C.H. Robinson Boosts High-Value Cargo Capabilities with Acquisition of DeSpir Logistics™
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
C.H. Robinson (NASDAQ: CHRW), the global leader in Lean AI supply chains, today announced it has acquired DeSpir Logistics, a specialized provider of secure transportation solutions and cargo escort services for mission-critical, high-value freight across North America.
This acquisition strengthens C.H. Robinson’s capabilities in premium, defensible services where security, compliance, and execution excellence are key decision drivers. This builds on the company’s ability to deliver tailored solutions for highly sensitive, regulated shipments across industries such as healthcare, life sciences, data centers, aerospace, and high-value retail — where precision, pre-planning, and real-time visibility are critical. Demand for these services is accelerating as supply chains become more complex and cargo theft grows more sophisticated.
“With DeSpir, we’re strengthening how we help customers move freight that requires an extra layer of protection. This is the kind of cargo where the stakes are incredibly high, like life-saving pharmaceuticals that must stay within strict temperature ranges, or critical data center equipment that is frequently targeted for theft,” said Adam McDonough, vice president of committed assets. “Think of it like this: C.H. Robinson is the large, highly efficient logistics engine with industry leading safety and fraud prevention, while DeSpir is a specialized operations team within it — designed to handle complex, high-risk, high-value freight with the greatest level of control and precision. This is a specialized service that many of our customers need.”
The acquisition also expands C.H. Robinson’s network of highly vetted, security-focused carriers, further strengthening its ability to move a wider range of high-value freight. To meet the specialized demands of these shipments, drivers undergo individual vetting, maintain required certifications, and are subject to ongoing audits. Unlike traditional carrier networks built primarily for scale, reliability, safety, and flexibility, this closed-loop network is also built for maximum control and security.
In addition, DeSpir enhances the company’s technology portfolio with advanced, high-security capabilities across the life of a shipment, including strengthening real-time monitoring of temperature fluctuations and detecting potential cargo tampering to address risks before they escalate. By applying C.H. Robinson’s Lean AI approach to DeSpir’s high-security platform, the company can further scale these capabilities, unlocking greater visibility, deeper insights, and improved performance across high-stakes supply chains.
“We’re taking very specific, nuanced expertise and coupling it with our scale,” said Michael Castagnetto, president of North American Surface Transportation. “By bringing together highly vetted carriers, advanced technology, and logisticians who know high-value freight inside and out — powered by our Lean AI — we’re able to deliver the level of precision, security, and white-glove service these shipments demand.”
“We’re proud of the team and the specialized capabilities we’ve built at DeSpir,” said John Carr, Managing Partner at DeSpir Logistics. “Joining C.H. Robinson allows us to extend that expertise to more customers, while continuing to deliver the level of control and precision our customers have always expected from us. It’s a strong fit for our people and for what we’ve built.”
The acquisition of DeSpir builds on C.H. Robinson’s disciplined approach to growth, adding targeted capabilities that strengthen its ability to serve complex, high-value segments and key strategic verticals while increasing customer value.
“We’ve been deliberate and disciplined in how we approach M&A,” said Damon Lee, Chief Financial Officer. “Over the past year, we’ve strengthened our operating model, sharpened our focus, and built a more efficient cost structure — putting us in a position to invest with purpose to enhance our value creation. DeSpir brings differentiated expertise, which when combined with C.H. Robinson’s scale, we expect to deliver superior results for our customers, carriers and shareholders.
DeSpir had $62 million in total revenues for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025. C.H. Robinson purchased DeSpir for approximately $75 million in cash. The acquisition is expected to be slightly accretive in 2026 and will be financed through cash on hand. The deal officially closed today.
About C.H. Robinson
C.H. Robinson is the global leader in Lean AI supply chains. For more than a century, companies everywhere have looked to us to reimagine how goods move. Now, as we redefine what’s next for the industry, that same drive fuels our commitment to Building Tomorrow’s Supply Chains, Today™. Trusted by 75,000 customers and 450,000 contract carriers, we manage 37 million shipments annually, representing $23 billion in freight. We deliver tailored solutions across the world via truckload, less-than-truckload, ocean, air, and more. With our unique combination of human insight and Lean AI working as one, supply chains move faster, smarter, and more sustainably. As a responsible global citizen, we proudly contribute millions to the causes that matter most to our employees. For more information, visit us at chrobinson.com (Nasdaq: CHRW).
About DeSpir Logistics
DeSpir Logistics LLC is the leading specialized transportation provider for high-value, high-risk, and temperature-controlled cargo. Transporting critical assets calls for extraordinary measures and DeSpir leverages proprietary technologies and processes to plan for everything, assume nothing, and execute flawlessly. DeSpir’s service uses Quality Management standards that are based on GDP and TAPA guidelines and informed by our extensive experience with transporting expedited and high value cargo.
Forward-Looking Statements
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this release are forward-looking statements that represent our expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies concerning future events. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience or our present expectations, including, but not limited to whether and when the Company will be able to realize the expected financial results of the transaction, and how customers, competitors and employees will react to the transaction, as well as other risks and uncertainties detailed in our Annual and Quarterly Reports. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and we undertake no obligation to update such statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after such date.
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KEYWORDS: United States North America Minnesota
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Software Artificial Intelligence Other Transport Data Management Trucking Technology Logistics/Supply Chain Management Transport
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