Proficient Auto Logistics has acquired a Pennsylvania automobile hauler, which could increase its capacity by 13% in a market that remains in flux following the demise of Jack Cooper Transport Co.
Terms of Proficient’s purchase of Brothers Auto Transport were not immediately disclosed. Based in Wind Gap near Allentown, Brothers was founded in 1996 and runs a fleet of about 110 transporters. The company has terminals in Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Ohio, and Virginia.
“This acquisition is an important milestone in our growth strategy,” Proficient CEO Richard O’Dell said in a statement. “The operational and geographic synergies between our companies will allow us to provide a higher level of service to our customers while elevating our presence in the Northeast.”
O’Dell also noted that Brothers’ operations will immediately add to Proficient’s profits. Jacksonville-based Proficient, which last spring rolled up five regional haulers and went public, finished 2024 with a small net loss in part because of those transactions. Its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, and depreciation were $40.7 million.
See also: Proficient inks deal to buy Western auto hauler
Word of the acquisition of Brothers comes seven weeks after O’Dell and his team provided perspectives on significant changes in the auto hauler market after Jack Cooper closed its doors less than three years before marking a century in business. Jack Cooper had, in the weeks prior, lost big contracts with both Ford and General Motors. The fleet’s closure put into play somewhere between 10% and 15% of market share.
Speaking then, O’Dell and Proficient COO Amy Rice said they expected to win some of that business but also noted that the process would likely take several quarters. Earlier this week, they struck a similar tone in an update in Proficient’s annual report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“The immediate result of [Jack Cooper going out of business] has been a redistribution among market participants of a significant amount of OEM contract business,” the executives said. “New contract business in place at Proficient is representative of the company’s overall market share and is expected to ramp up over the remainder of 2025.”
Shares of Proficient (Ticker: PAL) popped more than 10% on the Brothers announcement and closed at $9.05 April 2. They are, however, still down more than 30% over the past six months, reflecting the weakening automotive market.
