Saia, a multiregional less-than-truckload carrier, announced today, May 17, that it has successfully completed its full integration of recently acquired Midwest carrier The Connection Co. and Wisconsin carrier Madison Freight Systems.
The 19 terminals added by the acquisition of The Connection – a less-than-truckload carrier operating in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio since 1983 – now are officially operating as Saia in the major Midwest markets of Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Indianapolis, Louisville, Ky., and Toledo, Ohio. Saia purchased The Connection in November 2006 and completed the integration in February.
“The newly integrated territories are providing service that has already surpassed performance goals,” says Rick O’Dell, president of Duluth, Ga.-based Saia. “For more than 80 years, Saia has focused on growth. The integration of these acquisitions further advances Saia toward our strategic goal of achieving complete coverage across North America.”
The operations of Madison Freight System – a less-than-truckload carrier headquartered in Madison, Wis. – were successfully integrated into Saia’s direct service on April 2. With these fully operational Saia-branded terminals serving the additional markets of Green Bay, Madison and Wausau, the acquisition allows Saia to provide 100 percent direct coverage to the state of Wisconsin.
Saia says the acquisition strategy focused on accelerating enhanced customer service, operating efficiencies and synergy revenue development with the new territories, culminating in an expanded organization that now serves 34 states with 151 terminals.
