Economy
Kriska acquires Service Freight Systems
PRESCOTT, ON - Kriska Transportation Group (KTG) has acquired Burlington, Ontario-based Service Freight Systems (SFS), which will continue to be led by general manager Rob Ten Brinke. Service Freight Systems, a logistics company founded in 1995, specializes in temperature-controlled, cross-border, truckload freight. Kriska Group has 600 tractors, 1,700 trailers, and employs 850 people including owner-operators. Its brands include Kriska Holdings, Mill Creek Motor Freight, JMF Transport (1992), and Transpro Freight Systems. "The KTG family of companies, with its asset-based core, complements well with SFS. They will add depth to our growing investment in logistics services," said Mark Seymour, Kriska's president and Chief Executive Officer, in a related press release.
Fleet Complete and Blackberry integrate products
Customers of Blackberry and Fleet Complete will now have the ability to remotely monitor their trucks from front to back, inside and out, on one interface. This morning the companies announced they were forming a reselling partnership, which will allow Fleet Complete to sell and bundle Blackberry's Radar with its other products, expanding its current fleet tracking and monitoring solutions.
Truckload turnover up in Q2
ARLINGTON, VA - The second quarter of 2017 saw the highest employment turnover at large truckload carriers since the last quarter of 2010. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) reports turnover was higher throughout the truckload market, amid tight labor conditions, with a 16-point jump over last year at large truckload carriers to 90%.
Centurion is Profit 500’s top transportation performer
SURREY, BC - Centurion Trucking is Canada's fastest growing and most dynamic company in the transportation and logistics industry, according to the 2017 Profit 500 list. The list, complied by MacLean's and Canadianbusiness.com, ranks the British Columbia based company, with just 59 employees, 13th overall, with a five-year growth of more than 4500%.
Celadon Group sells flatbed division to PS Logistics
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - The Celadon Group has sold all the assets in its flatbed trucking division to PS Logistics. The company announced the completion of the disposition of assets Sept. 18, as part of a strategic plan to concentrate resources on other business lines and boost returns. Assets included in the transaction were primarily leased and owned trailers, which were sold in exchange for an assumption or satisfaction of the lease obligations and cash, Celadon said. It is also entitled to post-closing goodwill payments.
WABCO buys Meritor’s stake in partnership
TROY, MI - WABCO Holdings is upping the ante in its North American ownership, announcing this morning that it is taking full control of the he Meritor WABCO joint venture. In a press release, WABCO Holdings said it was purchasing Meritor's stake in the joint venture business, with a transaction that is expected to close Oct. 1. Meritor WABCO, a distributer of WABCO products for commercial vehicles in North America, employs about 200 people and had sales of $300 million in fiscal year 2016 With this agreement, WABCO will take over the former joint venture's application engineering and supply chain operations, including the distribution center and customer service hub in Hebron, Kentucky.
Load volumes break records in August
TORONTO, ON - Canadian load volumes were the highest ever recorded for any August reports TransCore Link Logistics. The company says August 2017 saw a 12% increase month-over-month, from load volumes in July, but the month also shattered records set for the highest August values, with a 26% increase over August 2011.
Trimble acquires 10-4 Systems
SUNNYVALE, CA - Trimble has acquired shipping and transportation technology company 10-4 Systems. Trimble, owner of telematics providers like TMW and PeopleNet, announced today their acquisition of the privately held company that offers shipment visibility to shippers, carriers, and third-party logistics providers.
Class 8 truck sales continue surge
BLOOMINGTON, IN - North American Class 8 truck orders this August were 50% better than a year ago, and 14% above July totals, analysts at FTR report. "Orders were up for the third straight month, and it looks like May's 16,500 orders will be the low point for the year. Orders are expected to increase in September, leading into robust order activity in Q4," said Don Ake, FTR's vice president of commercial vehicles. The numbers are in keeping with expectations and should help to fill remaining 2017 build slots, FTR concludes. It's the best August order performance since 2014. In the past 12 months, North American Class 8 orders have reached 231,000 units.
Investors approve Knight-Swift deal
PHOENIX, AZ - A merger to create the biggest truckload fleet in North America has been approved by stockholders. A special meeting of Knight Transportation stock holders, held yesterday, approved the merger of the company with Swift Transportation Company that was announced in April.
East Coast International Trucks opens new facility
MILLBROOK, NS - East Coast International Trucks (ECI) is celebrating the opening of their new building today. The International truck dealership with four locations in the Maritimes unveiled their new 17,000 sq-ft building Sept. 7, allowing customers to tour the facility and see what ECI has to offer.
Ox Bodies announces new president
FAYETTE, AL - Henry Bell has been named as the new general manager and president of Ox Bodies. Owned by Truck Bodies and Equipment International, the designer, manufacturer, and installer of medium- and heavy-duty truck bodies, saw its former general manager Ray Salley, retire in August.
