CVI was established in 1991 by the merger of two Norfolk, Virginia-based forwarders: Coleman International, Inc. and E. L. Vanderberry Company, Inc.

Wayne Coleman, CVI’s current Chairman, founded Coleman International in 1984. Wayne began working in the transportation industry in 1971 for a small Norfolk-based forwarder. In December of 1984, with the desire to implement his own vision and philosophy, he drafted a business plan for Coleman International. By early January of 1985, Coleman International had been incorporated and received its FMC license to act as a freight forwarder.

Since the merger of the two forwarding companies, CVI has grown under the leadership of experienced, knowledgeable freight forwarders, customhouse brokers, and international transportation specialists, becoming a leader in the industry. Today, CVI has operational offices in Norfolk, VA, Charlotte, NC, Atlanta, GA, Baltimore, MD, Wilmington, DE and Wilmington, NC.

Our History Timeline

1966
1966

E.L. Vanderberry & Co. founded by E. Lee Vanderberry.

1984
1984

Coleman International founded by B. Wayne Coleman.

1990
1990

Coleman International opened Charlotte, North Carolina office.

1991
1991

E.L. Vanderberry & Co. merged with Coleman International to form CV International.

1992
1992

CV Air Transport became an IATA air cargo agent.

1993
1993

CV Ocean Transport was licensed as an NVOCC with the FMC.

1997
1997

Lee Vanderberry retired from CVI and Wayne became the sole owner and president of the Company.

1999
1999

CVI became one of the first transportation providers of its size to implement a door-to-door shipment tracking system for customers.

2003
2003

CVI developed the first furniture-only consolidation from the United States to the United Kingdom. Later that same year, CVI acquired Capes Shipping Agencies as a wholly owned subsidiary.

2005
2005

CVI offered the first direct LCL consolidation into Norfolk, Virginia from China.

2006
2006

Making Way As The Second Generation of CVI’s Family-Owned Business, Michael Coleman was Named President of CV International.

2007
2007

CVI accepted as a validated and certified member of Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) by U.S. Customs & Border Protection.

2009
2009

Central Carolina Shipping, a Charlotte, NC based customs broker established in 1983 by Sam McClure and Linda Masten, merged staff and operations into CVI’s Charlotte office.

2010
2010

CVI opened Atlanta, GA office. Alpha Sun International, an Atlanta, GA based customs broker and freight forwarder established in 1997, merged staff and operations in CVI’s Atlanta office.

2012
2012

Ministry of Communications, Peoples’ Republic of China, recognized CVI as a Registered NVOCC.

2012

Mike Coleman named President of Capes Shipping Agencies.

2013
2013

Capes Shipping Agencies opened an office in Baltimore, MD.

2014
2014

Wayne Coleman, CVI owner and CEO, was honored by the Hampton Roads Global Commerce Council as “Commerce Builder” for 2014. The award has been presented annually since 1956 to an individual or company whose contributions have significantly influenced the growth of commerce and trade in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

2015
2015

M&S Shipping Limited merged staff and operations into CVI’s Norfolk office.

2017
2017

CV International, Inc. opened an office in Morehead City, NC. Later that same year, the Company opened office in Wilmington, NC with the acquisition of Waters Shipping Company.

2018
2018

Michael Coleman was named CEO of CV International. His father and Company founder, B. Wayne Coleman, became Chairman of the Board.

2022
2022

CVI & Capes Shipping Agencies opened an office in Savannah, GA with the acquisition of Ryan Ship Services.