Cargado helped Gebrüder Weiss scale its flatbed and van network, win dedicated freight, and improve speed to market with a trusted network of specialized cross-border carriers.
Results TLDR
- Built a scalable van and flatbed cross-border carrier network using Cargado.
- Improved speed-to-market and quoting for cross-border opportunities.
- Won dedicated flatbed business through a Cargado carrier.
- Recovered a hot load with specialized equipment fast using Cargado.
- Post awarded and potential freight daily on the platform.
The challenge: Expanding beyond direct relationships to build a scalable cross-border network
Gebrüder Weiss is the world’s oldest transport and logistics company, with more than 8,600 employees at 180 company-owned locations. Since establishing its U.S. presence in 2017, the company has expanded to 17 offices across North America, including new facilities in El Paso and Laredo, Texas, to support its expanding cross-border capabilities in and out of Mexico.
While well established in air and sea freight, Gebrüder Weiss has been expanding its North American brokerage business to strengthen its overland transport capabilities—particularly in the cross-border segment. In 2023, the company hired Kevin Sendre, a former carrier sales leader from C.H. Robinson, to lead that effort.
Kevin, who moved close to 200 cross-border loads a day at C.H. Robinson, knew the challenge ahead: At the time, there were no specialized platforms for sourcing reliable, cross-border carriers. “You can’t just go on DAT and find door-to-door cross-border carriers,” he said.
The goal was to build a scalable and reliable network of specialized carriers that ensures flexibility and speed to market for Gebrüder Weiss’ international customers.
The partner: Cargado’s trusted platform and vetted carriers to scale fast with peace of mind
Gebrüder Weiss became an early customer of Cargado’s. “There really isn’t another cross-border platform like Cargado,” Kevin said. “Cargado offered a specialized solution that supports Gebrüder Weiss’ commitment to service excellence.”
“The invite-only piece is really special to us,” Kevin said, highlighting Cargado’s alignment with Gebrüder Weiss’ selective carrier process and high service expectations. “Having a double vetting process is almost essential these days, especially when you’re trying to build out a carrier network that you trust.” Cargado’s double vetting process requires that each carrier provide multiple broker referrals and have regular in-person meetings with Cargado team members located on the ground at both the Mexico and Canada borders.
Having just attended a fraud symposium, Kevin noted the extra peace of mind that Cargado provides in an industry focused on mitigating the increasing fraud.
“We love our partnership with Cargado,” he said. “It’s exciting to see all the enhancements and growth over the past year and a half.” Kevin specifically mentioned Cargado Market Rates, the industry’s first cross-border pricing intelligence tool built to help brokers quote with confidence and speed.
“We move a lot of flatbed freight, and Cargado has helped us grow our cross-border network into a true competitive advantage.”
— Kevin Sendre, Director of Full Truckload North America, Gebrüder Weiss
The result: New carrier relationships, faster quoting, and dedicated freight wins
Thanks to Cargado, Gebrüder Weiss has “exponentially expanded” its cross-border van and flatbed network, which has been especially critical for moving international air freight that often arrives in crates too big for a van trailer and requires covering with tarps or Conestoga trailers.
“We move a lot of flatbed freight,” said Kevin, “and Cargado has helped us grow our cross-border network into a true competitive advantage.”
Kevin and his team use the platform daily, posting both awarded and potential loads. He had recently logged into Cargado to post a new award for an Ohio-to-Querétaro flatbed load.
Gebrüder Weiss currently moves a steady volume of cross-border loads per week using Cargado and recently secured a new dedicated contract that increased their flatbed shipments by 40% per week with a carrier they first discovered on Cargado. Kevin noted they have dedicated opportunities in the pipeline and plans to significantly scale the volume beyond this.
“It’s growing fast, and having these tools allows us to give quick feedback, quick quoting, and speed to market,” Kevin said. “It’s really enhanced our ability to service global customers.”
In one instance, when an existing carrier failed on a hot load from Mexico, Gebrüder Weiss turned to Cargado. “Cargado allowed us to get a carrier to do that trailer interchange agreement extremely fast, and we were able to still service the customer and meet the deadline,” said Kevin.
Kevin is also looking ahead to being ready for any market disruption, positioning Cargado as an essential partner in helping Gebrüder Weiss grow a resilient and scalable North American brokerage business. He wants to be set up with the right technology, carrier base, and connections to capitalize in any environment.
“I’ve always said I wanted to have everything kind of ready to go, so that when chaos comes back, we’re ready to rock.”
About Gebrüder Weiss
Gebrüder Weiss, a global freight forwarder headquartered in Lauterach, Austria, is the world’s oldest transport company with a history that dates back more than 500 years. The family-owned company employs more than 8,600 people worldwide and boasts 180 company-owned locations. Today, it offers a full range of supply chain services, including air and sea freight, overland transport, and logistics solutions, with a strong emphasis on reliability, sustainability, and innovation.