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

BusinessFor-HireGlobal Freight

XPO Reports Q3 Revenue Jumps to $2 Billion

The Greenwich, Conn.-based LTL carrier reported net income of $82 million for the three months ending Sept. 30. That compared with $95 million the previous year. 

October 31, 2025
BusinessTechnologyLogisticsPrivateGlobal Freight

Cloud Computing Growth Pushes Amazon Earnings Higher

Analysts are assessing Amazon's results, along with other retailers' earnings performances, to get insight into how shoppers are spending heading into the holiday season.

October 31, 2025
BusinessLogisticsFor-HirePrivateGlobal Freight

UPS Stuns Wall Street With Strong Profit and 34,000 Job Cuts

The results suggest CEO Carol Tomé’s revival efforts are gaining traction after UPS struggled with slow demand, high expenses and uncertainty fueled by tariffs.

October 28, 2025
BusinessTechnologyLogisticsPrivateGlobal Freight

Amazon Launches New AI Shopping Tool in US for Indecisive

The Help Me Decide feature will appear at the top of a product detail page after shoppers have looked at several similar items. Those who tap the button will see a single product recommendation.

October 23, 2025
GovernmentBusinessLogisticsGlobal Freight

DSV Warns of More Cost Cuts as Tariffs Hurt Freight Markets

Challenging market conditions related to trade tariffs and other macroeconomic factors have become “more visible in global trade flows” in the past quarter, DSV said. 

October 23, 2025
BusinessTechnologyLogisticsPrivateGlobal Freight

Amazon Tests Augmented Reality Glasses for Drivers

Amazon said it was conducting trials of the glasses with drivers in North America and planned to further refine the technology before any broader rollout.  

October 22, 2025
GovernmentBusinessLogisticsGlobal Freight

Vessels Clog China Ports as Fees on US Ships Begin

Beijing and Washington have sparred over shipping, with China introducing a hefty extra fee on vessels known to have American links, following a similar U.S. move.

October 21, 2025
BusinessLogisticsPrivateGlobal Freight

Amazon Delivery Firms Are Bailing Amid Rising Costs

Amazon launched its Delivery Service Partner program in 2018, offering aspiring entrepreneurs an opportunity to run their own businesses. Today, some fear the best days are behind them.

October 20, 2025
GovernmentBusinessFuelLogisticsGlobal Freight

US Blocks Global Carbon Tax on Ships for Now

Countries at an IMO gathering in London voted to push back for a year a decision on whether to make ships start paying for the more than 1 billion tons of greenhouse gases they emit each year. 

October 17, 2025
GovernmentBusinessFuelLogisticsGlobal Freight

US Wants Extra Step to Adopt Ship Carbon Tax

Nations are at an International Maritime Organization meeting in London to decide on landmark regulations to make vessels start paying for their greenhouse gas emissions.

October 16, 2025

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