WTI Transport
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Trucking / Transportation |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Founder | Stephen Rumsey, Miller Welborn |
| Headquarters | Tuscaloosa, Alabama , United States |
Area served | Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, East Coast of the United States |
| Products | Flatbed trucking services (roofing materials, construction supplies, aluminum, iron, steel) |
| Owner | TFI International |
| Parent | TFI International |
| Website | wtitransport |
WTI Transport, Inc. operates as a for-hire flatbed carrier with its main office located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The company maintains additional terminals in Birmingham, Mobile, and Whites Creek, Tennessee. Managing a fleet of around 370 tractors, WTI services markets across the Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, and East Coast regions. Its operations include both company-employed drivers and owner-operators. The primary freight consists of roofing materials, construction supplies, as well as aluminum, iron, and steel products. Originally part of Daseke, WTI is currently under the ownership of TFI International.
Business model and equipment
WTI provides drivers with flexible participation choices such as Company driver roles, Lease operators, or Owner-Operator status. Those employed by the company may select between Regional assignments or Over-the-Road (OTR) routes. Drivers with an entrepreneurial spirit have the opportunity to purchase trucks through WTI’s acquisition programs. Owner-Operators utilize McLeod's LoadMaster software to access freight loads and grow their enterprises.
The fleet consists of modern tractors from manufacturers including International Truck and Engine Corporation, Freightliner Trucks, Peterbilt, Mack Trucks, and Kenworth. Trailers are available in 48-foot and 53-foot lengths constructed from steel or aluminum, sourced from producers such as Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company, Benson, Great Dane Trailers, Fontaine, and Reitnouer.
History
Established in 1989 under the name Welborn Transportation by founders Stephen Rumsey and Miller Welborn, the company began with a modest fleet of 12 owner-operators serving the Southeastern United States. In 1997, it merged with Boyd Bros. Transportation and adopted the name WTI Transport, Inc.
In 2013, Daseke based in Addison, Texas merged with Boyd Bros., incorporating WTI into its group of companies. This consolidation elevated Daseke into the top five open-deck and specialty carriers across North America. Further expansion involved acquiring Lone Star Transportation (Fort Worth), Bull Dog HiWay Express (Charleston), and Hornady Transportation (Monroeville), positioning Daseke as the second-largest flatbed specialty carrier by both fleet size and revenue.
Following a merger with Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp II, Daseke went public on Nasdaq in February 2017. Its network—including WTI Transport, Boyd Brothers, Lone Star Transportation, among others—operates more than 3,000 tractors alongside 6,000 flatbed and specialized trailers throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
In April 2024, TFI International completed a $1.1 billion acquisition of Daseke, significantly broadening TFI’s presence in the flatbed transportation sector.
Awards
As a participant in the American Trucking Association, Truckload Carriers Association, and Alabama Trucking Association, WTI has been acknowledged for excellence in safety standards, service quality, and driver engagement. Notable accolades include:
- First place in the 2015 ATA Safety Management Council awards for Flatbed/Line-haul Division (over 10 million miles) and Flatbed/Local Division (unlimited miles)
- Top Safety Award in the Flatbed Division (ATA) in 2014 along with second place honors in Industrial Safety and Risk Management
- Second place recognition in the 2013 Industrial Safety Contest for the Flatbed Division
- Recipient of the Owens Corning Sustainability Award in 2015
- Multiple distinctions as one of the Best Fleets To Drive For by Truckload Carriers Association and CarriersEdge during 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2015
Community Engagement
As a leading employer in the Tuscaloosa area, WTI collaborates closely with various local entities such as Habitat for Humanity, the Tuscaloosa Veterans Administration, the public school system, and the Chamber of Commerce. Each year, the company also serves as the transportation industry’s representative at the Southwest Alabama Worlds of Work Career Expo.
External links
- Trucking companies of the United States
- Privately held companies based in Alabama
- Companies based in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Transportation companies based in Alabama
- Transport companies established in 1989
- American companies established in 1989
- 1989 establishments in Alabama
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment