Schneider Logistics will sell its freight forwarding and customs house brokerage business to Norbert Dentressangle, a $3.5 billion trucking and logistics operator.

The sale includes forwarding and customs brokerage operations at seven sites in the U.S. and two in China, the logistics arm of trucking giant Schneider National said.

Schneider National is the fifth-largest U.S. trucking company and second-largest truckload carrier, with about $3 billion in revenue, according to the JOC listing of Top U.S. & Canadian Trucking Companies.

The sale is another sign that motor carriers strained by the recession are rethinking strategies that led them to strive to be a "one-stop" shop for all shipping needs.

YRC Worldwide, the largest U.S. trucking operator, recently sold most of its logistics unit to Austin Ventures, which rebranded the business as MIQ Logistics.

"While freight forwarding and customs brokerage is an exciting business with significant potential, it is not part of the strategic focus of our core truckload, logistics and intermodal services," Schneider President and CEO Chris Lofgren said.

The transaction doesn't affect other international and domestic supply chain services offered by Schneider Logistics, including transportation within China.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The sale will help French logistics and transport giant Norbert Dentressangle, which operates in 17 countries, gain greater access to customers and freight in the U.S.

With headquarters in Lyons, France, the company has 27,000 employees at 355 locations and operates more than 6,900 tractors and 8,600 trailers.

Source: JOC