Ending 73 years of independent ownership, Maine’s Hartt Transportation has recently been acquired by a Canadian outfit.
The Winnipeg, Manitoba-based, Bison Transport reportedly purchased Hartt’s fleet of more than 360 tractors, 2,100 trailers, and its brokerage arm effective Jan. 1, 2022. Reports indicate that Bison sought Hart because it ranked as one of the largest transportation organizations in the Northeast and the move provides Bison with sizable logistics and freight hauling capacity on both sides of the U.S.-Canadian border.
“These are truly exciting times for all involved. I have had the privilege of meeting and spending time with the Hartt leadership team, and collectively we feel strongly about the cultural fit. There is a great energy in this business and the people have a strong desire to continue to grow and prosper in a responsible way,” Bison’s CEO Rob Penner reportedly stated. “We believe this acquisition to be foundational in strengthening our cross-border offerings and establishing Bison Transport USA as a Tier 1 US Domestic fleet, well-positioned to serve the growing needs of our customers.”
Bison’s Marc Wolding reportedly echoed those sentiments, indicating that cross-border capacity and customer support are expected to substantially improve on already successful services. Competitive advantages include increased truck driving opportunities, an expanded North American freight footprint, and a cost-effective consolidation of services while eliminating redundancies. In essence, Wolding and others who brokered the deal over the better part of 8-9 months anticipate the whole may be better than the parts.
“There are some customers who were served both by Bison Transport USA and Hartt Transportation, but, in most instances, markets served were different,” Wolding reportedly said. “The majority of customers for Bison Transport USA and Hartt were not the same. Bison Transport USA did very little sub-contracting in markets served by Hartt Transportation.”
Bison Transport was established in 1969 and purchased by James Richardson and Sons in 2019. The Canadian outfit employs more than 3,700 drivers and support staff, and its operations span across the U.S. and into Mexico.
A second-generation Maine outfit, Hartt Transportation was established in 1948 by Delmont E. Hartt, who passed along the business to his son, Billy Hartt. Regarding the sale, Billy Hartt expressed enthusiasm excitement for his team members “to become part of the Bison family, as we share similar core values and cultures. I am certain that, with the merger of Hartt’s and Bison’s teams, they will produce amazing results and become an even stronger carrier for the future.”
Although a Bison reportedly secured 100 percent of Hartt stock, limited details about the acquisition have been released. There has been no indication that any changes will be made regarding truck drivers or logistical support staff in the coming months.
Sources: usnews.com, logisticsmgmt.com
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