Jun 21, 2004 11:26 AM, from staff and wire reports

Phoenix AZ-based Knight Transportation Inc has established a new subsidiary expected to begin offering temperature-controlled truckload service under the name “Knight Refrigerated” in third quarter 2004. Knight Refrigerated will operate as a separate business.

Kevin P Knight, chairman and chief executive officer, said, “We intend to establish and operate Knight Refrigerated with the same discipline and according to the same operational and profitability standards we apply to our dry van operation. The temperature-controlled operation will be based in Phoenix and is expected initially to consist of approximately 50 tractors.”

A short- to medium-haul truckload carrier, Knight Transportation serves most of the United States through its regional operations in Phoenix, Salt Lake City UT, Portland OR, Indianapolis IN, Katy TX, Gulfport MS, Charlotte NC, Memphis TN, Kansas City KS, Atlanta GA, Denver CO, Las Vegas NV, and Carlisle PA.