Kramer buys Kelle Transport, changes name, appoints prez

A Salt Lake City-based temperature-controlled trucking company has undergone some major changes, including new ownership, a name change and the appointment of a new president. Kelle’s Transport Service is now Soar Transport Group following the purchase of controlling interest in the company by transportation investor Marc Kramer in August.

{mprestriction ids="1,3"}Kramer is a business strategist and investor who has nearly 20 years’ experience investing and overseeing businesses in the trucking industry. He first met Kelle Simon, who founded Kelle’s Transport Service, in 2003. Since the acquisition, Kramer’s focus has been to bring in a new team of experienced leaders to enable Soar to move from a well-run family business to become one of the top national freight management companies.

“We are highly respectful of the Simon family and the company’s past,” said Kramer. “Changing the name has nothing to do with moving away from this proud past, but more about identifying a name that better reflects the future of this company as selected by our employees. Kelle Simon remains a minority owner and friend to me and to the company.”

“I have a lot of confidence in Marc’s ability to lead the company into the future as I begin to turn my attention to other interests,” said Simon. “He has consistently impressed me with his concern for the team and ensuring the company operates in a highly professional, service-oriented manner. He has treated me as a partner and a friend and I am proud to see this next chapter in the company’s evolution unfold.”

In September, Kramer named 18-year veteran of the industry, Cody Isaacson, as president. With the support of a team of industry veterans he recruited, Isaacson has quickly impacted the company by focusing on building a driver-centric culture and accelerating the growth of the company’s non-asset brokerage division. Isaacson said his goal is to establish Soar as a top-tier safety and service provider and to become one of the leading freight management companies in the United States.

“Our culture is a key element of our strategy,” Isaacson said. “It has been a privilege to lead this organization and see how the team is evolving. I am excited about the changes we are implementing. Having been in the industry for many years, I have never seen the pace of change and progress to serve our drivers and customers as I have seen here at Soar. The commitment demonstrated by the employees here is truly unique and gives me confidence that we will continue on our path to become a leading franchise in this industry.”

Soar’s fleet includes 235 tractors and 350 temperature-controlled trailers. The company is currently hiring experienced over-the-road drivers and independent contractors.

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