CRST buys Gardner Trucking

CRST International said the Gardner acquisition will add about $400 million in revenue, along with over 2,400 drivers and 500 non-driver personnel to CRST, which already has over 8,000 company drivers, independent contractors and office staff in the U.S.    CRST International, a large cross-country trucking company based out of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has acquired Ontario, Calif.-based Gardner Trucking.
   Gardner is considered to be the largest California-based truckload carrier and a significant provider of specialized regional truckload services, logistics, drayage and warehouse services for bulk markets. In addition to California, Gardner has facilities in Oregon, Washington, Arizona and Texas.
   “CRST International is comprised of seven specialized transportation companies,” CRST President and CEO Dave Rusch said in a statement. “We are always in search of adding companies to our portfolio that offer services which allow us to expand our capabilities for our customers.
   “The acquisition of Gardner Trucking further complements CRST’s service offerings through Gardner’s expertise in short-haul, local markets, as well as drayage and warehousing,” he added.
   Tom Lanting, previous owner and president of Gardner Trucking, will continue in his current role as president, CRST said.
   Privately-held CRST did not disclose financial terms of the transaction.
   However, CRST did say Gardner will add about $400 million in revenue, along with over 2,400 drivers and 500 non-driver personnel to CRST, which already has over 8,000 company drivers, independent contractors and office personnel across the United States.
   The Gardner purchase is also considered the single largest acquisition in CRST’s history. CRST said, “Adding the Gardner service portfolio to CRST greatly accelerates CRST’s goal of reaching $2 billion in annualized revenues by 2018.”
   In the past several years, CRST has acquired Specialized Transportation, Allied Special Products (the specialized division of North American Van Lines), BESL Transfer Co., and most recently, Pegasus Transportation.