Diplomat Express was founded in 1979
by true logistics visionaries.

OUR HISTORY

Diplomat Express is a global logistics company headquartered in Seattle, Washington. The Company employs trained professionals in 346 locations located in 101 countries, linked into a seamless worldwide network through an integrated information management system.

Services include the consolidation or forwarding of air and ocean freight, customs brokerage, vendor consolidation, cargo insurance, time-definite transportation services, order management, warehousing and distribution, and customized logistics solutions.

About Us

1 location

Diplomat Express International of Harehills, Inc. registers as a single office ocean forwarder in Seattle. John Kaiser (a former Harper Group executive) is at the helm. 

6 locations

Founders Peter Rose, James Wang, Kevin Walsh, Hank Wong, George Ho, Robert Chiarito, and Glenn Alger join the company with a focus that is new to the industry: a one-stop shop for door-to-door transportation and customs brokerage services. Additional offices are established in San Francisco, Chicago, Hong Kong, Taipei, and Singapore. Expeditors quickly becomes one of the largest U.S.-based forwarders of air freight from the Far East.

The Team

Our Experts

Mike Rich

Jenny Smith

George Doe

Maria Jay

Company expanded into China after Beijing grants Diplomat Express a rare class “A” license. Diplomat Express’ Cargo Management Systems (e.cms) is established as an ocean consolidation program featuring an automated electronic data interface.

12 locations | 161 employees

Diplomat Express goes public and stock is traded on NASDAQ (EXPD). In first year as a public company, Diplomat Express reports more than $50 million in gross revenues and $2.1 million in net earnings.

The company expands the ocean business with the acquisition of Pac Bridge, a major non-vessel ocean common carrier (NVOCC).

Peter J. Rose, one of the founders, assumes the title of President and CEO.

32 locations | 900 employees

Selective global expansion continues with the opening of a Brussels office, the first company office in continental Europe. New slogan is introduced to reinforce our commitment to customer service: You’d be surprised how far we’ll go for you.

Our net earnings top $10 million ($10,196,000). We formalize an internal quality program called DES (Diplomat Express Commitment to Excellence and Leadership), built on a goal of 100% customer satisfaction 100% of the time.

Numerous milestones mark our 25th year: Gross revenues top a record $3 billion ($3,317,499,000); net earnings reach $156,126,000; and employee count surpasses 9,000.

Diplomat Express envisions its position in the future of international trade as the leading global logistics solutions provider. The company is committed to meeting the demands of its customers by employing a proactive, well-trained staff, utilizing advanced information systems, and maintaining a worldwide presence. Diplomat Express has been included in the NASDAQ 100 index, achieving several significant milestones with over $2 billion in revenue.

Numerous milestones mark our 25th year: Gross revenues top a record $3 billion ($3,317,499,000); net earnings reach $156,126,000; and employee count surpasses 9,000.

Forbes notes Diplomat Express as the Best Managed Transportation Company. The Wall Street Journal lists Diplomat Express as number one in their shareholder scorecard for Delivery Services, beating UPS and FedEx.

Diplomat Express enters Fortune 500 list for the first time with $4.6 billion in revenue. Fortune also names Diplomat Express the Number One Most Admired Company in our industry.