Jan 4, 2008 8:46 AM

Robert E Low, owner and chief executive officer of Prime Inc, has announced the acquisition of specific assets and the trucking operations of Pittston PA-based Transcontinental Refrigerated Lines in December 2007. The TRL freight network will operate as a division of Springfield MO-based Prime.

In 1975, Stephen P Hrobuchak Jr and his father founded TRL Trucking as a family-owned trucking company, starting with two trucks. TRL experienced rapid growth as a result of its focus on service and with its customer base. "We have experienced decreasing profitability these last few years," said the younger Hrobuchak, former president and CEO of TRL. Faced with escalating fuel costs, insurance and other issues, he said he "felt like the best solution for the company and [his] associates was to seek out Prime."

The facility in Pittston will function as Prime’s East Coast Customer Service Center. Prime adds the Pennsylvania location to its current list of regional Customer Service Centers in Oregon, California, Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Florida.

Prime will retain key personnel, including TRL’s current owner, Stephan P Hrobuchak.