Watkins Purchases
Fairway Canadian Express

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Watkins Associated Industries, the parent of Lakeland, Fla.-based Watkins Motor Lines, added a sixth company to its carrier family, Toronto-based Fairway Canadian Express. Watkins purchased the carrier June 15 for an undisclosed amount.

Fairway Canadian Express, now known as Watkins Canada Express, is the first wholly-owned foreign subsidiary of Watkins, which also owns Watkins Motor Lines, Highway Transport, Land Span, Sunco Carriers and Watkins Fleet Services.

With approximately $860 million in revenue in 2003, Watkins is the 15th largest trucking operation in the United States and the seventh largest national LTL carrier.

The Canadian fleet was acquired from its founder, Angelo Demangos. He will serve in a consulting capacity for the new company. Bob Simons, Watkins Motor Lines' executive vice president for operations, will become president of the company.

Under its new ownership, the 29-year old Canadian company will continue to provide expedited border clearance, 24-hour-a-day service, public warehousing, and fully computerized trucking and warehouse operations for its customers, Watkins said.

Watkins Motor Lines has had an exclusive partnership with Fairway since 1998, and has had a successful business relationship with the carrier for the past 14 years. Fairway has offices in Montreal, Vancouver and Winnipeg.

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