3PLs get big bump in 2010, start 2011 strong
In 2010, U.S.-based 3PLs experienced a 18.9 percent year-over-year gross revenue increase from 2009, ending 2010 with $127.3 billion in revenue. According to Armstrong & Associates, which conducted the study, the revenue numbers are slightly more than the total experienced in 2008.
According to a company press release, "from 2009 to 2010, the increase in 3PL net revenue was 4.7 times the rate of U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) growth. One driving factor of 3PL growth was world trade volumes which increased 12.4% for 2010." This year, 3PLs have started strong and are projected to reach the $141.2 billion mark by the end of 2011.
In 2009, 3PLs experienced a slump, and that may be why the 2010 numbers are so encouraging. In fact, 2009 was the only negative growth year Armstrong & Associates measured since the firm started tracking the market in 1995.