Find 255 verified 3PL providers in Chicago — FCL, LCL, air freight & customs clearance agents near O'Hare Airport. Free CalculateCBM directory.
Finding a reliable 3PL provider in Chicago has never been easier. CalculateCBM lists 255 verified 3PL providers in Chicago — companies serving importers and exporters through O'Hare Airport and ICD Chicago, offering bonded and general warehousing, 3PL fulfilment, CFS deconsolidation and cross-docking. Whether you are importing raw materials, exporting finished goods or handling one-off project cargo, comparing several 3PL providers side by side saves you time and money. Use the filters to narrow by service — FCL, LCL, air freight, road transport or customs clearance — or browse all 255 3PL providers in Chicago below. Each profile shows the services offered, trade lanes covered, year established and verified contact details, plus reviews from shippers who have worked with them. Shortlist two or three, then send an enquiry directly — it is completely free, with no broker fees and nothing to sign up for.
Third-party logistics (3PL) providers offer outsourced warehousing, fulfillment, and supply-chain management services. In a port city context, 3PLs typically operate bonded CFS (Container Freight Station) facilities for LCL deconsolidation, provide pick-and-pack fulfillment for e-commerce or retail, and coordinate inbound freight flows with domestic outbound distribution. Many port-adjacent 3PLs also offer cross-docking and transloading — converting 40ft ocean containers to 53ft domestic trailers for national LTL distribution.
3PL and warehouse providers in Chicago are concentrated in the I-55 (Will County, Joliet, Elwood), I-88 (DuPage County, Aurora, Naperville), and I-294 (Elk Grove Village, near O'Hare) corridors. The Elwood/Joliet area is notable for its proximity to the BNSF Logistics Park Chicago — many 3PLs here specialise in rail-to-truck transload and cross-docking for national LTL outbound. O'Hare-adjacent 3PLs in Elk Grove Village handle air cargo fulfillment, pharmaceutical cold-chain, and time-sensitive e-commerce. FDA-compliant food-grade storage and cold-chain capability are well-represented given the volume of regulated goods moving through ORD.
Typical cost: Port-adjacent 3PL warehousing typically runs $0.35–$0.65 per square foot per month, or $15–$35 per pallet per month. Receiving fees add $30–$60 per container. Pick-and-pack for e-commerce orders typically runs $1.50–$3.50 per order plus $0.25–$0.75 per item. CFS deconsolidation fees run $80–$150 per container.
A CFS (Container Freight Station) is specifically licensed for the consolidation and deconsolidation of LCL ocean freight shipments — it is the facility where your LCL cargo is picked out of a shared container after vessel arrival. A 3PL warehouse provides longer-term storage, value-added services (pick-and-pack, labelling, kitting), and outbound fulfillment. Many port-area 3PLs in Chicago operate both a licensed CFS and a general warehouse on the same site.
Use a bonded warehouse if you want to defer duty payment until goods are released for domestic sale, or if you need to re-export goods without paying US duties (foreign trade zone or in-bond advantages). For standard inventory storage and fulfillment where duties are paid at import, a regular 3PL is sufficient and usually cheaper on monthly rates.
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CalculateCBM's logistics company directory connects shippers, importers and exporters with verified freight forwarders, NVOCCs, transporters, customs agents and warehouses worldwide. Every listing is manually reviewed before going live.
Whether you need FCL or LCL ocean freight, air cargo, cross-border trucking, customs clearance or bonded warehousing — you'll find the right logistics partner here. New to sourcing partners? Read our guide on how to find a freight forwarder and compare the best freight forwarding software to manage shipments once you've chosen one.
Shipping to or from India? See our reference list of seaports and airports in India, or read the freight forwarding software guide before you digitise your operations. New to the jargon? Our shipping glossary defines the key freight terms.
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Search our directory by company type, country, and city. All listed companies are reviewed before going live. Click any profile to view their services and send a direct enquiry — no email addresses shown publicly. For a step-by-step vetting checklist, see how to find a reliable freight forwarder.
A freight forwarder acts as an agent arranging cargo transportation on behalf of shippers using carrier space they don't own. An NVOCC (Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier) issues its own bills of lading and contracts directly with ocean carriers, then sells space to shippers.
Yes. Every company listed on CalculateCBM is manually reviewed before being approved and made public. We verify company type, location, and contact information before listing.
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