Oregon Purchases, Plans Lee’s Trucking Expansion

A nearly 30-year-old El Dorado trucking company will be expanded by its new owner, Sherman Bros. Heavy Trucking of Harrisburg, Ore.

Lee’s Trucking Inc. was started in 1983 by Jimmy Lee. Sherman Bros. purchased the company earlier this year to add the Arkansas firm to its Team Transport Inc. arm.

The companies would not disclose the purchase price.

Jerry Upchurch, Sherman Bros.’ director of operations for Arkansas and Oregon, said Lee’s kept 93 of its approximately 120 workers, including Lee himself. Sherman Bros. has 390 trucks in its fleet, of which 66 belonged to Lee’s. The Oregon company has about 500 employees total.

According to a notice on the Sherman Bros. website, Lee’s had typical annual revenue of $15 million. Upchurch said he was pleased with the acquisition and expects to grow the company in Arkansas.

"For several years some of our customers out west wanted us to put some assets down south," he said. "Lee’s currently uses some of those same customers, so it was a nice marriage. We’re looking to expand that facility. We have a two-year plan down there to add approximately another 50 to 75 trucks."