J&R Schugel Trucking, New Ulm, Minn., recently accepted the opportunity to take over Kraft Food’s private fleet after the company announced plans earlier to eliminate the operation around the country.

The fleet, which has about 25 drivers, will become part of J&R Schugel beginning Aug. 17.

“Some of these drivers used to drive for us before they went over to Kraft and they were the first ones to call us when Kraft announced their plans to cut jobs,” said Leah Shaver, director of human resources for J&R Schugel. “Many of them are million-mile or higher safe drivers. This is a safe, loyal and dedicated fleet and we couldn’t be more excited to have them back on our team.”

According to Shaver, the New Ulm private fleet drivers will be able to have everything at J&R Schugel that they had at Kraft and more. The consistent Midwest regional routes will stay the same including weekly home time,.

Kraft Foods announced in April that it planned to cut 285 trucking jobs in order to outsource services to other carriers. Spokesperson Joyce Hodel said that Kraft would use strategic partners the company already does business with to cover the routes affected by the job eliminations going forward. The private fleet moves products and materials across Kraft's network of plants and distribution centers.

“Our relationship with Kraft Foods began back in the 1980s when we branched out into the refrigerated business,” said Shaver. “Kraft has always relied on us as a service provider and partner, so absorbing their New Ulm private fleet into our J&R Schugel family just made a lot of sense.”

J&R Schugel is a truckload carrier of general commodities, serving the continental U.S. with regional and over-the-road operations in the Midwest, Northeast, Southeast and West Coast. The company said it owns 600 power units and more than 1,000 trailers.