GAINEY TRANSPORTATION ON THE GROW AGAIN WITH ACQUISITION OF NORTHAMERICAN BLANKET WRAP DIVISION

GRAND RAPIDS, MI Gainey Transportation Services Inc. -- founded in 1984 by Harvey N. Gainey with 2 tractors and 4 trailers -- has sharpened its leading edge in the premium, full service transport industry with the acquisition of North American Blanket Wrap Division. North American’s Fort Wayne, IN facility will remain the headquarters for the division and will be renamed Gainey Specialized Transport, Inc.

"We're very excited to be on the grow again," said Brent Jordan, Executive VP of Marketing/Operations for Gainey Corporation.

"This is an opportunity to leverage our quality-driven customer service with North American's depth of experience to meet the phenomenal demand for the specialty transport industry. We continue to expand a very robust suite of services and intend to let demand further fuel that growth."

North American was founded in 1949 and has handled over 500,000 specialty truckloads catering to clients in the public, medical, furniture, technology and exhibit industries.

The move expands the West-Michigan-based Gainey's fleet from 1154 tractors to 1319 for a 15% increase, and adds 500 trailers to Gainey's 2830 for a total of 3330, representing an 18% increase in infrastructure. About 175 drivers and 28 internal support personnel will be joining the Gainey family of professionals. Existing North American agency relationships with nationwide agents will also be maintained and grown as demand dictates.

News of the acquisition met with a "fantastic response" by employees at the Fort Wayne headquarters last week, Jordan said.

He cited rising fuel and steel costs as well as over capacity as the root cause for stagnation in the truckload industry the last 5 years, and is happy to be breaking the trend.

"We're very excited about the growth. It's been too long since our last acquisition," Jordan said.

The privately-held company, founded by Harvey Gainey in 1984, has grown at a record pace receiving not only state wide accolades, but also national awards for growth and entrepreneur leadership. The acquisition signals further expansion after a cautious few years in a very difficult business atmosphere.

"As Mr. Gainey likes to say, 'If you're not growing, you're dying.'"

< Back