FreightExitsCommon questions

Selling a trucking or freight business in Illinois

Illinois freight revolves around Chicago, a national rail and trucking crossroads, and a large freight brokerage community. Preparation should make your role in that network clear.

Illinois freight context

  • Chicago is the largest rail hub in the U.S., where six of the seven Class I railroads meet, supporting a large intermodal drayage market.
  • The Joliet and Elwood area hosts major intermodal and distribution facilities.
  • The Chicago area is home to many freight brokerages and logistics headquarters, so buyers often compare brokerage books closely.

Major interstate corridors include I-55, I-57, I-80, I-90 and I-94.

Business types we often discuss in Illinois

  • Intermodal drayage
  • Freight brokerage
  • Regional truckload

FreightExits focuses on established operators targeting $5M–$100M in annual revenue and $1M+ in EBITDA. These are target criteria, not an eligibility decision; fit is reviewed by a human advisor.

Preparation steps for Illinois owners

  • For drayage, document rail-ramp relationships, chassis arrangements and equipment.
  • For brokerage, show gross margin by customer, carrier vetting and who owns each account.
  • Note owner involvement in sales and operations so a transition plan is realistic.
Open the sale-readiness checklist

What this page does not cover

This page is general preparation guidance. It does not give state licensing, regulatory, tax or legal conclusions, does not value your business and does not broker real estate. Confirm those questions with qualified professionals in Illinois.

Keep exploring: prepare with the checklist, read answers to common questions, or see how the picture differs in another state.