Key facts
- Founded 1941 · headquartered in Eagan, MN
- Privately held
- FMCSA broker authority: ACTIVE
- #21 on the Transport Topics Top 100 (2024)
- Gross revenue: $0.9B (est.) per Transport Topics 2024
- Primary freight modes: Dry Van, Reefer
About Bay & Bay Transportation
Bay & Bay Transportation Services is a privately held freight broker and carrier headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota, specializing in refrigerated and temperature-controlled freight. Founded in 1941 as a small refrigerated carrier in the Midwest, the company has grown steadily into one of the region's most recognized reefer specialists — combining brokerage services with a proprietary fleet of refrigerated trucks to serve food-grade, produce, and perishable shippers across the contiguous US and Canada.
The company's deepest strength is temperature-controlled freight in Midwest and Southeast produce corridors, particularly food-grade full truckload and refrigerated LTL lanes where Bay & Bay has built carrier relationships over decades. Shippers moving fresh produce, dairy, packaged food, and other perishables benefit from Bay & Bay's specialized knowledge of reefer equipment requirements, pre-cooling standards, and transit compliance. Dry van and flatbed brokerage round out the service offering for shippers with mixed freight needs.
As a mid-sized regional specialist, Bay & Bay competes less on technology and volume than Tier 1 brokers, and more on expertise, carrier access in reefer markets, and responsiveness. Shippers who have moved primarily through large national brokers often find that Bay & Bay's reefer-first network offers better capacity access and more knowledgeable support for temperature-sensitive freight — particularly on lanes where dedicated reefer carriers are required.
Listing assembled from public records (FMCSA Li-Public, Transport Topics, company website). Are you Bay & Bay Transportation? Claim this profile →
Load Types Transport Topics Top 100
FMCSA & Licensing FMCSA Li-Public
Coverage
All 48 contiguous states + Canada
Strongest Lanes
Pros & Cons
- Deep specialization in refrigerated and temperature-controlled freight — one of the top reefer-focused brokers in the Midwest
- Long-standing carrier relationships in reefer markets built over 80+ years of operations
- Operates proprietary refrigerated trucks alongside brokerage — valuable carrier-side knowledge
- Strong coverage of Midwest produce and food-grade corridors (Minneapolis, Chicago, Southeast)
- Limited technology platform compared to larger or digital-first brokers — no instant quoting or API integration
- Smaller carrier network overall — capacity outside core reefer and Midwest lanes can be thinner
- No cross-border Mexico capability for shippers with north-south produce or food supply chains
- Intermodal, air freight, and expedited services not offered — not suitable as a single-source broker for complex multi-mode needs
- Less suitable for high-volume, enterprise shippers needing TMS integration or automated load management
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FAQ
Is Bay & Bay Transportation licensed and bonded as a freight broker?
Bay & Bay Transportation Services, Inc. holds active freight broker authority with the FMCSA and maintains a $75,000 BMC-84 surety bond as required by federal law. FMCSA MC# and DOT# should be verified at li-public.fmcsa.dot.gov before tendering any load — always confirm active authority status directly with FMCSA.
What types of freight does Bay & Bay Transportation move?
Per Transport Topics' Top 100 report, Bay & Bay primarily brokers refrigerated/reefer and dry van TL freight. Flatbed and LTL are also active service lines. Intermodal, air freight, expedited, and bulk/tank are not offered. Temperature-controlled freight — particularly food-grade and produce — is the company's core specialty.
How do Bay & Bay Transportation's rates compare to larger brokers?
As a specialist reefer broker, Bay & Bay may offer more competitive access to refrigerated capacity on Midwest and Southeast produce lanes than large generalist brokers — particularly during produce season when reefer capacity tightens. For dry van or non-temperature-sensitive freight, larger volume brokers may offer better pricing. Use ShipperGuide to benchmark rates from 50+ brokers instantly before committing.