CH Robinson tracking

What is CH Robinson?

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. is one of the world's largest third-party logistics, or 3PL, companies, headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. The company operates as a freight broker and logistics provider rather than owning its own fleet of trucks or aircraft, functioning as an intermediary that connects shippers with a vast network of contract carriers. This asset-light model has allowed the company to scale to a point where it manages approximately 37 million shipments annually and serves more than 83,000 customers across virtually every industry sector, from small businesses to Fortune 500 corporations.

The story of C.H. Robinson begins in 1905 in Grand Forks, North Dakota, where Charles Henry Robinson recognized an opportunity in the rapidly developing Dakota Territory. Settlers flooding into the region needed a reliable supply of merchandise, vegetables, and fruit, and Robinson saw that a well-organized wholesale brokerage operation could serve as the critical link between producers and this growing frontier market. On April 11, 1905, Robinson formalized a partnership with the Nash Brothers, a Grand Forks-based firm that was already the leading wholesaler in North Dakota. Following the death of Charles Henry Robinson in 1909, the Nash Brothers assumed control of the company, retaining the founder's name.

The passage of the Motor Carrier Act of 1980 proved to be a transformative moment for C.H. Robinson. This federal deregulation of the transportation industry dramatically increased competition among logistics providers and pushed the company to expand its freight contract operations well beyond produce brokerage. In 1997, C.H. Robinson renamed itself C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. and conducted an initial public offering on the NASDAQ exchange under the ticker symbol CHRW, with an initial market value of $743 million. The 2012 acquisition of Phoenix International for $635 million later doubled the company's ocean freight capacity, marking another major turning point in its development.

• Founded: 1905 in Grand Forks, North Dakota, by Charles Henry Robinson in partnership with the Nash Brothers
• Headquarters: Eden Prairie, Minnesota, United States
• Company type: Publicly traded third-party logistics provider (3PL) and freight broker
• Stock exchange: NASDAQ under the ticker symbol CHRW
• Annual shipments: Approximately 37 million shipments managed per year
• Customers: More than 83,000 shippers worldwide
• Carrier network: More than 450,000 contract carriers globally
• Freight under management: Approximately $23 billion annually
• Global offices: More than 125 offices across 5 continents and 31 countries
• Key platform: Navisphere, the company's proprietary transportation management system, launched in 2012

What distinguishes C.H. Robinson from pure freight brokers is its investment in proprietary technology and the breadth of logistics services it offers beyond simple load-matching. The company's Navisphere platform provides shippers with end-to-end visibility, analytics, and optimization tools that integrate with customers' own enterprise systems. This technology creates deep operational relationships that go well beyond transactional freight movement, positioning the company as a full-service supply chain partner for clients across North America, Europe, Asia, and beyond.

Which countries does CH Robinson deliver to?

C.H. Robinson operates across five continents and more than 31 countries, with its largest concentration of operations in North America. In the United States, the company serves all major metropolitan and freight markets from its Eden Prairie headquarters and a national network of offices and agent relationships. The 2017 acquisition of Milgram & Company Ltd., a Canadian provider of freight forwarding, customs brokerage, and surface transportation, added six Canadian offices and strengthened the company's presence in markets including Montreal and other key Canadian cities.

In Europe, C.H. Robinson operates a road transportation and freight forwarding network across the continent, with customs brokerage services specifically available in the Netherlands, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland Spain, and Italy. The foundations of this European presence date back to 1993, when C.H. Robinson acquired Transeco, a French motor carrier. The company describes itself as one of the leading road transportation and freight forwarding providers in Europe, operating through a network of offices across the region.

Asia-Pacific operations are managed from strategic locations including Shanghai, Singapore, and Korea. In July 2024, C.H. Robinson opened a new dedicated office in the Philippines, recognizing the growing logistics sector in Southeast Asia. The company notes that while it had maintained a presence in the Philippines for decades, the dedicated new office represents a deeper commitment to the region. In South America, C.H. Robinson also maintains a network of offices. For destinations where no dedicated office exists, an established agent network provides freight forwarding and customs clearance support.

• United States: Full national coverage across all major freight markets and metropolitan areas
• Canada: Montreal and other major Canadian cities, through the 2017 Milgram & Company acquisition
• Europe: Netherlands, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Ireland Spain, Italy, and other European markets through a regional office and agent network
• Asia-Pacific: Shanghai, Singapore, Korea, the Philippines (new dedicated office opened July 2024), and other locations across the region
• South America: Regional offices serving key South American markets
• Other regions: Agent network coverage for destinations where no dedicated C.H. Robinson office operates

What are the CH Robinson services and delivery times?

As a third-party logistics provider, C.H. Robinson offers freight services spanning road, rail, ocean, and air transportation. The company's core business is full truckload, or FTL, freight brokerage, where it connects shippers who need to move large quantities of goods with carriers from its network. Standard equipment types include dry van, flatbed, refrigerated, and specialized trailers. A standard 53-foot dry van trailer can carry approximately 24 to 30 standard pallets or roughly 43,0 kg of freight, and shipments at or above approximately 10,0 kg are typically classified as truckload.

For shipments that do not require a full trailer, C.H. Robinson offers less-than-truckload, or LTL, freight brokerage, where cargo from multiple shippers is consolidated in a single trailer. Pricing for LTL shipments is based on the National Motor Freight Classification, or NMFC, system, which assigns freight classes between Class 50, for very dense, low-risk items, and Class 500, for very light or bulky cargo. Through Freightquote, an online LTL platform acquired in 2015, shippers can obtain instant quotes and book LTL shipments directly. C.H. Robinson also offers intermodal transportation, combining over-the-road trucking with rail for the long-distance portion, which can reduce costs on longer domestic hauls compared to pure truckload.

Through its Global Forwarding division, C.H. Robinson provides ocean and air freight forwarding worldwide. Ocean services include both Full Container Load, or FCL, and Less Than Container Load, or LCL, options across major international trade lanes. Air freight services cover charter, commercial air, expedited, and deferred options, and are particularly suited to high-value or time-sensitive cargo that cannot wait for ocean transit. The Robinson Fresh division is dedicated to temperature-controlled logistics and fresh produce, operating with access to more than 10 million square feet of refrigerated warehouse space and covering more than 10,000 last-mile delivery routes daily.

• Full truckload (FTL): Dry van, flatbed, refrigerated, and specialized equipment for shipments filling most or all of a trailer
• Less-than-truckload (LTL): Consolidated freight for partial loads, with pricing based on NMFC freight class, weight, and distance
• Intermodal: Combined truck and rail service for long-distance domestic hauls, generally offering lower costs than pure truckload
• Ocean freight (FCL and LCL): Full and partial container shipping on major international trade lanes, managed by the Global Forwarding division
• Air freight: Expedited and deferred international and domestic air forwarding, including charter options for critical shipments
• Customs brokerage: Licensed customs brokerage in the United States, Canada, and key European markets, with more than 1.2 million customs entries processed annually
• Managed transportation: Outsourced supply chain management and transportation program administration for shippers with complex or high-volume freight needs
• Robinson Fresh: Cold chain logistics and fresh produce transportation, with access to more than 25,000 temperature-controlled carriers and more than 300 distributor partners

Delivery times depend heavily on the mode of transportation and the origin-destination pair. For domestic truckload within the continental United States, the industry standard is approximately 804 km per day of driving. A cross-country shipment of roughly 4022 km therefore takes approximately five to six days of standard transit, with expedited team-driver options compressing that to two to three days. LTL freight typically delivers within one business day for short regional hauls and up to five to seven business days for cross-country movements. Trans-Pacific ocean freight from Asia to U.S. West Coast ports generally takes two to three weeks, while Asia-to-East-Coast routes range from four to six weeks. Air freight delivers most intercontinental shipments within one to five business days.

What are the CH Robinson rates and maximum dimensions accepted?

C.H. Robinson's pricing is built for the business-to-business, or B2B, freight market and calculated based on multiple variables rather than a flat rate per shipment. For truckload freight, the primary pricing drivers are the lane , origin and destination pair, equipment type, prevailing capacity conditions in the market and fuel costs. Rates are either negotiated as spot transactions for one-time or ad hoc shipments, or established as contract rates through a formal Request for Proposal, or RFP, process for shippers with regular and predictable freight volumes.

For LTL freight, rates are built on the NMFC freight classification system, where a commodity's freight class is determined by its density, value, stowability, and ease of handling. The class number ranges from Class 50 for very dense or high-value commodities to Class 500 for extremely light or oversized cargo. On top of the base freight class and weight, carriers apply distance-based rates and various accessorial charges. Common accessorial charges for LTL include liftgate service, residential delivery, inside delivery, hazardous materials handling, and fuel surcharges, and these can add meaningfully to the final invoice total.

For ocean freight, rates are quoted per container for FCL shipments or per cubic meter and weight ton for LCL, and are subject to significant variation based on global trade conditions, port surcharges, and seasonal demand. Air freight rates are typically calculated on a chargeable weight basis, where the greater of actual weight or volumetric weight is used. C.H. Robinson's Navisphere platform provides shippers with access to real-time pricing and booking tools for truckload and LTL shipments, allowing customers to compare rates across their contracted carrier options.

• Truckload pricing: Quoted per lane and equipment type, available as spot rates or contract rates through RFP
• LTL pricing: Based on NMFC freight class (Class 50 to Class 500), weight, distance, and applicable accessorial charges
• Truckload capacity: Standard 53-foot dry van trailer carries approximately 24 to 30 pallets or up to approximately 43,0 kg of freight
• Ocean FCL pricing: Quoted per container, subject to port surcharges and fuel adjustments
• Ocean LCL pricing: Quoted per cubic meter or weight ton for partial container loads
• Air freight pricing: Calculated on chargeable weight (the greater of actual or volumetric weight)
• LTL accessorials: Liftgate, residential delivery, inside delivery, hazardous materials, limited access locations, and fuel surcharges billed separately from the base rate

What are the CH Robinson delivery options?

C.H. Robinson serves primarily business customers shipping freight to commercial facilities such as warehouses, distribution centers, manufacturing plants, and retail receiving docks. Standard LTL delivery is made to a commercial loading dock during business hours, and this baseline service is included in the base freight rate. For facilities without a loading dock or for shipments requiring handling beyond the dock, a range of accessorial delivery options are available, each billed at an additional charge on top of the base rate.

Delivery appointment scheduling is available for both LTL and truckload shipments, which is particularly useful for consignees with tightly managed receiving schedules. C.H. Robinson's contract carriers are expected to provide pre-delivery notification two hours before scheduled arrival, giving consignees time to prepare for receipt of freight. For temperature-controlled shipments through Robinson Fresh, deliveries follow cold chain protocols and cover more than 10,000 last-mile delivery routes daily across the United States.

• Standard commercial dock delivery: Standard LTL delivery to a commercial facility with a loading dock during business hours, included in the base freight rate
• Liftgate delivery: Available for facilities without a loading dock; a hydraulic liftgate on the delivery truck lowers freight to ground level
• Residential delivery: Available for shipments delivered to home addresses or non-commercial locations, billed as an accessorial charge
• Inside delivery: The driver moves freight to a specified interior location rather than leaving it at the dock or doorstep
• Limited-access location delivery: Available for destinations such as schools, churches, military bases, or remote addresses that present additional handling requirements
• Appointment delivery: A scheduled delivery window is arranged with the consignee, useful for time-sensitive receiving operations
• Temperature-controlled delivery: Cold chain deliveries through Robinson Fresh for refrigerated, frozen, and perishable goods

What should I do if my CH Robinson parcel is lost or damaged?

For freight claims arising from loss or damage during transit, C.H. Robinson advises consignees to inspect all shipments carefully before signing the Bill of Lading at delivery. If visible damage is found, the consignee should note the specific damage on the delivery receipt or Bill of Lading before signing, and document the damage with photographs taken at the time of delivery. Damage or shortage explicitly noted on the Bill of Lading at the time of delivery triggers a review process in which the assigned load representative examines the situation and approves payment.

Under the Carmack Amendment, the federal statute governing domestic freight claims in the United States, claimants have nine months from the date of delivery to file a formal freight claim. For shipments that never arrive, the nine-month filing window begins from the date on which delivery should have occurred. C.H. Robinson provides multiple contact channels for freight claim inquiries and customer support. The general customer service line can be reached at 1-800-326-9977, and an after-hours emergency line is available at 888-278-9441 for urgent situations outside of normal business hours.

• At delivery: Inspect the shipment thoroughly before signing the Bill of Lading, regardless of the condition of the outer packaging
• Noting damage: Write a specific description of any visible damage or shortage on the delivery receipt or Bill of Lading before the driver departs
• Documentation: Photograph all damage, including the outer packaging, the affected goods, and the shipping label, as supporting evidence for the claim
• Filing deadline: Claims must be filed within nine months of the date of delivery under the Carmack Amendment; do not discard the damaged freight or packaging before the claim is resolved
• General customer service: 1-800-326-9977
• After-hours emergency line: 888-278-9441 for urgent situations when a load representative is not available

Does CH Robinson handle international shipments and customs formalities?

C.H. Robinson provides international shipping and customs brokerage services through its Global Forwarding division, which covers five continents and more than 31 countries through a network of more than 125 offices. The division processes more than 1.2 million customs entries per year, handled by a team of more than 800 cross-border specialists and over 100 licensed customs brokers. International shipments move via ocean freight, FCL and LCL container shipping, and air freight across major trade lanes including trans-Pacific, trans-Atlantic, and intra-Asia routes.

Customs brokerage services are available directly in the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland Spain, and Italy. For countries where C.H. Robinson does not operate a dedicated office, an established agent network provides customs clearance support, and the company states that it achieves coverage wherever clients need to do business. The responsibility for customs duties and import taxes depends on the Incoterm agreed between shipper and buyer.

Under a Delivered Duty Paid, or DDP, arrangement, the sender bears responsibility for all customs duties, import taxes, and clearance costs in the destination country. C.H. Robinson provides guidance on the implications of DDP arrangements, particularly for international sales to markets such as Mexico, where tariff codes and associated VAT and import tax obligations can be significant for foreign sellers without a local presence. Shipments containing items classified as hazardous or prohibited under Title 49 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations may be subject to return, seizure, or destruction under applicable regulations.

• Global offices: More than 125 offices across 5 continents and 31 countries
• Customs entries processed annually: More than 1.2 million
• Cross-border specialists: More than 800
• Licensed customs brokers: More than 100
• Direct customs brokerage markets: United States, Canada, Netherlands, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Ireland Spain, and Italy
• Other markets: Covered through an established agent network where no dedicated office operates
• DDP Incoterm: Under this arrangement, the sender bears full responsibility for all customs duties, taxes, and clearance fees at destination

Understanding tracking statuses

When tracking a C.H. Robinson shipment through the Navisphere platform, different statuses appear as the shipment progresses from initial booking to final delivery. The platform is accessible to shippers and can also be used for basic tracking without a full account login. Tracking reference numbers, including the Navisphere order number, a shipment ID, or the Bill of Lading number, are provided in shipment confirmation emails. The following statuses are the principal ones a shipper or consignee will encounter when monitoring a C.H. Robinson shipment.