March was a heavy news month due to tariff and regulatory uncertainty and, thanks to the Work Truck Show and ATA's Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) Annual Meeting, an incredibly busy month for new product announcements. It was not, however, a busy stretch in the transaction space.
The first announced move in March was Work Truck Solutions announcing its partnership with private equity firm Rubicon Technology Partners. "I founded Work Truck Solutions to solve big challenges in the commercial vehicle industry by providing technology for dealers and their entire supply chain to better serve their business customers," said Kathryn Schifferle, founder and chief vision officer. "Due to the increasing focus on this critical ecosystem, we sought the right partner to help us further scale our solutions. We are very excited to have found Rubicon."
Next was FleetPride, which followed March 18 with its acquisition of OTR Fleet Service of Houston. "We are excited to welcome OTR Fleet Service and their talented teams to our company," said FleetPride President of Parts and Service Mike Harris. "This acquisition strengthens our presence in key priority markets, expands our ability to serve more customers including on-site mobile maintenance and fuels our growth with exceptional talent and resources. By combining our strengths, we are building a stronger future and delivering even greater value to our customers and partners."
On March 31, Bruckner's Truck & Equipment got into the action, announcing its acqusition of Transport Equipment Inc. (TEC). The move expands its dealer network to more than 40 locations in ten states. “We are excited to expand our presence in the Northwest and continue the legacy built by the Bidlake family. As a second-generation dealership, they have established a reputation for exceptional customer service and a ‘do what it takes’ attitude. We are committed to upholding that standard with the existing team,” said Brian Bruckner, president of Bruckner’s Truck & Equipment.
