Due to the nature of the market, there are a wide variety of transportation and logistics multinationals:
- Carriers. Responsible to transport passengers and freight across borders with equipment that they are owning or leasing and for which they derive a revenue. Their main assets are mobile fleets of oceangoing ships, aircrafts or rail equipment that is made available through negociated contracts or at a current market (spot) rate if they are able to make capacity available on a short notice. Carriers such as Maersk (largest container shipping line), Emirates (a world class air passenger and freight carriers based in Dubai) and BSNF (a major North American rail carrier) are among the world’s largest in their respective modes.
- Terminal operators. Responsible to transship passengers or freight at terminal facilities such as ports, airports and intermodal yards. Some terminal facilties are privately-owned and operated while others, particularly in the port and airport sector, are publicly-owned and leased to private operators through concessions. Terminal operators such as HPH (headquartered in Hong Kong) have a substantial portfolio of assets positionned accross the world.
- Logistics service providers. Firms offering a variety of transport and warehousing services through the arrangement of supply chains. Some own assets such as warehouses and vehicles while others contract thirds parties such as carriers and terminal operators to handle their cargoes. DHL is the world’s largest third party logistics services provider.