FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dohrn Transfer Company Is Now Dohrn: Reborn LTL Carrier Delivers 97% On-Time, 99% Exception-Free Service Across the Midwest

ROCK ISLAND, Ill., August 3, 2026 – Dohrn Transfer Company today announced it is now operating as Dohrn, marking the completion of a network transformation that has repositioned the company as a top-performing, technology-forward LTL carrier across Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Indiana and Nebraska.

Dohrn got its start serving customers with rural distribution needs, so its terminal footprint followed suit, small facilities in outlying areas rather than the major metros where freight density actually lives. Major markets were often served from far away; Kansas City from Cameron, St. Louis from Litchfield, Milwaukee from Janesville, and Chicago from Rock Falls, which meant trucks left earlier, came back later, and cost more to run than the competition’s.

Growing out of that position organically would have taken many years. Moving your way into major metro terminals is hard. Opening a large terminal in a new market means hiring and training an entire team from the ground up, and that takes time. Dohrn acquired Sutton Transport and US Special Delivery to fast-forward what would have taken years, into a matter of months and moved into large terminals in major metropolitan markets across Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Indiana and Nebraska.

“Our core belief has never changed, we’re here to serve our customers and do whatever it takes to help them,” said Heather Dohrn, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. “What’s changed is the size, needs, and locations of the customers we serve. This is Dohrn, reborn.”

Built Fast, Then Built Right

Dohrn consolidated 42 terminals, between Dohrn, Sutton Transport, and US Special Delivery, down to 24. The team knew the transition needed to move fast, since a slower rollout would only prolong the disruption to customers. All of the Sutton Transport terminals were integrated in just 10 months.

Early 2026 was the hard reset. Dohrn reviewed every existing customer requirement and location against the new footprint, reset expectations where needed, and in some cases walked away from business that no longer fit rather than fall short of expectations. Sales held off on new business until the product was consistent. By the end of Q1 2026, Dohrn was performing as expected. Service has held above 96 percent through Q2 and into Q3, landing at 97 percent on-time and 99 percent exception-free.

“We transformed as a business, and this name change signals a new chapter in the Dohrn story,” said Robert Howard, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our customers will see it in the results. We are faster, more resilient and more consistent than ever, and with a culture built on continuous improvement, we’re only going to keep getting better.”

A Network Built for Where Freight Actually Moves

None of that happened by accident. It’s the direct result of 42 percent more direct linehaul routes, meaning freight now moves point-to-point between major facilities instead of routing through another terminal for consolidation, 39 percent more door capacity, and significantly more drivers per square mile in pickup and delivery operations, keeping trucks in the field longer and closer to where the freight actually is. In many of those new markets, Dohrn is only occupying part of the larger facility.  It has room to keep growing without losing the consistency customers are counting on.

Proof in the Numbers, and in the Market

Customers won’t necessarily see any of that engineering. What they’ll feel is freight that shows up exception-free, and on time with less handling along the way than ever before. Customers who previously shipped with Sutton are now seeing dynamic shipment visibility and a broader range of next-day lanes. And the market is already validating the shift. 3PLs, who compare carriers across shippers, regions, and industries every day, are reporting that customers are highly satisfied and that Dohrn is outperforming other carriers.

Built for What’s Next

The long-term view matters here too. Shippers are increasingly used to the visibility, speed and communication that come standard with everyday retail deliveries, knowing exactly when an order will arrive and hearing about a delay before it happens rather than after. That expectation, along with a growing appetite for real-time data, is coming for LTL whether carriers are ready or not. Dohrn is already working on things like proactive notice of pickup or delivery exceptions before they happen, so customers can plan around a problem instead of being surprised by one.

This is why the timing is now. The integration is done. The network is right. The service is proven and sustained, and the company is set up for consistency. And it’s landing at a moment when capacity across the industry is tight, and carriers are struggling to handle current business levels. Dohrn’s core commitment to its customers hasn’t changed since day one. What has changed is the size, needs and locations of the customer base it serves, and a network now built to match. Anyone who knew the old Dohrn Transfer will be pleasantly surprised by what it’s grown into.

About Dohrn

Dohrn is a Midwest-based less-than-truckload carrier serving Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Indiana and Nebraska. A member of the PITT OHIO Transportation Group, Dohrn operates a network of large-scale terminals in major metropolitan markets following the integration of Sutton Transport and US Special Delivery, delivering industry-leading on-time and exception-free service. Dohrn is headquartered in Rock Island, Illinois.

Media Contact:
Victoria Vang
T: 412-912-5615
E: Victoria.Vang@dohrn.com