You move
the world.
What’s your
next move?
Exit planning for the business behind the freight.
From brokerage relationships to forwarding networks and logistics operations, prepare for a possible sale with the whole business in view.
A connected industry.
A business that’s yours.
Freight is a broad world. Preparation starts with understanding your place in it, your operating model and what you want to happen next.
Freight brokerages
Shipper relationships, carrier networks, account teams and the earnings behind every load.
Forwarders & 3PLs
International and domestic forwarding, warehousing and outsourced logistics operations.
Carriers & specialized fleets
The equipment, people, safety practices and customer mix behind the miles.
Look beyond the trucks.
Explore the people coordinating freight, customer handoffs and logistics operations.
2025 national employment · people · all industries, not business counts
Cargo and freight agents · SOC 43-5011
Your preparation step: Document who owns shipper relationships, carrier onboarding, quoting and exception handling, including backup coverage.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Table 1.2 · 2025 National Employment Matrix and 2025 median wages. Checked 2026-10-21. Static snapshot, not a live feed.
Freight occupations work across many industries; these counts do not measure freight brokerages or freight volumes. National occupational figures span all industries and are not local wage quotes, total employer labor costs, company performance or sale-value estimates. Bars start at zero and share the largest displayed role as their maximum; selecting a measure changes the scale.
View all figures and occupation codes
| Occupation / SOC | Employment (people) | Median annual wage (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Cargo and freight agents (43-5011) | 100,300 | 52,260 |
| Logisticians (13-1081) | 255,100 | 82,320 |
| Transportation, storage, and distribution managers (11-3071) | 228,100 | 107,230 |
A next chapter should account for everything you’ve built. Not just what you move.
Your next chapter.
Start with a clear picture.
Choose a topic and build your preparation list. You can explore at your own pace, without sharing business details.
Talk through my optionsStart with the relationships behind the revenue.
For a freight brokerage, a useful preparation file connects gross profit to customers, carriers and the team running the book.
- Gather revenue and gross profit by customer and service line.
- Document shipper agreements and carrier vetting processes.
- Map account ownership, brokerage systems and owner involvement.
Your preparation checklist
Use these four starting points for your own planning.
Your selections stay in this page and reset when you leave.
Sale-readiness
checklist.
Tick what you already have in place to see useful next steps. This checklist asks for no business details and submits nothing; your ticks reset when you leave the page.
0 of 13 steps in place. Useful next area: Financials.
Preparation guidance only. It is not a valuation, eligibility decision or legal, tax or licensing advice.
Where we focus first.
Regional guides for freight business owners in our initial focus states.
Texas
Selling a trucking or freight business in Texas: corridors, common segments and preparation steps.
Ohio
Selling a trucking or freight business in Ohio: corridors, common segments and preparation steps.
Illinois
Selling a trucking or freight business in Illinois: corridors, common segments and preparation steps.
Pennsylvania
Selling a trucking or freight business in Pennsylvania: corridors, common segments and preparation steps.
Michigan
Selling a trucking or freight business in Michigan: corridors, common segments and preparation steps.
A few things
worth knowing.
How long does it take to sell a trucking or freight business?
Timing depends on records, business complexity, buyer diligence and deal terms. Agree on a preparation timetable with your advisor rather than assuming a standard sale duration.
What do buyers look at in a trucking company?
Common topics include equipment age, condition, ownership and debt; safety and compliance history; insurance and claims; driver retention; customer contracts and concentration; and terminal or yard leases.
What do buyers look at in a freight brokerage?
Buyers usually focus on gross margin by customer, customer concentration, carrier relationships and vetting, who owns each account, the systems used and how much the business depends on the owner.
How is a transportation business valued?
There is no single formula. Value usually reflects the quality and consistency of earnings, customer concentration, equipment and debt, the team and the deal structure. This site does not estimate values or promise any multiple.
What is EBITDA, and what if I'm not sure of mine?
EBITDA is earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Smaller owner-run companies sometimes discuss seller's discretionary earnings (SDE) instead. If you are unsure, an advisor and your accountant would first clarify your earnings rather than guess.
What happens to my operating authority, permits and registrations?
That depends on how a deal is structured and on the agencies involved. FreightExits does not give licensing or regulatory advice; confirm these questions with qualified transportation counsel.
FMCSA: Operating Authority ownership changes · Source checked
Asset sale or stock sale: what's the difference?
In general terms, an asset sale transfers selected assets and liabilities, while a stock or equity sale transfers ownership of the company itself. The right structure depends on tax and legal factors, so involve your CPA and attorney.
SBA: Close or sell your business · Source checked
What if I own the terminal or yard?
Real estate is often handled separately from the operating business, for example as a lease or a separate transaction. FreightExits does not broker real estate; a licensed real estate professional should advise on property.
Do I need to be ready to sell?
No. Preparation can begin before you choose a timeline. Start by organizing the business records and thinking about your priorities.
Does the checklist value my business?
No. It helps you prepare information for a future conversation. A human advisor would need to review the business, its financials and the terms of a potential transaction.
Does using the checklist send my information anywhere?
No. The checklist and topic guide ask for no business details, and their controls do not submit anything. Your marks reset when you leave the page.
Talk through
my options.
Tell us how to reach you and what you would like to explore for your freight and logistics business.
Share a little context, not confidential records. Please leave out financial documents, customer details and sensitive personal information.
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