(CHRW) C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. Business Model Canvas Research

Air and ocean carriers are critical to C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.'s global forwarding, because they provide the lift and vessel space needed for import, export, and time-sensitive international moves. C.H. Robinson also serves as a non-vessel operating common carrier in ocean freight, so it can book capacity and manage shipments without owning ships or planes.

• Air capacity supports urgent freight
• Ocean capacity moves bulk shipments
• Carrier access drives global coverage
• NVOCC model adds freight control

Robinson Fresh relies on independent growers and produce suppliers to source fruits, vegetables, and other perishables, keeping shelf life tight and supply steady. This matters in a market where USDA data shows 30% to 40% of the U.S. food supply is lost or wasted, so dependable sourcing directly protects availability and reach.

• Growers secure fresh supply.
• Suppliers widen market reach.

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. supports import and export clearance, manages customs documents, and handles regulatory steps so shipments cross borders with less delay. In 2025, this mattered across trade flows tied to more than $3.1 trillion in U.S. imports and exports, where small filing errors can trigger holds, fines, or extra storage costs.

• Clearance support for imports and exports
• Customs paperwork and compliance checks
• Less border friction, lower delay risk

Robinson Fresh sources, sells, and markets fresh produce, linking growers with retail and foodservice buyers and managing the cold-chain needed for perishables. On a 2024 base, C.H. Robinson reported $17.7 billion in gross revenue and $1.6 billion in net revenue, showing the scale behind its produce merchandising and logistics.

• Links growers to retail and foodservice
• Manages perishable logistics and cold chain
• Supports commercial merchandising and sales

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. relies on a skilled logistics workforce to run brokerage, sales, operations, and compliance across 83,000 customers and 95,000 contract carriers. Deep freight-market know-how helps staff price loads, manage exceptions, and keep shipments moving when plans change.

• Brokerage and compliance drive execution.
• Market insight supports pricing discipline.
• Human judgment handles exceptions fast.

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. uses a global operating footprint to link North American freight with international forwarding, which is central to cross-border and multimodal logistics. The company is headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and serves more than 83,000 customers through a network that spans key global trade lanes.

• Centralized control from Eden Prairie
• North American and global forwarding reach
• Supports cross-border, multimodal moves

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. bundles managed transportation, warehousing, and customs around freight movement, so customers can run more of their logistics through one provider. That setup can tighten control, improve visibility, and cut handoffs across the supply chain.

• One provider for freight, warehousing, customs
• Better control and shipment visibility
• Less coordination, more efficiency

Robinson Fresh gives C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. a specialty perishables lane: it sources fresh produce, matches supply with demand, and opens market access for grocery retailers, restaurants, wholesalers, and foodservice distributors. That adds a higher-value service layer beyond standard freight brokerage, where cold-chain timing and quality control matter more than simple load matching.

• Serves multi-channel perishables buyers
• Specialized sourcing plus distribution
• Extends beyond core brokerage

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. uses digital self-service tools for load tendering, real-time visibility, and shipment management, so customers can act without heavy manual coordination. That setup supports faster response times and lower friction across a network that handled millions of shipments in FY2025.

• Digital tendering cuts manual touchpoints
• Visibility tools improve shipment tracking
• Self-service speeds customer responses
• FY2025 scale supports efficient execution

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. uses service teams to manage delays, customs issues, and capacity gaps, keeping freight moving when plans break. In 2025, its scale across a global network of about 450,000 carriers helps it resolve exceptions fast and build trust in complex logistics.

• Handle delays and customs issues
• Bridge capacity gaps quickly
• Keep freight moving through disruptions

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. uses its carrier and partner network as a live service channel: it matches shipper demand with transport capacity across road, rail, air, and ocean. In 2025, the Company said it served about 83,000 customers and worked with more than 450,000 contract carriers, which gives it reach and speed in spot and managed freight.

• Links freight demand to real capacity
• Covers road, rail, air, ocean
• Scales through 450,000+ carriers

Robinson Fresh places produce through 2 core buyer paths: retail and foodservice distribution. It uses sourcing and marketing ties to match growers with customers, which helps move fresh foods into stores, restaurants, and other large buyers inside C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.'s fresh foods line.

• 2 channels: retail and foodservice
• Uses sourcing and marketing ties
• Supports fresh foods sales flow