Jacksonville’s Trailer Bridge divests logistics arm to longtime partner, refocuses on core business (Courtesy of the Jacksonville Business Journal) — Jacksonville-based Trailer Bridge is charting a new course for its growing enterprise, selling its domestic freight brokerage division to longtime partner Anderson Trucking Service in a move designed to sharpen its focus on core strengths and expand opportunities for its employees.
Effective Nov. 1, the agreement transfers Trailer Bridge’s U.S. brokerage and intermodal rail operations — including offices in Jacksonville, Raleigh, Dallas and Kansas City — to ATS Logistics Services the logistics arm of Anderson Trucking Service.
Trailer Bridge is a staple of the Jacksonville transportation industry with services like barge shipments to Puerto Rico under the Jones Act and military contracts. ATS Logistics Services Inc. is a subsidiary of Minnesota-based Anderson Trucking Service, which offers transportation and third-party logistics solutions across North America.
“ATS has been a trusted partner of ours for more than 30 years, and I firmly believe they are the right team to care for and best serve our logistics customers and employees moving forward,” Trailer Bridge CEO Mitch Luciano said in the statement. “The launch of our Logistics Division in 2012 marked the beginning of our evolution into a full-service transportation provider and has been an integral part of our story. This next chapter is only possible because of the hard work and determination of this team.”
Trailer Bridge will continue to operate its core ocean shipping business to Puerto Rico, as well as its government and international freight forwarding divisions. Executives said the transaction builds on a 30-year relationship between the two companies and allows Trailer Bridge to double down on what it does best: asset-based ocean shipping and integrated logistics solutions, while ensuring its brokerage teams join a company with shared values and a strong commitment to growth.
With offices in Jacksonville and other parts of the Southeast and Midwest, Trailer Bridge’s logistics division is responsible for the company’s domestic brokerage and intermodal moves. Staff from the logistics division will continue operations as normal through the transition as they work with the ATS sales organization to maintain continuity of service, according to the statement.
Under the deal, Trailer Bridge Logistics offices in Jacksonville; Dallas; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Kansas City, Kansas; will be under the ATS umbrella.
“This acquisition reflects our commitment to growth and, more importantly, to delivering even greater value to our customers,” ATS President Brent Anderson said in a statement. “By combining the strengths of both organizations, we’ll expand capacity, broaden solutions, and ensure shippers have the reliable support they need in today’s complex supply chain environment.”
The sale is part of Trailer Bridge’s effort to realign its focus on asset-based services within the Puerto Rican trade lane, to expand its government support services and grow its international freight forwarding business.
Luciano did not immediately respond to request for comment, as of press time Tuesday morning.