C.H. Robinson Plans $5.8 Billion RXO Acquisition

C.H. Robinson has agreed to acquire RXO in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at $5.8 billion, a deal that would combine two of North America's largest asset-light freight brokerages. FleetOwner reported October 6 that the merged operation is expected to represent more than $25 billion in pro forma gross revenue. The transaction is scheduled to close in the first half of 2027, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals and other customary conditions.

The proposed network would serve about 93,000 shippers and connect with roughly 600,000 contract carriers. RXO would add brokerage volume as well as more than 650,000 expedited shipments and 11 million last-mile deliveries annually. C.H. Robinson says the greater density could create more freight opportunities, improve lane matching and reduce empty miles, although carriers will need to watch how customer accounts, carrier programs and technology workflows change during integration.

Technology is central to the plan. C.H. Robinson intends to make Navisphere the core system for overlapping North American truckload and less-than-truckload operations while evaluating RXO tools for expedited and last-mile service. The company also plans to extend its Lean AI operating model across RXO's volume and is targeting $300 million in net annual run-rate cost reductions within two years after closing. Those savings remain a management goal, not a guaranteed result.

Small carriers should avoid assuming the transaction immediately changes existing rates or agreements. Continue verifying load details, payment terms, insurance requirements and approved communication channels with the contracting brokerage. Maintain current profiles in each platform and document any account-migration instructions. If completed, the acquisition could reshape freight access and brokerage competition, but practical effects will arrive gradually as regulators review the transaction and the companies integrate their networks.