American Bulk Expands Into South

American Bulk Commodities, the parent of bulk haulers R&J Trucking of Youngstown, Ohio, and John Brown Trucking of Portersville, Pa., is shifting its focus to the South following the acquisition of Alabama-based Southern Haulers Inc.

R&J hauls industrial commodities and waste products throughout the Midwest and eastern states with a fleet of 350 company-owned trucks and 75 power units leased from owner-operators. John Brown operates 40 dump trailers in western Pennsylvania.

The addition of Southern Haulers and its fleet of 50 company-owned tractor-trailers and 75 owner-operators will provide a foothold for expanding throughout the southern and southeastern United States, said Mark A. Carrocce, vice president of American Bulk.

“We serve many of the same customers,” he noted.

Southern Haulers transports raw materials such as ferro-alloys, scrap iron, coal, aluminum and construction aggregates. American Bulk’s companies do the same and have recently gotten involved in waste hauling, which represents about 15% of its business.

Municipal solid waste hauling is growing rapidly as waste collection companies increasingly outsource the job of moving garbage from transfer stations to landfills.

“We expect to also grow this part of our operation in the southeastern U.S.,” Carrocce said.

asche Transportation Services of Shannon, Ill., is trying to capitalize on the same trend with its Specialty Transportation Services unit (11-16, p. 7).

Southern Haulers was purchased from the family of Dick Edwards, who, according to Carrocce, is in poor health.

The purchase provides the means for Southern Haulers to significantly grow its business in the South. George Roberts, a 17-year veteran with Southern Haulers, will serve as vice president of operations, Carrocce said.

For the full story, see the April 12 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.