Transport America acquires stake in Optimal Freight

Dec 7, 2015

Transport America, an Eagan, Minn.-based truckload carrier and TransForce subsidiary, acquired a majority stake in Chicago-based Optimal Freight, a privately held nonasset-based truckload freight brokerage company that provides services throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Optimal Freight manages the requirements, capabilities and freight patterns of shippers and carriers to create solutions designed to maximize productivity and cost efficiency. Transport America said the acquisition, terms of which were not disclosed, expands its capabilities to create solutions for its customer base.

MRL Transport owner Mark Ledford today hauls direct freight outbound for customers in part built from his years of ownership of another fleet, since sold after years of growth. MRL in some ways is Ledford's effort to right-size a business for his life today.

Right-sizing for management: MRL Transport owner Mark Ledford hits five trucks

Ledford got his start trucking after working a dock where his manager said Ledford would never drive truck. Not only would he drive, he'd grow a fleet well beyond 30 trucks before selling out. MRL Transport is his second turn in the barrel, and Ledford's hit a profitability sweet spot.

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