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Warehousing and distribution firms are beginning to attract more interest from investors as demand for storage space nationwide heats up and competition intensifies among smaller players.

Heartland Express Inc. announced weaker-than-expected earnings in the third quarter on Oct. 27 as higher expenses related to Interstate Distributor Co. dragged results down despite higher revenue.

Freight Brokers International Corp., a freight brokerage firm in Vaughan, Ontario, that goes by the name The FBI Group, has agreed to acquire another brokerage firm, Consolidated Carriers, based in Markham, Ontario.

Canadian American Transport Holding Inc. announced that it has acquired SLH Transport in Kingston, Ontario — a move that triples the size of its truck fleet in Canada and provides stability for employees of SLH Transport, a carrier whose owner, Sears Canada, filed for bankruptcy protection in June.

“Trucks are going to be around for a very long time.”

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. agreed to acquire Germany-based Ventech Systems GmbH, a supplier of automated tire inspection technology it has worked with for three years, from Grenzebach Maschinenbau GmbH, it said.

Wilson Logistics Inc., based in Springfield, Mo., has purchased the assets of Haney Truck Line, adding flatbed and heavy-specialized freight hauling to its portfolio of trucking and logistics services while significantly expanding business in the Pacific Northwest and parts of Canada.

Flatbed group Daseke Inc. purchased its fourth motor carrier this year, bringing R&R Trucking into the corporation and adding defense transportation to its capabilities.