Morning money, evening chairs
Sanctions on Russia in 2022 caused many airlines and shipping firms to leave, followed by European road transport operators. Rossiyskaya Gazeta, citing the Central Bank, reported that by spring 2023 freight volumes had returned to the level seen at the end of 2021 (seasonally adjusted according to Bank of Russia forecasts), with sea and road transport playing a major role. Rosstat data show that the road freight transport volume in the first seven months of 2023 reached 3,525,297.4 thousand tons, of which 1,409,138.9 thousand tons were conducted on a commercial basis.
Yet volume and growth of traffic are only one side of the story. The industry faces many other important issues and challenges. For instance, not every shipment reaches its destination. Based on court-case analyses, the total value of cargo lost by a single “professional” driver from March to September 2022 exceeded 60 million rubles, according to Impact company.
“All cargo owners, having already encountered this so‑called ‘professional,’ had previously built the necessary conditions into their transport logistics processes to enable successful cooperation and to realize a natural economic effect. How many such ‘professionals’ operate today in the sector? There are already several thousand, and the count keeps rising,” said company representatives.
Industry sources speaking to Kommersant FM note a pronounced staff shortage in large transport firms. Even with salary indexation, some rolling stock remains idle, and competition with gray market operators remains fierce.
“Many private carriers still drive old vehicles, using personal property to set prices. They might run a few trips each week and consider that enough. Licensed, tax-compliant transport firms must keep the wheels turning constantly,” commented Vladimir Matyagin, head of the National Association of Road Transport Gruzavtotrans.
Everything is taken into account
The Public Consumer Initiative identifies LTL as the most popular segment in cargo transport. At the same time, a sizable portion of participants in this market operate in the gray zone, which brings risks to society and state interests.
“Unpaid taxes, declining service quality, cargo incidents, a rise in traffic accidents, and drivers’ rights violations are all direct consequences of unfair market practices. Previously, OPI suggested that cleaning up the cargo transport industry could help the state collect up to 300 billion rubles in taxes.”
The initiative proposes evaluating LTL firms to provide a comprehensive view of both quality metrics and legal and financial risks.
Each firm in the rating received a two-letter code. The first letter reflects qualitative factors such as fleet size, capacity for uninterrupted delivery, geographic reach, available human and financial resources, and online presence. The second letter relates to legal aspects, including the company’s track record, transparency of management, registered addresses, risk indicators like blocked accounts and tax arrears, and whether salary levels align with regional norms alongside signs of tax optimization and other factors.
Based on this scheme, participants were grouped into three bands: high quality (AA, AB, BA), questionable (AC, BB, CA), and risky (BC, CB, CC).
Coordinate system
At present, only one shipping company earns the top AA ranking, securing first place in the standings: Business Lines. This indicates that its resources enable it to meet obligations effectively. With revenues surpassing 52 billion rubles and a network of 232 terminals nationwide, it achieved a final qualitative score of 3.87. The second letter reflects risk, taking into account how the regional average salary aligns with the company’s pay. Business Lines, headquartered in St. Petersburg, offers around 4,500 extra earnings for Saint Petersburg compared with peers in the market.
There was no entry with AB, while TC Kit received a BA rating. This shows that the company has adequate resources to meet obligations with some client risk. A firm generating 12.3 billion rubles in revenue is described as reliable, stable, and secure.
Two companies, PEC and Nord Vil, were given AC. This indicates that their resources allow them to fulfill obligations but come with moderate financial reliability and stability risks. PEC, with 25.6 billion rubles in revenue, earned 3.27, while Nord Wheel, with around 479 million rubles, earned 2.04. Ochakov Logistics was classified in the second reliability group with a CA rating, signaling limited resources and a generally acceptable level of legal stability.
In total, 30 companies are currently listed in the rating, with an additional 25 participants placed in the risk category. Among them, 12 firms received the lowest CC rating. The description in the rating states that these organizations either lack adequate resources to fulfill obligations or hold minimal quantities, and they show a low level of financial reliability with stability and security risks.
For potential customers, the rating serves as a trustworthy and objective guide when selecting a partner. For government bodies, it offers a practical tool for regulatory and administrative decisions. The rating helps business owners independently assess the integrity of management and the company’s overall stability, according to the initiative.
Producers promise continual updates to keep the information relevant and actionable for stakeholders.