LRT Group has acquired Xpress Global Systems (XGS), a specialized less-than-truckload carrier best known for handling floor-covering freight, in a deal announced Friday, November 7. The move brings a national, high-touch rolled-goods network under the umbrella of Fort Payne, Alabama-based LRT Group. ([]())
XGS told customers the new ownership is intended to accelerate service expansion and add capabilities while preserving the company’s existing service standards and relationships. In other words, shippers should expect continuity in day-to-day operations as integration begins.
Why it matters: specialized LTL is a different animal. Flooring freight rides on purpose-built equipment, with cut, roll and consolidation workflows that don’t mesh easily with palletized freight. Consolidating that know‑how inside a larger logistics platform gives LRT Group a defensible niche at a time when generalized LTL demand can swing quarter to quarter. For mills, distributors and retailers, a deeper-capital parent could mean more capacity in peak remodel seasons, tighter delivery windows for job sites, and potentially broader coverage into challenging last-mile destinations.
For carriers and 3PLs that compete around flooring lanes, the near-term signal is clear: expect XGS to lean into network density under LRT Group’s backing. Added density typically tightens linehaul planning and lowers damage risk on rolled goods—a key differentiator when claims are costly and time-sensitive. If LRT prioritizes growth by adding cut-and-ship or project logistics for hard-surface products, rivals may feel pressure to either specialize further or partner up to preserve service breadth in those corridors.
What shippers should do now:
– Reconfirm routing guides and pickup windows during the transition period to prevent misrouted flooring freight.
– Align site requirements (dock hours, liftgate/inside delivery, roll-handling) on tenders to avoid exceptions.
– Revalidate claims contacts and portals; even with “business as usual,” integration can change workflows.
– Ask about near-term capacity additions or lane extensions that could consolidate multiple vendors into one schedule.
Geographically, the buyer’s footprint matters. LRT Group is based in Fort Payne, Alabama—squarely in the Southeast manufacturing and distribution arc that feeds much of the U.S. flooring trade—suggesting an owner close to core production and import flows that feed XGS docks.
The bottom line: bringing a dedicated flooring LTL network into a broader logistics group should give XGS the runway to add capacity and services without sacrificing the specialized handling that niche shippers pay for. If execution matches the promise, the deal could stabilize service and damage performance on a segment where “on time and intact” is often more valuable than a few cents per mile. ([]())
Sources: FreightWaves, Floor Covering News, FloorDaily
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