Epes Purchases Epic Logistics to Enhance Freight Brokerage Business

Epes Logistics Services Inc. has acquired Epic Logistics in a deal made official on July 29, adding new resources for parent company Epes Carriers Inc. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Epic Logistics provided less-than-truckload, truckload, airfreight, expedited and container delivery services in addition to traditional freight brokerage. Founders Don Sherrill and Jim Davis started the company in 2006 and it had approximately 350 customers, according to the company website.

None of the 162 employees at Epic Logistics will be laid off and will continue to work out of the same offices in Smithfield, North Carolina.

“The Epic Logistics staff will have a new reporting structure, but will essentially be handling the same duties at the same location as they have for the past 15-plus years,” said Tom Siler, chief financial officer at Epes Logistics, who emphasized that retaining the Epic staff is critical to the transition.

Parent company Epes Carriers Inc. has 1,157 company-owned and owner-operator tractors and 5,636 trailers specializing in dry van and dedicated contract carriage.

“We are pleased to have the opportunity to acquire such a solid company. We appreciate the value Epic Logistics has placed on customer and carrier relationships, particularly in the Southeast, and believe our combined efforts will enhance results for everyone involved,” Jason Bodford, president of Epes Logistics, said in a statement.

He adds that the Epic Logistics customers will also gain access to service Epes provides in Mexico and Canada. Epes also provides flatbed and drop trailer service, which Epic had not offered.

Greensboro, North Carolina-based Epes ranks No. 71 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers.