Hirschbach Motor Lines recently agreed to acquire John Christner Trucking (JCT), a refrigerated carrier based in Sapulpa, Oklahoma.
The combined revenue of both companies will exceed $1 billion and propel Hirschbach to one of the nation’s top-five largest refrigerated carriers, Hirschbach said. The organization now will operate more than 3,000 trucks and 5,000 trailers, along with a $150 million third-party logistics operation.
“These two organizations should be united and fit together like two puzzle pieces,” said Brad Pinchuk, CEO and owner of Hirschbach. “JCT covers the map coast-to-coast along the southern tier of the U.S., while Hirschbach’s density is largely east of the Rocky Mountains.
“In addition to adding JCT’s 800 trucks, Hirschbach will be able to offer its customers access to JCT’s very successful logistics operation.”
The companies said the acquisition is bolstered by the close alignment of both their cultures.
“We’re both driver-centric organizations that focus on taking care of our people so they can take care of our customers,” Pinchuk said. “We’re proud to be truckers and the roles we play in servicing our customers and feeding this great country.”
JCT was started in 1986 by John Christner. He got his start in trucking in the 1960s, hauling produce from California and returning to the West Coast with juice or meat, and this is still the core of what JCT does today. Christner handed the JCT reins to his two sons, Danny and Darryl, who took the company to the next level by expanding the size of the trucking company and starting their logistics business.
“It’s truly an honor to have been selected by the Christner family to be entrusted with their baby,” Pinchuk said. “He (John Christner) built his company on the values of hard work and a relentless pursuit of excellence, always walking the walk and delivering what he promised.”
While John and Darryl Christner plan to retire, Danny Christner will join Hirschbach as president of JCT, the companies said.
“We’ll run JCT as a separate company with Danny Christner (current JCT CEO) as the president,” Pinchuk explained. “He and (Hirschbach president) Dan Wallace will be joined at the hip finding ways to service our combined customers, take care of our team members, and run as efficiently as possible.”
Added Danny Christner: “On behalf of myself and the Christner family, we are extremely excited and grateful to be partnering with Brad Pinchuk and the Hirschbach team. The ability to transition two of our owners was paramount to any agreement, but equally important was the desire to retain JCT’s identity and autonomy to continue delivering on the long-standing commitments we have to our customers, drivers and non-driving associates.
“These are two healthy, profitable, premium service-providing companies with tremendous brand value, as well as strategic network synergies to be realized over the coming years.”
The transaction is set to close in early April.
“The Hirschbach and JCT teams are having a lot of fun getting to know each other and already sharing best practices, which will greatly benefit both organizations,” Pinchuk concluded.
