Christenson Transportation, a prominent dry van freight carrier, has announced the acquisition of Sharp Transport, a fellow transportation company operating in similar freight lanes. This strategic move, finalized late last year, is set to boost Christenson Transportation’s capacity and service offerings across the lower 48 states. Don Christenson, representing Christenson Transportation, emphasized the alignment of driver cultures between the two companies as a crucial factor in the acquisition, highlighting its importance from their initial meetings with the Sharp family.
Christenson Transportation, which also maintains a location in Lebanon, Tennessee, currently manages approximately 93% customer-direct dry van freight. The acquisition of Sharp Transport is poised to significantly enhance Christenson’s freight capacity, providing customers with greater access to transportation solutions within their existing network. Furthermore, Christenson Transportation will integrate Sharp Transport’s brokerage operations into its established firm, CS Carrier Service LLC, based in Strafford. CS Carrier Service was originally founded by Gene Christenson, Don’s father, in 1979, marking a further integration of family legacy within the expanding business.
Sharp Transport, which also operates a terminal in Nashville, Tennessee, brings valuable assets to Christenson Transportation, including an in-house maintenance shop. This is an offering Christenson Transportation previously lacked, and Don Christenson anticipates it will lead to reduced operating and maintenance expenses for the combined entity. Looking ahead, Christenson Transportation is investing further in infrastructure, having acquired property in Missouri to develop a new maintenance facility, demonstrating a commitment to long-term operational improvements.
“We’ve added some strong new management with this acquisition and we’ve acquired property in Missouri to build a shop there as well,” Don Christenson stated. He further underscored the family-oriented ethos of Christenson Transportation, stating, “I tell people that it’s easy to quit a job but it’s hard to quit on your friends and family. Our goal is to make our drivers feel like they are part of our family and Sharp Transport shares that same goal.” This emphasis on driver well-being and a family-like work environment is central to Christenson Transportation’s operational philosophy.
Both Christenson Transportation and Sharp Transport are characterized by strong family involvement, with third-generation family members actively participating in daily operations. This acquisition not only expands Christenson Transportation’s market presence but also strengthens its leadership team. RayVaun Christenson, Don’s son, will assume the role of Director of Operations, while Chase Atkins, grandson of Sharp Transport founders John and Rebecca “Becky” Sharp, will become the company’s COO. This blend of Christenson Transportation’s existing leadership with talent from Sharp Transport creates a robust management structure for future growth.
Sharp Transport’s decision to sell was a carefully considered one, driven by strategic factors and a desire to ensure the continued success of the business. Allie Sharp-Schwalb, who previously served as President and CEO of Sharp Transport, will transition to the role of Vice President for the newly combined entity for a three-year period to facilitate a smooth integration. Sharp-Schwalb, who has dedicated over three decades to Sharp Transport, beginning as a driver manager in 1988 and later leading the company founded by her parents in 1979, brings extensive experience to the merged operation.
Sharp-Schwalb highlighted her long-standing commitment to driver accessibility and support, noting, “Even after assuming the CEO role at her family-owned company, Sharp-Schwalb said she’s been on call at night for the past 20 years, ‘taking calls from drivers about dispatch or operational issues.’” This dedication to driver concerns reflects the shared values that made the acquisition attractive to both Christenson Transportation and Sharp Transport. She believes this driver-centric culture will persist and flourish under Christenson Transportation’s leadership. Alt Text: Allie Sharp-Schwalb, former CEO of Sharp Transport, now Vice President at Sharp Transport, a division of Christenson Transportation, pictured during the acquisition announcement, emphasizing her commitment to driver-focused company culture and smooth transition.
After 42 years of successful operation, Sharp-Schwalb explained that the decision to sell came after years of consideration by her and her parents. The crucial element was finding the right partner – a company that shared their values and vision for the future of transportation. “Transportation has been really good to our family for a lot of years and we just decided it was time to join forces with another family-owned trucking company that shares similar values,” Sharp-Schwalb stated. She also acknowledged the external pressures facing the transportation industry, “Rising costs, used equipment prices and driver recruiting issues definitely played a factor in our decision.” Ultimately, the acquisition by Christenson Transportation represents a strategic alignment of two strong, family-owned businesses, poised to navigate the evolving landscape of the transportation industry together.
