
The truck and trailer dealer channels were the location for most transaction activity in January. Suppliers and service operations also made some announcements. The parts sector was mostly quiet.
The first acquisition announced in 2025 came when Goodyear sold its Dunlop brand to Sumitomo Rubber Industries. The sale included consumer, commercial and specialty tires in Europe, North America and Oceania. "Our team conducted a comprehensive process focused on maximizing value for Goodyear through a divestment of our Dunlop brand, and we are very pleased with the outcome achieved," said Christina Zamarro, executive vice president and CFO. "We are committed to working closely with SRI to ensure a smooth transition for customers of the Dunlop brand."
Next came the announcement Cox Automotive had acquired the remainder of Fleet Services from minority owners Mike Dickinson and Ted Coltrain. "This acquisition represents our steadfast commitment to the fleet industry and the opportunity to take Fleet Services to the next level," said Steve Rowley, president of Cox Automotive. "We are proud to build on the legacy the Dickinson family began and we're just getting started. We are in this business for the long term. Not just for this year, but the next 50 years and beyond."
Also in the service space was the Jan. 10 announcement Epika Fleet Services acquired C&R Fleet Services, a Texas-based mobile fleet maintenance provider. "Adding C&R Fleet Services to the Epika network strengthens our ability to provide seamless, coast-to-coast fleet maintenance," said Joe Dougherty, CEO of Epika Fleet Services. "C&R shares our commitment to quality, innovation, and putting technicians at the center of what we do. Together, we're excited to offer even more comprehensive solutions for fleets across the country."
In the dealer space, Allegiance Trucks announced its purchase of HFI Truck Center in Mountainside, N.J. The latter was supported by Performance Brokerage Services during the deal. "This acquisition marks a significant milestone in our growth strategy and expands our ability to deliver the exceptional service and solutions our customers expect," said Mike Bozzoli, CEO of Allegiance Trucks. "We are thrilled to strengthen both our Isuzu presence and our foothold in New Jersey and the Greater New York City metro area, a key market for the transportation industry."
Later, on Jan. 16, it was announced dealer groups Utility Trailer Sales of Utah and Utility Trailer Sales of Idaho merged into Mountain West Utility Trailer Inc. The new company has six locations across four western states. “This is only the beginning of our expansion program,” said Justin Deputy, the company's new CEO. “In the coming months, we will be upgrading facilities, expanding and updating our fleet of mobile trucks, increasing our trailer inventory, and onboarding more technicians to ensure we take care of our growing customer base.”
The following week in the dealer space it was announced Ball Volvo in Kahoka, Mo., had been acquired by M&K Truck Centers. Performance Brokerage Services supported Ball Volvo during the transaction. "Our recent acquisition of Ball Volvo in Missouri marks our second acquisition with Dan Argiro and Pat Albero of Performance Brokerage Services. Throughout the process, Dan and his team worked closely with our team at all hours of the day and night. They represented the Ball family well and made the process smooth from an acquisition perspective," said Ron Meyering, M&K CEO.
Back in the supplier space, it was reported Jan. 22, that Netherlands-based Sonic Group had acquired Auburn, Ala.'s, Sonic Tools USA. "The acquisition of the Sonic Group's North American distribution partner represents a natural progression in our international growth strategy," said Remko Papenburg, CEO of Sonic Group. "Sonic Tools USA has successfully translated the Sonic go-to-market strategy from Europe to North America, achieving an impressive 4,000% growth in revenue during the past 10 years. Now as a fully owned entity of Sonic Group, we are excited to help super charge that growth into the next decade."
Next was Amerit Fleet Solutions, which announced Jan. 28 it has partnered with New Mountain Capital to support Amerit’s continued expansion and growth of its nationwide footprint. "Our partnership with New Mountain Capital supports Amerit in its continued mission to deliver high-quality fleet maintenance services and expertise to our growing base of clients,” said Dan Williams, co-founder and CEO of Amerit. "We’re eager to begin this next chapter at our company, led by our strong foundation of technical talent, to deliver quality service and strong customer ROI."
The month continued with FleetPride, which announced its purchase of ARS Truck & Fleet Service of New Castle, Delaware, on Jan. 29. "We are excited to welcome the entire ARS Truck & Fleet Service team to our company," said FleetPride President of Parts and Service Mike Harris. "Patrick Connell and his outstanding team are a model of customer service and operational excellence. We are proud to carry on ARS' legacy and continue serving their valued customers along the Eastern seaboard."
Finally, it was announced on Jan. 30 that Brightstar Capital Partners had acquired W.W. Williams from One Equity Partners. "Williams has built an impressive reputation for quality service and technical expertise during its long and distinguished history," said Reidar Brekke, partner at Brightstar. "We see significant opportunities to partner with the leadership team and accelerate Williams' growth by expanding its offerings, continuing to support and grow its OEM relationships, executing a targeted M&A strategy and investing in people and technology to enhance operational efficiency."