Key facts
- Founded 1991 · headquartered in Jacksonville, FL
- Publicly traded — NASDAQ: LSTR
- 70,000+ carriers · 2.4M+/yr shipments per year
- FMCSA broker authority: ACTIVE (MC-277729)
- #10 on the Transport Topics Top 100 (2024)
- Gross revenue: $2.61B per Transport Topics 2024
About Landstar System
Landstar System is a publicly traded, asset-light freight transportation company headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, operating through a unique network of 1,000+ independent sales agents and 8,800+ owner-operators (BCOs — Business Capacity Owners). Unlike traditional freight brokers, Landstar does not employ a large brokerage sales force; instead, independent agents who own their customer relationships work within Landstar's systems and liability umbrella to arrange freight with BCO carriers. This agent-based model has given Landstar particularly deep expertise in flatbed, heavy haul, and specialized freight requiring permits or escorts.
The company's carrier network includes 70,000+ capacity providers beyond its own BCOs — giving it broad coverage across dry van, LTL, intermodal, air, and ocean in addition to its flatbed specialty. Landstar serves 23,000+ businesses and has 25+ years of cross-border Mexico experience, with a dedicated logistics service center in Laredo, TX. Its Galaxy TMS and LandstarOne mobile platform provide the technology backbone, though the shipper experience is primarily agent-mediated rather than self-service.
Landstar's model is different from most brokers on this list: shippers deal with a named independent agent who maintains the relationship long-term, rather than a corporate sales team. This creates high consistency of service for established Landstar customers and accountability at the agent level, but onboarding takes longer and pricing is harder to compare apples-to-apples against digital-first brokers. Landstar is especially well-suited to specialized, heavy, or oversized freight where an experienced agent with permit knowledge adds significant value.
Listing assembled from public records (FMCSA Li-Public, Transport Topics, company website). Are you Landstar System? Claim this profile →
Load Types Transport Topics Top 100
FMCSA & Licensing FMCSA Li-Public
Coverage
All 50 states · Mexico (Laredo logistics center) · Canada · International via agent network
Strongest Lanes
Pros & Cons
- Best-in-class flatbed, heavy haul, and oversized freight expertise through experienced BCO owner-operators
- Independent agent model provides high consistency — shippers work with the same agent long-term
- 25+ years of US-Mexico cross-border experience with a dedicated Laredo logistics center
- Government and defense freight specialty — GSA, DOD, FEMA, NASA contractor relationships
- 70,000+ capacity providers across all modes including air, ocean, and specialized equipment
- Not self-service — shippers must work through an independent agent, not a digital portal
- Instant quoting is not available; rates are negotiated per shipment through the agent
- Agent quality varies — service experience is highly dependent on which Landstar agent you use
- Smaller direct-employee headcount than full-service brokers creates gaps in 24/7 coverage
- Less competitive on high-volume standard dry van freight where digital-first brokers excel
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FAQ
Is Landstar System licensed and bonded as a freight broker?
Per FMCSA public records, Landstar Transportation Logistics (the primary brokerage entity) holds active broker authority (MC-277729 / USDOT 573043) with a $75,000 BMC-84 surety bond on file. Landstar operates multiple subsidiary entities — always confirm the specific entity's status at li-public.fmcsa.dot.gov before tendering a load.
What types of freight does Landstar move?
Per Transport Topics' Top 100 report, Landstar primarily brokers dry van TL and flatbed/heavy haul freight. Refrigerated, LTL, intermodal, air, ocean, and bulk/tank are also active through its agent and BCO network. Flatbed, heavy haul, and oversized are historic core specialties dating to Landstar's founding.
How are Landstar's rates structured compared to other brokers?
Landstar's rates are negotiated per shipment through independent agents rather than set by a corporate pricing engine. This means pricing varies by agent and load characteristics. For standard dry van freight, digital-first brokers typically offer more competitive spot rates. For specialized or heavy freight, Landstar agents often have permit-knowledge and carrier relationships that justify their fees. Use ShipperGuide to benchmark rates across 50+ brokers before tendering.