Transportation Acquisitions in Illinois
Illinois Transportation Deals and Themes
Illinois transportation acquisitions span multiple subsectors, from logistics and inland waterways to parking marketplaces and student transportation software. Recent activity also reaches into vehicle management, remarketing, and aviation ground support equipment (GSE).
Across these deals, recurring buyer profiles include private equity-backed platforms such as Mill Point Capital LLC, LOGISTEC, Audax Private Equity, and AEA Investors' Small Business Fund (AEA SBF), alongside strategic operators. The transactions frequently emphasize expanding service footprints (including regional add-ons) and adding capabilities that support customers across the Midwest and beyond.
The Illinois set of announcements also highlights how transportation value chains are consolidating: infrastructure and routing options (e.g., LOGISTEC and Travero’s Logistics Park Dubuque (LPD)), mobility and parking reservations (Uber Technologies, Inc. and SpotHero), and operational software integrations (Transit Technologies and Bytecurve).
What Stands Out
- LOGISTEC is expanding inland waterways capabilities via Travero’s Logistics Park Dubuque (LPD) in East Dubuque, Illinois.
- Platform-style growth appears repeatedly, including regional add-ons in the Chicago metro and broader geographic expansion plans.
- Buyers range from private equity investors (Mill Point Capital LLC, Berkshire Partners, KKR) to operating strategic acquirers (Uber Technologies, Inc., Transit Technologies).
- Service and capability themes include logistics and consolidation, parking reservations, vehicle management, remarketing/title services, and transportation operations software.
- Many deals are positioned as supporting next-phase growth subject to customary closing conditions (where disclosed).
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March 12, 2026
- Buyer
- LOGISTEC
- Target
- Travero's Logistics Park Dubuque (LPD)
- Seller
- Travero
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
LOGISTEC announced the acquisition of Travero’s Logistics Park Dubuque (LPD), a multi-purpose marine terminal located in East Dubuque, Illinois on the Upper Mississippi River. The deal expands LOGISTEC’s inland waterways network and provides new routing options for agriculture, manufacturing, and energy supply chains across the U.S. Midwest and toward the Gulf Coast.
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February 23, 2026
- Buyer
- Uber Technologies, Inc.
- Target
- SpotHero, Inc.
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Uber Technologies, Inc. has agreed to acquire SpotHero, a parking reservation marketplace, bringing in-app parking reservation capabilities to the Uber app. The deal is subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions, and is expected to close in the first half of 2026.
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February 16, 2026
- Buyer
- Greenbriar Equity Group, L.P.
- Target
- AIT Worldwide Logistics
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Growth capital
AIT Worldwide Logistics entered into a definitive agreement to partner with Greenbriar Equity Group to support the global freight forwarder’s next phase of growth. Financial terms were not disclosed, and the transaction is expected to close before Q4 2026, subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals.
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January 27, 2026
- Target
- Toyota of Lincoln Park
- Seller
- AutoCanada Inc.
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Divestiture
AutoCanada Inc. has completed the sale of its Toyota of Lincoln Park dealership in Chicago, Illinois as part of its previously announced plan to exit its U.S. operations and strengthen its balance sheet. AutoCanada received approximately CAD $11.2 million in cash for goodwill and fixed assets (excluding inventory and net working capital), with proceeds used to reduce its revolving credit facility.
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July 17, 2025
- Buyer
- Fortbrand Services LLC, Basalt Infrastructure Partners LLP (funds advised by)
- Target
- Xcēd Aviation Services LLC
- Seller
- Sasser, Inc.
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Addon
Fortbrand Services LLC, a portfolio company owned by funds advised by Basalt Infrastructure Partners LLP, has acquired Xcēd Aviation Services LLC from Sasser, Inc. The acquisition expands Fortbrand's GSE and AME leasing footprint — creating a combined fleet of over 4,900 pieces of equipment across more than 190 airports — and is intended to enhance service capabilities for airlines, airports, ground handlers and cargo operators.
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- Buyer
- Vehicle Management Solutions LLC, Mill Point Capital LLC
- Target
- Rendered Services, Inc. (South Chicago operations)
- Seller
- Rendered Services, Inc.
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Addon
Vehicle Management Solutions LLC (a Mill Point Capital portfolio company) acquired the assets of Rendered Services, Inc.'s South Chicago operations to expand its relocation towing and vehicle management footprint in the Chicago metro. The add-on transaction strengthens VMS's local capabilities, enhances operational efficiency and improves service for private property relocation customers in the region.
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December 3, 2024
- Buyer
- Berkshire Partners
- Target
- RJW Logistics Group
- Seller
- Mason Wells
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Boston-based private equity firm Berkshire Partners has made a strategic (majority) investment in RJW Logistics Group, a Woodridge, Illinois–based provider of retail logistics and consolidation services for consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands. RJW CEO Kevin Williamson and other management will remain significant investors, and prior investor Mason Wells will remain a minority holder; the deal is intended to support RJW's growth, innovation and geographic expansion.
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December 3, 2024
- Buyer
- Location Services, LLC, Delaware Street Capital
- Target
- Strategic Remarketing Solutions, LLC
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Addon
Location Services, LLC, a recovery management company owned by Delaware Street Capital, has acquired Strategic Remarketing Solutions (SRS), a forwarding and remarketing firm based in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The transaction expands Location Services' servicing footprint and capabilities—particularly its penetration into regional banks and credit unions—and brings SRS’s experienced workforce and remarketing/title services into the platform.
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October 8, 2024
- Buyer
- KKR
- Target
- The Parking Spot
- Seller
- Green Courte Partners, LLC
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
KKR has acquired The Parking Spot, the leading U.S. near-airport parking operator, from an affiliate of Green Courte Partners. The Parking Spot operates 47 near-airport parking properties across major U.S. airports; financial terms were not disclosed and the company’s management will remain in place as KKR pursues further growth through its Global Infrastructure Strategy.
-
August 21, 2024
- Buyer
- Transit Technologies
- Target
- Bytecurve
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Transit Technologies has acquired Bytecurve, a provider of student transportation management software, to expand its mobility platform into the K-12 market. Bytecurve's dispatch, scheduling, time & attendance, and payroll capabilities will be integrated into Transit Technologies' suite to improve student transportation operations and safety.
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July 31, 2024
- Buyer
- JW Chicago
- Target
- Chain O' Lakes Transportation
- Seller
- Valerie Whitlow
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Sun Acquisitions advised on the sale of Chain O' Lakes Transportation, a provider of alternative and special-needs student transportation founded in 2009, to strategic acquirer JW Chicago. The transaction, led by owner Valerie Whitlow's sale, expands JW Chicago's regional student-transportation footprint and consolidates complementary operations.
-
- Buyer
- GlacierPoint Enterprises, Inc., Mill Point Capital LLC
- Target
- Joe & Ross, Inc., J & R Dairy Service, Inc.
- Seller
- Joe & Ross shareholders (family-owned, including co-owner Ross Purpura)
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Addon
GlacierPoint Enterprises, a portfolio company of Mill Point Capital, has acquired Chicago-area direct store delivery (DSD) distributor Joe & Ross, Inc. and J & R Dairy Service, Inc. The deal creates GlacierPoint’s GPE–Great Lakes Division as part of a strategic, non‑contiguous expansion into the Midwest to broaden its frozen and refrigerated DSD footprint and capture new retail and foodservice customers.
-
April 2, 2024
- Buyer
- ACERTUS
- Target
- Guardian Auto Transport
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
ACERTUS, an automotive logistics-as-a-service platform, has acquired Guardian Auto Transport to expand its vehicle logistics capabilities and support large-format vehicles. The acquisition brings Guardian's fleet management relationships and operations onto the ACERTUS platform to enhance transport, storage, reconditioning, titling and registration services.
-
- Buyer
- AMCON Distributing Company
- Target
- Burklund Distributors, Inc.
- Seller
- Jon Burklund, Rob Hackett
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
AMCON Distributing Company (NYSE American: DIT) has acquired Burklund Distributors, Inc., a third-generation family-owned distributor based in East Peoria and Fairview Heights, Illinois. The acquisition expands AMCON’s geographic reach and capabilities in convenience and foodservice distribution, and will allow AMCON to continue serving Burklund’s customers from the existing distribution centers.
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March 11, 2024
- Buyer
- PS Logistics, Diamond State Trucking & Logistics
- Target
- Yordy Transport
- Seller
- Avery Yordy
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
PS Logistics, through its subsidiary Diamond State Trucking & Logistics, has acquired Yordy Transport, a Morton, Illinois-based flatbed trucking company founded in 2018 by Avery Yordy. The acquisition adds complementary flatbed capacity and building-materials freight lanes across the central and southeastern United States and will fold Yordy Transport into the Diamond State operating brand.
-
- Buyer
- Metropolis Technologies, Inc., Eldridge, 3L Capital, BDT & MSD Partners (affiliated credit funds), Vista Credit Partners, Temasek, Slow Ventures, Assembly Ventures
- Target
- SP Plus Corporation
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Metropolis Technologies agreed to acquire SP Plus Corporation for $54.00 per share in cash, implying an enterprise value of approximately $1.5 billion. The transaction is financed with $1.7 billion of committed equity and debt financing led by Eldridge and 3L Capital (among others) and is expected to close in 2024, subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals.
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June 1, 2023
- Buyer
- STG Logistics
- Target
- Best Dedicated Solutions
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Addon
STG Logistics has acquired Best Dedicated Solutions (BDS), an over-the-road (OTR) transportation provider, to add expedited, dry van, temperature-control, and flatbed trucking capabilities to its port-to-door containerized logistics platform. The acquisition expands STG's service offering by integrating OTR asset-based transportation with its existing intermodal, drayage, transload, and warehousing network.
-
- Buyer
- Mill Point Capital LLC
- Target
- URT United Road Towing, Inc. (Vehicle Management Solutions / VMS)
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Mill Point Capital has acquired URT United Road Towing, Inc. (operating as Vehicle Management Solutions or VMS) in a control-oriented buyout to support the company's next phase of growth. Mill Point will leverage its Executive Partner model and industry expertise to expand VMS's vehicle management, towing, impound and remarketing services for public- and private-sector clients across the U.S.
-
- Buyer
- GCM Grosvenor, Blue Wolf Capital Partners LLC
- Target
- Hallcon Corporation
- Seller
- Novacap
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
GCM Grosvenor and Blue Wolf Capital Partners acquired Hallcon Corporation from Novacap to accelerate Hallcon’s expansion across North America and to scale its electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The investment will support geographic growth into new U.S. markets and bolster Hallcon’s capabilities serving transit agencies, universities, hospitals, and commercial fleets.
-
- Buyer
- Lawson Products, Inc.
- Target
- TestEquity, Gexpro Services
- Seller
- Former owners of TestEquity, Former owners of Gexpro Services, Entities affiliated with LKCM Headwater Investments, J. Bryan King (Lawson Chairman)
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Lawson Products completed an all-stock strategic combination with TestEquity and Gexpro Services, bringing all three into a specialty distribution holding company structure. The former owners of TestEquity and Gexpro Services received Lawson shares, with LKCM Headwater-affiliated entities and Lawson Chairman J. Bryan King receiving substantial ownership stakes.
-
March 8, 2022
- Buyer
- Investcorp
- Target
- S&S Truck Parts
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Investcorp, a global alternative investment firm, has acquired S&S Truck Parts, a long-established independent distributor of private-label and branded aftermarket truck parts. The partnership will support S&S's organic growth through new product introductions and North American geographic expansion while pursuing strategic add-on acquisitions; DJ Hoffman will retain a significant ownership stake.
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December 15, 2021
- Buyer
- AEA Investors
- Target
- Redwood Logistics
- Seller
- CI Capital Partners
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
AEA Investors has acquired Redwood Logistics from CI Capital Partners. Redwood, a Chicago-headquartered third-party logistics provider with a proprietary Logistics Platform as a Service (LPaaS) and more than 800 employees, will partner with AEA to fund additional add-on acquisitions and accelerate organic growth; financial terms were not disclosed.
-
November 4, 2021
- Buyer
- Crystal Flash, Inc.
- Target
- J-M Transports, Inc.
- Seller
- Barry and Joan Jacobson (Jacobson family)
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Grand Rapids-based energy distributor Crystal Flash, Inc. acquired J-M Transports, Inc., a family-owned fuels and propane transport provider headquartered in Newark, Illinois. The deal — Crystal Flash’s first acquisition outside Michigan — establishes a new Midwest Transportation Office and brings J-M’s drivers, dispatchers and management into Crystal Flash’s employee-owned organization.
-
- Buyer
- Cambridge Capital
- Target
- Everest Transportation Systems
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Cambridge Capital has made a majority investment in Everest Transportation Systems, a fast-growing freight brokerage headquartered in Evanston, Illinois. Everest's founders remain in leadership and retain significant ownership while Cambridge Capital partners to scale the business (including board seats for Benjamin Gordon and Matt Smalley), accelerate hiring and pursue tuck-in acquisitions; terms were not disclosed.
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August 20, 2021
- Buyer
- Carver Aero
- Target
- LumanAir Aviation Services, ATS Illinois
- Seller
- Bob Luman, Mike Luman, Mark McKinney
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Iowa-based Carver Aero has acquired two Aurora, Illinois aviation businesses: LumanAir Aviation Services and ATS Illinois. The acquisitions bring aircraft maintenance, engine/turbine servicing, flight training and FBO/charter capabilities under Carver Aero as it expands operations at Aurora Municipal Airport.
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- Buyer
- H.I.G. Infrastructure (affiliate of H.I.G. Capital)
- Target
- North America Central School Bus
- Seller
- Goldner Hawn LP
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
An affiliate of H.I.G. Capital's infrastructure arm has acquired North America Central School Bus (NAC), a Joliet, Illinois–based student transportation provider. The deal was an exit for prior sponsor Goldner Hawn LP; H.I.G. said it will support geographic expansion and a transition to next-generation (including electric) bus technology while management, led by CEO Steve Hemmerlein, remains in place.
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- Buyer
- FleetPride, Inc.
- Target
- All Pro Truck & Trailer
- Seller
- Brian Hicks (founder of All Pro Truck & Trailer)
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
FleetPride, Inc. acquired the assets of All Pro Truck & Trailer of Rockford, Illinois. The shop — founded by Brian Hicks in 2000 and operating 16 service bays with onsite, towing and roadside capabilities — will operate as a standalone FleetPride Service Center to strengthen FleetPride’s parts and service coverage in the Rockford region.
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May 26, 2021
- Buyer
- 48forty Solutions, Audax Private Equity
- Target
- Prime360
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Addon
48forty Solutions, a portfolio company of Audax Private Equity, has acquired Prime360, a Schaumburg, Illinois-based provider of pallet management and brokerage services. The add-on expands 48forty’s national pallet management and logistics capabilities, combining Prime360’s retail-focused services and brokerage relationships with 48forty’s existing network to grow their service offering and footprint.
-
- Buyer
- Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P., Zebra Technologies Corporation, Volvo Group Venture Capital, Qualcomm Ventures, LLC
- Target
- FourKites
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Growth capital
Thomas H. Lee Partners (THL) led a $100 million Series D growth round in FourKites, a Chicago-based real-time supply chain visibility software provider. Strategic investors Zebra Technologies, Volvo Group Venture Capital and Qualcomm Ventures joined the financing to help FourKites accelerate product innovation, expand market penetration and pursue organic and inorganic growth initiatives.
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November 5, 2020
- Buyer
- AEA Investors' Small Business Fund (AEA SBF), AEA Investors LP
- Target
- Montway, Inc.
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
AEA Investors' Small Business Fund has closed the acquisition of Montway, Inc., a fast-growing US vehicle transport broker. Montway operates a technology-enabled platform serving both B2C and B2B customers, providing load matching, instant quoting and real-time tracking; AEA plans to support growth and further penetrate the B2B market.
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May 11, 2020
- Buyer
- Omnitracs, LLC
- Target
- VisTracks
- Industry
- Transportation
- Location
- Illinois, United States
- Type
- Buyout
Omnitracs has acquired VisTracks, a provider of device-agnostic, SaaS-based compliance and telematics solutions for the transportation industry. The acquisition accelerates development of the Omnitracs One platform, advances Omnitracs' hardware-agnostic strategy and expands the company's reach into the SMB market via VisTracks' reseller community.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What transportation subsectors are represented in Illinois acquisitions?
Recent Illinois deals cover logistics and freight forwarding, near-airport parking and parking reservations, aviation services and GSE/AME leasing, vehicle management and relocation towing, remarketing/title services, and student transportation software.
Which recurring buyers show up across these Illinois transactions?
Recurring names include Mill Point Capital LLC, LOGISTEC, Audax Private Equity, STG Logistics, AEA Investors' Small Business Fund (AEA SBF), AEA Investors LP, GlacierPoint Enterprises, Inc., and Location Services, LLC.
Are these deals mostly in the Chicago area?
Many transactions reference Illinois locations including Chicago or the Chicago metro (e.g., dealership sale and South Chicago operations), while others involve broader Illinois geography such as East Dubuque and Hoffman Estates.
Do announcements typically include regulatory or closing-condition language?
Some deals explicitly note that transactions are subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions and/or expected timing for closing (based on the disclosed summaries).