Private equity firms Centre Partners and Altivare Capital Partners have acquired 3PL Navajo Expedited, setting the stage for further investment in the freight broker’s technology, operations and potential expansion through acquisitions.
Based in Lakeland, Florida, Navajo Expedited was previously part of Navajo Express, a Denver-based carrier operating a fleet of 300 units across over-the-road and dedicated transportation. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
Founded eight years ago, Navajo Expedited specializes in truckload brokerage, with a focus on dry van and temperature-controlled transportation. The company handles time-sensitive and specialized lanes for customers across the food and beverage, consumer packaged goods and industrial sectors.
The broker operates through a proprietary technology platform supported by a vetted network of 8,000 carriers and operators. Its technology capabilities include tools designed to improve carrier and driver vetting as well as load execution and pricing automation.
The company is led by Brandon Bodine, a 15-year industry veteran and Navajo Expedited’s founder and CEO. Bodine and the current management team had already worked together before launching the company.
“Our leadership team has worked together for many years, and we have invested early in automation because it makes us more reliable for shippers and easier to do business with for carriers,” Bodine said in a news release. “With Centre and Altivare behind us, we now have the capital and resources to accelerate what this team has spent years building.”
The investment from Centre Partners will support Navajo Expedited’s next stage of growth. The company plans to use the additional capital to expand its technology platform, while also leaving room for complementary acquisitions as part of its broader growth strategy.
Part of the transaction was financed through Centre Strategic Solutions I, a dedicated fund created by Centre Partners to support independent sponsor transactions in the lower middle market.
Bruce Pollack, managing partner at Centre, said the investment reflects the strength of Navajo Expedited’s customer relationships, service model and technology platform.
“Expedited has built a differentiated freight logistics platform underpinned by longstanding customer relationships, exceptional service and proprietary agentic AI technology that is already improving driver vetting and load execution,” Pollack said.
He added that the company’s management team has more than 15 years of experience building and scaling freight logistics businesses together. Combined with strong customer demand and a scalable operating model, Pollack said Navajo Expedited is well positioned to increase its market share through organic expansion and strategic acquisitions.
Why it matters
Private equity investment can give 3PLs the financial resources needed to expand operations, strengthen technology, broaden their service offerings and pursue acquisitions. Navajo Expedited’s new ownership structure also reflects the continued consolidation taking place across the freight brokerage industry, a trend that has gained additional attention following the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling on broker liability.
