Daseke Inc., already the largest carrier in its market, has just announced its purchase of two more specialized carriers.
Based out of Addison, Texas, Daseke has acquired The Schilli Companies, and Big Freight Systems, both open-deck specialized carriers. They are both in the same market as Daseke, whose freight is mostly large or oddly shaped cargo like airplane wings or wind turbines.
In this specialized market, there’s no large company that controls huge percentages of freight. Daseke only hauls less than 1% of the value in the open-deck market, but it’s still the largest open-deck carrier there is. Made up of 11 companies with a combined 3,500+ trucks and 7,300 specialized trailers, it’s growing quickly.
Founded in 2009, Daseke already has an annual revenue estimated at over $650 million for 2016. They went public this February, to allow them to grow even faster, according to Don Daseke, President and CEO.
Both companies they acquired this round were older than Daseke. Schilli was founded in 1961 and Big Freight back in 1948. Being part of “the Daseke Family” as Don Daseke calls it has its advantages for the small carriers. The president and CEO for Big Freight for example touted the many “synergies” between the companies, saying he looks forward to “sharing best practices” as well as “consolidated purchasing power and risk mitigation coverage.”
Together, the acquired companies earned a combined $119 million in revenue in 2016, so they’re not exactly small fry, but this is already sounding like a familiar story in trucking. A new company comes in and gobbles up smaller companies, buying up or driving out competitors.
“Our ongoing strategy is to look for companies that are not for sale, companies like Schilli and Big Freight,” Daseke said in a press release. “A key objective of our recent decision to go public was to accelerate the company’s consolidation in the open deck specialized freight sector.”
“We’re proud to welcome Schilli and Big Freight, as well as each of their outstanding teams to the Daseke family,” said Daseke.
Source: thetrucker, bizjournals, todaystrucking
Marion D. Hunt says
I’ve never heard of any of those companies, and I contract to another, larger (only 3500 drivers but they are largest? Not by a long shot) carrier. What other companies do they own, since the article mentions 11?
Jason Fountain says
I know of a few. Lone star transportation,Boyd Bros, WTI, and Hornady.
Andrew says
Daseke, Inc. comprises the following operating companies: Smokey Point Distributing, E.W. Wylie, J. Grady Randolph, Central Oregon Truck Company, Lone Star Transportation, Bulldog Hiway Express, Hornady Transportation and The Boyd Companies including Boyd Bros. Transportation, Boyd Logistics, WTI Transport and Mid Seven Transportation.
Roy says
Did they also buy out Wilson Trucking in Virginia?
Someone from Texas bought them out last month.
Kevin says
If you never heard of any of those companies, you haven’t been driving very long.
jesse says
they own smokey point dist.,Oregon cent,Boyd brothers,and others.several of the ones they own win best fleets to drive for. Oregon number 1 smokey number 5.they invest in good company’s and in fuse cash to expand.they do not demand changes..if it aint broke dont fix it