Manitoulin Transport Celebrates 50th Anniversary

This year, Manitoulin Transport celebrates 50 years of doing business in Canada.  It’s a significant milestone in the company’s rich history, which its employees are delighted to experience.

Manitoulin Transport began modestly in 1960 in Gore Bay, on beautiful Manitoulin Island, in Northern Ontario.  With only a couple of vehicles when it started out, the company initially carried freight between various points on the island.  It was an exciting time for a fledgling firm in an industry that founder, Doug Smith, now Chair of The Manitoulin Group of Companies, believed had a real future.  Manitoulin Transport quickly set about growing the business and earning a good share of the market by providing a level of service and a suite of offerings that would set the standard in the industry. Over the years, Manitoulin Transport has evolved purposefully to meet customer demand for broader geographic reach, expanded services, faster shipment capabilities and superior value.  A number of strategic acquisitions have helped steer Manitoulin Transport toward its current leadership position in the industry.

Today, Manitoulin Transport is a leading North American transportation solutions provider with a modern fleet of 2,700 units. It has an extensive distribution network of more than 60 Canadian terminals and, through an exclusive group of transportation partners, over 250 service centres throughout the U.S. 

Its ground solutions provide a comprehensive suite of transportation services that combine the resources and expertise of its affiliates within The Manitoulin Group of Companies.  As a single source provider, Manitoulin Transport offers a full range of customized delivery services, including less-than-truckload, truckload, transborder, rail intermodal, private fleet, guaranteed delivery and specialized service.  Its key strength is providing reliable, on-time delivery to any destination in North America.

Manitoulin Transport attributes its success over the last 50 years to a variety of factors, including its highly trained and dedicated people. Further, it continually challenges itself to raise the bar on the quality of its service and strives to anticipate customer needs, rather than simply respond to them.

As Manitoulin Transport enters the next 50 years of operations, it’s optimistic about its future.  It’s proud of its excellent foundation with five decades of sustained growth and stability to build upon -- excited at the prospect of new opportunities – and looks forward to the continued growth of a great Canadian company.