Evo Builds Out Truckload Operations With West Side Purchase
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Evo Transportation & Energy Services has acquired fellow truckload carrier West Side Transport for an undisclosed sum, it said Sept. 23.
Phoenix-based Evo aims to build a diversified, national truckload carrier and brokerage through the acquisition of Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based West Side.
West Side, which began operations in 1980, specializes in shorthaul van truckload services in the Midwest and elsewhere. The carrier operates 550 trucks and 2,300 trailers. It has 700 employees and a Midwest-focused logistics and warehousing unit.
Alongside a primary operations center in Cedar Rapids, West Side also has terminals in Circle Pines, Minn.; Glenwood, Ill.; Indianapolis; Canton, Mich.; Columbus, Ohio; and Chattanooga, Tenn.
Evo itself operates more than 900 tractors. It ranks No. 4 among Transport Topics’ largest mail carriers in North America and was formed from the merger of legacy carriers for the U.S. Postal Service by a former compressed natural gas retailer.
Thunder Ridge Transport and W.E. Graham Inc. were acquired in 2018 while Ritter Transportation, Finkle Transport, Sheehy Mail Contractors and Ursa Transportation were acquired in 2019. The merger was partly the result of a compensation change by USPS.
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West Side will continue to operate as its own stand-alone division under Ron Joseph, who becomes president of the company rather than chief operating officer. West Side founder Don Vogt will serve as a board observer providing strategic advice and services to the combined entity.
As a result of the deal, Evo expects to transition from being a predominantly USPS-focused carrier to a diversified transportation supplier with a broad customer mix, the company said.
“From the moment we first set foot in Cedar Rapids, Evo was beyond excited about [West Side]. Don Vogt dedicated his life to building an absolute best-in-class operation and we were drawn immediately to the quality staff, drivers, equipment and facilities. We are very excited about West Side joining the Evo family and look forward to honoring Don’s legacy,” Evo CEO Michael Bayles said
Los Angeles-based investment firm WhiteHawk Capital Partners and Evo’s largest shareholder, Antara Capital, provided debt and equity financing for the transaction.
“West Side is an impressive business that has differentiated itself by providing high-touch mission-critical services to its customer base,” Brad Huge, managing director at WhiteHawk, said.
Evo was not immediately available for comment on the purchase price for West Side.
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