Venture Express Acquires Chambers Leasing Systems

Venture Express Inc., a Tennessee-based fleet that specializes in serving the automotive industry, announced the acquisition of Chambers Leasing Systems Inc., an Ohio carrier, to expand the buyer’s services in the Midwest.

CEO Brad Allen told Transport Topics that the acquisition would increase the size of Venture to approximately 1,000 drivers from the previous total of 750. Venture, based in LaVergne, now can serve customers ranging from Ontario to Mobile, Alabama, Allen said.

“They had a Northern footprint,” said Allen, describing Chambers, another automotive industry carrier, as an “ideal fit” for Venture, whose service area was based in the South. “We are excited to serve customers that we haven’t in the past.”

The acquisition was the fourth announced this month in the trucking industry.

Allen said the acquisition will add $30 million in annual revenue initially, with the intention of increasing future sales, helped by the introduction of new technology used by Venture.

Both companies have the distinction of delivering the first truck freight to new automotive plants, he added. Venture made the initial delivery to the Nissan plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, more than three decades ago, while Chambers served Honda’s Marysville, Ohio plant.