What RDK Transportation Co does

RDK Transportation Co, founded in 2004 and headquartered in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, was amalgamated into Payne Transportation on January 1, 2024 as part of parent Mullen Group Ltd.'s consolidation strategy. RDK's absorption added Payne's first Saskatchewan branch and enhanced the Specialized Division for large agriculture, forestry, and construction equipment transport. Post-amalgamation, the combined Payne entity operates as a single-source cross-border and national transportation and logistics platform, organized into four service divisions: Dry Van, Expedited LTL (Texas-Alberta lanes), Specialized (Agriculture/Forestry/Construction), and Wire & Cable (introduced via the simultaneous Tenold East amalgamation). The fleet consists of over 160 trucks and approximately 250 trailers, complemented by a network of 750 partner carriers, with modern facilities in Winnipeg (head office, 15,000 sq ft on 16 acres), Winkler (MB), Saskatoon (SK), and Johnstown (US).

The company generates revenue on a transaction-fee basis through quote-based pricing for transportation, consultation, project management, warehousing, cross-docking, and customs brokerage services. Go-to-market is sales-led via a direct customer service team, toll-free phone line (1-866-GO-PAYNE), and a website offering online shipment tracking and quote requests. Competitive positioning rests on FAST, C-TPAT, PIP, and CSA certifications enabling expedited US-Canada border clearance under US Customs ACE compliance, supported by 24/7 program coverage. Customer segments are vertical-oriented across Agriculture, Construction, Mining & Forestry, Aerospace (e.g., Standard Aero), and Manufacturing/Industrial (e.g., Fort Garry Industries). Technology stack centers on standard real-time shipment tracking and fleet management systems; no proprietary AI or differentiated platform technology is disclosed.

RDK itself no longer operates independently; the analysis reflects the combined Payne Transportation business under Mullen Group Ltd. ownership (established 2005). Leadership transitioned from founder Tom Payne Sr. (retired April 2008) to Tom Payne Jr. (President from May 2008). The current leadership table lists Ray Milne as President and CEO, suggesting a subsequent leadership change at the Payne/Mullen level. Multiple sources describe Payne as approaching 25 years in business, indicating a mature, operationally stable, acquisition-driven roll-up rather than an early-stage venture.

Name

RDK Transportation Co

Legal name

RDK Transportation Co

Website

https://rdktransportation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

RDK Transportation Co, founded in 2004 in Saskatoon, was amalgamated into Payne Transportation (a Mullen Group subsidiary) in January 2024. It now operates as part of a cross-border Canadian-US trucking and logistics platform with 238 employees, 160 trucks, and four terminals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Logistics Services

NAICS

Other Support Activities for Transportation (4889)

SIC

Trucking (No Local) (4213), Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Power Generation & Grid Equipment Transport (Transformers, Turbines) (TLADAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Automotive & Industrial Parts Transload (TLALAFAE)

Keywords

• Specialized freight transportation
• Cross-border logistics
• Agricultural equipment hauling
• Construction materials transport
• Customs brokerage services

Headquarters

HQ city

Saskatoon

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Transportation Services: Provides transportation, consultation, and project management services for cross-border and national logistics. Services include LTL (Less-Than-Truckload), expedited shipping, specialized transport, and wire & cable division services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

RDK Transportation Co provided specialized transportation services for agricultural products, construction materials, and mining/forestry equipment across Canada and the United States. Following amalgamation into Payne Transportation on January 1, 2024, the offering is part of a broader cross-border logistics portfolio that includes Dry Van freight, Expedited LTL (Less-Than-Truckload), Specialized (Ag/Forestry/Construction), and Wire & Cable divisions, supported by comprehensive customs brokerage services.

Product overview

Payne Transportation operates as a single-source transportation and logistics platform offering multiple specialized service divisions including Dry Van, Expedited LTL, Specialized (Ag/Forestry/Construction), and Wire & Cable divisions. Services include cross-border logistics with customs brokerage, online shipment tracking, bonded cargo handling, and project management. The company was founded in May 2000 and now operates over 160 trucks and approximately 250 trailers from facilities in Winnipeg, Winkler, Saskatoon, and Johnstown, having grown through multiple acquisitions including Kooistra Trucking (2004), C. Steen Trucking (2006), GVT Trucking/Ger-Ed Transport (2010), Kelwest Trucking (2017), RDK Transport (2024), and Tenold Transportation's Eastern operations (2024).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Specialized Transportation Division (Ag, Forestry, Construction) Specialized transportation division for Large Ag, Forestry, and Construction equipment, providing cross-border and national logistics solutions for oversized and heavy industrial cargo.
• Dry Van Freight Transportation Dry van freight transportation division serving general cargo needs across Canada and the United States.
• Expedited LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) Service Expedited Less-Than-Truckload division running between terminals in Texas and Alberta, providing time-sensitive shipping services.
• Wire & Cable Transportation Division Specialized transportation division dedicated to wire and cable products, introduced through the Tenold East acquisition.
• Customs Brokerage Services Comprehensive customs brokerage services partnering with a network of trusted customs brokers to ensure smooth cross-border documentation and regulatory compliance, with 24/7 ACE program coverage.
• Online Shipment Tracking Real-time online tracking system enabling customers to monitor shipment status and cargo location using their tracking number.

Quantifiable outcome

• 24 years in business with approaching 25th anniversary
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Werner Enterprises: Nebraska-based truckload carrier with dedicated, one-way, and logistics services across the US, Canada, and Mexico. Comparable as a mid-to-large TL operator with cross-border lanes into Canada and similar fleet scale.
• Gardewine Group: Privately held Manitoba-based carrier offering LTL, TL, and logistics services across Western Canada and into the US. Closely comparable as a mid-sized Canadian cross-border carrier that previously divested assets (Kooistra Trucking) to Payne.
• Trimac Transportation: Calgary-based carrier specializing in bulk trucking, industrial fluids, and specialized transport across Canada and the US. Comparable as a Canadian specialized-haul carrier with industrial customer concentration.
• Day & Ross Transportation Group: New Brunswick-based LTL and truckload carrier serving Canada and the US Northeast, owned by the McCain Group. Comparable as a Canadian carrier with cross-border LTL/TL service and dedicated freight network.
• Manitoulin Transport: Gore Bay, Ontario-based LTL, TL, and logistics provider with the largest Canadian LTL network. Comparable as a domestic Canadian carrier with cross-border capabilities serving similar industrial customer segments.

Broad incumbents

• Mullen Group Ltd. Parent company of Payne/RDK and one of Canada's largest transportation and logistics providers. Comparable as the ultimate consolidator of regional Canadian carriers, with shared services, capital, and acquisition strategy underpinning the Payne/RDK operating model.
• TFI International: Montreal-headquartered transportation and logistics company operating LTL, truckload, and logistics segments across North America. Comparable as a large Canadian-domiciled carrier with cross-border capabilities and aggressive acquisition strategy.
• Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings: Phoenix-based largest truckload carrier in the US with TL, LTL, and logistics segments formed through serial acquisitions. Comparable as a roll-up acquirer of regional TL operators and major cross-border carrier.
• J.B. Hunt Transport Services: Arkansas-based publicly traded carrier with intermodal, dedicated, and truckload services across North America. Comparable as a large-scale TL operator with significant cross-border and specialized capacity.
• Schneider National: Green Bay, Wisconsin-based multimodal carrier with truckload, intermodal, and logistics services across North America. Comparable as an established cross-border TL/intermodal operator with a large owned fleet.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses6 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rdk-transport

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RDK Transportation Co