ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø

2023 was a generally downtrodden year for 3PLs, with plummeting transportation rates and shippers focused on right-sizing inventories and reducing logistics costs.

A freight market recession, compressed broker margins and major acquisitions in 2023 have markedly altered the landscape of North America’s largest third-party logistics providers.

Stubbornly weak freight market conditions have placed financial strain on 3PLs in recent years with an oversupply of truck capacity driving down rates and squeezing brokers’ margins.

Forward Air on Jan. 25 announced the completion of its long-pending acquisition of Omni Logistics, with both companies’ leaders touting the benefits of the merger.

Old Dominion Freight Line experienced nearly flat earnings and a slight revenue bump to $1.5 billion during the fourth quarter of 2023, the company reported Jan. 31.

UPS Inc. is reducing its overall employee head count by 12,000 workers, which the company says will save more than $1 billion, citing higher labor costs and softening demand.

Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings profits dropped during the fourth quarter but the carrier experienced an increase in revenue, the company reported Jan. 24.

Company veteran Nathan Meisgeier joined Omaha, Neb.-based Werner Enterprises Inc. in 2005 and was promoted to the carrier's general counsel in 2016.

Penske Logistics has named Jeff Jackson president, succeeding Marc Althen, who is retiring. A longtime Penske leader, Jackson has more than 28 years' experience in transportation.

Groendyke Transport, which has operated for more than 90 years, announced Jan. 4 that Joe Morrissey has been named president.