.4. Strategic Initiatives
- 9.4.8. Schneider National, Inc.
- 9.4.8.1. Participant's Overview
- 9.4.8.2. Financial Performance
- 9.4.8.3. Product Benchmarking
- 9.4.8.4. Strategic Initiatives
- 9.4.9. Uber Freight (a subsidiary of Uber Technologies, Inc.)
- 9.4.9.1. Participant's Overview
- 9.4.9.2. Financial Performance
- 9.4.9.3. Product Benchmarking
- 9.4.9.4. Strategic Initiatives
- 9.4.10. J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.
- 9.4.10.1. Participant's Overview
- 9.4.10.2. Financial Performance
- 9.4.10.3. Product Benchmarking
- 9.4.10.4. Strategic Initiatives
- 9.4.11. Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota Material Handling)
- 9.4.11.1. Participant's Overview
- 9.4.11.2. Financial Performance
- 9.4.11.3. Product Benchmarking
- 9.4.11.4. Strategic Initiatives