BestDrive buys Brahler's Truckers Supply

JACKSONVILLE, Ill. (April 8, 2016) — Continental Tire the Americas L.L.C.'s wholly owned BestDrive L.L.C. subsidiary has acquired Brahler's Truckers Supply Inc. of Jacksonville and will convert Brahler's seven service locations in Illinois and eastern Missouri to BestDrive signage.

Terms of the deal, which closed Feb. 1, were not disclosed.

The deal expands BestDrive's network to 18 commercial service locations and seven retread plants, including Brahler's in Jacksonville, which is being converted to the ContiLifeCycle retread system from a Marangoni Ringtread shop.

Brahler's principal Richard Brahler will continue to manage the Illinois and Missouri locations under the BestDrive banner, according to the company.

“As a solution provider for many years it made perfect sense to join forces after seeing the new products and technologies Continental is bringing to the our customers,” Mr. Brahler said, calling it a good deal for both companies.

“We are incredibly pleased to bring a well-known and respected company like Brahler's into the BestDrive family,” said Glen Carson, director of retail for commercial tires at Continental the Americas.

“This move puts BestDrive in a great position to better serve the Midwest region as we continue to expand both our locations and our services.”

The new BestDrive shops employ approximately 100 employees across all seven service locations and the retread shop. BestDrive outlets carry multiple brands of radial truck tires as well as Continental commercial vehicle tires, Continental specialty tires, ContiPressureCheck and commercial tire pressure monitoring systems.

Brahler's Truckers Supply began more than 40 years ago as a Bandag franchisee in Meredosia, Ill., led by Richard William (Bill) Brahler.

Other BestDrive operations are located in Arizona, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and Michigan.