Coyote Logistics, AAT to merge

   The boards of third party logistics providers Coyote Logistics of Chicago and Access America Transport in Chattanooga, Tenn., have approved a merger agreement.
   Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
   Started in 2002, AAT provides multimodal transportation services, including truckload, less-than-truckload, intermodal, flatbed and specialized freight for shippers and carriers across the country. After closing the transaction with Coyote, the combined company will be one of the largest 3PLs in North America, with run rate revenues of more than $2 billion; 17 locations; about 40,000 contracted carriers; and 1,750 employees. 
   “We are confident that our shippers and carriers will see the benefit of our newly expanded and dedicated customer service team,” said Coyote chief executive officer and co-founder Jeff Silver, in a statement. 
   “Coyote’s proprietary technology and backend support will bring a level of unprecedented sophistication to AAT shippers and carriers,” added Ted Alling, AAT’s CEO and co-founder.
   Silver will continue to serve as Coyote’s CEO, and Chad Eichelberger, president of AAT, will serve as the combined company’s president of brokerage.
   The transaction is expected to close during the first quarter of the year.