Family-owned Canadian carrier shutters operations after 76 years

McKevitt Trucking had 81 drivers at time of closure

McKevitt Trucking of Thunder Bay, Ontario, founded in 1948, has shut its doors. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

A family-owned Canadian cross-border trucking company  — McKevitt Trucking, headquartered in Thunder Bay, Ontario – has ceased operations after more than three-quarters of a century.

A source familiar with the situation told FreightWaves on Tuesday that former drivers for McKevitt Trucking were told about three weeks ago that the company was winding down operations by Oct. 31. The source declined to comment further.

It’s unclear why one of the largest cross-border truckload and less-than-truckload carriers in Northern Ontario shut its doors. TBNewsWatch first reported the trucking company’s closure.

FreightWaves has reached out to John McKevitt Sr., president of McKevitt Trucking, for comment.

Privately held McKevitt Trucking started as a one-truck operation in 1948 and ramped up operations to a fleet of 165 tractors and 450 trailers. It hauled general freight, household goods, building materials, refrigerated food and paper products.

At the time of its closure, McKevitt Trucking was down to 81 power units and the same number of drivers. Late Tuesday, the trucking company’s website and email were no longer working.

In addition to its headquarters in Thunder Bay, McKevitt Trucking will close its terminals in Ontario, including Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, Sudbury, North Bay and Mississauga.

Its trucks had been inspected nine times and two had been placed out of service in a 24-month period, resulting in a 22.2% out-of-service rate. This is slightly lower than the industry’s national average of around 22.3%,  according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration SAFER website.

The trucking company’s drivers were inspected 17 times and none were placed out of service. The national average for drivers is around 6.7%. In the past two years, McKevitt Trucking has been involved in two tow-aways.

According to FMCSA data, McKevitt’s Bodily Injury Property Damage coverage is slated to be canceled on Dec. 1.

Click here for more articles by Clarissa Hawes.

Miami trucking company, 5 affiliates file for bankruptcy

Illinois carrier lays off most of its company drivers

Texas logistics company with 500 truck drivers abruptly ceases operations

Texas logistics firm files for bankruptcy liquidation

Upcoming FreightWaves Events
Compliance

Brokerage Compliance Symposium

The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.

October 26, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
Awards

F3 Awards Dinner

The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.

October 26, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
FreightTech

F3: Future of Freight Festival

Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.

October 27, 2026 – October 28, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
Compliance Brokerage Compliance Symposium Oct 26 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now
Awards F3 Awards Dinner Oct 26 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now
FreightTech F3: Future of Freight Festival Oct 27 – Oct 28 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now

Clarissa Hawes

Clarissa has covered all aspects of the trucking industry for 18 years. She is an award-winning journalist known for her investigative and business reporting. Before joining FreightWaves, she wrote for Land Line Magazine and Trucks.com. If you have a news tip or story idea, send her an email to chawes@firecrown.com or @cage_writer on X, formerly Twitter.