Pitt Ohio Express

Pitt Ohio Express, LLC

Company type	Private
Industry	Transportation
Founded	1979 (1979) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Founders	Charles L. Hammel III (president and CEO) Robert F. Hammel Kenneth W. Hammel
Headquarters	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania , United States
Area served	13 Mid-Atlantic US states
Revenue	US$828 million (2020)
Owner	Hammel Companies
Number of employees	3,100+ (2016)
Website	pittohio.com

Pitt Ohio Express, LLC, branded as PITT OHIO, is a privately held transportation and supply chain solutions provider based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It operates throughout the Mid-Atlantic US and Midwestern US regions. In 2021, Pitt Ohio secured the 48th position on Transport Topics’ Top 100 For-Hire list and ranked 14th among North American Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) carriers by revenue.

Origins and Early Development

Established in Pittsburgh in 1979 by brothers Charles L. "Chuck" Hammel III (who serves as president and CEO), Robert F. "Bob" Hammel, and Kenneth W. "Ken" Hammel, Pitt Ohio Express draws on a family legacy in freight transportation. Their grandfather, Charles Hammel, Sr., founded Hammel's Express in 1919, initially moving steel for Jones and Laughlin Steel Company using horse-drawn wagons. The business was incorporated by Charles L. Hammel, Jr. in 1960, who led it until his passing in 2001.

The company began operations with just three trucks and a modest terminal, concentrating on next-day interstate express LTL shipments between Pittsburgh and Ohio. In 1979, it leased its first warehouse located in East Liverpool, Ohio, and by 1983 had expanded with terminals opened in Cleveland, Baltimore, Norristown (PA), and Charleston (WV).

By 1994, Pitt Ohio had grown to operate a fleet of 525 trailers and 450 tractors with a workforce of approximately 1,000 employees distributed across 10 terminals. Revenue increased substantially from $6.9 million in 1984 to $138 million by 1997. Despite its regional scope, it ranked as the 29th largest LTL carrier and the 84th largest trucking company nationwide. By the following year, the company was managing around 6,500 shipments daily from 12 terminals using a fleet consisting of 928 trailers and 742 power units—40% of which were straight trucks—and employed a fully nonunion staff operating across seven Mid-Atlantic states.

Growth and Diversification

By 1998, Ken Hammel had exited the business, leaving Chuck and Bob as co-owners. The following year saw the spin-off of its third-party logistics arm into Keystone Dedicated Logistics (KDL), with Pitt Ohio retaining an 80% stake while KDL’s president and CEO Don Varshine held the remainder. In 1999, Pitt Ohio reported sales of $163 million with a workforce of approximately 1,800 employees and maintained a fleet of about 900 trucks. Its headquarters and main hub were situated in Pittsburgh's Strip District, where it also launched its first corporate website. By the year 2000, operations included 17 terminals with facilities spanning Pittsburgh to New Jersey.

Starting in 2001, Pitt Ohio broadened its service area via interline partnerships with regional carriers Averitt Express and AAA Cooper, enabling extended coverage across more U.S. regions as well as into Canada. Expansion efforts during the early 2000s included establishing terminals in Detroit and Chicago. In 2002, the company added truckload brokerage services through KDL alongside intermodal capabilities. Chuck Hammel became sole proprietor in 2003 after acquiring Bob’s shares and subsequently opened a Chicago terminal.

By mid-decade in 2005, Pitt Ohio was managing approximately 9,000 daily shipments from a network of 21 terminals supported by more than 2,450 employees and an extensive fleet. That year also marked its acquisition of a majority interest in ECM Transport—a New Kensington-based truckload carrier—allowing it to offer asset-based truckload services alongside brokerage operations; ECM’s president retained a minority ownership stake.

In 2006, Pitt Ohio partnered with CEI Group to establish TruckGuardian Group focused on risk management and safety solutions. The company further expanded into North Carolina, Indianapolis, and Battle Creek (Michigan). The following year included collaboration with Sunline Express to extend service coverage to New York City and Long Island as well as co-founding The Reliance Network (TRNET), an interline alliance comprising six regional freight carriers covering major U.S. markets and Canada.

Although initially facing antitrust scrutiny, TRNET received approval from the U.S. Department of Justice in 2009 and later expanded to incorporate Kingsway, Mountain Valley Express, and Peninsula Truck Lines by 2016 while continuing interline agreements with Sunline Express.

Around this time—in 2008—Pitt Ohio employed roughly 300 personnel and partnered with Canadian Freightways/Epic Express to introduce Heat Track: a heated trailer service designed for shipments destined for Canada that was rolled out across all operations by the following year. Also launched in 2009 was Pitt Ohio Ground—a small-package delivery service covering a fourteen-state region including core Mid-Atlantic and Midwestern markets.

Reflecting its evolution beyond express LTL freight services, the company rebranded as PITT OHIO in 2011 featuring a new logo and website design. In 2012 it announced relocation of trucking operations from the Strip District to a new campus in Harmar Township while maintaining its downtown headquarters; ECM also moved its base there.

By 2015 PITT OHIO was handling approximately 12,000 shipments daily from its network of twenty-one terminals staffed by over 3,100 employees operating an expanded fleet including trailers, tractors, straight trucks, and vans; ECM operated additional equipment assets. That year also saw expansion of service into Louisville, Kentucky.

In 2016 Hammel Companies—the parent entity of PITT OHIO—acquired significant properties in Rock Island, Illinois from Dohrn Transfer Co., consolidating ownership stakes that included midwestern carriers US Special Delivery (USSD) and Palmetto State Transportation by the following year. Although TRNET dissolved in that period, PITT OHIO sustained interline partnerships with former members. By 2018 subsidiaries had grown to include Motor Carrier Services (MCS), Ross Express (LTL), along with technology firm Logiflow.

In recent developments during 2021 PITT OHIO divested holdings in ECM Transport, MCS, and Palmetto State Transportation. In July of 2022 it acquired all assets from Teal Express to enhance its LTL service presence within New York State.

Service Area

Pitt Ohio's direct less-than-truckload (LTL) operations primarily serve the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions of the United States. The company shares ownership interests with LTL carriers such as Dorhn Transfer, US Special Delivery, US Cargo, and Ross Express, facilitating interline freight collaborations. Through these interline partnerships, Pitt Ohio extends its LTL reach throughout the United States and Canada. Its affiliate, US Cargo, specializes in package delivery services and works closely with Pitt Ohio to support this segment.

By March 2023, Pitt Ohio maintained a network of 24 terminals located in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, New Jersey, Maryland, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, and New York. In January 2024, the company expanded its operational footprint by purchasing a 57-acre terminal from Yellow Corporation for $19.3 million.

Services

Pitt Ohio categorizes its offerings into four main service lines:

• Supply Chain: Comprehensive supply chain management solutions
• Ground: Parcel delivery services
• LTL: Core express less-than-truckload freight transportation
• TL: Truckload services provided through third-party carriers

Sustainability

Demonstrating its dedication to environmental responsibility, Pitt Ohio is an active participant in the EPA's SmartWay Transport Partnership and engages with sustainability programs such as Ecovadis and the Carbon Disclosure Project.

The company has implemented a direct current (DC) microgrid at its Harmar Township facility that integrates wind turbines, solar panels, and energy storage systems. By the late 2010s, this microgrid supplied roughly one-third of the terminal’s power needs. At its Parma, Ohio location, Pitt Ohio operates eight vertical-axis wind turbines generating up to 48 kW combined output alongside a 495 kW solar installation comprising 700 photovoltaic panels and a 730 kWh energy storage system. This setup targets full reliance on renewable energy sources. In 2020, Pitt Ohio was granted a patent for its innovative method of distributing battery power derived from wind and solar generation. As of 2021, three of the company’s facilities were powered by renewable energy from wind and solar resources.

Several of Pitt Ohio’s buildings have earned LEED certification for their efficient use of resources. In 2017, the company collaborated on a project to deliver SalonCentric products using reusable totes instead of traditional corrugated packaging, highlighting its commitment to sustainable packaging solutions.

Awards

Pitt Ohio has been recognized with numerous industry honors over the years. These include multiple President's Trophy awards for safety presented by the American Trucking Associations, EPA SmartWay Awards for environmental performance, and Carrier of the Year distinctions from the National Shippers Strategic Transportation Council. The company has also received 41 Quest for Quality awards from Logistics Management Magazine, two Top Green Fleet awards from Heavy Duty Trucking magazine, as well as various Top 100 Trucking Company and G75 Green Supply Chain Partner accolades from Inbound Logistics Magazine.

Gender Discrimination Allegations

In 2006, the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a lawsuit against Pitt Ohio alleging systemic gender discrimination dating back to 1997 at four terminals in Ohio. The complaint asserted that the company refused to hire women for driver and dockworker positions in violation of the Civil Rights Act. Representing over 25 female employees, the EEOC sought back pay, compensatory damages, and corrective measures. While Pitt Ohio denied these allegations, it cooperated with the EEOC throughout several years of investigation. The dispute was resolved in 2009 when Pitt Ohio agreed to pay $2.43 million in settlement and committed to implementing equal opportunity training programs, targeted hiring efforts for women affected by prior practices, and enhanced monitoring and reporting protocols.