Landair, a Greeneville-based trucking company, announced this morning that it has acquired Summit Logistics Services, Inc., whose headquarters are in Knoxville.

Summit specializes in dedicated contract carriage and distribution for business and industry, operating 205 dedicated trucks and 11 distribution centers across the country.

"This acquisition furthers Landair's customer commitment to provide experience and leading edge technology to drive supply-chain solutions and optimization," a Landair press release said.

Scott Batey, who will remain president of Summit Logistics, said, "We are excited about this relationship with Landair. We feel this partnership will bring added value and opportunities to our customers and employees."

Batey added, "Landair will offer our customers capacity flexibility and 24-hour coverage seven days per week from their service tracking center. Landair will bring added support staff to our administrative and service teams. One of the most exciting aspects about this partnership is it will allow us to continue growing rapidly."

Landair specializes in truckload services, dedicated contract services and warehousing.

John Tweed, president of Landair, said, "We are excited about the new opportunities this acquisition brings to our organization. Summit brings with them a dynamic routing technology that will definitely be a value-added product for existing and new customers.

"This will also allow Landair to expand geographically, moving into the Western and Northern states. Texas, Washington, California, Utah, and Massachusetts are several of the new locations that will expand our area of operations."

Landair describes itself as "a high-service-level carrier that provides truckload, dedicated and contract trucking services, commercial and contract warehousing, distribution, store stockroom management, transportation management, and total supply chain solutions tailored to meet customers' specific needs."

Scott M. Niswonger, a Greeneville business leader and philanthropist, is the founder of Landair and the principal shareholder of the privately-held trucking company that began operations in Greeneville in 1981.

In 2005, Landair relocated its headquarters from an office building at the Greeneville-Greene County Municipal Airport, where the other trucking company Niswonger founded, Forward Air Corporation, is based.

Niswonger retired from Forward Air Corporation in 2005, while remaining as its chairman emeritus.

At the conclusion of 2007, Landair had a total of:

* 968 employees in all divisions;

* 625 company and owner/operator tractors; and

* 1,600 trailers.