Werner buys FirstFleet for $245 million; becomes 5th largest dedicated carrier
Werner Enterprises has agreed to buy FirstFleet for $245 million, a move that will expand Werner’s dedicated trucking footprint and make it the fifth-largest dedicated carrier.
The deal centers on dedicated service, where trucks and drivers are assigned to specific customers and routes under longer-term agreements. For many drivers, dedicated work can mean more predictable freight, steadier schedules, and more consistent home time than some over-the-road operations, depending on the account.
Werner said the acquisition will change its position in the dedicated market by scale. Dedicated fleets are often measured by the number of tractors assigned to customer contracts rather than spot-market activity, and size can matter when competing for large, multi-location shipper accounts.
For drivers, changes like this can show up in practical ways on the ground:
- More dedicated accounts under one umbrella, which can mean more internal options for routes and schedules
- Operational transitions as the companies align policies, dispatch systems, and account procedures
- Potential shifts in terminals, maintenance networks, and how equipment is assigned
In the broader context, carrier consolidation in dedicated continues to be a major theme in trucking. Dedicated operations tend to offer customers stability in capacity and service, and carriers value the steadier revenue profile compared with freight that rides the spot market.
Werner’s purchase of FirstFleet, at a stated price of $245 million, is a clear example of how large carriers are using acquisitions to add scale and deepen dedicated service rather than building every account from scratch.