Vitran’s Fourth-Quarter Loss Narrows

Vitran Corp. lost $2.3 million or 14 cents a share, in the fourth quarter, an improvement from a loss of $79 million, or $5.85, a year earlier.

Revenue rose 7% to $165 million, Vitran said in a statement Monday.

Toronto-based Vitran — which has truckload, less-than-truckload and logistics operations in the United States and Canada — said its fourth-quarter loss from its LTL segment was $2.6 million, compared with a $4.7 million operating loss a year ago.

For the full year, the company lost $4 million, or 28 cents a share, compared with a loss of $71.2 million or $5.28, in 2008. Revenue slipped to $629.3 million, from $726.3 million.

Vitran is ranked No. 40 on the Transport Topics 100 listing of U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers.