Knight-Swift Weighs New Terminal Leases Across Pennsylvania and Virginia

Knight-Swift eyes leased Pa., Va. terminal options as AAA Cooper expands LTL network

Knight-Swift Transportation is continuing to build out its less-than-truckload network as its AAA Cooper Transportation operation opens four terminals and evaluates leased facilities in Pennsylvania and Virginia.

The expansion comes as Knight-Swift consolidates its LTL businesses under the AAA Cooper name. Effective Jan. 1, 2026, Midwest Motor Express and DHE Transportation were brought under the AAA Cooper Transportation brand, creating a single operating platform while preserving DHE as a separate brand within the organization.

AAA Cooper announced the opening of four terminals as part of the latest network expansion. One of the new facilities is a Phoenix hub intended to support regional and interregional service. The company also said the expansion takes its operation into two new markets, although the available information did not identify all four terminal locations.

The company is also considering leased terminal options in Pennsylvania and Virginia. Those locations would address gaps in the Northeast and support Knight-Swift’s effort to develop broader national LTL coverage. No lease agreements or opening dates for the Pennsylvania and Virginia facilities were disclosed.

With the latest additions, Knight-Swift’s combined LTL platform has approximately 180 terminals. The network covers roughly 70% of the United States and includes facilities acquired from Yellow Corp. after the former LTL carrier filed for bankruptcy.

AAA Cooper’s LTL segment generated approximately $1.29 billion in revenue over the past four quarters, according to the information provided. The operation ranks No. 11 in North America on the Transport Topics list of for-hire LTL carriers.

For drivers and terminal employees, the integration is intended to create a more coordinated network for regional and longer-distance freight. The carriers have already combined administrative and financial systems, as well as other operating systems, to support national and regional service under the AAA Cooper umbrella.

DHE employees are expected to remain with the company, and DHE will continue operating under its own name as a separate brand within AAA Cooper. Joe Finney, DHE’s former chief operating officer, became the company’s president as part of the transition.

Chris Durley, president of LTL Services at AAA Cooper, said the new service locations are intended to support growth in both LTL and dedicated services. The company’s broader offerings include less-than-truckload transportation, dedicated contract carriage, truckload brokerage, fleet maintenance and international services.

Knight-Swift was primarily known as a truckload carrier before entering the LTL market in 2021. In July of that year, it acquired AAA Cooper Transportation for $1.35 billion. AAA Cooper operated approximately 70 terminals in the Southeast and Midwest at the time.

Later in 2021, Knight-Swift acquired Midwest Motor Express and its 33 facilities in the Upper Midwest and Northwest for $150 million. The company added Dependable Highway Express in 2024 and has opened more than 50 locations organically over the past five years.

The company’s acquisitions and new terminals have expanded its geographic reach, but the Northeast remains an important area for further development. A stronger terminal presence in Pennsylvania and Virginia would provide additional coverage in a region where Knight-Swift has said it still needs a carrier or facilities to complete a truly national network.

The current expansion reflects a broader shift in Knight-Swift’s business strategy. Rather than operating its LTL acquisitions as entirely separate companies, it is combining their systems, facilities and resources under one primary brand. For customers, the goal is a more consistent network. For drivers, the changes could mean more connected regional and interregional freight opportunities as the terminal system grows.