Truckload giant Heartland Express Inc. plans to integrate the U.S. operations of Contract Freighters Inc. (CFI) into Heartland Express, effective December 31.

Heartland Express bought Contract Freighters’ non-dedicated truckload business from TFI International in 2022 in its largest acquisition ever, creating a giant in the irregular-route truckload space.

CFI Logistica, S.A, de C.V., the Company’s Mexican operations subsidiary, will not be impacted. 

“CFI’s sequential operating performance has improved during 2025, supported by the completion of our transportation management system conversion during the first quarter of 2025 and our transition to a unified driver electronic logging device and communication system with Heartland Express in the second quarter of 2025,” said CEO Mike Gerdin in a news release.

“Given this progress and the current status of our industry, we believe that integrating and rebranding CFI into Heartland Express is the next logical step in enhancing our consolidated operating and financial performance.”

Better Truck Driver Pay and Benefits

Gerdin also cited a desire to align CFI drivers’ pay package with the Heartland Express pay package, which he said would give the CFI drivers an increased compensation and benefits package.

Drivers will remain in their current trucks and have the option to choose any of the pay packages in the legacy Heartland Fleet. 

Drivers will also have the option to run in the fleets of other Heartland subsidiaries, Millis Transfer or Smith Transport. 

“Customers will benefit from increased capacity within the integrated fleets, allowing us to continue to provide the committed, on-time service our customers have come to expect.”

The company expects to keep the current CFI offices in Joplin, Missouri (the current headquarters of CFI), as well as West Memphis, Arkansas, and Laredo, Texas. 

It also plans to offer all current CFI employees the opportunity to continue working for Heartland Express. 

Millis and Smith will remain in their current status.

“We are currently assessing whether the integration and rebranding of CFI will have any impact on the value of the goodwill and other intangible assets associated with CFI,” Gerdin said.