EVO Transportation & Energy Services acquired a 550-truck TL and brokerage business, West Side Transport, the carrier announced Sept. 23.
The move was meant to diversify EVO’s business, as it is predominantly a U.S. mail carrier, President and COO Kris Kohls told Trucking Dive. But the deal also came with other upsides.
The acquisition will also give "huge density in the Midwest market,” he said, “and it gave us access to among the best-in-class freight shippers in the United States that we did not have access to currently.”
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
West Side Transport, headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, also has terminals in Columbus, Ohio; Glenwood, Illinois; South St. Paul, Minnesota; Indianapolis, Indiana; Canton, Michigan; and Chattanooga, Tennessee, per its website.
Under the new ownership, West Side Transport will continue operating autonomously. But the improved density will help with leveraging buying power, reducing empty lanes and broadening the division’s equipment availability to a much larger market, Kohls said.
Meanwhile, West Side Transport COO Ron Joseph was promoted to president of the division, and company founder Don Vogt will serve as a board adviser to the new, combined company.
“Day-to-day operations, personnel, management and services to customers are expected to remain unchanged,” the news release said.
EVO originated from establishing compressed natural gas fueling stations in 2014 as well as combinations from mail contractors in 2018 and 2019, per its website.
In the latest acquisition, EVO leadership were drawn to West Side Transport’s staff, drivers, equipment and facilities, according to CEO Michael Bayles, noting it as a best-in-class operation.
