PS Logistics, a privately held transportation and logistics company, said its subsidiary Blair Logistics has acquired the flatbed division of ELS.
PS Logistics Acquires Flatbed Division of ELS
Acquiring the flatbed division of ELS makes PS Logistics' 53-foot flatbed fleet one of the largest in the country, with more than 500 power units and 1,250 over-length trailers.

PS Logistics adds more than 240 over-length flatbed trailers with this acquisition.
Photo: PS Logistics
With this acquisition, PS Logistics said it has further established itself as operating one of the largest 53-foot flatbed carriers in the country, with more than 500 power units and 1,250 over-length trailers. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
It's the second such acquisition announced this month, following the recent announcement of PS Logistics acquiring Buddy Moore Trucking.
“The ELS flatbed division will be complementary to our existing over-length operations and allow us to provide enhanced geographic coverage and service offerings to our customers while simultaneously providing greater opportunities to drivers,” said Scott Smith, chief executive officer and co-founder of PS Logistics.
ELS, based in Kenly, North Carolina, was founded in 2009 by Tim Butts and has continued to operate as a family-owned business. ELS’s flatbed division maintains a fleet of more than 90 tractors and more than 240 over-length flatbed trailers and primarily hauls steel, industrial materials, lumber, and other building materials.
“ELS has worked in similar geographies and with similar customers as PS Logistics’ operating companies for many years, and we’ve been able to see firsthand how well they service customers and set up drivers for success,” said Butts.
ELS will retain its heavy haul and intermodal operating divisions and operate under the same name, and the flatbed division will now operate as Blair.
PS Logistics said the transaction continues its acquisition strategy of partnering with families and quality owners within the transportation and logistics industry. Since 2016, PS Logistics has successfully acquired 25 trucking operations and five non-asset logistics operations across the United States.
More Fleet Management

ATA’s Spear Warns Fuel Prices, Trade Policy, and Global Conflict Could Stall Trucking Recovery
Speaking at the TMC Annual Meeting in Nashville, ATA President Chris Spear said trucking faces mounting pressure from rising fuel prices, geopolitical instability, and uncertainty around trade policy.
Read More →
New Entrants, Chameleon Carriers, and Safety: Is It Too Easy to Start a Trucking Company?
More than 100,000 new trucking companies enter the industry each year, but regulators manage to audit only a fraction of them. That churn creates opportunities for inexperienced startups — and for “chameleon carriers” that shut down after safety violations and reappear under new identities. Read more from Deborah Lockridge in this commentary.
Read More →
Fleet Managers Invited to Apply for Exclusive HDT Exchange Event
HDTX is an intimate event that connects heavy-duty trucking fleet managers with industry suppliers through small-group discussions, educational sessions, and structured one-on-one meetings.
Read More →
DAT Launches iPhone Widget to Help Owner-Operators Find Loads Faster
New DAT One feature shows top-paying loads directly on an iPhone’s home screen, helping carriers react faster to spot-market opportunities.
Read More →
Optimal Dynamics Launches AI System to Help Carriers Choose Better Freight
Optimal Dynamics says its new Scale platform uses AI agents and optimization to help carriers find and secure freight that improves network balance and profitability.
Read More →
DAT: Flatbed Demand Climbs as Van and Reefer Rates Soften
DAT Freight & Analytics data shows tightening flatbed capacity, easing produce markets, and softening van and reefer rates.
Read More →
Run on Less “Messy Middle” Data Shows Multiple Paths Forward for Truck Powertrains [Watch]
NACFE's Run on Less - Messy Middle project demonstrates the power of data in helping to guide the future of alternative fuels and powertrains for heavy-duty trucks.
Read More →
Federal Court Lets NYC Congestion Pricing Continue
A federal court ruling allows New York City’s congestion pricing program to continue, leaving truck tolls in place for fleets delivering into Manhattan.
Read More →
Fontaine Modification Launches Real-Time Truck Modification Tracking Portal
Fontaine Modification has introduced a new customer portal designed to give fleets real-time visibility into the truck modification process, addressing one of the most common questions fleet managers face: “Where’s my truck?”
Read More →
FTR: Trucking Conditions Index Climbs to Highest Level Since 2022
Strong freight rates, rising volumes and tighter capacity push trucking conditions higher, though diesel prices could temper gains in the near term, FTR cautions.
Read More →
