REIMER EXPRESS LINES and YELLOW CANADA have been merged into a “single market facing brand” to be known as YRC REIMER. Officials say the move will offer Canadian customers advantages due to the integration of the YRC network, such as simplified access to “flexible, efficient solutions.” The company says the name change will not impact the company’s working relationships. A new logo will be phased into operations, but in the meantime company equipment and buildings will continue to maintain current “heritage” brand names.

CALYX TRANSPORTATION GROUP, a provider of transportation and logistics services, has acquired TOTALLINE TRANSPORT, KREATIVE CARRIERS TRANSPORTATION AND LOGISTICS SERVICES, and BRANSAM LOGISTICS SERVICES. The three companies will become separate operating subsidiaries of the Calyx Group. Uwe Petroschke will continue in his role as president of the Totalline organization, and Rodi Saarloos will maintain overall responsibility for Kreative and Bransam as president of both companies. Financial details of the acquisitions were not disclosed.

Eight of the top 20 fleets recognized through the first ever Best Fleets to Drive For survey are Canadian, according to organizers. The inaugural survey, conducted by the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) and CarriersEdge, asked company drivers and owner/operators to nominate the best North American carriers to work for. Nominated carriers were evaluated on the range and depth of programs being offered, the effectiveness of those programs across key metrics and the responses of surveyed drivers. The top-ranking Canadian carriers included: CREEKBANK TRANSPORT, Mississauga, Ont; ERB INTERNATIONAL, New Hamburg, Ont.; KINDERSLEY TRANSPORT, Saskatoon, Sask.; LAIDLAW CARRIERS VAN, Guelph, Ont.; MACKINNON TRANSPORT, Guelph, Ont.; SHULIST LOGISTICS, King City, Ont.; TRANSX GROUP, Winnipeg, Man.; and YANKE GROUP, Saskatoon, Sask.

Two Canadian transport companies were named winners at the Truckload Carriers Association’s (TCA) 33rd Annual National Fleet Safety Awards. Based on accident frequency per million miles: MACKINNON TRANSPORT of Guelph, Ont. won the “Division IV -25-49.99 Million Miles” safety award and BISON TRANSPORT of Winnipeg, Man. won the “Division VI -100+ Million Miles” award. TCA presented the awards at a banquet and awards dinner on March 10.

KRISKA HOLDINGS has purchased certain assets of the van division of BMD TRANSPORTATION. BMD is a truckload carrier based in Lansdowne, Ont. which provides domestic and cross-border trucking services for fortune 500 clients. The deal was expected to close Jan. 31. “When deciding to sell my business, my priority was to place my employees and customers in the hands of a quality carrier,” added Bert McMahon, president of BMD Transportation. “I’ve known the Kriska organization for a long time and I’m comforted by the way they treat people and manage their business. My people and customers are in a safe place.”

Truckload carrier GLENNCOE TRANSPORT is being shut down, due to the loss of a major customer and slowing demand for trucking services. Glenncoe has been owned by Bison Transport since June 2007. However, the carrier operated separately, serving B. C., Alberta and the US Pacific Northwest. “This was a very difficult decision for us, as approximately 184 people will be affected by this closure,” said Don Coe, president of Glenncoe Transport, in a statement. “The loss of a major piece of business, combined with a lack of demand in the market is further complicated by the larger economic factors affecting most businesses in Canada. These challenges have rendered Glenncoe Transport no longer viable as a business. We have orchestrated an organized wind down of the company, exiting the business with the same high degree of professionalism and responsibility we have become known for.” The closure is slated to take effect May 31.

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