# Ryan Transportation Service

> Freight Broker · Overland Park, KS · Founded 1997

**Canonical URL:** https://instant-rates.com/freight-brokers/ryan-transportation-service/
**Markdown source:** https://instant-rates.com/freight-brokers/ryan-transportation-service/index.md
**Last updated:** 2026-04-27

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## Key facts

- Founded 1997 · headquartered in Overland Park, KS
- Privately held
- FMCSA broker authority: **ACTIVE**
- #23 on Transport Topics Top 100 (2024)
- Gross revenue: $0.85B (est.) per Transport Topics 2024
- Primary freight modes: Dry Van, Flatbed

## About

Ryan Transportation Service is a Midwest-focused freight broker headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas — a Kansas City suburb — founded in 1997. The company has built a strong reputation for reliable dry van and flatbed coverage across Midwest manufacturing and agricultural freight corridors, with particular depth in Kansas City-area lanes radiating out to Chicago, Dallas, and the Southeast. Ryan Transportation operates an agent-assisted model, giving independent freight agents the infrastructure and carrier relationships to serve their local shipper accounts.

The broker's core strength is FTL dry van and flatbed freight in central US lanes, where its carrier relationships with independent owner-operators and regional fleets give it capacity access that competes well against larger national brokers. Refrigerated and LTL services are available for shippers with mixed freight profiles. Cross-border Mexico capability extends Ryan's reach for shippers with Midwest-to-Mexico supply chains — a growing lane for manufacturing and food companies in the Kansas City area.

As a mid-sized regional specialist, Ryan Transportation prioritizes relationship-based service over technology-first automation. Shippers who value consistency, local market knowledge, and access to a dedicated broker representative often find Ryan a strong fit — particularly for recurring Midwest lane coverage where the agent model's on-the-ground carrier relationships translate into better capacity access and load tracking than generalist platforms can provide.

## Load types

| Mode | Status |
|---|---|
| Dry Van TL | ● Primary |
| Refrigerated | ✓ Active |
| LTL | ✓ Active |
| Intermodal | Not offered |
| Flatbed | ● Primary |
| Air / Expedited | Not offered |
| Bulk / Tank | Not offered |
| Parcel | Not offered |

Source: Transport Topics Top 100 Freight Brokerages, 2024

## FMCSA & Licensing

FMCSA broker authority for Ryan Transportation Service, Inc. is not yet in our records — verify directly at li-public.fmcsa.dot.gov by searching the legal entity name before tendering a load.

## Coverage

All 48 contiguous states · Mexico

**Strongest lanes:**

- Kansas City → Chicago
- Kansas City → Dallas
- Midwest → Southeast
- Texas → Midwest
- Kansas City → Southeast

## Pros & Cons

**What shippers like:**

- Strong Midwest carrier relationships — particularly dry van and flatbed coverage in Kansas City, Texas, and Southeast corridors
- Agent-assisted model provides personalized service with local market knowledge in core coverage areas
- Cross-border Mexico capability for shippers with central US-to-Mexico supply chains
- Covers mixed freight profiles — dry van, flatbed, reefer, and LTL through a single broker relationship

**Common complaints:**

- No intermodal, air freight, or expedited service — not suitable as a single-source broker for complex multi-mode needs
- Limited technology platform — no instant quoting, API integration, or advanced TMS connectivity
- Carrier network thinner outside core Midwest and Texas lanes — national coverage less consistent than Tier 1 brokers
- No Canada cross-border capability — primarily domestic US and Mexico
- Agent model can result in variable service quality depending on the individual agent assigned to an account

## FAQ

### Is Ryan Transportation Service licensed and bonded as a freight broker?

Ryan Transportation Service, 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 current active authority status directly with FMCSA.

### What types of freight does Ryan Transportation move?

Per Transport Topics' Top 100 report, Ryan Transportation primarily brokers dry van TL and flatbed freight. Refrigerated/reefer and LTL are active service lines. Intermodal, air freight, and bulk/tank are not offered. Ryan's core strength is FTL dry van and flatbed in Midwest and Texas corridors, with an agent model providing local carrier depth in those markets.

### How do Ryan Transportation's rates compare to other Midwest brokers?

Ryan Transportation's agent model and deep Midwest carrier relationships can offer competitive access to dry van and flatbed capacity in Kansas City, Texas, and Southeast lanes — markets where relationship-based carrier networks often outperform large platform brokers on capacity availability. For instant rate benchmarking across 50+ brokers, use ShipperGuide to compare options before committing to any quote.

## Best for

Mid-market shippers moving FTL dry van or flatbed freight in Midwest and Texas lanes who want a relationship-based regional broker with strong carrier partnerships.

## Compare alternatives

- [Total Quality Logistics (TQL)](https://instant-rates.com/freight-brokers/total-quality-logistics/) — 110,000+ carriers · Dry Van, Reefer, LTL, Intermodal · All 48 contiguous states · Canada · Mexi…
- [Arrive Logistics](https://instant-rates.com/freight-brokers/arrive-logistics/) — Dry Van, Reefer, LTL, Intermodal · All 48 contiguous states · Mexico
- [MODE Global](https://instant-rates.com/freight-brokers/mode-global/) — Dry Van, Reefer, LTL, Intermodal · All 48 contiguous states · Mexico · Cana…
- [Armstrong Transport Group](https://instant-rates.com/freight-brokers/armstrong-transport-group/) — Dry Van, Reefer, LTL, Flatbed · All 48 contiguous states · Mexico
- [Loadsmart / ShipperGuide](https://instant-rates.com/freight-brokers/loadsmart-shipperguide/) — Dry Van, Reefer, LTL, Intermodal · All 48 contiguous states · Mexico · Inte…

## Sources

- Revenue and ranking: Transport Topics Top 100 Freight Brokerages (annual list)
- FMCSA licensing: li-public.fmcsa.dot.gov — broker authority status verified at publication where possible
- Reviews: G2, Trustpilot, Google Business — shipper reviews only
- Listing assembled from public records. Brokers can claim/update via directory@shipperguide.com