U.S. Xpress invests in regional truckload carrier

U.S. Xpress invests in regional truckload carrier    Large truckload carrier U.S. Xpress said it completed the acquisition of a 41-percent stake in Total Transportation of Mississippi, a medium-haul dedicated truckload carrier serving the eastern United States.
   Rick Kale and John Stomps, co-chief executive officers, will continue to run Total Transportation as an independent entity. U.S. Xpress has an option to buy out their controlling stake in the company at a specified price by Oct. 1, 2008.
   U.S. Xpress said Total Transportation has achieved large revenue and profit increases in recent years. It said Total Transportation’s revenues were about $67 million in 2004 and that it performed at a healthy rate in which revenues were 8 percent greater than expenses.
   The Chattanooga, Tenn.-based carrier said it would help Total Transportation with equipment purchases and offer joint marketing opportunities where possible.