subject: Pacer International [print this page] Pacer International Pacer International
Company history
Created as a multi-product transportation and logistics entity beginning in 1997, Pacer has a short but significant history. Between 1997 and 2000, Pacer acquired 14 companies that provided transportation and logistics services, the most notable being the APL Stacktrain, and in just over a decade has grown into a multibillion-dollar company. With the combined skill and knowledge of its acquired companies, Pacer has more than 39 years worth of experience in the industry.
1984: Pacer founder Don Orris, lead the development of the first cost-effective double-stack rail network service, an innovation that led to a major change in the movement of domestic goods within the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
1997: Don Orris, Chairman and CEO, founded Pacer International when he began acquiring the 14 small-to-medium sized companies in transportation, third party logistics, intermodal marketing, drayage, and ocean transportation.
1999: Pacer acquires APL Stacktrain and operates the new business unit as Pacer Stacktrain.
2001: Pacer consolidates its transportation and logistics brokerage services in its subsidiary Pacer Global Logistics. This unit was renamed Pacer Transportation Solutions in 2008.
2002: Pacer becomes a public company (NASDAQ: PACR).
2006: Michael E. Uremovich is appointed Chairman and CEO.
2008: - Pacer intermodal network doubles in size with the addition of BNSF service routes.
- Pacer begins expansion of its truck brokerage and highway services units.
2009: Daniel W. Avramovich is appointed Chairman and CEO.
Company Structure
Pacer is organized into two financial and operational segments: Intermodal and Logistics.
Intermodal Segment
Intermodal transportation is the movement of freight via trailer or container using two or more modes of transportation, which nearly always include rail and truck segments. Pacer intermodal segment comprises three operations: Stacktrain, rail brokerage, and local cartage.
Stacktrain: This unit sells intermodal service primarily to intermodal marketing companies, truck brokerage companies, truckload carriers, large automotive intermediaries and international shipping companies. Pacer use of the double-stack method, consisting of the movement of cargo containers stacked two high on special railcars, significantly improving efficiency and reducing costs.
Rail Brokerage: This unit arranges for the movement of beneficial cargo owners freight in containers and trailers throughout North America using truck and rail transportation. Pacer arranges for container or trailer shipments to be picked up by truck at a place of origin, transported to a site for loading onto a train, and then transported via railroad to a site for unloading in the vicinity of the freight final destination. Arrangements are then made for shipments to be transported by truck to their final destinations.
Local Cartage: Through Pacer in-house cartage operation of more than 900 owner operators and agreements with independent trucking contractors, Pacer offers local motor transportation in and around the rail ramps and ports of major U.S. cities to and from the door of customer facilities.
Logistics Segment
Pacer logistics division comprises four separate services: highway brokerage and truck services, international freight forwarding, warehousing and distribution, and supply chain management.
Highway Brokerage and Truck Services: Pacer arranges for the door-to-door shipment of freight by truck using a network of independent trucking companies.
International Freight Forwarding: Through its subsidiaries, Ocean World Lines and RFI, Pacer moves goods in and out of the U.S. by contracting with third-party air and ocean carriers, and by providing customs brokerage services to direct domestic importers.
Warehousing and Distribution: These services move goods directly to a retailer or to an inland distribution point through a process of transloading goods received, labeling and transferring it from ocean containers to domestic equipment, and then consolidating it into shipments. Short Term and Long Term storage of customer goods is also provided.
Supply Chain Management: Pacer provides transportation management services and optimizes the delivery of clients merchandise from origin to destination.
Personnel Structure
Headquartered in Concord, California, Pacer employs approximately 1, 400 employees and contracts with more than 1,500 drivers. Pacer maintains satellite offices in the U.S. (48 states), Canada, Mexico, Germany and the U.K. Pacer is also represented by agents in more than 100 other countries.
^ "Pacer CEO to retire, COO tapped as replacement". 2009-12-15. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ipNVcWz0OvE-_LDBFiio7FawQQfQD9CJSEV00. Retrieved 2009-12-16.
^ "Pacer Appoints Transportation and Financial Executive Robert J. Grassi to Board of Directors". http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20090220005576/en. Retrieved 2008-04-18.
