C.H. Robinson reports higher earnings as freight volumes grow
C.H. Robinson reported higher revenue and earnings for the third quarter of 2026, supported by increased freight volumes, improved operating performance and continued productivity gains across its transportation and logistics businesses.
The US-based logistics company recorded total revenue of $5.4 billion, representing a 29.5% increase compared with the corresponding quarter of 2025. Adjusted gross profit rose by 14.5% year over year, while earnings per share increased by 28.6% to $1.80.
The company’s North American Surface Transportation (NAST) division reported 3.5% year-on-year growth in combined truckload and less-than-truckload (LTL) volumes. Over the same period, the Cass Freight Shipment Index declined by 0.3%, indicating that the division’s shipment growth exceeded the broader market benchmark. According to C.H. Robinson, this marked the 14th consecutive quarter in which its NAST volume growth outperformed the index.
Freight growth and operating performance
C.H. Robinson attributed its North American volume growth to increased business across several targeted sectors, including retail, healthcare and technology. The company also reported improvements in its ability to adjust contractual truckload pricing and capture spot-market opportunities.
Within NAST, adjusted gross profit per truckload shipment increased by 17% compared with the previous year. The division also recorded a year-on-year productivity improvement of more than 15%, measured by shipments handled per employee per day.
The company reported a NAST operating margin of 40.3%, excluding restructuring costs, an increase of 110 basis points from the previous year. Its Global Forwarding division achieved an operating margin of 36.6%, representing a year-on-year improvement of 660 basis points. Both figures reflect the respective divisions’ operating performance rather than the consolidated operating margin of C.H. Robinson.
During the quarter, the company returned $289.1 million to shareholders.
AI-driven productivity improvements
C.H. Robinson continued to expand the use of its Lean AI operating strategy, which combines automation, proprietary data and artificial intelligence to support freight management processes.
The company reported that productivity in both NAST and Global Forwarding improved by more than 65% compared with the end of 2022. During the third quarter, both divisions achieved stronger year-on-year productivity improvements than those recorded in the first half of 2026.
The strategy includes the development of AI agents capable of handling specific tasks throughout the freight transaction process, from initial quotations to payment and settlement. In October, C.H. Robinson introduced additional AI agents for ocean freight, air cargo and customs operations, extending the technology into more complex international forwarding activities.
According to Arun Rajan, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at C.H. Robinson, the company has automated only a portion of the processes involved in its freight operations, leaving further opportunities for implementation.
Planned RXO acquisition
C.H. Robinson also addressed its planned acquisition of RXO, which remains subject to completion. The company expects to apply its existing operating model and AI technologies to the integration of RXO’s business following the transaction’s closing.
Chief Executive Officer Dave Bozeman said the company’s approach to operational efficiency and automation would play an important role in the planned integration. Management also indicated that the acquisition is intended to complement, rather than replace, the company’s organic growth initiatives.
C.H. Robinson said its analysis of the two companies’ largest truckload brokerage customers identified limited overlap, supporting its expectations for the combination.
The company continues to focus on expanding freight volumes, improving operating efficiency and deploying automation across its transportation and logistics activities.
