Tracked deals
6
6 tracked deals across 2019-2026.
Transportation Buyers & Acquisitions in Kansas
Buyer mix
Strategic-led
6 strategic · 3 pe
Top trend
Volume peaked in 2026
2 tracked deals announced in 2026.
Primary Insight
What Stands Out
- ACERTUS acquired Fisher Shipping in Kansas to expand its connected logistics platform, adding carriers/customers and transportation expertise for OEM/dealership segments.
- Transport Investments, Inc. (with Gemspring Capital) acquired SmartWay Transportation, LLC, an add-on intended to broaden brokerage and transportation-management capabilities.
- W&B Service Company acquired Sanders Trailer Service, extending Kansas and Western Missouri coverage through new locations and expanding trailer sales/service.
- Visible Supply Chain Management acquired Kansas Continental Express (KCX), expanding its Midwest footprint and cross‑North America logistics capabilities.
- Marcone (backed by Genstar Capital) acquired Great Plains/Pool & Spa Products, marking entry into the pool and spa distribution market with a plan to grow national distribution and pursue further M&A.
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Top Buyers
Illustrative buyers pulled from tracked transactions on this page. This table is capped and intentionally non-exhaustive.
| Buyer | # Deals | Focus | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACERTUS | 1 | Automotive logistics-as-a-service provider offering end-t... | Strategic |
| Auto Driveaway Franchise Systems, LLC | 1 | Provider of professional vehicle relocation and fleet shi... | Strategic (PE-backed) |
| Evanston Partners, LLC | 1 | Private equity firm investing in and partnering with mana... | PE |
| Gemspring Capital | 1 | Private equity firm providing flexible capital solutions ... | PE |
| Genstar Capital | 1 | Middle-market private equity firm investing across financ... | PE |
| Marcone | 1 | Distributor of home appliance, HVAC and plumbing repair p... | Strategic (PE-backed) |
| Transport Investments, Inc. | 1 | Provider of heavy haul, flatbed, and specialized transpor... | Strategic (PE-backed) |
| Visible Supply Chain Management | 1 | Provider of shipping, fulfillment, brokerage and omnichan... | Strategic |
| W&B Service Company | 1 | Dealer and service provider for transportation refrigerat... | Strategic |
Acquisition Volume in Transportation in Kansas by Year
Last 3 years
Actual
Full-year estimate
Supporting Data
Recent Transactions
-
August 11, 2026
- Buyer
- ACERTUS
- Target
- Fisher Shipping Company
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Kansas, United States
- Type
- Buyout
ACERTUS, the automotive logistics-as-a-service platform, announced the acquisition of Fisher Shipping, a vehicle transportation provider. The deal will expand ACERTUS’ carrier network and customer access to its full suite of services, including transportation, storage, vehicle care and maintenance, and title and registration. Fisher Shipping will continue operating under its existing brand, and its CEO Dave Fisher will become an equity holder in ACERTUS.
-
February 10, 2026
- Buyer
- W&B Service Company
- Target
- Sanders Trailer Service
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Kansas, United States
- Type
- Buyout
W&B Service Company, a transportation equipment, refrigeration and semi-trailer dealer, announced it has acquired Sanders Trailer Service. The deal expands W&B’s trailer sales and service capabilities into Kansas and Western Missouri through three new locations and extends Midwest coverage.
-
October 20, 2022
- Buyer
- Marcone, Genstar Capital
- Target
- Great Plains/Pool & Spa Products, Inc.
- Seller
- Reiff family, Patterson family, Susan Reiff Ahn (majority owner)
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Kansas, United States
- Type
- Addon
Marcone, a Genstar Capital portfolio company and leading North American distributor of appliance, HVAC and plumbing parts, has acquired Great Plains/Pool & Spa Products, a family-owned regional pool and spa equipment and parts distributor with operations in Kansas City and Houston. The acquisition represents Marcone's entry into the pool and spa distribution market and will be used to grow Marcone's national distribution footprint and pursue additional M&A in the space.
-
March 14, 2022
- Buyer
- Transport Investments, Inc., Gemspring Capital
- Target
- SmartWay Transportation, LLC
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Kansas, United States
- Type
- Addon
Transport Investments, Inc. (a Gemspring Capital portfolio company) has acquired SmartWay Transportation, LLC, a multimodal freight brokerage and transportation management firm based in Overland Park, Kansas. The transaction is an add-on to Transport’s platform intended to expand its brokerage and transportation-management capabilities and give SmartWay’s ~800 customers access to Transport’s broader capacity and value-added logistics services.
-
December 19, 2019
- Buyer
- Visible Supply Chain Management
- Target
- Kansas Continental Express
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Kansas, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Visible Supply Chain Management has acquired Kansas Continental Express (KCX), a nearly 30-year-old Emporia, Kansas-based shipping logistics and freight transportation provider. KCX will join the Visible family and operate under the parent company's name, expanding Visible's Midwest footprint and cross‑North America logistics capabilities to better serve small and midsize business customers.
-
- Buyer
- Auto Driveaway Franchise Systems, LLC (through J&J Driveaway Systems, LLC), Evanston Partners, LLC
- Target
- J&J Drive-Away, Inc., J&J Freight Brokers, LLC
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Kansas, United States
- Type
- Addon
Auto Driveaway, backed by investors including Evanston Partners, has acquired the assets of J&J Drive-Away, Inc. and J&J Freight Brokers, LLC to expand into the heavy-truck (Class 7 and Class 8) transportation market. The deal brings J&J’s heavy-truck transport and boutique freight-brokerage capabilities into Auto Driveaway’s network (drivers operating in 49 states and parts of Canada for 500+ customers); J&J co-founder Crystal O'Dwyer and VP Kelly Rolfe remain with the business as part-owners.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What kinds of transportation acquisitions are happening in Kansas?
Recent Kansas transactions shown include connected logistics expansion, freight brokerage and transportation-management add-ons, trailer service and equipment coverage, and logistics/freight transportation provider platform growth.
Which acquirers appear more than once across Kansas transportation deals?
Gemspring Capital appears through its portfolio company Transport Investments, Inc.; otherwise, the notable buyers listed are primarily deal-specific acquirers such as ACERTUS, W&B Service Company, Visible Supply Chain Management, Marcone, and Auto Driveaway.
How do buyers typically describe the purpose of these Kansas deals?
The transaction summaries emphasize capability expansion (brokerage/transportation management, connected logistics expertise), network growth (carriers/customers), and geographic coverage (Kansas/Midwest reach and cross‑North America logistics).
Which Kansas cities or areas are referenced in the listed transactions?
The page facts specifically mention Kansas City (for Great Plains/Pool & Spa Products) and Overland Park, Kansas (for SmartWay Transportation), as well as Emporia, Kansas (for Kansas Continental Express / KCX).
Related Acquisition Pages
Transportation Buyers & Acquisitions
Transportation Buyers & Acquisitions in Canada
Private Equity-Backed Transportation Buyers
Transportation Acquisitions in 2026
Transportation Acquisitions in 2022
Transportation Acquisitions in 2019
Acquisitions in Kansas
Private Equity-Backed Acquisitions in Kansas
Acquisitions in Kansas in 2026
Acquisitions in Kansas in 2022
Acquisitions in Kansas in 2019