Middle Mile Delivery Market Report 2026

The middle mile delivery market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $125.1 billion in 2025 to $137.97 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.3%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth of organized retail distribution networks, expansion of regional distribution centers, rising demand for faster inventory replenishment, increasing reliance on third-party logistics providers, adoption of digital transportation management systems.

The middle mile delivery market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $201.71 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing investments in smart logistics platforms, rising demand for e-commerce driven middle-mile services, expansion of electric and autonomous delivery fleets, growing focus on supply chain resilience, increasing use of data-driven logistics optimization. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of route optimization platforms, rising use of real-time shipment tracking systems, growing integration of fleet management technologies, expansion of cross-docking and hub networks, enhanced focus on delivery speed and reliability.

The rapid expansion of e-commerce is anticipated to drive the growth of the middle-mile delivery market. E-commerce, which involves the buying and selling of goods and services online through digital platforms and electronic payment systems, is flourishing due to the convenience of online shopping, a wider range of products, and the growing use of mobile shopping and digital payments. Middle-mile delivery is crucial for e-commerce, as it efficiently transports goods from warehouses to local hubs, reducing delivery times and costs, and ensuring that products are quickly available for last-mile delivery to customers. For example, in May 2024, the United States Census Bureau reported that U.S. retail e-commerce sales for the first quarter of 2024 totaled $289.2 billion, showing a 2.1% (±0.7%) increase from the previous quarter. This rapid growth in e-commerce is fueling the expansion of the middle-mile delivery market.

Key players in the middle-mile delivery market are focusing on investing in advanced technological solutions, such as middle-mile logistics services, to improve operational efficiency and streamline the delivery process. Middle-mile logistics services cover the transportation of goods between a company’s distribution centers and final delivery hubs or retail locations. For instance, in November 2024, AIT Worldwide Logistics, Inc., a US-based freight forwarder, introduced its expedited Middle Mile Network service. This service offers a faster, more secure, and cost-effective alternative to traditional expedited less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping. The network connects over 90% of major U.S. metropolitan areas through strategic hubs in cities such as Atlanta, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, and Los Angeles. It operates on over 160 shipping lanes, enabling expedited door-to-door deliveries with consolidated pickups and transfers, which significantly enhance transit times compared to standard LTL shipping. The service, aimed at importers and large enterprises handling heavy freight, is designed to improve logistics efficiency ahead of the peak holiday season and plans to expand into Canada and Mexico.

In November 2023, AIT Worldwide Logistics, a global transportation and logistics company based in the US, acquired Lubbers Logistics Group for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition aims to expand AIT’s end-to-end solutions by introducing middle-mile services in Europe, similar to its US network, and extending its reach to Denmark, Norway, Romania, and Turkey. Lubbers Logistics Group, based in the Netherlands, specializes in road transport, project cargo, and international forwarding.

Major companies operating in the middle mile delivery market are United Parcel Service Inc. (UPS), DHL Supply Chain, FedEx Corporation, Blue Dart Express, Kuehne + Nagel International AG, DSV Panalpina A/S, DB Schenker, C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc., Nippon Express, CEVA Logistics, Expeditors International, J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Geodis, Ryder System Inc., XPO Logistics, Toll Group, TForce Logistics, Hub Group, Werner Enterprises, Americold Logistics LLC, Agility Logistics, GEFCO Group, NFI Industries, Penske Logistics, Uber Freight, Cardinal Logistics Management, Lineage Logistics LLC, Rhenus Group.

North America was the largest region in the middle mile delivery market in 2025. The regions covered in the middle mile delivery market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the middle mile delivery market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The middle mile delivery market includes revenues earned by entities by providing services such as inventory management, cross-docking, return management, route planning and optimization, and load consolidation. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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