Denmark-based logistics giant DSV has announced plans to sell USA Truck, the Arkansas-based trucking and logistics company it inherited through its recent acquisition of Germany’s DB Schenker. The move comes as DSV continues its strategy to streamline operations and reinforce its asset-light business model following one of the largest mergers in global freight transport history.
The announcement, disclosed in a company filing on Thursday, October 23, marks a major development for USA Truck — a storied name in American trucking with deep roots in Van Buren, Arkansas — and raises new questions about the future of its U.S. operations and workforce.
From Van Buren to the Global Stage
Founded in 1983, USA Truck grew from a regional hauler into a full-scale long-haul trucking and logistics provider, serving clients across the continental United States and Mexico. By the time of its sale in 2022, the company had roughly 1,900 trucks, 2,100 employees, and partnerships with more than 36,000 active contract carriers.
Its network of freight terminals, primarily located across the eastern United States, gave it a strong domestic footprint, while its operations in Mexico positioned the company as a critical player in cross-border logistics — a segment that has grown increasingly important with the rise of nearshoring trends in North America.
In September 2022, USA Truck was acquired by DB Schenker, a subsidiary of the German rail and logistics group Deutsche Bahn AG, for $435 million, or $31.72 per share. The deal gave Schenker a significant foothold in the U.S. trucking market and expanded its supply chain capabilities in the Americas.
At the time, the acquisition was viewed as the culmination of a remarkable turnaround for USA Truck. After several difficult years, the company had rebounded with record financial results.
- 2021 net income: $24.8 million — more than five times its 2020 profit.
- 2021 revenue: $710.4 million — a 29% jump from 2020’s $551.1 million.
The company’s strong performance made it an attractive target for Schenker’s North American expansion, cementing Van Buren’s role in the global logistics network.
DSV’s Mega-Merger With DB Schenker
Fast forward to April 2025, when DSV completed its acquisition of DB Schenker in a landmark deal that created one of the world’s largest integrated transport and logistics providers. The merger expanded DSV’s reach across air, sea, and road freight, adding tens of thousands of employees and operations in more than 130 countries.
However, the integration also left DSV with a mix of assets that don’t fully align with its core business philosophy. DSV has long operated under an “asset-light” model, focusing on managing freight and logistics through third-party carriers rather than owning extensive trucking fleets or physical assets.
By contrast, USA Truck operates under an “asset-heavy” model — owning a large number of trucks, trailers, and terminals. This difference in approach appears to be a key factor in DSV’s decision to divest the company.
In its filing, DSV stated:
“With the acquisition of Schenker, DSV assumed control over Schenker’s road activities in the U.S. Part of the activities were acquired with the intention of future resale, resulting in a portion of Schenker U.S. Road operations being classified as a disposal group held for sale and designated as discontinued operations.”
This means that USA Truck and potentially other parts of Schenker’s U.S. road freight business are now officially listed for sale and treated as assets that DSV does not plan to retain long-term.
DSV’s Vision: Staying Asset-Light
The asset-light model has been central to DSV’s growth strategy for decades. By outsourcing much of its trucking and warehousing operations, the company has been able to maintain flexibility, reduce overhead, and focus on higher-margin services such as freight forwarding, supply chain management, and digital logistics solutions.
“While USA Truck may not fully align with DSV’s asset-light business model, these connections are valuable and will continue to have a positive impact at both organizations as we move forward,” said Rene Harboe, CEO of DSV Road Americas, in a statement accompanying the announcement.
The statement suggests that while DSV intends to sell USA Truck, it recognizes the company’s strategic value — particularly its strong customer relationships, North American network, and cross-border logistics capabilities.
Industry analysts note that DSV’s divestment could attract a range of potential buyers, from private equity firms to North American logistics operators seeking to expand capacity and footprint. Given USA Truck’s recent profitability and established brand, the sale could command a strong valuation even amid a soft freight market.
What Happens to USA Truck and Its Employees?
For now, USA Truck operations remain based in Van Buren, where the company continues to employ thousands and manage a fleet of more than 2,000 trucks and 6,500 trailers.
Neither DSV nor USA Truck has commented on whether the sale would lead to structural changes or layoffs. However, DSV emphasized that it plans to maintain collaborative ties with USA Truck even after divestment, suggesting that existing partnerships could continue in some form.
Talk Business & Politics reported that messages left with DSV and USA Truck regarding the potential impact on local operations have not yet been returned. The company has pledged to update stakeholders as the divestment process advances.
Local leaders in Van Buren are likely to watch developments closely. USA Truck has long been a major employer and community fixture in western Arkansas, contributing to both the local economy and the region’s logistics identity.
The Broader Industry Context
The sale of USA Truck comes at a time of significant transformation in the global freight industry. Mergers, acquisitions, and restructuring efforts have accelerated as companies seek to adapt to shifting trade patterns, digitalization, and volatile economic conditions.
For DSV, divesting non-core assets like USA Truck is a way to consolidate efficiency and focus on services that scale globally without heavy capital investment. The company’s strategy mirrors broader trends in logistics — where technology-driven coordination, not asset ownership, increasingly defines competitiveness.
Still, the potential sale underscores the challenges of merging distinct corporate philosophies. Integrating DB Schenker’s vast, asset-heavy network into DSV’s streamlined framework was always expected to produce selective divestments, and USA Truck appears to be the first major example.
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