Glenncoe Transport to close up shop

KELOWNA, B.C. — Despite being a profitable operation, the loss of some key customers has pushed regional hauler Glenncoe Transport into its last few months of operation.

The B.C. carrier recently lost a major customer through a tendering process, while a handful of other accounts ceased operations due to paper plant and glass plant closures in the region.

Like everywhere else in North America, the economy in western Canada is dwindling, says Don Coe, president of the Kelowna, B.C.-based carrier.

Glenncoe is a 160-truck carrier primarily serving B.C., Alberta and the Pacific Northwest U.S. truckload markets. A market impact study recently confirmed the regional economy is weakening rapidly and cast doubt whether there was enough business to sustain the carrier over the next few years.
 

Business in the Pacific market Glenncoe concentrated
on is drying up, fleet owner says.

“We’re profitable at this point, but the long range will not be if we continue. So we decided to shut down properly and orderly,” Coe explains in an interview with todaystrucking.com. “The long-term does not look viable. This is a business decision and we have to do what’s right by our people.”

Doing what’s right, according to Coe, is giving everyone advance notice.

“We wanted to give everyone lots of time and be able to look after our people, customers, and vendors until that day,” adds Coe.

After nearly four decades in business, Glenncoe will continue in full operation until its doors are closed on May 31.

The carrier was acquired by Bison Transport a little more than a year ago, but operated as a separate entity. To that extent, Coe says the decision to permanently shutter Glenncoe was their choice and based on their regional business.

What’s next for the Coe family, only time will tell, because Coe says the first priority is helping their staff move forward from the closure.