Maersk is buying Pilot Freight Services, a U.S.-based specialist in bulky freight deliveries for both business and consumers. The deal is worth US$1.68 billion and is expected to receive regulatory approval by the second quarter of 2022.
Maersk says the acquisition will complement its previous North American acquisitions of Performance Team, which offers B2B warehousing and distribution, and Visible SCM, which provides e-commerce warehousing and parcel distribution.
Pilot provides first, middle and last mile transport, as well as border-crossing solutions. It specializes in the big and bulky freight segment in North America for B2C and B2B distribution.
Adding Pilot’s capabilities will help Maersk serve e-commerce customers, said Vincent Clerc, CEO of ocean and logistics at A.P. Moller – Maersk.
Pilot operates a North American facilities-based transportation network of 87 stations and hubs. it relies on 3rd party providers of trucking and has access to controlled capacity. The scope encompasses full truckload (FTL) and less-than-truckload (LTL) for both B2C and B2B distribution including heavy and bulky shipments with white glove service, and focuses on expedited and time definite services.
Pilot’s acquisition of American Linehaul Corporation in July 2021 was instrumental in creating this focus on middle mile, LTL expedited capabilities.
The combined Pilot and Maersk scale will offer customers approximately 150 facilities in the U.S., including distribution centres, hubs and stations.
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