Marten Transport, Ltd. has strategically transitioned from a refrigerated long-haul carrier to a multifaceted business offering a network of time and temperature-sensitive and dry truck-based transportation and distribution capabilities across the company’s six distinct business platforms – Temperature-Sensitive and Dry Truckload, Dedicated, Intermodal, Brokerage and MRTN de Mexico.
The company is one of the leading temperature-sensitive truckload carriers in the United States, specializing in...
Marten Transport, Ltd. has strategically transitioned from a refrigerated long-haul carrier to a multifaceted business offering a network of time and temperature-sensitive and dry truck-based transportation and distribution capabilities across the company’s six distinct business platforms – Temperature-Sensitive and Dry Truckload, Dedicated, Intermodal, Brokerage and MRTN de Mexico.
The company is one of the leading temperature-sensitive truckload carriers in the United States, specializing in transporting and distributing food and other consumer packaged goods that require a temperature-controlled or insulated environment. Approximately 59% of the company’s Truckload and Dedicated revenue in 2024 resulted from hauling temperature-sensitive products and 41% from hauling dry freight. The company operates throughout the United States and in parts of Mexico and Canada, with the company’s revenue primarily generated from within the United States. The company provides regional truckload carrier services in the Southeast, West Coast, Midwest, South Central and Northeast regions. The company’s primary medium-to-long-haul traffic lanes are between the Midwest and the West Coast, Southwest, Southeast, and the East Coast, as well as from California to the Pacific Northwest. In 2024, the company’s average length of haul was 418 miles.
The company’s growth strategy is to expand its business organically by offering shippers a high level of service and significant freight capacity. The company markets primarily to shippers that offer consistent volumes of freight in the lanes the company prefers and is willing to compensate the company for a high level of service. With the company’s fleet of 3,006 company and independent contractor tractors, the company offers service levels that include up to 99% on-time performance and delivery within the narrow time windows often required when shipping perishable commodities.
The company has four reporting segments – Truckload, Dedicated, Intermodal and Brokerage.
The company’s Truckload segment provides a combination of regional short-haul and medium-to-long-haul full-load transportation services. The company transports food and other consumer packaged goods that require a temperature-controlled or insulated environment, along with dry freight, across the United States and into and out of Mexico and Canada. The company’s agreements with customers are typically for one year.
The company’s Dedicated segment provides customized transportation solutions tailored to meet each individual customer’s requirements, utilizing temperature-controlled trailers, dry vans and other specialized equipment within the United States. The company’s agreements with customers range from three to five years and are subject to annual rate reviews.
The company’s Intermodal segment transports its customers’ freight within the United States utilizing the company’s refrigerated containers on railroad flatcars for portions of trips, with the balance of the trips using the company’s tractors, or to a lesser extent, contracted carriers.
The company’s Brokerage segment develops contractual relationships with and arranges for third-party carriers to transport freight for the company’s customers in temperature-controlled trailers and dry vans within the United States and into and out of Mexico through Marten Transport Logistics, LLC, which was established in 2007 and operates pursuant to brokerage authority granted by the United States Department of Transportation, or DOT. The company retains the billing, collection and customer management responsibilities.
Operating results of the company’s MRTN de Mexico business, which offers its customers door-to-door service between the United States and Mexico with the company’s Mexican partner carriers is reported within the company’s Truckload and Brokerage segments.
Marketing and Operations
The company approaches its business as an integrated effort of marketing and operations. The company targets food and consumer packaged goods companies whose products require temperature-sensitive services and who ship multiple truckloads per week. By emphasizing high-quality service, the company seeks to become a core carrier for its customers. In 2024, the company’s largest customer was Walmart.
The company’s marketing efforts are conducted by a staff of 346 sales, customer service and support personnel under the supervision of the company’s senior management team. Marketing personnel travel within their regions to solicit new customers and maintain contact with existing customers. Customer service managers regularly contact customers to solicit additional business on a load-by-load basis.
The company’s operations and sales personnel strive to improve its asset productivity by seeking freight that allows for rapid turnaround times, minimizes non-revenue miles between loads and carries a favorable rate structure. Once the company has established a customer relationship, customer service managers work closely with the company’s fleet managers to match customer needs with the company’s capacity and the location of revenue equipment. Fleet managers use the company’s optimization system to assign loads to satisfy customer and operational requirements, as well as to meet the routing needs of the company’s drivers. The company attempts to route most of its trucks over selected operating lanes, which assists the company in meeting customer requirements, balancing traffic, reducing non-revenue miles, and improving the reliability of delivery schedules.
The company employs technology in its operations when it will allow the company to operate more efficiently and the investment is cost-justified. Examples of the technologies the company employ include:
Terrestrial-based tracking and messaging that allows the company to communicate with the company’s drivers, obtain load position updates, provide the company’s customers with freight visibility, and download operating information such as fuel mileage and idling time for the tractor engines and temperature setting and run time for the temperature-control units on the company’s trailers.
Electronic data interchange and internet communication with customers concerning freight tendering, invoices, shipment status and other information.
Electronic logging devices in the company’s tractors to monitor drivers’ hours of service.
Auxiliary power units installed on the company-owned tractors that allow the company to decrease fuel costs associated with idling its tractors.
Fuel-routing software that optimizes the fuel stops for each trip to take advantage of volume discounts available in the company’s fuel network.
This integrated approach to the company’s marketing and operations, coupled with the company’s use of technology, has allowed the company to provide its customers with a high level of service and support the company’s revenue growth in an efficient manner. For example, the company produced a non-revenue mile percentage of 7.6% during 2024, which points to the efficiency of the company’s operations and compares favorably to other temperature-sensitive and dry van trucking companies.
Major Customers
A significant portion of the company’s revenue is generated from its major customers. In 2024, the company’s top 30 customers accounted for approximately 69% of the company’s revenue excluding fuel surcharges, and the company’s top ten customers accounted for 48% of the company’s revenue.
Seasonality
The company’s tractor productivity generally decreases during the winter season because inclement weather impedes operations and some shippers reduce their shipments. At the same time, operating expenses generally increase, with harsh weather creating higher accident frequency, increased claims, lower fuel efficiency and more equipment repairs.
Revenue Equipment
As of December 31, 2024, the company operated a fleet of 3,006 tractors, including 2,918 company-owned tractors and 88 tractors supplied by independent contractors. The average age of the company-owned tractor fleet at December 31, 2024 was approximately 1.9 years. In 2024, the company replaced the company-owned tractors within an average of 3.9 years after purchase.
Kenworth and Freightliner manufacture most of the company-owned tractors. Maintaining a relatively new and standardized fleet allows the company to operate most miles while the tractors are under warranty to minimize repair and maintenance costs. It also enhances the company’s ability to attract drivers, increases fuel economy and improves customer acceptance by minimizing service interruptions caused by breakdowns. The company adheres to a comprehensive maintenance program during the life of the company’s equipment. The company performs most routine servicing and repairs at its terminal facilities to reduce costly on-road repairs and out-of-route trips.
The company historically has contracted with independent contractors to provide and operate a portion of the company’s tractor fleet. The percentage of the company’s fleet provided by independent contractors was 2.9% at December 31, 2024.
As of December 31, 2024, the company operated a fleet of 5,440 trailers, consisting of 3,138 refrigerated trailers and 2,302 dry vans. Most of the company’s refrigerated trailers are equipped with Thermo-King refrigeration units, air ride suspensions and anti-lock brakes. The average age of the company’s trailer fleet at December 31, 2024 was approximately 5.3 years. In 2024, the company replaced the company-owned trailers within an average of 8.4 years after purchase.
As of December 31, 2024, the company operated a fleet of 786 refrigerated containers for use on railroad flatcars.
Regulation
The DOT and various state and local agencies exercise broad powers over the company’s business, generally governing such activities as authorization to engage in motor carrier operations, safety and insurance requirements. The company’s drivers and independent contractors also must comply with the safety and fitness regulations promulgated by the DOT, including those relating to drug and alcohol testing, medical and continuous training qualification and hours-of-service.
The DOT, through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or FMCSA, imposes safety and fitness regulations on the company and its drivers.
History
Marten Transport, Ltd. was founded in 1946. The company was incorporated in 1988.