Phoenix, Arizona — Knight-Swift Transportation has pushed deeper into the less-than-truckload sector by acquiring Dependable Highway Express, a regional LTL carrier based in Los Angeles. The purchase expands Knight-Swift's terminal network and door count by approximately 10 percent, pushing its combined national footprint to reach roughly 70 percent of the U.S. population. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

This move connects DHE directly with Knight-Swift's existing LTL holdings, AAA Cooper and Midwest Motor Express, building out the carrier's goal of establishing a seamless nationwide network. Knight-Swift CEO Adam Miller noted that breaking into the Southwest market through organic real estate acquisition is exceptionally difficult, making the purchase of an established regional player the most practical route to scale operations across California, Arizona, and Nevada.

DHE operated as a division of Dependable Supply Chain Services, which holds the No. 141 spot in industry rankings. While the LTL division folds into the AAA Cooper corporate group under the leadership of former DHE Chief Operating Officer Joe Finney as president, the parent company continues running its truckload, warehousing, harbor drayage, and third-party logistics divisions independently. Ronald Massman, outgoing CEO of DHE, pointed to Knight-Swift's methodical rollout of its national LTL platform as the primary reason his family agreed to part with the division.

What This Means for Drivers

CDL-A drivers and regional haulers should expect tighter integration across southwestern freight lanes as Knight-Swift consolidates its terminal network. Fleet managers and owner-operators working alongside these major fleets will likely see shifting freight volumes as the parent company absorbs DHE's regional density. Trucking companies hiring through these expanding networks are scaling up local and regional runs to match the broader coast-to-coast coverage.

Industry Reaction

Industry analysts view the buyout as another calculated step by top-tier carriers to control regional end-mile distribution networks. Knight-Swift first entered the LTL space in July 2021 by purchasing AAA Cooper, followed quickly by Midwest Motor Express and Midnite Express later that same year. By absorbing strong regional operators rather than building terminals from scratch, major carriers are aggressively positioning themselves to capture shifting freight demands across the country.

Key Points

• Knight-Swift acquired Los Angeles-based regional LTL carrier Dependable Highway Express.
• The transaction increases terminal and door counts by about 10 percent, raising national coverage to 70 percent of the U.S. population.
• DHE integrates into the AAA Cooper group, with former DHE COO Joe Finney taking over as president.
• Dependable Supply Chain Services retains its separate truckload, warehousing, drayage, and logistics divisions.

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