US intermodal giant buys Canuck carrier; signs deal with CF

MONTREAL — The largest private independent intermodal logistics service provider in North America has agreed to acquire CP Ships Trucking Ltd. (C-Truck) from Hapag-Lloyd.

Upon closing, the Atlanta, Ga.-based RoadLink will launch a new alliance with Fastfrate, the Woodbridge, Ont.-based LTL and logistics provider that has an exclusive cross-dock partnership with Canadian Pacific.

"The acquisition will enhance service capabilities as we deliver single-point-of-contact solutions to complex transportation and warehousing challenges," said Chris Munro, RoadLink’s president and CEO.

Headquartered in Montreal, C-Truck was acquired as part of Hapag-Lloyd’s purchase of CP Ships. Deciding to concentrate on its core business, Hapag-Lloyd decided to divest the 240-truck container hauler (mostly owner-ops), which has six locations in Canada and the U.S.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Through their new alliance, RoadLink and Fastfrate will offer their customers one-stop, seamlessly integrated and cost-effective comprehensive transportation services throughout North America, including cross border service, the companies say.

Supported by RoadLink’s TrueVision technology platform, customers will be able to track their containers from inbound ships through the entire distribution system to the final destination.

"In working with Fastfrate, we’re reinforcing our commitment to serve Canada, providing our customers with the highest quality intermodal transportation services across the continent," said Munro.

Aligning the capabilities of RoadLink and Fastfrate makes sense in light of changing North American business dynamics, adds Fastfrate President and CEO Ron Tepper. "Over the last decade, Fastfrate has created a physical structure across Canada to support the supply chain requirements of some of Canada’s largest shippers. Our new partnership with RoadLink and RoadLink’s acquisition of C-Truck is an exciting event in our company’s history."

Earlier this year, Canadian Pacific and Fastfrate extended their longtime working partnership for another decade. 

In 2007, the majority interest in the trucking firm and its affiliates Canada Drayage Inc. and Koch Transport were aquired by Fenway Partners, a N.Y private equity firm.