C.H. Robinson acquired cargo-security specialist DeSpir Logistics for roughly $75M in cash. It is the broker’s first acquisition in about five years. The deal adds a vetted-driver, high-security network to a brokerage that otherwise moves ordinary freight at scale.
Cargo theft is the backdrop. US incidents rose 27% in 2024 to roughly 3,625 reported cases, according to CargoNet.
What DeSpir does: DeSpir runs a closed-loop network of individually vetted and security-certified drivers. The network stays separate from CHR’s broader carrier pool and is built for loads where a breach means more than lost revenue. Its visibility stack relies on satellite tracking, smart locks and tamper sensors rather than standard telematics.
It holds Healthcare Distribution Alliance Good Distribution Practices accreditation and has won CargoNet’s “Best in Cargo Security” award multiple times.
“This is the kind of cargo where the stakes are incredibly high, like life-saving pharmaceuticals that must stay within strict temperature ranges, or critical data center equipment that is frequently targeted for theft,” said Adam McDonough, CHR’s VP of Capacity.
The deal math: DeSpir posted $62 million in revenue for FY2025, putting the purchase price at about 1.2x revenue. CHR paid in cash and expects the deal to be slightly accretive in 2026. It is the company’s first acquisition since buying Combinex in 2021.
Why now: The DeSpir purchase is the third move CHR has made in roughly 40 days. After the Supreme Court’s broker-liability ruling, the company committed to selecting only FMCSA-licensed carriers and pushed for stronger federal enforcement. It also launched BidBoardX, a committed-freight platform.
CHR had also sold its European brokerage to sennder earlier in 2025, shedding generalist volume even as it bought specialized capability. Peers have leaned toward scale instead: RXO acquired Coyote for $1.025 billion in 2024.
What to watch: CHR has not said how it will integrate DeSpir’s vetted-driver pool with its existing carrier network. It has also not said whether DeSpir will stay separate or be cross-sold to existing accounts.
