GREEN BAY, Wis. — US manufacturer Emerson has decided to wind down its private fleet that’s been in operation since 1962 and hand the reins to Schneider National, the companies have reported.

Emerson manufactures appliances and tools, electronics and telecommunications equipment, HVAC equipment and industrial automation systems. It ran its own private fleet with some 170 trucks and 300 drivers, but will entrust Schneider with its transportation requirements by the end of the year.

“In today’s economic environment, operating a trucking company is tough enough when it’s your core competency; it’s even more challenging when it’s not your specialty,” says Mark Rourke, president, truckload services, for Schneider National. “Companies like Emerson know that they can deploy their people and financial resources toward core strategies and leave the transportation work to us.”

Schneider said it will hire many of the drivers who worked for Emerson.

“Companies who transition their transportation work often assume that their professional, loyal drivers will be lost. That’s simply not the case. Schneider National recognizes that the collective experience and company knowledge these folks bring is invaluable and must be incorporated into the new transportation approach,” said Rourke.