Maverick to Sell Reefer Division to KLLM Transport Services

KLLM truck on highway
John Sommers II for Transport Topics

Maverick USA announced May 24 it will sell its temperature-controlled business to over-the-road carrier KLLM Transport Services of Jackson, Miss. The North Little Rock, Ark., carrier didn’t release terms of the deal.

“Maverick entered the temperature-controlled business in 2010 as part of a diversification strategy as we were coming out of the Great Recession,” Maverick President John Culp said in a message sent to its drivers. “After nine years of hard work building our business, we have made the very difficult decision to exit the temperature-controlled space and focus on our strengths, our flatbed and specialized business units.”

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Maverick will focus on flatbed and specialized business units. (TT file photo)



The company said about 150 drivers will be impacted by the sale, but it is anticipated there will be little disruption to those involved in the sale.

“[KLLM] will be purchasing selected tractors and offering employment to our drivers. KLLM is a leader in the temperature-controlled business and shares our passion for safety and doing things right,” Culp said. “We are grateful our drivers in our temperature-controlled business chose Maverick for their driving career and, although we are exiting the temp business, we want them to have a seamless opportunity to work with a company we know and respect. KLLM operates solely in the temperature-controlled business and is very good at what they do.”

According to its website, KLLM specializes in temperature-controlled freight and operates about 2,400 refrigerated trailers.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s SAFER website, Maverick Transportation operates 1,658 power units and employs 1,701 drivers.

KLLM ranks No. 37 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of for-hire carriers in North America. Maverick ranks No. 80 on the for-hire TT100.