AIT Milestones
From humble beginnings as a U.S. freight forwarder based in the Chicago area, AIT Worldwide Logistics has grown to become a global logistics powerhouse delivering supply chain solutions for customers in nearly every industry.
History of AIT Worldwide Logistics
1979
- Air-It-There, Inc. opens for business on Sept. 4
1988
- Air-It-There, Inc. becomes AIT Freight Systems, Inc.
1996
- Food Logistics division is launched
1999
- Ocean shipping added to AIT’s growing list of services
2000
- The increasingly global company is renamed AIT Worldwide Logistics, Inc.
- AIT Cares is established to support engaging in our communities
2001
- Customs Brokerage team launches in the U.S.
2008
- Joining the SmartWay® Transport Partnership, AIT becomes an early advocate for supply chain sustainability
2009
- First international office opens in Hong Kong
- Residential Delivery Solutions debuts
2010
- Second Asia location opens in Shanghai
2011
- Life Sciences Division launches
2012
- Executive leadership team assumes ownership of AIT in a friendly leveraged buyout
- Retail Logistics debuts
2013
- Global expansion continues with first European office in Amsterdam
- Government and Aerospace division formally established
- Civil Reserve Air Fleet partnership begins
2015
- Mexico added to AIT’s growing worldwide network
2016
- AIT-Asia expands to Vietnam
2017
- Quad-C becomes AIT’s financial partner, helps to fulfill the organization's strategic growth plan
2018
- WorldFresh Express and ConneXion World Cargo become the first companies acquired by AIT
- E-commerce division launches
2019
- Unitrans International Corporation acquired, then later merges into Life Sciences Division
2020
- Expansion in seven countries across Asia and Europe with acquisitions of Fiege Forwarding and Panther Logistics
2021
- AIT recapitalizes with The Jordan Company
- Newly acquired companies include Intelligent Logistics, Multimodal International and Select Express & Logistics
- Four new specialized services are introduced: Automotive, Healthcare, Industrial and Technology
2022
- AIT commits to net-zero carbon emissions by 2035 and signs The Climate Pledge
- India joins the worldwide network with three new offices
- AIT Truckload Solutions established
2023
- New global headquarters opens at 2 Pierce Place
- Smart Freight Centre sustainability partnership begins
- Organic expansion into Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and United Arab Emirate
- Mach II Shipping Ltd acquired
2024
- Lubbers Logistics Group and Global Transport Solutions Group acquired