Pitt Ohio Buys LTL Carrier Sutton Transport
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Pitt Ohio Transportation Group on Jan. 6 announced plans to acquire Weston, Wis.-based less-than-truckload carrier Sutton Transport for an undisclosed sum.
Pittsburgh-based Pitt Ohio plans to merge Midwest-focused Sutton with its existing Dohrn Transfer LTL unit after an initial period of operating the two separately, it said. Pitt Ohio Transportation acquired Dohrn in 2014.
The merged LTL operating company will be known as Dohrn LLC after a phased integration. Pitt Ohio said combining the two would enhance service, safety, security, technology and customer experience. The Sutton acquisition comes less than two months after US Special Delivery was added to the Dohrn Transfer fold.
Pitt Ohio operated 25 LTL terminals under the Pitt Ohio name as of the start of 2023. Sutton operates over 850 pieces of equipment across 13 terminals and employs more than 700 people. A further 34 LTL terminals are operated by the Dohrn Transfer, US Special Delivery and Ross Express units.
Pitt Ohio ranks No. 49 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest for-hire carriers in North America and No. 13 among LTL carriers. Sutton ranks No. 24 among LTL players.
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“Over the next several months, we’ll work behind the scenes to align our strengths and prepare for a fully integrated future. During this time, our focus remains on delivering exceptional service and providing transparency on every step we take in our journey to enhance the customer experience with greater flexibility, reliability and efficiency,” said Dohrn Transfer Chief Operating Officer Robert Howard.
Pitt Ohio expects its combined LTL operations to become the 12th largest in North America following the deal.
“This acquisition aligns perfectly with our strategic vision to enhance service for our customers by increasing shipment density within our footprint,” said Chuck Hammel, president of Pitt Ohio. “Sutton Transport has a strong reputation for excellence, cultivated over many years by the dedication and hard work of the Sutton family. We are deeply appreciative of their contributions to the industry. We are confident that this integration will deliver significant benefits to our customers. We continue to prioritize best-in-class customer service and ensuring damage-free, on-time delivery services. This acquisition exemplifies our commitment to innovation and growth.”
Cliff Sutton, president of Sutton, noted that the LTL industry is undergoing a wave of consolidation. “After thorough consideration, Sutton Transport determined that [Pitt Ohio Transportation] was the most suitable entity to purchase our company, ensuring the interests of both our customers and our employees are protected,” he said.
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The deal is the latest in an active period for the LTL sector.
In July, Knight-Swift Transportation acquired Dependable Highway Express’ LTL operations for an undisclosed sum.
Knight-Swift ranks No. 7 on the TT Top 100 for-hire carriers list. Dependable Highway Express ranked No. 79 on TT Top 100 for-hire carriers list and No. 28 among LTL carriers before the deal was consummated.
Earlier, the fallout from the collapse of Yellow Corp. in 2023 shook up the broader LTL sector.
Before Yellow’s demise, it ranked No. 13 on the Top 100 for-hire carriers list and No. 3 on the LTL sector list, behind only FedEx Freight and Old Dominion Freight Line.
Major players in the sector snapped up terminals formerly owned by Yellow across a series of auctions.
Also, FedEx Corp. on Dec. 19 unveiled plans to spin off FedEx Freight into a separate publicly traded company.
Pitt Ohio already employs more than 5,400 staff and operates more than 1,600 tractors, 4,100 trailers and 915 straight trucks.
