Burlington Motor Carriers Daleville, Ind., has purchased Trans-States Lines of Fort Smith, Ark.

Under the agreement, BMC will acquire about 250 conventional power units and 475 53-foot trailers. These additions will increase the BMC fleet to nearly 2,200 tractors and 5,400 trailers.
BMC plans to maintain a terminal in the Fort Smith area. All non-operations functions are being transitioned to Daleville or one of BMC's other terminals over the next 30 days. Burlington Motor Carriers will assume responsibility for the TSL payroll owed to all former TSL employees hired by BMC. These new Burlington associates will have immediate access to the BMC benefits programs and will be given credit for their seniority with TSL.
"We hope to retain all of the TSL drivers, with any drivers in excess of the tractors being leased or purchased to assist us in maintaining our current fleet status of having 100% of our company units seated," said Terry Wallace, Burlington president and COO. "Burlington Motor Carriers has now increased its seated fleet size over 19% so far in 2001 and we plan to continue growing aggressively throughout the rest of the year.