Contrans overhauls eastern operations

WOODSTOCK, Ont. — Contrans Income Fund says it is consolidating its eastern Canadian van and flatbed operations together under a single management group.

Starting in April, the Milton, Ont. operation of Brookville Carriers Van LP will be transferred to Laidlaw Carriers Van LP, which is based in Guelph, Ont. The St. John operation will remain as Brookville Carriers, a division of Laidlaw Carriers Van LP.

Also, all administrative functions for its East Coast Flatbed business units will be centralized at the General Freight Carriers LP facility in Saint John.

These measures, says the company, are designed to maintain the carrier’s market position and improve fleet utilization by “realizing economies of scale, increasing operating efficiency and reducing overhead costs.”

“We review our operations on an ongoing basis to find ways to improve business performance. Like other companies, we have had to manage the effects of many changes in business conditions such as plant closures, the value of the Canadian dollar, escalating fuel prices and other economic pressures. We prefer meeting these challenges head on and in a proactive manner rather than standing by and hoping conditions will improve,” said Stan Dunford, Contrans Chairman and CEO.

“We have initiated this realignment after careful study and consultation with our managers in the respective regions and businesses.”

Contrans is one of the top 10 largest for-hire freight transportation companies in Canada. Be sure to see the entire ranking of the top 100 carriers in the upcoming March issue of Today’s Trucking.