TORONTO, Ont. — The winners of the 2003 Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies award have been announced and the list includes three well-known motor carriers.

Included in this year’s prestigious list of the 50 Best Managed Companies are M-O Freightworks, headquartered in Brampton, Ont.; Kriska Transportation, headquartered in Prescott, Ont., and Armour Transportation Services, headquartered in Moncton, N.B.

To be recognized as one of the 50 Best, companies must complete a comprehensive questionnaire, and an extensive, in-depth interview process which is evaluated by an independent judging panel to assess and examine its’ management practices. The panel evaluates how companies address various business challenges such as new technologies, globalization, brand, leadership, leveraging and developing core competencies and designing the right organizations and systems to facilitate growth and the new generation of people entering the labour market.

Previous 50 Best winners have an additional two years to use their 50 Best designation, providing they successfully meet the requalification criteria. This year, a total of 82 companies were awarded requalification status.

2003 winners and requalified winners of the Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies award will be honoured at the annual 50 Best gala in Toronto on 9 February, 2004.

"Through our analysis of this year’s 50 Best award winners, we found a number of common characteristics of these exceptional companies who have successfully developed, articulated and executed a strategy to achieve a high performance advantage," said Tony Grnak, Deloitte Partner and National Leader, Canada’s 50 Best. "These winning companies clearly exhibit a strong propensity and ability to stay in close contact with their markets and to adapt and align their strategy accordingly. As well they demonstrate significant passion and commitment to ensuring they acquire and retain the best possible employees."

Key traits that the 2003 50 Best companies share, include: a continued ability to remain alert and responsive to changes in the market and consumer demands; a passion to create the right leadership and vision; and a commitment to invest in the hiring and retaining of the most talented employees, are some the key determinants which contributed towards companies achieving recognition on this years 50 Best winners list, while requalifing companies share a remarkable commitment to stay at the leading edge of innovation and to continue growth.

This year’s 50 Best winners generated $7.2 billion in combined revenue and account for more than 29,000 employees throughout Canada in 2003 (up significantly from $6.2 billion and 21,000 respectively, in 2002). The average revenue increase from 2001 to 2003 for the 50 Best companies is 26% .

Established in 1993, the annual program recognizes Canada’s 50 Best Managed companies who have demonstrated exceptional ability and aptitude in all areas of management and best business practices.