WINNIPEG, (June 15, 2004) — Bison Transport is getting into the food-hauling business with a brand new refrigerated division throughout Canada and the United States.

The Winnipeg-based trucking company has acquired 40 new reefers for hauling meat and meat products, fresh and frozen foods, beverages, and other consumer products. The new units are expected to hit the road in a few more months, reports the Winnipeg Free Press.

The new division — which will start operations in Western Canada first — will complement Bison’s large dry-van and heated-van trucking services and provide additional capacity to both new and existing clients.

Bison is one of Canada’s largest for-hire carriers — ranking 14th in the Today’s Trucking 2004 Top 100 carrier list — with 794 tractors, 1,661 trailers, and 715 employees throughout facilities in Calgary, Edmonton, Regina and Mississauga, Ont.

Don Streuber, president and CEO of the company, told the Free Press refrigerated trucking is a premium service with generally higher margins. While finding new drivers is always a challenge, Streuber said that refrigerated operations are more appealing because of tight route patterns and more predictable on-duty time.

— with files from the Winnipeg Free Press