We speak the truth, even when it’s hard.
We are transparent with our customers, our teammates, and ourselves — because trust starts with honesty.
“Say what you mean. Do what you say.”
Paragon Freight was founded in 2015 on a conviction shared by its founder: that freight reliability is earned through operational discipline, not promised through marketing.
The company was built from inside the industry. Every function that defines a carrier’s performance — from the road to the dispatch desk — was designed and refined by leaders who have done the work. That operator-led foundation still governs how Paragon runs today: one standard of execution, applied the same way on every load, for every customer.
Headquartered in Burr Ridge, Illinois, Paragon operates a nationwide dry van fleet serving Fortune 500 shippers, national 3PLs, and leading manufacturers across the United States. Growth is deliberate. Investment is sustained. Performance is measured on the only metric that has ever mattered: doing what we said we would do.
Paragon runs on the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) — a framework that gives every team member clarity on what they own, what the priorities are, and how we measure success. We hold weekly operational reviews, quarterly planning sessions, and annual strategic retreats. Issues get identified and resolved in days, not months.
Honesty, Excellence, Accountability, Respect, Teamwork, Service. These aren’t words on a wall – they’re the criteria we use to hire, evaluate, and promote every person in the organization.
We track on-time performance, equipment utilization, driver satisfaction, and customer retention internally. When a metric slips, the team that owns it knows before anyone has to ask.
90% of our freight comes from direct shipper relationships. No middlemen, no load board dependency. Our customers know us by name, and we know their freight.
Since our founding, Paragon has grown from a single truck to a fleet operation serving Fortune 500 shippers, national 3PLs, and leading manufacturers across the United States.
Years in Business
Years as a Motor Carrier
Direct Customer Freight
Coverage Across the US
At Paragon, culture isn’t a poster on the wall. These are the values we hire by, operate by, and hold each other to every day.
We speak the truth, even when it’s hard.
We are transparent with our customers, our teammates, and ourselves — because trust starts with honesty.
“Say what you mean. Do what you say.”
We strive for excellence in everything we do — from driving and dispatching to decision-making.
We are committed to constant improvement, learning, and growth.
“Better every day, or it’s just another day.”
We take ownership of our actions and results.
When we commit to something, we deliver — on time and every time. We don’t shift blame. We solve problems.
“Own it. Fix it. Finish it.”
We treat every person with dignity — drivers, dispatchers, customers, and partners alike.
We listen, communicate openly, and remain humble.
“Respect is the fuel that keeps our culture moving.”
We believe success is built together.
Clear communication, mutual support, and unity define our team. No ego. No drama. Just commitment to a common goal.
“One company. One team. One goal.”
Freight is what we move — but people are who we serve.
We lead with empathy, care, and a genuine commitment to doing the job right every time.
“Freight with heart. Service with soul.”
Planned, repeatable freight across the Midwest and beyond. Your loads run on predictable schedules, not one-off bids.
We track on-time performance internally every week. When a lane slips, the team that owns it hears about it first.
Late-model tractors and 53′ dry van trailers on a PM schedule. Less downtime, fewer surprises, cleaner freight.
Named dispatchers who answer the phone. Proactive check calls, real-time status, and honest updates — good news or bad.
Avg. Weekly Miles
Pay, On Time
Tractors & Trailers
When We Say
Paragon is a dry van carrier specializing in 53-foot full truckload service. We move a wide mix of non-temperature-controlled freight — consumer goods, packaged products, building materials, automotive parts, and general commodities — across the Midwest, Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and East Coast.
Our fleet is based in the greater Chicago area and runs dedicated lanes throughout the Midwest, Southeast, East Coast, and Mid-Atlantic. High-volume corridors include the greater Omaha area, Indianapolis, Ohio, the Kansas City region, the Joplin / Four States area, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Green Bay, Savannah, San Antonio, and the Delaware Valley. We actively seek inbound freight into Chicago, the Upper Peninsula, Green Bay, and Nebraska, and run Mid-Atlantic and East Coast backhauls into the Kansas City area and Chicago.
Yes. Every truck in our fleet is GPS-tracked and ELD-equipped, and we provide real-time shipment visibility through both Project44 and FourKites. We also support EDI and API integrations with most major transportation management systems, so our customers get the data flow they need without extra overhead.
Because roughly 90% of our freight comes from direct shipper relationships rather than the load boards, our capacity is committed and predictable. We build driver plans around our customers’ volume forecasts and, where it makes sense to prove service on a new lane, we’ll invest competitively up front — then price the lane appropriately once we’ve earned the business. That approach keeps rates honest, protects sustainable margin on both sides, and delivers reliable coverage through peak periods.
We operate a modern fleet of 53-foot dry van trailers pulled by late-model tractors — primarily Freightliner Cascadias, International LTs, and Volvo VNLs. Every unit is ELD-equipped, GPS-tracked, and maintained on a preventive maintenance schedule to keep on-time performance high and dwell time low.
Call or text us at +1 872-903-4333, or submit a quote request through our contact page. We respond to new lane inquiries within one business day and pair every quote with a quick cost analysis so pricing stays competitive without compromising the service levels our customers count on.
Whether you need dedicated dry van capacity for your supply chain or you’re a driver looking for consistent lanes and a company that keeps its word – we want to hear from you.