Transport Topics, a leading news source for the trucking and freight transportation industries, has released its annual Top 100 list of largest for-hire carriers in North America. Leonard’s Express ranked 8th among the top refrigerated carriers in North America and 91st among all for-hire carriers. The list is based on overall revenue generated over the past 12 months.

“The 2023 Transport Topics Top 100 For-Hire Carriers publication offers an in-depth look at the largest trucking companies in North America and the key issues they are facing,” said Seth Clevenger, Transport Topics’ Managing Editor of features. “Most large for-hire carriers were able to grow their businesses last year despite softer freight market conditions that have continued through the first half of 2023. The updated Top 100 list illustrates how this shifting freight environment and further consolidation have altered the competitive landscape in trucking.”

Each of the top 10 refrigerated carriers, including Leonard’s Express, earned more than $200 million in annual revenue from their refrigerated transportation business in the last 12 months. Last year, Leonard’s demonstrated its commitment to help shippers maintain cold chain integrity and keep perishable goods fresh by completing the construction of its new state-of-the-art refrigerated facility in Shortsville, NY. The 114,500 square-foot temperature-controlled warehouse is improving supply chain capacity across New York state and providing shippers such as Wegmans with another option to efficiently move and store freight.

“Our customers need to deliver their products quickly and efficiently,” explained Leonard’s Express CEO Ken Johnson. “We believe the warehouse will maximize transportation opportunities for them, while minimizing costs and risks for perishable cargo.”

Johnson added that the technology in new trailers and warehouses provides an extra layer of protection and food safety that older equipment doesn’t have. “Now, customers give us settings to download on our trailers and in our warehouses so the temperature and humidity is set to exactly the temperature they want.”

Ken Johnson and Leonard’s Express are regular recipients of awards and recognition. In January, Leonard’s won the Truckload Carriers Association’s (TCA) Fleet Safety Award for fleets that travel between 50 and 100 million miles. In February, the TCA and CarriersEdge recognized Leonard’s as one of North America’s Best Fleets to Drive For. Also in February, Johnson was named a Rockstar of the Supply Chain by Food Logistics magazine.