Manitoulin Transport listed as a top for-hire carrier

Manitoulin Transport has been listed amongst the top 10 for-hire carriers in Canada by Today’s Trucking magazine.

The family-owned transportation company, which is headquartered in Gore Bay on Manitoulin Island, came in at the No. 10 spot on the list of 100 carriers, which is an annual ranking by the trucking magazine. In the publication, it’s noted that this is the first year Manitoulin Transport has made the list.

Manitoulin Transport’s assets include 172 trucks, 796 tractors, 2,387 trailers, and 249 owner-operators, according to the magazine. The company has 66 terminals across Canada and employs 200 people at its headquarters in Gore Bay.

The company has been on a steady trajectory of growth since the 1990s, acquiring a number of smaller transportation companies in the last few years, primarily in western Canada.

Manitoulin Transport started in 1953 as Smith’s Wholesale in Gore Bay, with drivers hauling produce and dry goods between Toronto and Manitoulin Island, located in Lake Huron.

Recognition for the innovative and pioneering spirit of the company and its founder, Doug Smith, has been frequent over the years.

In November 2008, Smith was recognized by the Ontario Trucking Association with its Service to Industry award.

That same year, he was invested into the Order of Canada for his contributions as a business leader, philanthropist, and champion of economic and community development in Northern Ontario.

Last December, Smith was inducted into the Sudbury and Area Mining Supply and Services Association (SAMSSA) Hall of Fame for his contributions to the mining sector through his innovative solutions in the trucking industry.