When Glendale, Arizona-based Roadmaster Group acquired Tri-State Motor Transit Co. in 2016, it became the group’s largest division. Raking in upwards of 90% of its revenue transporting high-security loads like ammunition, explosives and arms for the U.S. military, Wilbur wasn’t comfortable having all of his eggs in one basket and set out to expand Tri-State’s reach just as he had five years earlier with Secured Land Transport which Roadmaster later folded into Tri-State.
“Whether it was starting out with Secured Land Transport or Tri-State, both operations were heavily dependent on the military and we diversified the customer base significantly,” Wilbur explained. “Almost all of our ammo competitors work exclusively for [the Department of Defense]. We’ve diversified significantly. Most of our growth in the last eight years has come in the commercial sector.”
Tri-State’s customers now include more mining and construction companies that rely on explosives. They’ve also expanded into hazardous waste, electronics and other high-value commodities.
Roadmaster proved once again its determination in driving even more company growth with the acquisition of an ammo competitor, R&R Trucking in Joplin, Mo., which was also incorporated into Tri-State.
Of their roughly 500 trucks, 400 are outfitted with team drivers, making expediting high-security loads easier.
“We’re not sitting in a truck stop for eight hours on a load of explosives waiting for your hours of service to reenergize. You’re just switching drivers and continuing to move that truck,” Wilbur said. “The team format fits for both high-security, hazardous and expedited. We do work for expedited even if it’s not hazardous shipments. It’s something that needs to get half-way across the country fast, well you can’t do that with a solo driver. You’ve got to have teams to keep the trucks moving. It’s really those three categories: high-security, hazardous and expedited are the reasons for our team format.”
