Walmart Canada last week announced it will sell its trucking fleet as it begins a $6.5 billion, five-year-long expansion of the number of stores it operates.
Terms of the sale were not disclosed.
In a statement Jan. 30, Walmart Canada said it will build dozens of new stores across the country, beginning with five new Supercentres in Ontario and Alberta by 2027.
It also said, "As Walmart Canada looks to the future to continue delivering for customers across the country, it’s teaming up with another Canadian company that’s also in growth mode."
The retailer said it has signed an agreement with Canada Cartage – the country’s largest provider of fleet services -- to buy Walmart Canada’s fleet business.
“Canada Cartage has deep expertise in providing dedicated fleet services and has been serving Canadian businesses for more than 110 years,” said Matt Kelly, vice president of Supply Chain for Walmart Canada. “Through Canada Cartage we can serve customers even better and more flexibly and provide fleet employees with exciting growth opportunities at one of Canada’s largest and most trusted supply chain service providers.”
“Our acquisition of Walmart Fleet reflects our commitment to expanding our network and bringing dedicated fleet transportation solutions to more customers across Canada,” said Scott Lane, President, Canada Cartage. “This move positions us for long-term growth while providing the talented employees joining us from Walmart Fleet with more opportunities to develop long-term careers and thrive in a fleet-focused environment.”
A statement from the company said Canada Cartage will operate the fleet as a dedicated operation – "ensuring business continuity for Walmart Canada while building on its reputation as a trusted provider in the dedicated transportation industry."
