Road freight transport market remains fragmented as Kuehne+Nagel leads 2024 sales

The Business Research Company says the global road freight transport market stayed highly fragmented in 2024, with the top 10 players accounting for just 5% of revenue. Kuehne and Nagel International AG led sales with a 1% share, while the market report points to acquisitions, digitization and fleet modernization as the main competitive levers.

Why it matters: - The road freight transport market is still highly fragmented, which leaves room for regional operators and global logistics firms to win share through scale, technology and network density. - The low concentration level suggests competition will keep centering on service reliability, cross-border coverage, cargo visibility and cost efficiency. - The report frames freight transport as a core piece of supply chain performance for industrial, retail and e-commerce customers.

What happened: - The Business Research Company published its Road Freight Transport Market Report 2026 covering market size, trends and global forecasts for 2026-2035. - Kuehne and Nagel International AG led global sales in 2024 with a 1% market share. - The company’s road logistics division offers domestic distribution, cross-border freight, temperature-controlled transport, less-than-truckload and full-truckload services. - The report lists DHL Supply Chain, Deutsche Bahn AG, FedEx Corp, United Parcel Service Inc, Nippon Express Holdings Inc, J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc, Schneider National Inc, Knight-Swift Transportation and XPO Logistics Inc among the leading market players.

The details: - The top 10 players accounted for 5% of total market revenue in 2024. - The report says moderate entry barriers come from fleet expansion needs, network optimization demands, higher freight volumes and the need for large-scale logistics management. - Leading companies are using diversified freight portfolios, established transportation networks and logistics technology investments to defend share. - The report names major raw material suppliers including Daimler Truck AG, Volvo Group, Traton Group, PACCAR Inc, Michelin, Bridgestone Corporation, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Shell plc, BP plc, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Cummins Inc, ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Continental AG, Bosch Mobility, Wabash National Corporation, Schmitz Cargobull AG, SAF-Holland SE, Hexagon Composites ASA, Eaton Corporation plc and Allison Transmission Holdings Inc. - Major wholesalers and distributors include C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc, Ryder System Inc, Kerry Logistics Network Ltd, KLG Europe, Fercam Spa, Cargo Carriers Ltd, Ital Logistics Ltd, First European Logistics Ltd, Alkom-Trans SIA, Wilson Logistics Limited, Landstar System Inc, ArcBest Corporation, CRST International Inc, Bison Transport Inc, Roadrunner Transportation Systems Inc, Werner Enterprises Inc, Holland Inc, R+L Carriers, Pitt Ohio Express and ABF Freight System Inc. - Major end users include Walmart Inc, Amazon.com Inc, The Home Depot Inc, Costco Wholesale Corporation, Nestlé SA, PepsiCo Inc, Procter & Gamble Company, Unilever PLC, Coca-Cola Company, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, LG Electronics Inc, Toyota Motor Corporation, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Company, Siemens AG, BASF SE, Bayer AG, Pfizer Inc, Target Corporation and IKEA Group.

Between the lines: - The report points to acquisition activity as a key way freight operators are widening route coverage and strengthening transportation capacity. - In February 2026, Kuehne+Nagel International AG acquired the road logistics activities of LSL-Lohmöller Spedition und Logistik GmbH in Germany. - That deal expanded groupage, less-than-truckload and full-truckload operations and increased Kuehne+Nagel’s regional presence in Europe. - The report also highlights five strategy areas: digital freight platforms, fleet electrification, cross-border network expansion, AI-driven transportation analytics and warehouse-transport integration. - The concentration data suggests the market reward goes to operators that can combine physical network reach with software-enabled planning and visibility.

What's next: - The report expects service expansion, technology adoption and regional network development to strengthen the position of leading carriers. - Demand for time-sensitive deliveries, e-commerce fulfillment, multimodal freight connectivity and digitally integrated transport solutions is expected to keep rising. - The Business Research Company says its 2026 report package includes market attractiveness scoring, TAM analysis, company scoring matrices, Excel forecasting dashboards and updated graphics. - The company also offers the detailed road freight transport market report and a free sample.

The bottom line: - Road freight is a scale-and-technology contest, and the market’s fragmentation gives the biggest operators room to grow through acquisitions, digitization and network expansion.