Trucking / Freight Valuation Multiples (2026)
Trucking valuations swing on contract mix, fleet age, and driver retention. Carriers with long-term shipper contracts and a modern fleet reach 0.7× revenue and 5.8× EBITDA.
Lookup my business multiple
Pick your industry and enter revenue + EBITDA / SDE. We'll triangulate three valuation methods and show what buyers typically pay for businesses like yours.
Premium drivers
- ↑Long-term shipper contracts
- ↑Modern fleet (avg < 5 yrs)
- ↑Strong driver retention
- ↑Owned terminals / yards
Discount drivers
- ↓Spot-market reliance
- ↓Aging fleet / deferred maintenance
- ↓Driver shortage / high turnover
- ↓Compliance / safety violations (CSA)
Who buys trucking / freight?
Larger carrier, PE-backed logistics platform, or 3PL expanding capacity
Typical timeline + revenue band
- Days to close: 90–180
- Revenue band these multiples apply to: $2.00M–$10.00M
- NAICS: 484121 (Transportation)
5 levers that lift your Trucking / Freight multiple by 30-50%
- 1Lock in recurring revenueConvert the top of your trucking / freight revenue stack into multi-year contracts, retainers, or auto-renewing subscriptions. Buyers pay 25-40% more for revenue they don't have to re-win every quarter.
- 2De-risk customer concentrationAim for no single customer above 15% of revenue. If you have a > 25% client, get them on a multi-year master services agreement before going to market.
- 3Document the business out of the ownerLarger carrier, PE-backed logistics platform, or 3PL expanding capacity will discount aggressively for any function that lives in the owner's head — sales, key vendor relationships, pricing, hiring. Run the next 90 days like the owner is on a 6-week vacation.
- 4Clean up the financialsGet a Quality of Earnings-ready trailing 12 months: GAAP-aligned, owner add-backs documented, no commingled personal expenses. This alone moves the multiple 0.5-1.0× upward in this category.
- 5Match the deal to the right buyer poolPE-backed roll-ups, strategic acquirers, and ETA buyers compete on different terms. List with someone who has run a process for trucking / freight acquisitions — generic SMB brokers will leave 20%+ on the table.
FAQ — Trucking / Freight valuations
What's a typical trucking / freight valuation multiple?▾
Typical trucking / freight valuations land near 3× SDE, 4.5× EBITDA, or 0.5× revenue. Strong operators reach 3.8× SDE / 5.8× EBITDA / 0.7× revenue, while weaker operators stay closer to 2.4× SDE / 3.5× EBITDA / 0.4× revenue.
How long does it take to sell a trucking / freight?▾
Most trucking / freight deals close in 90–180 days from listing. Strong operators with clean financials and a documented buyer pool close on the lower end.
Who buys a trucking / freight business?▾
Larger carrier, PE-backed logistics platform, or 3PL expanding capacity
What pushes a trucking / freight valuation to the high end?▾
Long-term shipper contracts. Modern fleet (avg < 5 yrs). Strong driver retention. Owned terminals / yards.
What forces a discount when selling a trucking / freight?▾
Spot-market reliance. Aging fleet / deferred maintenance. Driver shortage / high turnover. Compliance / safety violations (CSA).