Briefly: Ruan president elected chairman of ATA’s board of directors

The American Trucking Associations’ Board of Directors Tuesday elected Dan Van Alstine, president and COO of Ruan Transportation Management Systems, Des Moines, Iowa, as the federation’s 78th chairman.

“I am humbled and truly honored to be here and to serve as your chairman of this great organization,” Van Alstine said. “It is an absolute privilege to represent the millions of Americans who move our country as part of the transportation and logistics industry.”

Van Alstine succeeds Harold Sumerford Jr., CEO of J&M Tank Lines, Birmingham, Alabama, as ATA chairman.

The board also elected Andrew Boyle, co-president of Boyle Transportation, Billerica, Massachusetts, as ATA’s first vice chairman and, Darren Hawkins, CEO of Yellow, Overland Park, Kansas, as ATA’s second vice chairman.

In addition, the board named Dennis Dellinger, president and CEO of Cargo Transporters, Hickory, North Carolina, and Wes Davis, CFO of Big M Transportation, Blue Mountain, Mississippi, as ATA vice chairmen. The board re-elected John M. Smith, chairman of CRST International Holdings LLC, as secretary and John A. Smith, president and CEO of FedEx Ground, as treasurer.

Sai opens new terminal in Lafayette, Indiana

Saia has opened its new Saia LTL Freight terminal in Lafayette, Indiana – the fifth location for the carrier in the state, and the first terminal Saia has opened in Indiana since 2019 when it built one of its flagship facilities in Indianapolis.

“As we commence operations in Lafayette, Saia remains focused on providing great service,”  said Saia President and CEO Fritz Holzgrefe. “We continue to be excited about our expansion plans and offering existing customers direct service in new markets as well introducing our industry leading service to new customers,.”

Situated between Indianapolis and Chicago, Lafayette is not only another important gateway to the Midwest, it is central to Saia’s ongoing plans to expand its market opportunity and provide enhanced service to existing customers. Lafayette is a center of regional commerce with a diverse customer base in addition to having Purdue University nearby.

In 2022 alone, Saia has opened 11 new terminals across the country as it continues to invest in its operations with the purpose of offering shippers enhanced transit times and service.

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