Pilot Freight buys Manna

Acquisition designed to expand position in the final-mile delivery space.    Pilot Freight Services has acquired Manna Freight Systems, based in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, to expand its position in the final-mile delivery space.
   Specifically, Pilot plans to use the acquisition to increase its handling and delivery of large e-commerce shipments, such as furniture and appliances, to customers’ doors, including offering hook-up services. 
   While financial terms of the deal were not released, Pilot said the Manna acquisition will expand its domestic final-mile footprint from 71 to 83 locations. 
   To strengthen its final-mile delivery services, Pilot also said it will implement technology to further increase efficiency and transparency through truck dispatching, order management and real-time route optimization.
   “As home delivery grows exponentially, this acquisition is the perfect evolution for Pilot to service our e-commerce customers at the highest level,” said John Hill, Pilot’s president and chief commercial officer, in a statement.