North Carolina company buys Lake City trucking firm

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A Wilmington, N.C.-based distributor of resin thermoplastics intends to buy a South Carolina trucking company to complement its distribution efforts in the Palmetto State.

PolyQuest Inc. will buy Baker Transportation Inc. in Williamsburg County’s Lake City to expand its capability to deliver resin products to customers in the bottle, sheet, strapping, film, fiber, compounding and injection molding markets. Polyquest says the plan will create an additional 25 jobs.

“Although PolyQuest will continue buying freight services from existing freight vendors, the Baker acquisition promotes extreme flexibility in tailoring freight and logistics solutions for both PolyQuest’s and Baker Transportation’s current business partners,” PolyQuest CEO John Marinelli said in a news release from the South Carolina Commerce Department.

Founded in 1987 by Billy and Leila Baker, Baker Transportation is adjacent to the Interstate 95, Interstate 20 and Interstate 26 corridors in the Cades community, allowing access to domestic distribution routes as well as the ports of Wilmington, Charleston and Savannah, the news release stated. The Baker family will continue to oversee all transactional aspects of the business.

“On behalf of myself and Williamsburg County Council, we extend a warm welcome to PolyQuest as our newest industry partner,” County Supervisor Kelvin C. Washington said in the release. “We are proud and appreciative of the Baker family and the opportunities they have afforded Williamsburg County citizens over the past four decades. … PolyQuest's partnership with Williamsburg County is a testament to our community's strength and its ability to attract businesses that share our values and commitment to excellence. We look forward to a long-lasting and mutually beneficial partnership with PolyQuest.”

Baker Transportation Inc., located at 4021 N. Williamsburg County Highway, Lake City, will become Baker Transportation LLC when the transaction is complete next month, the release said.