ABOUT MANITOULIN
Our History
Discover the history of Manitoulin Transport.
Discover the history of Manitoulin Transport.
Manitoulin Transport – Over 60 Years of Transportation History
With the acquisition of Hills Transport in 1960, Doug Smith started a small trucking business in Gore Bay, Ontario, and renamed it Manitoulin Transport. Focused on providing reliable transportation services to the local community, the company steadily gained a reputation for its commitment to customer satisfaction and the safe delivery of goods.
As Manitoulin Transport gained momentum, it recognized the need to expand its reach. Over the years, the company strategically acquired several carriers, establishing a broader network and turning Manitoulin from a regional player to a national freight carrier.
Embracing innovation has been a hallmark of the company’s journey. The integration of advanced logistics and tracking systems has improved operational efficiency and positioned the company as a leader in the industry.
Manitoulin Transport has weathered economic shifts, industry changes, and global challenges with adaptability and resilience throughout its history. The ability to navigate complex landscapes while staying true to its founding principles has been instrumental in the company’s longevity and success.
Manitoulin Transport has long recognized the importance of sustainability in the transportation sector. This commitment to sustainability aligns with Manitoulin’s broader mission to contribute positively to the industry and the environment.
Beyond its operational success, Manitoulin Transport remains deeply committed to the communities it serves. The company actively engages in philanthropy, supporting local initiatives and contributing to charitable causes. This commitment to community welfare reflects Manitoulin’s belief in responsible corporate citizenship.
Manitoulin Transport’s journey from a small-town trucking company to a major player in the freight industry with more than 85 terminals nationwide and access to over 300 U.S. service centres, is a testament to its resilience, adaptability, and commitment to excellence. With a rich history and a forward-looking approach, Manitoulin continues to shape the future of transportation, connecting businesses and communities across North America.
Recognizing the potential for growth beyond transportation, the Manitoulin Group of Companies continues to strategically diversify its portfolio by acquiring businesses that complement its core services. These services include warehousing, customs brokerage, crating, and international freight forwarding. This diversification positions Manitoulin as a comprehensive supply chain solution provider.
![Manitoulin History 1953](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![1953 A Modest Beginning](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 1960](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![1960 The Move to Expedited Road](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 1985](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![1985 Cartage Capabilities for Montreal](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 1985](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![1989 Manitoulin Creates In-House Customs Brokerage Service](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 1990](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![1990 Manitoulin Transport Now Serves Commercial Fleets in Northeastern Ontario](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 1991](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![1991 Manitoulin Transport Commences a National Expansion Program](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 1992](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![1992 Manitoulin Transport Expands Southwestern Ontario Operations](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 1993](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![1993 Manitoulin Launches US Operating Division](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 1997](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![1997 Services Grow in Western Canada](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 1997](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
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![Manitoulin History 2000](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![2000 Manitoulin Grows to Meet Natural Resource Boom in Western Canada](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2001](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![2001 Western Canada by Road or by Rail](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2005](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![2005 Manitoulin Global Service Expansion](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2005](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![2005 Manitoulin Supply Chain Management and Warehousing Services](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2006](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![2006 Manitoulin Transport Expands to Southeastern British Columbia](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2006](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![2006 Manitoulin Transport Now Offers Direct Service to Fort McMurray, Alberta](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2006](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![2006 Manitoulin Logistics Service Expansion](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2007](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![2007 Manitoulin Transport expands further west with Landing Transport](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2007](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![2007 Manitoulin Transport acquires Rainbow Transport](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2008](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![2008 Barrhead Truck joins the Manitoulin Transport network](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2011](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![2011 Manitoulin Transport expands its network with Tandem Transport of Alberta](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2011](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin Transport acquires Exalta Transport Corp., of Alberta](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2011](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin Transport Acquires Penner LTL](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2012](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![2012 Manitoulin Global Forwarding expands west with Beler International](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2012](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![2012 Manitoulin Global Forwarding adds Can-Tran International to its portfolio](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2012](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![2012 Manitoulin Global Forwarding acquires Expedite Plus](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2013](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![2013 Manitoulin Group of Companies acquires Cratex Industries](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2013](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![2013 Manitoulin Transport Acquires Matco Transportation Systems, the Fifth Manitoulin Acquisition in Less Than a Year](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2013](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![2013 Manitoulin Group of Companies acquires Cratex Industries](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![2013 Manitoulin Transport Purchases Smooth Freight Ltd. of Brandon, Manitoba](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2014](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![2014 Expedite Plus Expands Time-Critical Delivery Services in Asia](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2014](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![2014 Manitoulin Transport Acquires Jomac Transport of Winnipeg, Manitoba](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2014](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![2014 Manitoulin Global Forwarding Acquires Canfleet Logistics Ltd. of Vancouver, BC](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2014](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2015](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![2015 Manitoulin Transport Acquires LTL Division of Hi-Way 13](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2015](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![2015 Manitoulin Group of Companies Acquires Ridsdale Transport Ltd. of Saskatoon](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2015](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![2016 Manitoulin Global Forwarding Acquires M.A.P. International Freight Inc.](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2016](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![2016 Faster and more reliable ground transport service in Southeastern Ontario](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2017](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2017](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![2017 Near North Customs Brokers Acquires Service Plus International Inc.](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2017](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![2017 Near North gains access to new markets in BC](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2017](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![2017 Cratex Industries Ltd. Formally Enters the Saskatchewan Marketplace](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2017](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![2017 Expedite Plus Builds its International Network](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2017](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![2017 Manitoulin Transport continues to invest and grow across Canada](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2018](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![2018 Manitoulin Transport Makes First Purchase in Intermodal Shipping Segment](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2018](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![2018 Matco Moving Solutions Strengthens its Position in the Commercial Moving Market](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2018](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![2018 Manitoulin Global Forwarding Strengthens its Global Capabilities](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2018](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2018](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
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![Manitoulin History 2018](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2019](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2019](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2019](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
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![Manitoulin History 2020](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2020](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2021](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2021](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2021](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2021](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2023](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
![Manitoulin History 2023](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
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![Manitoulin History 2023](http://manitoulintransport.com/wp-content/plugins/revslider/sr6/assets/assets/dummy.png)
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