PRESCOTT, Ont. — Kriska has inked a letter of intent to acquire JMS Transportation in a deal that’s slated to close Jan. 31, 2011.

JMS is a 30-truck fleet based in Point Edward, Ont. that provides domestic and cross-border truckload services to customers in Canada and the US. It’s owned and operated by Kevin Langford, who will stay on with Kriska, as will other staff and owner/operators with the company.

Langford will serve as regional director and will integrate JMS into Kriska’s operations, the companies announced.

“Much of the news in the last couple of years has been grim,” Langford said. “Companies downsizing, closing and jobs lost. This is a good news story for JMS, our customers and our employees. Kriska is a well-respected organization and their decision to expand into the soutwestern Ontario market with the acquisition of JMS will allow us the resources of a larger carrier to be more effective and efficient. We’re now well positioned to grow and bring jobs back to the region.”

Added Mark Seymour, president and CEO of Kriska: “Our strategy at Kriska in the last few years has been to make strategic acquisitions that add quality people and customers to our organization. Our track record in doing so speaks to itself. JMS is a quality organization with strength in culture, people and customers. This is going to be a great fit.”