Exhibit 5


                         C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.
                              8100 Mitchell Road
                         Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344


September 29, 2000

Board of Directors
C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.
8100 Mitchell Road
Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344

     Re: Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         A Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") is
being filed on or about the date of this letter with the Securities and Exchange
Commission relating to $10,000,000 of deferred compensation obligations (the
"Deferred Compensation Obligations") of C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (the
"Company") under the Robinson Companies Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan
(the "Plan").

         As Vice President and General Counsel of the Company, I have acted as
counsel to the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of the
Registration Statement. In such capacity, I have examined the corporate records
of the Company, including its Certificate of Incorporation, minutes of all
meetings of its directors and stockholders, and other documents which I have
deemed relevant or necessary as the basis for my opinions as hereinafter set
forth.

         Based upon the foregoing, I am of the opinion that the Deferred
Compensation Obligations have been duly authorized and, when created in
accordance with the terms of the Plan, will be valid and binding obligations of
the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as enforcement
thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or other laws of general
application relating to or affecting enforcement of creditors' remedies or by
general principles of equity.

         My opinions expressed above are limited to the laws of the State of
Delaware and the State of Minnesota.

         I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement, and to the reference to me under the caption "Interests
of Named Experts and Counsel" contained in the Registration Statement.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        /s/ Owen P. Gleason

                                        Owen P. Gleason
                                        Vice President and General Counsel