Acquisition underscores commitment to PNW, expands service footprint
CLEVELAND, Ohio, Dec. 7 - Today, UWL’s parent company, World Group, announced the acquisition of Pacific Cascade, comprised of Pacific Cascade Distribution, LLC, and Pacific Cascade Trucking, LLC, both headquartered in Sumner, Washington.
Pacific Cascade, founded in 2005 by Jeff Roulst, is an asset-light provider of 3PL services including drayage, warehousing, transloading, fulfillment and more. They operate over 50 trucks and have garnered motor carrier of the year honors from customers in 2016, 2020 and most recently in 2021. Additionally, in 2015, they were the first drayage provider servicing the ports of Tacoma and Seattle to become fully compliant with updated clean air regulations.
"UWL is solidifying our presence in the Pacific Northwest with this acquisition. Pacific Cascade provides numerous synergies with the Sun Chief express ocean service that we offer in collaboration with Swire Shipping,” said UWL President Duncan Wright. The Sun Chief express service provides importers and exporters with guaranteed ocean capacity and market-leading transit times between Southeast Asia and the U.S.
Pacific Cascade CEO Jeff Roulst offered the following comments: “This agreement really made sense for both organizations. World Group’s operating companies have a robust presence east of the Rockies, and their recent significant investments in the Pacific Northwest, including a new distribution facility and the Sun Chief express ocean service, demonstrate a commitment to long-term growth in this region. Our leadership teams share a similar vision, and we are excited to see where this journey takes us together.”
Pacific Cascade’s 267,000 sq ft distribution facility is headquartered a short 20-minute drive from the brand-new 303,000 sq ft distribution center that UWL's sister company, World Distribution Services, recently opened in Tacoma, Washington.
"When we layer in Pacific Cascade's long-standing relationships, capacity, and knowledge, we truly have a competitive advantage and an established presence in this market,” remarked UWL’s Wright. “Now, we can leverage the knowledge and capacity of Pacific Cascade to help us meet the needs of our customers, especially as more organizations use the Seattle and Tacoma ports as alternative freight corridors to interior distribution points throughout the United States.”
"Adding a company like Pacific Cascade is a huge step in World Group's growth plans," said Fred Hunger, CEO, World Group. "Organizationally, we share a similar culture with a heavy focus on our people, and their capabilities align with what our companies already do well. This is a hand-in-glove fit, and it's our honor to welcome them."
About UWL
UWL is a top 10 American-owned NVOCC and leading provider of global 3PL services. They take pride in delivering seamless supply chain solutions backed by a team of creative problem-solvers. UWL specializes in ocean transportation, air freight, project cargo, warehousing and distribution, chartering, bulk liquid logistics, and customs house brokerage. Proof is in their owned assets: a national network of distribution centers, dependable trucking capacity, and a proprietary user-friendly data management platform that delivers transparency and data to customers’ supply chains. To learn more, visit www.shipuwl.com.
About World Group
World Group was founded over 60 years ago as a pioneer in vessel agency services on the Great Lakes. Today, they are home to a portfolio of globally trusted brands that deliver end-to-end supply chain solutions, powered by innovative technology for a new level of visibility and data analytics. With industry-leading products in ocean drayage and domestic trucking, freight forwarding/NVOCC, air freight, customs house brokerage, vessel husbandry, and warehousing and distribution, customers around the globe trust World Group brands to simplify supply chains and reliably move freight. Learn more at www.worldgrouplogistics.com.
Dive Deeper
- World Group announces acquisition of Pacific Cascade, bolsters service footprint in Pacific Northwest (AJOT)
- Sumner trucking, distribution company Pacific Cascade acquired (Puget Sound Business Journal)
- Sumner trucking, distribution company snapped up by global logistics firm (The News Tribune)
- WDS Opens First West Coast Distribution Center in Tacoma, WA
- UWL and Swire Shipping Announce Year Two Commitments and IPI Program For Sun Chief Express Service
