Refrigerated transportation company R.E. Garrison Trucking recently completed the acquisition of Boaty’s Transport assets, including 50 tractors and 80 reefer trailers.
Boaty’s, based in Jackson, Georgia, was founded in 1991 by Michael Boatwright with the goal of providing “Fast, Fresh, and Friendly” transport of produce throughout the Southeastern U.S. In nearly 30 years of operation, the company has established a “pristine” reputation within the produce industry, R.E. Garrison said.
“Boaty’s stood out to our board of directors because of their longstanding position within the produce industry and we are incredibly enthusiastic about Boaty’s joining the team,” Wyles Griffith, R.E. Garrison president and co-owner, said in a news release.
Added Donovon Lovell, vice president and co-owner: “Growing our business alongside Boaty’s will create a great and lasting partnership that we can both be proud of.”
Boatwright said he chose R.E. Garrison as Boaty’s partner and future caretaker in hopes of preserving the organization’s “small-company feel.” R.E. Garrison, headquartered in Cullman, Alabama, is an employee-owned operation with more than 1,000 employees, and office locations in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, Indiana, and Tennessee.
Boatwright is expected to retire in the “upcoming months,” and his son, Shaun Boatwright, will assume leadership of Boaty’s daily business, R.E. Garrison said. Boaty’s will continue to operate using its name and image under the R.E. Garrison umbrella.
“One of the things that excites me the most about this transition to Garrison is the fact that we will still maintain our small-company, feel while adding many additional benefits for our employees and clients,” Michael Boatwright said.
