The U.S. operations of Contract Freighters Inc. (CFI) will be rebranded as Heartland Express effective Dec. 31, Heartland announced on Dec. 9.
The move “is the next logical step in enhancing our consolidated operating and financial performance,” CEO Mike Gerdin said in the release.
CFI Logistica, the company’s Mexico subsidiary, is not affected.
CFI’s sequential operating performance improved during 2025, Gerdin said. That was supported by the completion of a transportation management system conversion during Q1 and transition to a unified driver electronic logging device and communication system in Q2.
Drivers for CFI’s U.S. operations will benefit from the move, as it will align their pay package and benefit packages with Heartland Express drivers, which the carrier believes “is among the best in the industry.”
All current CFI employees will have the opportunity to continue working for Heartland Express. But drivers will also have the option to drive for other Heartland subsidiaries, including Millis Transfer or Smith Transport.
Heartland said it expects to maintain CFI’s headquarters in Joplin, Missouri as well as locations in West Memphis, Arkansas, and Laredo, Texas.
Gerdin believes the integration will benefit customers who will see increased capacity within its integrated fleets. He said the move allows “us to continue to provide the committed, on-time service our customers have come to expect.”
Heartland Express closed on its acquisition of CFI’s dedicated U.S. dry van and temperature-controlled truckload business and CFI Logistica’s operations in Mexico from TFI International in August 2022.
