TORONTO — Vitran has announced two new partnerships that it says will improve and expand its services to west coast states.

One interline partnership, with a “prominent west coast carrier” will allow Vitran to service customers in California, Arizona, Nevada. Vitran has also partnered with a second carrier to provide transport to Colorado.

Vitran didn’t disclose the names of either carrier.

“This partnership will allow our management team to focus on service, productivity and growth in our principal regions in the U.S. The change from direct to interline service, effective August 5, 2013, will result in the closure of seven terminals and have a positive annual financial impact of approximately $3 million,” said Chris Keylon, Vitran Express U.S. president.

The company says that it will still focus on its prime service area — from the central Great Plains to the east coast — which makes up about 85 percent of Vitran’s business.

This news comes after bumpy first part of 2013 that saw Vitran sell its supply chain operation to Legacy Supply Chain. Transforce, which had previously purchased 10.75 percent of Vitran’s shares at the beginning of the year, reduced its holdings to 7.7 percent just a couple of months later with out giving a specific reason for doing so.

In April, Vitran replaced former president and CEO Rick Gaetz with board member Bill Deluce in an interim position.