trucking M&A

2024’s most notable trucking deals

A slowdown in trucking M&A was met by interest rate cuts for the first time in more than four years in 2024. The anticipation of lower lending rates fostered more constructive transaction dialogues during the year, but deal count across the industry was still off 5% from 2023, according to data compiled by the research team at Left Lane Associates.

The supply chain M&A advisory firm said there is noise in the number as some deals were paused until after the election, which pushed closings into...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/2024s-most-notable-trucking-deals

Loaded and Rolling: Driver training surges; trucking M&A remains strong

Increasing demand for driver training programs 
(Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

Driver training schools are seeing an influx of those interested in joining the trucking industry. 

“We raised pay enough over the past two years that it’s caught people’s attention, and they are valuing the jobs that we are providing more now than they were a few years ago,” Rob Hatchett, president of fleet intel at Conversion Interactive Agency told Transport Topics, “But we’ve got to have more trainers so they can...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/loaded-and-rolling-driver-training-surges-trucking-ma-remains-strong

Dayton Freight to acquire cartage unit from Valley

Dayton Freight rig on highway

Regional LTL carrier Dayton Freight Lines announced Monday it is acquiring the cartage unit of Valley Companies.

Headquartered in Hudson, Wisconsin, transportation and logistics provider Valley Companies is only selling its cartage assets to Ohio-based Dayton Freight. The deal includes terminals, trucks, related equipment and workers. Valley’s logistics and warehousing segments are not part of the transaction and will continue to operate as is.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/dayton-freight-to-acquire-cartage-unit-from-valley

Temperature-controlled carrier Hirschbach acquires John Christner Trucking

Hirschbach and JCT form national temperature-controlled truckload network

Refrigerated carrier Hirschbach announced Wednesday the acquisition of John Christner Trucking (JCT). The deal will form one of the biggest temperature-controlled fleets in the nation at more than 3,000 trucks (800 at JCT), 5,000 trailers and total revenue exceeding $1 billion.

By comparison, publicly traded refrigerated carrier Marten Transport (NASDAQ: MRTN) generated just shy of $1 billion in revenue during 2021 with a fleet of 3,200 units.

Financial terms of the transaction were not...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/temperature-controlled-carrier-hirschbach-acquires-john-christner-trucking

J.B. Hunt adquiere la empresa de transporte de muebles de Bassett en una operación de 87 millones de dólares

J.B. Hunt acquires Zenith Freight Lines

J.B. Hunt Transport anunció el lunes que llegó a un acuerdo para adquirir el transportista de muebles Zenith Freight Lines por 87 millones de dólares. Se espera que el acuerdo refuerce la red de entrega de muebles y de última milla de J.B. Hunt.

Zenith, con sede en Conover (Carolina del Norte), es una filial propiedad del fabricante de muebles Bassett Furniture Industries (NASDAQ: BSET). Atiende principalmente a la industria del mueble proporcionando servicios especializados de transporte y...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/jb-hunt-adquiere-la-empresa-de-transporte-de-muebles-de-bassett-en-una-operacion-de-87-millones-de-dolares

J.B. Hunt acquires furniture hauler from Bassett in $87M deal

J.B. Hunt acquires Zenith Freight Lines

J.B. Hunt Transport announced Monday it entered an agreement to acquire furniture hauler Zenith Freight Lines for $87 million. The deal is expected to bolster J.B. Hunt’s final-mile and furniture delivery network.

Conover, North Carolina-based Zenith is a wholly owned subsidiary of furniture maker Bassett Furniture Industries (NASDAQ: BSET). It primarily serves the furniture industry providing specialized less-than-truckload transportation and warehousing services throughout the continental...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/jb-hunt-acquires-furniture-hauler-from-bassett-in-87m-deal

Why transportation M&A could step higher in 2022

The need for trucks and drivers is being solved through M&A

Acquisitions throughout the supply chain complex were plentiful in 2021. Record freight rates and margins drove earnings to new highs for transportation providers, creating a potential high point for sellers to exit and an abundance of free cash flow for buyers to deploy.

Carriers used M&A to add hard-to-find equipment and drivers to their networks and some were able to bolt on complementary offerings in adjacent modes. Shippers with large supply chains focused on regaining control after several...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/why-transportation-ma-could-step-higher-in-2022

Intermodal provider RoadOne acquires dedicated fleet EHS Trucking

RoadOne makes ninth acquisition in last five years.

Intermodal transportation provider RoadOne IntermodaLogistics announced it has acquired dedicated carrier EHS Trucking and affiliate EHS Truck & Trailer.

Located near Detroit, EHS serves automotive original equipment manufacturers like Ford (NYSE: F) and General Motors (NYSE: GM) throughout Michigan, Indiana and Ohio with its 235 drivers and a fleet of more than 200 trucks and 1,000 trailers. Its maintenance and repair segment services medium- and heavy-duty diesel vehicles.

EHS founder and...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/intermodal-provider-roadone-acquires-dedicated-fleet-ehs-trucking

Schneider adds dedicated fleet in $263M deal

Another deal from a publicly traded carrier

Schneider (NYSE: SNDR) announced Tuesday it has acquired dedicated truckload carrier Midwest Logistics Systems (MLS) at an enterprise value of approximately $263 million.

Ohio-based MLS operates a fleet of 900 tractors throughout 30 central U.S. locations. The company generated $205 million in annual revenue ($170 million excluding fuel surcharges) for the 12-month period ended Sept. 30. It has approximately 1,000 drivers and support staff of 170. No margin information was provided but the deal...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/schneider-adds-dedicated-fleet-in-263m-deal

2021’s most transformational deals in trucking

Some carriers made noncore additions to the lineup in 2021

Deal flow was heavy in the trucking industry during 2021. Most players in the space have seen multiple quarters of record earnings and cash flows. Whether it was looking for a place to put newfound cash to work, adding drivers and equipment in a capacity-constrained market or bolting on a new mode to the transportation offering, many carriers were actively vetting deals and buying assets.

Here’s a recap of a few of the most transformational deals in trucking during 2021.

Knight-Swift goes all in...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/2021s-most-transformational-deals-in-trucking

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