James Brown Contracting (Brown Trucking), a dedicated short-haul truckload carrier based in Atlanta, has acquired Durham, N.C.-based West Brothers' Companies, a transportation, logistics and leasing provider in the Southeast.


The West transaction means Brown Trucking has acquired three additional lines of business: warehousing, contract leasing and maintenance, and brokerage. Brown Trucking now has a combined total of 810 trucks and 3,500 trailers. In August, Brown Trucking added 95 trucks and 201 trailers with the acquisition of Schrader Trucking Company, a Jefferson City, Tenn.-based dry van truckload carrier.

"West has an outstanding reputation, a stellar safety record and a talented staff," said John Richardson, board director of Brown Trucking and managing partner of NCP. "Adding asset light divisions to Brown, such as the warehousing and brokerage business lines, will increase growth opportunities as well as add value to Brown's existing customers."

"Since our acquisition of Brown in 2008, we have actively reviewed many follow-on acquisition opportunities," said David Panton, board chairman of Brown Trucking and partner of NCP. "West and Schrader represent the best of these for executing our strategy of creating the premier Southeast-focused, diversified logistics and transportation company."

West includes four companies: trucking company West Brothers' Transportation Services Inc.; subsidiary West Brothers' Transportation Solutions LLC, a provider of global freight brokerage services; Logistics Leasing LLC, an asset-based full-service truck leasing and maintenance company; and West Logistics, Inc., a provider of contract warehousing and distribution services. Each West entity will become a division of Brown Trucking. Current owners Craig West and Tommy West will exit the business.

West primarily works in verticals such as paper, construction machinery, personal care products, consumer packaging and pharmaceuticals. Brown Trucking has historically focused on service to the paper and packaging, major appliances, consumer packaged goods and building materials industries.

"Combining forces with West will diversify our customer concentration across industries, enable us to expand our service offerings and provide significant cross-selling opportunities," said Brian Kinsey, CEO of Brown Trucking. "West has built a strong business that fits well within Brown's geographic footprint and will enable more efficient asset utilization."