COMPETITION WATCH: Manitoulin Transport turns 50

Avatar photo

GORE BAY, Ont. — From its humble beginnings as a local delivery company on Manitoulin Island to its current role as a global transportation provider, Manitoulin Transport has reason to celebrate this year as it turns 50.

The company was founded in 1960 by Doug Smith, who is now chairman of the Manitoulin Group of Companies and a member of the Order of Canada. The company was founded in Gore Bay, Manitoulin Island with just a couple vehicles making local deliveries on the island.

“This year we’re celebrating a true Canadian success story,” said Gord Smith, president, Manitoulin Transport. “A story created from the ground up, driven by customer commitment and achieved through the dedication of our people.”  

Through the years, Manitoulin has made strategic acquisitions to expand its scope of services in Canada, the US and beyond. Today, the company runs more than 60 Canadian terminals and through partnerships in the US has access to 250 service centres south of the border. Manitoulin has a fleet of more than 2,700 pieces of equipment, providing truckload, LTL, transborder, rail intermodal, private fleet, guaranteed delivery and specialized services.

“This is a time for reflection on where we’ve been and where we plan to go,” said Gord Smith. “We’re always looking for ways to do better and do more, and that’s something we hope to do for another 50 years.”

 

 

Avatar photo

Truck News is Canada's leading trucking newspaper - news and information for trucking companies, owner/operators, truck drivers and logistics professionals working in the Canadian trucking industry.


Have your say


This is a moderated forum. Comments will no longer be published unless they are accompanied by a first and last name and a verifiable email address. (Today's Trucking will not publish or share the email address.) Profane language and content deemed to be libelous, racist, or threatening in nature will not be published under any circumstances.

*

  • Congratulations on your 50th year of success. I was at Trimac Transportation when they celebrated their 50 years back in the 90’s and it was an exciting milestone for the company and all it’s employee’s. So much fun & celebration the whole year through. I hope it is a very memorable year for everyone at Manitoulin and wish you every success in the future.

  • Congratulations Manitoulin Transport!!! I worked for 5 yrs as a contractor delivering confectionary goods to 7-11,and many other small stores in the interior of B.C. It was hard work, and sometimes very difficult getting a semi(53ft.tridem) into the parking lots to make tailgate deliveries, the challenges were many,yet when I expressed my concerns, to my suprise the territorial manager,Mr.Bob Cavers flew out to B.C. and came with me to every store to see what my concerns were first hand. He actually got into the back of the trailer and started handbalming goods down the ramp, into the store. He saw that some of my concerns were solveable and made the changes needed in order to make my job safer, and more effiecnt.The truck and trailer they provided me with was always maintained to the highest standard,and it was my experience when driving the big red machine,if there was a D.O.T. truck check happening at the scales,I never got pulled in, as Manitoulin’s reputation of well maintained equipment,and law abiding drivers,always got me the green light. It was also one of just a few companies I had worked for over a 27yr driving career,where I actually made terrific money.The whole experience of working for Manitoulin was fantastic.It is great to see a Canadian company survive the dog eat dog world of tranporting goods.It just goes to show that some good old fashioned values can still be applied to todays buisness world.Way to go all at Manitoulin,congatulations.