Key facts
- Founded 1997 · headquartered in Preston, MD
- Privately held
- 8,000+ carriers in network
- FMCSA broker authority: ACTIVE (MC-383378)
- #27 on the Transport Topics Top 100 (2024)
- Gross revenue: $0.7B (est.) per Transport Topics 2024
About Choptank Transport
Choptank Transport, LLC is a temperature-controlled freight broker founded in 1997 and headquartered in Preston, Maryland — in the heart of the Delmarva Peninsula's agricultural region — that built its identity around refrigerated freight from the ground up. Today it ranks among the top 30 freight brokers in North America with approximately $700 million in gross brokerage revenue, according to Transport Topics.
In 2021, Hub Group acquired Choptank Transport, integrating it into one of the largest asset-based logistics companies in the country. Choptank continues to operate under its own brand and leadership, giving shippers access to Hub Group's broader network while retaining the specialized reefer and produce focus that made Choptank's reputation. The acquisition gave Choptank shippers additional scale and capacity depth, particularly on intermodal and managed transportation through the parent organization.
Choptank's core strength remains refrigerated and dry van FTL brokerage, with particularly deep carrier relationships on Florida produce lanes, California produce corridors, and East Coast routes. The company is frequently cited by shippers for service quality and consistent communication — attributes that trace back to its culture as a mid-sized regional specialist. Shippers moving produce, perishables, or any temperature-sensitive food freight along East Coast and Southeast corridors should consider Choptank as a primary or backup provider.
Listing assembled from public records (FMCSA Li-Public, Transport Topics, company website). Are you Choptank Transport? 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 temperature-controlled and produce expertise dating to 1997 — carrier relationships built over decades
- Outstanding shipper service reputation — consistently cited for proactive communication on sensitive loads
- Strong carrier network on Florida, California, and East Coast produce lanes
- Hub Group backing provides additional capacity depth and resources post-2021 acquisition
- Dry van FTL and LTL available alongside reefer — useful for mixed-commodity shippers
- No intermodal, expedited, or cross-border Mexico service — limited for shippers needing multi-mode coverage
- Predominantly East Coast and Southeast focused — may be less competitive on interior Midwest or Mountain West lanes
- MC/DOT verification recommended before tendering — confirm current FMCSA details at li-public.fmcsa.dot.gov
- Smaller scale than top-10 brokers — less leverage on non-produce dry van spot markets
- No managed transportation program — not suitable for shippers needing full TMS outsourcing
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FAQ
Is Choptank Transport licensed and bonded as a freight broker?
Choptank Transport, LLC holds active broker authority MC-383378, USDOT 2226374, with a $75,000 BMC-84 surety bond on file. Choptank is a Hub Group subsidiary since 2021; verify at li-public.fmcsa.dot.gov.
What types of freight does Choptank Transport specialize in?
Per Transport Topics, reefer and dry van TL are primary; LTL and flatbed are active. No intermodal, expedited, air, bulk/tank, or parcel. Core specialty is temperature-controlled produce and perishables.
How competitive are Choptank Transport's reefer rates?
Choptank is competitive on reefer and produce lanes — Florida, California, and East Coast corridors — where carrier relationships are deepest. Outside core geography, rates may be less competitive. Benchmark on ShipperGuide before committing.