Time is winding down for the Abilene Motor Express brand.
The carrier, which was acquired in 2018 by Knight Transportation, a subsidiary of Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, will transition to the Swift Transportation business as part of a broader effort to improve efficiency and streamline operations, company President Larry Johnson said in a LinkedIn post.
Abilene will continue operating under its own name through Jan. 27, the company said. But as for the brand, “eventually it will go away,” the carrier told Trucking Dive via LinkedIn.
Johnson said Abilene’s drivers will transition to Swift and are receiving guidance and support throughout the process. The carrier’s customers are also being contacted directly to inform them of next steps, he said.
According to a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration database, Abilene had 334 power units and 312 drivers as of late May.
When Knight Transportation acquired Abilene, the deal added $100 million in revenues to its portfolio.
Brothers Keith and Kolen Jones launched Abilene with a single tractor in 1986, according to the company’s website.
Johnson, who worked for Swift Transportation before becoming the carrier’s president in July 2024, said the alignment helps the Virginia-based carrier “work more cohesively, move faster, and better service our drivers and customers.”
The rebrand follows a similar move for Knight-Swift’s LTL carriers, which took on AAA Cooper Transportation branding at the start of the year.
