TORONTO — Vitran Corp., the parent of Canada’s second-largest for-hire carrier, has spent years making its presence known in its home province. And now the LTL giant hopes to make a big splash in another Ontario — this one a little more to the south.

The company’s Vitran Logistics Inc. division is expanding its relationship with Sam’s Club in the U.S. by opening another dedicated Distribution Center for the big box store chain, this one in Ontario, California.

Vitran already operates a major facility in Chicago, which services Sam’s 3PL requirements for Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.

The agreement leverages Vitran’s acquisition last year of Las Vegas-L.A. Express, also based in Ontario, Calif.

The Canadian carrier says these recent moves strengthen its stake in niche retail supply chain segments in the southeast U.S. as well as off-shore opportunities through the Port of L.A.

"We are particularly pleased with this expansion to southern California … as well as the fact that Sam’s Club’s management is confident that we are capable of an expanded relationship in their supply chain network," Vitran President and CEO Rick Gaetz states in a press release.

With this most recent expansion, Vitran Logistics increased its square footage under management to 2.1 million.