Category Press Releases

March 10, 2025

World Group Acquires Dray Alliance Inc., Strengthens ContainerPort Group’s Tech-Driven Drayage Capabilities

World Group Announces Acquisition of Dray Alliance Inc., Strengthening ContainerPort Group’s Technology-Driven Drayage Capabilities

Cleveland, Ohio – March 10, 2025 – World Group LLC, an American-owned and family-run global logistics and supply chain solution provider, announced the acquisition of Dray Alliance Inc., headquartered in Los Angeles/Long Beach (LA/LB) California. This acquisition is set to further enhance its subsidiary, ContainerPort Group (CPG®), one of the nation’s largest drayage providers. The acquisition is a strategic move to strengthen CPG’s digital operations, expand its presence in LA/LB, and accelerate their long-term technology roadmap.

“Our mission for ContainerPort Group is to lead the future of drayage with innovation, reliability, and service excellence,” said Joey Palmer, Co-CEO of World Group and President of ContainerPort Group. “Dray Alliance’s cutting-edge platform will change the game and improve the way we can serve our customers and engage our drivers.”

Dray Alliance, founded in 2018 by Steve Wen, is a leading digital drayage provider in LA/LB. They are set apart by a specialization in automation and visibility solutions: creating a platform which is preferred by carriers and seamless to customers. The combined network and scalable technology of Dray Alliance and ContainerPort Group will position them as a leading provider in the Los Angeles / Long Beach market, driving tailored, digitally executed drayage solutions.

Dray Alliance’s founder and CEO, Steve Wen, offered the following comments:

“We are beyond excited to be joining the network of ContainerPort Group, a brand with great scale and respected industry reputation. This acquisition validates the foundational work we have done at Dray Alliance. In this partnership, we will continue to build towards our mission, backed by visibility, efficiency, and automation to do what we have always done best: solving customers’ drayage pain points better and faster than anyone else.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Dray Alliance to the World Group family. This is an exciting step forward for both companies,” added Fred Hunger, Owner and Executive Chairman of World Group. “By combining CPG’s scale, reliability, and operational expertise with Dray Alliance’s cutting-edge technology, we are creating a best-in-class solution that benefits customers, carriers, and the entire industry.”

Customers and carriers currently using Dray Alliance’s platform will continue to do so as CPG integrates its existing customer base and expands its technology and service offerings.

About World Group

World Group was founded over 60 years ago as a pioneer in vessel agency services on the Great Lakes. Today, they are home to a portfolio of globally trusted brands that deliver end-to-end supply chain solutions, powered by innovative technology for a new level of visibility and data analytics. With industry-leading products, customers around the globe trust World Group brands to simplify supply chains and reliably move freight. Learn more at www.worldgrouplogistics.com.

World Group’s distinct operating companies span the spectrum of supply chain and logistics, including:

ContainerPort Group (CPG®), which is the largest family-owned drayage provider in America, and ranks among the Top-10 drayage carriers nationwide. With more than 50 years of experience, they offer dependable capacity at every major U.S. port and rail ramp, delivering the drayage, transload, and warehouse solutions customers require – precisely when and where they’re needed.
UWL, a freight forwarding organization, which is the #2 volume ranked NVOCC out of Vietnam. Their suite of solutions includes ocean and air freight, customs house brokerage, and a direct express shipping service from Vietnam to Seattle in partnership with Swire Shipping: The Sun Chief Express.
World Distribution Services (WDS), which provides warehousing and distribution services that customers trust with owned & operated assets across multiple facilities totaling nearly two million square feet.
World Shipping, Inc., which provides vessel husbandry services for ships sailing the Great Lakes.

Media Contact

Emily Hunger
440-503-4914
emily.hunger@worldgrouplogistics.com

Press Kit

in Press Releases

December 7, 2022

World Group Announces Acquisition of Pacific Cascade, Bolsters Service Footprint in Pacific Northwest

Cleveland, Ohio – Today, World Group, an American-owned global transportation and logistics organization, announced the acquisition of Pacific Cascade, comprised of Pacific Cascade Distribution, LLC, and Pacific Cascade Trucking, LLC, both headquartered in Sumner, Washington.

Pacific Cascade, founded in 2005 by Jeff Roulst, is an asset-light provider of 3PL services including drayage, warehousing, transloading, fulfillment, and more. They operate over 50 trucks and have garnered multiple motor carrier of the year honors from customers in 2016, 2020 and most recently in 2021. Additionally, in 2015, they were the first drayage provider servicing the ports of Tacoma and Seattle to become fully compliant with updated clean air regulations.

Pacific Cascade CEO Jeff Roulst offered the following comments: “This agreement really made sense for both organizations. World Group’s operating companies have a robust presence east of the Rockies, and their recent significant investments in the Pacific Northwest, including a new distribution facility and an express ocean service, demonstrate a commitment to long-term growth in this region. Our leadership teams share a similar vision, and we are excited to see where this journey takes us together.”

World Group CEO Fred Hunger shared the following: “We are thrilled to welcome Pacific Cascade to the World Group family. Their commitment to customers and focus on core values aligns perfectly with our vision and culture. They bring invaluable experience, a proven track record of success, and deep knowledge of the Pacific Northwest market. Having them in the fold will help us expand the breadth and scale of our existing offerings.”

“This is part of our strategic vision to utilize the Pacific Northwest as a transportation corridor for our customers and do it using all World Group companies,” added Hunger. “Housed within our portfolio, we now have the perfect trifecta of capacity for our customers in the PNW – ocean, warehouse and distribution, and trucking.”

Just this year, World Group’s top-10 U.S.-owned NVOCC and freight forwarding brand, UWL, in collaboration with Swire Shipping, launched a direct ocean express service with guaranteed capacity and market-fastest transit times between Southeast Asia and the U.S.

Hunger continued, “In addition to the launch of the Sun Chief express service, we also recently opened a distribution facility in Tacoma just a short 20-minute drive from Pacific Cascade’s 267,000 sq ft distribution facility and headquarters. We have quite the synergy within our offerings for this region and we believe it will be the next big thing for customers looking for alternative transportation corridors to LA/Long Beach.”

World Group’s distinct operating companies span the spectrum of supply chain and logistics, including:

ContainerPort Group (CPG®), a national top 10 intermodal drayage company that operates 29 terminals and provides nationwide coverage at every port and every rail with its three trucking brands: ContainerPort Group, Bristol Transportation and Middle Bay Transportation.
UWL, a top-10 U.S.-owned NVOCC freight forwarding organization that offers ocean and air freight solutions, customs house brokerage, and more.
World Distribution Services (WDS), providing warehousing and distribution across eight facilities totaling nearly two million square feet.
World Shipping, Inc., which provides vessel husbandry services for ships sailing the Great Lakes.

“Having Pacific Cascade as part of our roster will truly boost World Group’s strength,” added Hunger. “They will help us build on the momentum and investments from the last 12 months in the Pacific Northwest, and together we can continue to accomplish incredible things for our customers.”

in Press Releases

July 7, 2021

World Group Named to Northeast Ohio’s 2021 Top Workplaces List

Second consecutive appearance highlights strong start to 2021

Cleveland, Ohio – For the second time in as many years, World Group has been named a Top Workplace for Northeast Ohio by The Plain Dealer and Cleveland.com. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered and administered through a third-party partner, and measures a variety of culture drivers including alignment, execution, and connection, among others.

“What makes this so special for me as a leader is that our people fueled this award,” says CEO Michael Smith. “Despite the challenges of COVID, and the subsequent challenges in our industry, they kept showing up and doing outstanding work. They kept our culture going, even when we were remote.”

In 2020, our founding company, World Shipping, Inc., celebrated 60 years in business on the Great Lakes. After its founding, the company grew and supply chain technology evolved, so we expanded into inland container movement by founding what is known today as ContainerPort Group, or CPG®. Later this year, CPG® will celebrate 50 years of operation. These two organizations, along with UWL and World Distribution Services, make up what is known as World Group.

Specializing in transportation and logistics, we have experienced robust growth throughout the last 12 months. With over 600 employees, including 190 in Northeast Ohio, we continue to expand our profile and presence both regionally and nationally by providing reliable transportation solutions and exceptional customer service.

About World Group

World Group was founded over 60 years ago as a pioneer in vessel agency services on the Great Lakes. Today, we’re home to a portfolio of globally trusted brands that deliver customers end-to-end supply chain and logistics solutions. Our platform includes industry leading products in ocean drayage and domestic trucking, freight forwarding/NVOCC and air freight, customs house brokerage, and warehousing and distribution. Customers around the globe use our services to simplify their supply chains and reliably move freight. Learn how you can join our family by visiting our careers page.

in Accolades & Articles / Press Releases

August 24, 2020

World Shipping Announces 60th Anniversary, Celebration Throughout 2020

CLEVELAND, Ohio – World Shipping, Inc. is proud to announce and celebrate its 60th anniversary on the shores of Lake Erie. From its founding activity of vessel agency services on the Great Lakes, the company has grown to become an international organization managing complex international supply chains.

Founded by Jack E. Hunger in 1960, the company has adapted its business offerings through the years to meet the needs of its customers in an ever-changing logistics and transportation landscape. An intense focus on customer-driven solutions and a commitment to being an employer of choice continue to drive World Shipping to this day.

“World Shipping has been built from the ground up here in Cleveland, and now we truly have global reach.” offers Jackie Csiszar, Vice President of Operations. “We’ve sustained our success thanks to great employees with a passion for excellence, and we are positioned to continue that success for another 60 years.”

With its longevity comes experience, which World Shipping passes along to its customers through accurate and prompt service. Years of working on the Great Lakes has resulted in a deep knowledge of local conditions, both in the U.S. and Canada, which has allowed its vessel agency division to expand into new fields of business, including cruise ship agency, project logistics, and grain forwarding.

World Shipping, Inc. is a operating entity of World Group LLC. World Group’s operating entities serve its core import and export customers in the international supply chain with logistics services, ocean freight, air freight, customs clearance, warehousing and distribution, container depots, and drayage, while utilizing its proprietary state-of-the-art freight visibility platform, WorldScope.

About World Shipping
World Shipping, Inc. is an independent shipping agency (Great Lakes Vessel Agents & Canadian Vessel Agents) specializing in vessel operations, APIS/AMS/ACI/ENOA/D, grain forwarding and project logistics. Part of World Group, LLC, it is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.

in Press Releases / Vessel Agency Operations / World Shipping, Inc.

June 28, 2020

World Group Named to Northeast Ohio’s 2020 Top Workplaces List

Cleveland, Ohio – The World Group is pleased and honored to be named as a 2020 Top Workplace by The Plain Dealer and Cleveland.com. This award is determined by anonymous employee responses administered, distributed, and analyzed by an independent firm. This is World Group’s first appearance on the Top Workplaces list.

“We’re honored to be named a Top Workplace for Northeast Ohio,” says World Group CEO Michael Smith. “Coincidentally, we’re celebrating the 60th anniversary of our founding company this year. That kind of longevity doesn’t happen without great people to push us along, and this award is proof of how great our people are.”

With a deep focus on its core values, the company has evolved through the years by partnering with customers to meet their needs, while also nimbly responding to an ever-changing marketplace.

About World Group

Founded in 1960, World Group is a leading American-owned NVOCC, freight forwarder, transportation, warehousing, and logistics organization. We move freight through the air, across the oceans, and over the roads, from anywhere. Find out how we can help get your freight where it needs to be by visiting our website.

in Accolades & Articles / Press Releases

January 4, 2018

Press Release: ContainerPort Group and ASF Transportation Group Announce Merger

CLEVELAND, OH – January 4, 2018 – ContainerPort Group, Inc. (CPG) and ASF Transportation Group, LLC (ASF) are pleased to announce a merging of the two enterprises effective January 1, 2018. The combination of CPG and ASF will form an intermodal drayage powerhouse with over 1,300 power units in most key markets east of the Rockies.

Michael Smith, founder and president of ASF Transportation, will move forward as President of ContainerPort Group, Inc. “We began a search process nearly two years ago to retire the late Russ Graef, who was a veteran of our company for 45 years,” said Fred Hunger, CPG’s Chairman. “Michael brings exactly the type of hands-on, genuine, and no-ego type of management style which we were patiently looking to bring to the organization. His executive leadership from the transportation space, combined with his entrepreneurial spirit is a perfect combination to lead our now 1,300 plus strong fleet, and our Midwest intermodal depot locations.”

CPG & ASF 2018 Network Map

“Kudos go out to Tim McNamara, head of the Transportation Infrastructure Practice at global search firm of Odgers Berndtson, who led the search process,” said Hunger. Prior to ASF, Michael worked with Southern Cal Transport, and also many years with Schneider National.

ASF Transportation – comprised of ASF Intermodal, ASF Truckload, ASF Brokerage, and Middle Bay Transportation – brings a fleet of nearly 600 independent contractors and a very talented group of managers, dispatchers, customer service and support teams to the combined enterprise. “We are very excited to join the CPG team in blending our respective strengths into a dominant force in the intermodal drayage space,” said Michael Smith. “Our strengths as a South, mid-Atlantic, and US Gulf operator are a great strategic fit to CPG’s strengths in the Midwest, mid and North Atlantic markets.”

The combined company, to be operated under the ContainerPort Group brand, will be comprised of 24 terminals, 1,300 plus trucks, and over 400 professionals. With this merger, the company remains focused on providing superior service to fulfill customers’ needs in intermodal drayage, depot, truckload and brokerage operations.

The merger involves only the Intermodal/Transportation arm of the ASF Group. The Forwarding/Ocean Division, trading as ASF Logistics and ASF Global, will remain independent and under the existing management structure.

The combination is effective January 1, 2018 – and the two companies will work, in parallel, until such time as it can provide for an orderly combination of the operations.

ContainerPort Group, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio is a leading service provider to the containerized cargo shipping industry and is celebrating its 47^th year of operation. Today, CPG provides intermodal container trucking, inland CY Terminal and transloading operations, warehousing and logistics, and container repair, modification, sale and rental services.

About ASF

Based in Mobile, Alabama, ASF Intermodal is a full-service drayage provider and full transportation broker focused on providing common cargo, flat racks and overweight load freight services throughout the Southeastern United States through a strong network of import/export triangulations and port-to-door trucking. Services provided by ASF Intermodal include vendor management, chassis management, import/export triangulation, cargo management and flow optimization, transport management, cross-docking, trans-loading and distribution.

About ContainerPort Group

ContainerPort Group, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is a leading provider of services to the container shipping industry and is celebrating over forty-five years of operation. CPG provides both motor carrier services and terminal services (container depot, CY, equipment maintenance) to ocean carriers, railroads, shippers/receivers, and freight intermediaries. CPG operates facilities and terminals in twenty distinct geographic markets throughout the Midwest, Ohio Valley, Northeast, Southeast and Gulf regions.

For more information, please visit www.containerport.com

CONTACT:

Michael Smith
Email: Michael.Smith@containerport.com
Tel: 251-287-8152

in Container Trucking / ContainerPort Group / Press Releases

Russel A. Graef - President, ContainerPort Group

November 1, 2017

ContainerPort Group Announces Passing of President and Co-Founder Russel A. Graef

CLEVELAND, OH – October 30, 2017 – ContainerPort Group, Inc. announced today that its President and long-time company veteran, Russel A. Graef, passed away on October 26, 2017. It is with great sorrow that we share the loss of one of the intermodal industry’s founders, pioneers and collaborators.

Since CPG’s founding in 1971, Graef held executive positions in all divisions of the business, including terminal operations, sales, logistics, fleet safety, trucking, depot/CY and M&R operations. Fred Hunger, CEO of World Shipping, CPG’s parent company says, “Russ was a true company man focused on ContainerPort Group’s mission: To become intermodal’s best by achieving excellence in all we do. He was capable of operating lift machines, dispatching trucks, presenting to the Board of Directors and everything in between.”

Graef’s leadership, dedication, and ability to get into the day to day details helped bring the company to its leadership position in the market. Hunger continues, “Having been active in the industry for over 45 years – Russ has touched many lives, enjoyed countless friendships and made a lasting impact on many with his creativity and passion for solutions.”

Bob Leef, Senior V.P. East, commemorates Graef stating, “Russ valued people, employees and family above anything else. He would always go the extra mile when anyone needed help or guidance. I will miss a great boss, mentor and friend.”

It was Graef and his team’s vision to provide customers with nimble and responsive intermodal solutions – a concept which took off, propelling CPG to become a leading provider of container drayage throughout the United States. “Russ was a visionary long before the term was widely used in our industry. We are all very fortunate and blessed to have had him as a fearless leader – one who always led by example,” states Jim Kramer, Senior V.P. Midwest, embracing Graef’s legacy.

Graef forged the organization’s culture of operating as a national company run by local talent. It is this culture which has been one of CPG’s greatest keys to success, empowering the company to stand the test of time. Kramer remarks, “Russ believed in all of us, believed in our ability to be great. He would see people not as they are, but what they could become. He was our teacher, and the lessons he taught us will always live on within CPG.”

Throughout his career, Graef was also very active in a number of industry associations. ContainerPort Group’s CFO Glenn Fehribach states, “Russ was also a tremendous contributor to the trucking industry, serving on various boards and committees, offering unique perspectives and passionately challenging the status quo! I will sorely miss Russ’ passion, partnership and friendship.” Graef held leadership roles with the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) and served on the Board of Directors of the American Trucking Association’s Intermodal Motor Carrier Conference (IMCC). He was also a founding board member of the North American Chassis Pool Cooperative (NACPC).

Graef’s enduring ambition for ContainerPort Group was to build a visionary company dedicated to providing innovative cargo transportation and freight services while delivering the highest level of customer service available in the industry. We will continue on with his legacy, embracing the unique culture he created that will sustain us for many years to come.

Notes of remembrance can be sent to the company at info@www.worldshipping.com.

About ContainerPort Group

For more information, please visit www.containerport.com

CONTACT:
Jenna Porostosky (ContainerPort Group, Inc.)
Tel: 440-895-8228
Email: marketing@worldgrp.net

in ContainerPort Group / People / Press Releases

June 19, 2017

Jack E. Hunger, founder of World Shipping, Inc., passes away

FEATURED IN

CLEVELAND, OH – June 19, 2017 – The global shipping industry lost one of its early pioneers recently with the passing of Jack E. Hunger. Hunger, a graduate of the US Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point) in 1957 went on to form World Shipping, Inc., one of the industry’s pioneering companies in the Great Lakes Vessel and Liner Agency business. Over the years, World Shipping represented many premier liner companies in the US Midwest. The company now has a global reach through its forwarding operations (UWL), and is active in the warehousing (WDS) and trucking (CPG) sectors though its subsidiary operations. Notes of remembrance can be sent to the company at info@www.worldshipping.com.

About World Shipping, Inc.
Since 1960, World Shipping has been active in serving shippers and receivers of international cargo operating in multiple segments, including vessel agency operations, freight forwarding, ocean freight, trucking, rail operations, warehousing and distribution, bulk liquid international logistics, and customs clearance. Headquartered in Cleveland, OH, The World Group includes World Shipping, Inc., ContainerPort Group, UWL, Inc., World Distribution Services, and NewPort Tank Containers.

For more information, please visit www.worldshipping.com.

CONTACT:
Jenna Porostosky (World Shipping, Inc.)
Tel: 440-895-8228
Email: marketing@worldgrp.net

in Accolades & Articles / People / Press Releases / World Shipping, Inc.

May 26, 2017

ContainerPort Group expands intermodal network into Houston, Texas

CLEVELAND, OH – May 26, 2017 – ContainerPort Group, Inc. (CPG) expands its drayage network into Houston, Texas officially on May 15, 2017. Port Houston handles roughly two-thirds of the region’s container trade and positions CPG to exceed customer demands, with their drayage terminal strategically placed between the two main ports, Barbours Cut Container Terminal and Bayport Container Terminal. The recent developments with the Panama Canal expansion allows for larger berth vessels to bypass the West Coast ports in favor of Gulf Coast terminals with better access to destinations.

With over 45 years of intermodal experience, CPG is more excited than ever to add more capacity to their growing logistics footprint. Senior VP of Commercial, Jim Kramer states, “CPG follows the needs of their customers and we have seen a strong increase in demand for drayage in the South. We are proud to extend our company’s service offerings into the Gulf region, and our dedicated team of highly experienced professionals are ready to fulfill this demand.”

Kramer added, “This strategic expansion allows our customers to use a drayage provider in Houston that they already trust and serves them well in other regions. CPG now has more capacity to handle their growth, and we are happy to offer more lanes to get their cargo where it needs to go.”

The Houston terminal offers all of CPG’s intermodal solutions and significant advantages to support its valued customers’ supply chains, and is conveniently located at:

ContainerPort Group, Inc.
1600 South 16th Street
La Porte, TX 77571
E: cpghou@containerport.com
Tel: 281-972-5557
Slader Atkinson, Regional Director-Gulf
CPG Houston Webpage

About ContainerPort Group
ContainerPort Group, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is a leading provider of services to the container shipping industry and is celebrating over forty-five years of operation. CPG provides both motor carrier services and terminal services (container depot, CY, equipment maintenance) to ocean carriers, railroads, shippers/receivers, and freight intermediaries. CPG operates facilities and terminals in nineteen distinct geographic markets throughout the Midwest, Ohio Valley, Northeast, Southeast and Gulf regions.

CONTACT:
James R. Kramer
Tel: 440-895-8145
Email: jim.kramer@containerport.com

CONTACT:
Jenna Porostosky
Tel: 440-895-8228
Email: marketing@containerport.com

in Container Trucking / ContainerPort Group / Press Releases

May 24, 2017

WDS completes relocation into larger warehousing & distribution facility in Savannah, GA

CLEVELAND, OH – May 24, 2017 – World Distribution Services (WDS) is pleased to announce the relocation of its larger and newly built warehousing and distribution facility in Savannah, GA, close to the Gateway of American Commerce, the Port of Savannah. The state-of-the-art 150,000 square-foot facility, with contiguous expansion space, is now fully operational.

Located just 5 minutes away from the Port of Savannah with easy access to the Interstate, the new WDS Class-A facility boasts 20 dock doors, increased security with cameras, dock height and ground level access, and indoor loading, crossdock and transload capabilities. It is also Liquor Permitted, USDA and FDA Certified. All of these features enable WDS to provide exceptional warehousing and distribution services for customers in the machinery, chemical, automotive, food, beverage, and apparel industries. Previously WDS was leasing a 100,000 square-foot warehouse in Savannah, GA that has now transitioned to the new location with room to grow.

The transition was spurred to meet the increasing need for warehousing and distribution space in the region. According to JOC, growing Asian import traffic and e-commerce have been fueling the demand for space, with the port of Savannah having its busiest year ever in loaded container traffic in 2016, handling 2.94 million twenty-foot equivalent container units, a 2.5 percent increase over the prior year.

“We are pleased to have taken another step forward in executing our strategic expansion plans on the US East Coast,” said Senior Vice President, John Morrow. “A critical part of this development was to ensure we secured additional contiguous space to grow into. The recent deal includes 100,000 square feet of expansion space in addition to the current 150,000 sq. ft. warehousing space. This will allow us to continue our commitment supporting our clients’ distribution needs in the Southeast. Our clients’ businesses are growing, and so is their need for warehousing space. We are here to meet that need now and in the future.”

As part of The World Group, WDS also expanded their logistics network with their intermodal drayage company, who have added a significant number of trucks into the market to support WDS and World Shipping clients. WDS continues to bring competitive advantage to the Savannah market and enjoys becoming an active member in the local maritime logistics community.

The new facility is located at:

World Distribution Services
100 Morgan Lakes Industrial Boulevard
Savannah, Georgia 31322

ABOUT WORLD DISTRIBUTION SERVICES – WDS

World Distribution Services (WDS) is a leading provider of creative domestic and global supply chain solutions, specializing in warehousing and logistics. WDS possesses the facilities, network, equipment, expertise and, most importantly, a team of professional, talented staff whose mission is to exceed customers’ expectations. In addition to the WDS corporate headquarters located in Cleveland, Ohio, WDS offers 11 strategic warehousing locations across the United States including most major East Coast, Gulf and West Coast port locations. The company also operates three intermodal Class I rail facilities in the Midwest and Columbus, OH that offer bulk transload services, specialized heavy and oversize transloading capabilities and private intermodal rail service. WDS is a division of The World Group, leveraging over 55 years of collective experience in providing cargo transportation services across the globe.

For more information, please visit www.worldds.net.

Contact:

in Companies / Cross-Dock Operations / Press Releases / Warehousing & Distribution / World Distribution Services

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