LandAir Express dropped as a carrier in The Reliance Network

The Reliance Network (TRNet), a consortium of regional less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers, said that less-than LandAir Express of New England is no longer part of the group’s carrier base effective immediately.

This decision stems from Williston, Vt.-based LandAir being shut down by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in late December for failing to properly test its drivers for drug and alcohol use, as well as other violations stemming from a late October inspection, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

The carrier, which has 330 trucks, was allowed to resume operations on a conditional basis on January 7, the report explained, adding that many shippers have moved freight to rival carriers since it was initially shut down and is now in need of financing as it brought in no revenue over the two-week period its trucks were not on the road. LandAir has 13 terminals in New York and New England and had $83 million in revenue in 2014 as the 44th largest LTL in the U.S. and Canada, according to data from SJ Consulting Group.

When LandAir was given FMCSA clearance to resume service on January 7, FMCSA said that based on a negotiated Safety Management Plan and evidence of actions taken by the company to correct deficiencies in its safety management system, LandAir’s rating has been upgraded to “conditional” and the out-of-service order lifted, adding that as part of the negotiated agreement, FMCSA will closely monitor the carrier’s safety performance for the next two years.

“The TRNet carriers have worked proactively to recover and deliver all shipments that were destined for LandAir’s network in NY and New England,” said TRNet officials in a statement. “Serving and protecting relationships with our customers has always been our first priority. TRNet will continue to provide service to customers throughout North America.”

A TRNet spokesman told LM that the TRNET carriers implemented a contingency plan in response to the FMCSA’s shut down of Land Air during the last week of Decembe.

“The TRNet carriers sought to be proactive and transparent when dealing with this problem,” he said. “The carriers used their own drivers and equipment to recover, linehaul and deliver shipments to New York state and the New England states. Several reliable, but smaller carriers, continue to be used. Transit service was slower than normal during this period. The TRNet’s service to this area has returned to normal this week.

Other carrier members of The Reliance Network include Pitt Ohio, Mountain Valley Express, Peninsula Truck Lines, Averitt Express, Canadian Freightways/Kingsway Transport, and Lakeville Motor Express.  

Established in 2008, the objective of The Reliance Network is to create a unified cross-continent coalition for all freight services, according to officials.  Since its inception, it has generated more than $1 billion in revenues, which is notable considering at the time of its launch most trucking companies were saddled with double-digit tonnage decline.

The Reliance Network basically functions as a provider of seamless, national LTL, truckload and supply chain freight services.

Instead of managing shipments with multiple carriers to service their regional, national and worldwide shipping needs, shippers can work directly with their local Reliance Network member. Through The Reliance Network, shippers have the value of a strong chain of experienced transportation specialists while continuing to work with the provider they’ve already grown to trust.