Private equity firm Eberhart Capital has acquired Poling Transportation in a stock and cash transaction. Poling, which will now be called Poling Express, is an Omaha, NE-based provider of temperature-controlled freight transportation.
It was owned by Frank Lamer, Kevin Poling, & Pat Russell.
“Poling reflects the passion and consistency of its founder Gene Poling,” said Dan K. Eberhart, managing director of Eberhart Capital. “This transaction combines a great company with a positive reputation throughout the trucking industry by focusing on driver safety, consistent customer service, and implementing innovative trucking technologies.”
Founded in 1974 by Gene Poling with a Le Mars, IA, dairy entering the Omaha, NE market, Poling began with a contracted route with Wells’ Dairy where the small company would deliver products to grocery stores, retirement homes, & hospitals for the next decade. The company has since expanded into hauling refrigerated goods across the country with the growth of the yogurt & ice cream industries. Together with Rogers, MN-based Twin Express, Inc. & Los Angeles based Golden Drop Trucking, Inc. the combined companies boast a fleet of over 200 trucks, over 1,500 carriers on file, and more than 200 owner-operators.
Poling will continue to operate under the existing management team in its current Omaha, NE, location. “For almost 30 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see Poling grow from year to year, helping our customers with consistent service,” said Frank Lamer, vice president of Poling Express.