The trucking industry seems to be a lucrative niche for those who can make a go of it. Everywhere you look you'll find independent truckers and haulers on the road - some of them one man, one truck operations, but many fleets as well. Our family personally knows two independent fleet contractors with successful and growing businesses as well as an independent who has made a good living with his one dump truck.

Contrans is a publicly traded trucking company that has grown into a leading regional carrier in Eastern Canada from Ontario to the Maritimes and down through to the Southern United States. Its wide range of services include flatbed, van, tank and dump trailers.

The company started in 1985 with the acquisition of Laidlaw's Eastern trucking operations. It expanded in 1988 with the purchase of the flatbed and dry bulk operations of Floyd Dunsford. Stan Dunsford joined the company as CEO at that time as it went public with a rights offering.

Further acquisitions through the 90s saw the company continue to grow.  It now operates its various divisions under the trade names Brookville Carriers, Fillion Transport, Glen Tay Transportation and Laidlaw Carriers. Its fleet of 1200 tractors and 1900 trailers includes 400 owner/operators.

Revenues have grown from $99,065,000 in 1996 to $270,945,000 in 2000. Earnings per share almost doubled from $1.04 a share to $2.07 a share fully diluted.  Revenues dipped somewhat in fiscal 2001, but earnings grew by 39.9%.

Earnings growth for the quarter to Aug. 31, 2001 was 104.8%, but included an increase of $2.7 million attributable to an accounting change. Without that change, earnings were still up a healthy 23.5%.

 Quarterly Earnings per Share

Annual Earnings per Share