RIST Transport wraps AMA acquisition

Family-owned East Coast carriers with similar missions and philosophies merge, expanding RIST’s routes in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maine while retaining AMA as a subsidiary.

FleetOwner Staff

June 5, 2023

2 min read

New York-based less-than-truckload carrier RIST Transport announced June 1 that it had concluded its acquisition of AMA Transportation Co. of Billerica, Massachusetts. The deal expands RIST's direct service routes throughout New England and improves customer service solutions and technological advancements for both companies, a RIST release said.

AMA Transportation, a regional LTL, will retain its name but will be operated by RIST. Brothers Mark and Anthony Bruzzese, the sons of Alfred Bruzzese, who founded AMA in 1976 with a single truck, will continue to be involved in AMA and RIST in their current positions, according to the release. RIST is a family-owned company run by the Wadhams family.

"We are now two families, one company, and still the carrier of choice in the LTL trucking industry," said Gabrielle Simmons, departments manager at RIST and a third-generation Wadhams family member.

"The acquisition of AMA Transportation Co. was the subsequent step in expansion for our company," said Steve Wadhams, president of Wadhams Enterprises. "We have thrived with AMA over the past 20 years as service partners. The well-established working relationship with the owners of AMA, brothers Mark and Anthony Bruzzese, allowed both companies the confidence to move forward. What made the decision more compelling was RIST and AMA are both family-owned and -operated companies."

Wadhams added: "The family-owned business model and the implied values and philosophies are fundamental aspects of overall operations. These principles are the very backbone of our business and influence everything from day-to-day functions, customer service, and even employee recruitment."

AMA offers overnight delivery throughout New England with access to all major interstates from their service centers in Lakeville, Massachusetts; Northford, Connecticut; and Westbrook, Maine, including I-90, I-93, I-95, I-495, and U.S. Route 1. RIST offers truckload, less-than-truckload, and brokerage services to customers in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

During the transition period, operations will continue as usual with no significant impact on the current standard operating procedures within both companies beyond offering expanded direct service routes, Simmons said.

"Additionally, another exciting project is our transitional branding launch," she added. "Our goal is to help educate and inform our customer base and beyond of the strategic acquisition of AMA while maintaining branding elements that pay homage to the original founders of AMA and father to Mark and Anthony, Alfred Bruzzese."