Large 3PL integrations require patience, processes and planning

© Khunaspix Dreamstime.

A review and analysis of the some of the largest freight forwarding mergers and acquisition of the past couple of years – chiefly XPO’s $6bn spend on Con-way and Norbert Dentressangle; DSV’s $1.35bn purchase of UTi Worldwide and Echo Global Logistics’ $420m takeover of Command Transportation. All three buyers represent some of the most aggressive corporate growth stories in the business, but the long-term health of the companies is very often determined by the way the integration process is executed.