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

GovernmentBusinessTechnologyLogisticsPrivateGlobal FreightTop 100Top 50

US Threatens to Strike Back Against EU Firms for Digital Tax

The Trump administration threatened retaliation against the European Union in response to efforts to tax American tech companies, singling out prominent firms.

December 16, 2025
BusinessTechnologyLogisticsFor-HireGlobal FreightTop 100Top 50

UPS Purchases 400 Robots to Unload Trucks in Automation Push

UPS will invest $120 million in 400 robots used to unload trucks, according to sources, revealing new details on the logistics giant’s $9 billion automation plan that aims to boost profit.

December 15, 2025
BusinessLogisticsGlobal Freight

Maersk Picks New CFO Robert Erni With Logistics Background

Maersk has a strategy to grow in land-based logistics, which has historically had higher and more stable profit margins than container shipping.

December 12, 2025
BusinessLogisticsGlobal FreightTop 50

Maersk Opens New Ground Freight Site Near Port of Savannah

Maersk says the Savannah, Ga., facility follows recent ground freight openings in Lake City, Ga., and Dallas-Fort Worth, and creates an ecosystem of integrated services.

December 9, 2025
GovernmentBusinessLogisticsGlobal Freight

Dow's Transportation Average Blazes 9-Day Winning Streak

Equity traders looking for signs that a blistering stock market advance is set to continue may take their cue from the companies that move goods across America’s roads, rails and waterways.

December 5, 2025
BusinessFuelLogisticsGlobal Freight

Ocean Shipping Rates Surge on Conflicts, Supply Disruptions

Daily earnings to transport crude on key routes have seen the biggest jump this year, up 467%. Freight costs typically dip at year-end due to seasonal weakness in demand.

December 4, 2025
GovernmentBusinessLogisticsGlobal Freight

South Africa to Prosecute Maersk, CMA Units for Price Fixing

The companies allegedly fixed the general rate increase charged to customers for shipping cargo between South Africa and Asia and between the nation and the western part of Africa from 2008 to 2018.

December 2, 2025
BusinessTechnologyLogisticsGlobal FreightTop 100

Amazon Tests 30-Minute Delivery in Philadelphia, Seattle

Amazon will use “specialized smaller facilities” for the deliveries, the e-commerce giant said Dec. 1 in a statement. The fee will start at $13.99, discounted to $3.99 for Prime members.

December 1, 2025
BusinessLogisticsFor-HireGlobal FreightTop 100

FedEx to Slash 856 Texas Jobs After Customer Moves Business

FedEx plans to cut hundreds of jobs in Texas after a third-party logistics customer opted to move its business to a new location and a different company.

November 26, 2025
BusinessEquipmentSafetyLogisticsFor-HireGlobal FreightTop 100

UPS, FedEx, Others Face Long-Term Effects of MD-11 Grounding

The grounding of the workhorse freighter plane involved in a deadly crash in Kentucky may drag on for an “undeterminable period,” creating havoc for UPS, FedEx and a Florida-based carrier.

November 25, 2025

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