U.S. trucking giant, based in Cherry Hill, adds Canada firm

NFI (National Freight Industries), the $1.2 billion (yearly sales), Cherry Hill-based trucking, distribution and logistics company owned and run by members of the Brown family since its founding in 1932, says it has purchased Canadian freight service Dominion Warehousing  & Distribution, for an undisclosed price.

The deal boosts NFI's yearly Canadian sales to $125 million (U.S.), including freight brokerage, forwarding, truck transportation, warehousing and distribution. Adding 2 million square feet at Dominion sites in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver, it brings NFI's total warehouse space to 31 million sf.

Canada growth and "blue-chip" Canada customers are "core to our overall strategy," said NFI chief executive Sid Brown in a statement.  The deal helps NFI "enter into new industries like specialty paints and chemicals," said Kevin Patterson, NFI's distribution chief. Dominion president and general manager Robert Dineen called Brown's company "the right fit" for Dominion's 250 employees and for customers.

In all, NFI employs 8,000, with more than 2,000 freight tractors and 8,200 trailers driven by more than 2,600 drivers and 250 owner-operators.