SCS Transportation buys LTL carrier for Saia division

SCS Transportation buys LTL carrier for Saia division    Less-than-truckload carrier Saia will expand its coverage this spring to the Midwest after its parent company, Kansas City-based SCS Transportation, announced Tuesday the acquisition of Clark Bros. Transfer Inc., a family owned carrier based in Norfolk, Neb.
   SCS, which was spun off from national LTL carrier Yellow Transportation in 2002, is the holding company for Saia and Jevic Transportation, a combination LTL and truckload carrier.
   SCS said it paid $30.5 million for Clarks’ assets, including 370 tractors and 600 trailers. SCS will cover the transaction cost with cash, revolving credit and a $6.2- million seller note.
   Clark Bros. recorded revenue of $66 million and $4 million in operating income during 2003, and has a solid operating ratio of 93.9 percent, a measure of a company’s management efficiency.