The Salmon Companies, commonly known as Pat Salmon & Sons, was quietly acquired earlier this year by 10 Roads LLC after over 70 years as a family-owned Arkansas business. The North Little Rock-based mail services contractor was purchased on July 1, though few details of the sale have emerged.
Salmon’s Prominent Role as a USPS Contractor
Founded in 1946 by Pat Salmon, the company grew into one of the largest private firms in Arkansas, ranking 35th on a recent list of the state’s biggest private companies. For decades, Salmon functioned as a key contractor for the U.S. Postal Service, providing mail transportation and logistics services.
Salmon’s core business units included
- Pat Salmon & Sons Inc.
- Mail Contractors of America Inc.
- Pat Salmon & Sons of Florida Inc.
Collectively, these companies generated $335.3 million in USPS revenue in fiscal year 2018, according to industry analysts. Salmon operated mail transportation hubs and facilities across multiple states.
New Ownership by Chicago’s 10 Roads
In July 2019, the Salmon enterprises were acquired by 10 Roads LLC, a company affiliated with two other Chicago-area USPS contractors – Hoovestol Inc. and Eagle Express Lines.
According to Jeff Boone, vice president of operations at Salmon 10 Roads has similar shareholders as Hoovestol and Eagle Express. However he noted that the three companies will continue to function as separate entities. Salmon’s existing operations will not be combined or merged with the new parent organizations.
Hoovestol and Eagle Express also focus primarily on postal service contracts, which totaled $480.8 million in USPS revenue in 2018. So the purchase effectively united three major transportation providers under the common ownership of 10 Roads and its backers.
What the Future Holds for Salmon
While the Salmon brand has been preserved, it remains to be seen whether the Arkansas facilities and workforce will be impacted by the change in ownership. The company’s North Little Rock headquarters, which serves as a key mail processing hub, will apparently remain open.
Boone has reassured that longtime Salmon employees will retain their roles, at least in the near term. But the company’s local roots and family legacy have been lost. Pat Salmon founded the business shortly after returning from World War II military service.
For over 70 years, Salmon grew and operated independently under family management. It overcame challenges like the 2001 anthrax attacks that disrupted postal deliveries. But the costly demands of competing for USPS contracts eventually compelled the Salmons to sell.
The rise of email and e-commerce also present headwinds for traditional mail delivery. As Salmon adjusts to its new Chicago bosses, it faces an uncertain future catering to an increasingly digital America. But for now, mail keeps moving through its facilities, as Salmon advances its next chapter without the family at the helm.
Salmon Companies Company Overview
Salmon Companies started in 1946 as a U. S. Mail carrier operating one straight truck on a route from Harrison, Arkansas to Little Rock, Arkansas. Every night, Pat Salmon himself would drive the truck, getting the mail to Little Rock on time.
Today, the company delivers mail in almost all 48 contiguous states and has full-service maintenance centers in a number of major cities across the country. This has created a lot of new jobs in the trucking industry. Salmon is the largest ground transportation supplier to the United State Postal Service.
Salmon Companies Driver Benefits
- Competitive hourly wages and fringe benefits set by Federal Statute
- Pay for all hours worked
- Comprehensive group insurance plans
- 401(k) retirement plan with company match
- Paid vacation and up to ten paid holidays
- Bi-weekly pay & direct deposit
- Company-paid tolls