THE IMPORTANCE OF SECURE WAREHOUSING: PROTECTING YOUR INVENTORY 24/7
March 18, 2024
Prioritizing Secure Warehousing
In the world of warehousing and logistics, the security of your inventory is paramount. Whether you're storing valuable goods, sensitive materials, or everyday products, ensuring their safety and security is crucial. In this article, we'll explore the importance of secure warehousing and how it can protect your inventory round-the-clock.
The Need for Secure Warehousing
Protection Against Theft and Vandalism:
Secure warehousing provides a safeguard against theft and vandalism, especially for high-value or sensitive goods. With advanced security measures in place, such as surveillance cameras, access control systems, and security personnel, the risk of unauthorized access is minimized.
Risk Mitigation:
Secure warehousing helps mitigate the risk of inventory loss due to theft, damage, or unauthorized handling. By implementing strict security protocols and monitoring systems, businesses can better protect their assets.
Compliance Requirements:
Many industries have strict compliance requirements for the storage and handling of certain goods, such as pharmaceuticals, hazardous materials, or high-value products. Secure warehousing helps ensure compliance with these regulations by providing a controlled environment with proper security measures in place.
Customer Confidence:
Secure warehousing can also enhance customer confidence by demonstrating a commitment to the safety and security of their products. This can be particularly important for businesses handling sensitive or high-value items where trust is essential.
Key Features of Secure Warehousing
24/7 Monitoring:
Secure warehouses are monitored round-the-clock using advanced surveillance systems to detect and deter unauthorized activities.
Access Control:
Access to secure warehouses is restricted to authorized personnel only, with strict entry and exit protocols in place.
Physical Security Measures:
Secure warehouses are equipped with physical security measures such as fencing, gates, alarms, and secure locks to prevent unauthorized entry.
Security Personnel:
Trained security personnel may be stationed at secure warehouses to provide an additional layer of protection and response to security incidents.
Secure warehousing is a critical component of modern logistics operations, providing a safe and secure environment for the storage and handling of goods. By investing in secure warehousing solutions, businesses can protect their inventory, mitigate risks, and build trust with their customers. In an increasingly competitive marketplace, secure warehousing is not just a choice but a necessity for businesses looking to safeguard their assets and reputation.
Looking to learn how Highlight Motor Group can help your business with secure warehousing solutions? Give us a call today at 905.798.9000 x 5056 or email your questions to [email protected]
Highlight Motor Group Receives 2023 Shipper's Choice Award: Celebrating Excellence in Transportation
July 28, 2023
We are delighted to announce that Highlight Motor Group has been bestowed with the prestigious 2023 Shipper's Choice Award, a recognition that holds immense significance for our team and the entire transportation industry. This esteemed accolade underscores our unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and customer service, positioning us at the forefront of the ever-evolving logistics landscape.
A Symbol of Excellence and Dedication
The Shipper's Choice Award is an accolade, given to carriers as a recognition of excellence based on shippers’ feedback and assessment of a carrier’s performance and service. With questions varying from service quality to reliability and communication, this award is a true testament to our team's unwavering dedication to delivering exceptional transportation solutions to our valued clients. The 2023 Shipper’s Choice Award recognition reaffirms Highlight Motor Group’s position as a leader in the industry, reflecting our constant pursuit of excellence and our commitment to surpassing customer expectations.
Customer Trust: The Driving Force Behind Our Success
We owe this prestigious honour to the unwavering trust and support of our valued clients. Each shipper who participated in the survey played a pivotal role in this achievement, sharing their experiences and feedback. We are deeply grateful for their trust and confidence in our services, which have enabled us to continually improve and provide even better solutions ever since the company’s inception in 2007.
Embracing Innovation and Sustainability
At Highlight Motor Group, innovation and sustainability have always been at the core of our operations. We are proud of our continuous development and application of innovative systems across the board, including regular monitoring and reporting, route optimization, utilization of smart technologies in-house and for our modernized fleet, as well as dedicating time and effort to Highlight’s driver training program with special provisions for more fuel-efficient driving habits. This award reinforces our entire operation’s dedication to embracing cutting-edge technologies and practices that make us more efficient, environmentally conscious, and capable of adapting to the industry's ever-changing demands.
Our Team: The Driving Force Behind Our Success
None of this would have been possible without the incredible efforts of our dedicated team. Their unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional service, passion for excellence, and strong work ethic are the cornerstones of our success. This award is a testament to their hard work and the teamwork that powers Highlight Motor Group.
A Look to the Future
Receiving the 2023 Shipper's Choice Award fills us with pride and inspires us to aim higher. We remain committed to raising the bar for excellence in the transportation industry, continuously striving to exceed our clients' expectations.
As we move forward, we will maintain our focus on embracing new technologies, exploring sustainable practices, and fostering even stronger relationships with our valued clients. We firmly believe that the future of transportation lies in innovation, and we are excited to lead the charge.
A Heartfelt Thank You
We extend our deepest gratitude to our incredible team and our clients who have been the driving force behind our success. This award belongs to all of you! Your unwavering support and trust are what make Highlight Motor Group a name synonymous with excellence in transportation.
We look forward to continuing our journey together, shaping the future of the transportation industry, and delivering unmatched service to all our clients.
Highlight's MEGA 15th Anniversary Holiday Party Was a Night to Remember!
December 21, 2022
In Highlight's history of Christmas parties, Saturday, December 17th, 2022 marked a milestone celebration. This year, we held one of the wildest parties, bigger than we EVER could have imagined for our 15th anniversary! We proudly welcomed over 1,000 attendees, 100 crew and entertainers, 15 acts, custom-built stages and more – making this an unforgettable experience for all!
This night would not have been possible without our friends who helped us bring this magical experience to life. We extend our deepest gratitude to Yury and Elena of Events4U, who have worked tirelessly over the past three months to perfect our Vegas-style show and come up with the most creative ways to style both our event venue and our head office. Our sincere thanks are also extended to Albert Vamos and DJ Loren from Vamos Entertainment for providing us with electrifying musical and visual entertainment. Our custom-built stage, screens and lighting experience was made possible by BBBlanc's expertise and we appreciate everything they have done for us. But most of all, we want to thank the Highlight family of employees and clients who made this night truly remarkable!
As part of Highlight's spirit of giving, we served unlimited delicious food and drinks, raffled off hundreds of prizes, played games and gave away TWO(!) trips for two to a luxury Dominican Republic resort! The dancefloor was packed, the entertainment was amazing and we raised a record amount for the SickKids Foundation that Highlight will match dollar for dollar. It was truly a night to remember for us, and we are forever grateful for the chance we had to spend it with our friends.
It was a pleasure to celebrate 15 years of success and kick off the holiday season with you all! Thank you so much!
Movember is back at Highlight!
November 21, 2022
It's that time of year again!
Highlight is contributing to this year's Movember campaign by helping our team, led by Yard Manager Dennis Moraitis, in their fundraising mission. Over this next month, keep an eye out for Dennis and other employees who will be growing wicked mos to save bros!
Movember is aimed to limit the number of men dying too young as a result of mental illness, suicide, prostate and testicular cancer and other diseases. Their goal is to reduce premature deaths by 25% by 2030. Proceeds from their fundraisers go toward over 1,250 men's health projects including research, treatment, patient care and mental health initiatives for men.
We are so proud to have Highlight members joining the community of Mo Bros and Mo Sisters as the campaign continues to grow each year. Together, we are bettering the lives of brothers, fathers, sons, friends and partners across the globe.
Your dough could save a bro! Donate to the Highlight team's fundraiser page: https://ca.movember.com/team/2403110
Or to learn more, visit: https://ca.movember.com/
Highlight supports world-class HPB program at St. Joseph’s Health Centre
October 19, 2022
At Highlight, we proudly give back to healthcare services that bring hope to people facing serious illness.
We’ve recently made a generous donation to the world-renowned HPB (hepato-pancreato-biliary) program at St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Toronto. This is one of Canada’s only sources for cancer and non-cancer related pancreatic and gastrointestinal surgeries, clinical care and research.
The HPB program is led by Dr. Shiva Jayaraman - a leading surgeon, researcher and advocate in his field. His recently published work focuses on incision landmarking that improves surgical outcomes for this extremely sensitive part of the body. These insights have earned high praise and are now being used to train surgeons around the world!
Dr. Jayaraman and his colleagues' services are delivering a better quality of life for people with HPB concerns, including cancer patients, across the country and globe. The Highlight team is touched by their incredible work and honoured to be involved in this cause by contributing to their continued treatment and research efforts.
Join us in this mission to increase survival rates for people facing some of the most aggressive forms of cancer and other illnesses. By supporting St. Joe’s and their HPB specialists, we can help bring more healing to those around us!
To make a donation and learn more about the St. Joseph’s Health Centre HPB program, visit: https://supportstjoes.ca/hpb-program/
Bringing you a new distribution facility with MORE warehousing space in the GTA!
September 27, 2022
In response to high demand from our valued customers, we are proud to announce that we have opened a 2nd MEGA warehouse and distribution centre in Brampton, ON!
This is now our 6th service location just months after opening our 5th in early 2022!
Located at 845 Intermodal Drive in one of Canada's BUSIEST shipping corridors, our newest facility offers plenty of space for your short and long-term storage needs. To ensure the safe and efficient handling of your goods, we have it fully staffed and equipped with several cross-docking stations, 24/7 security and our digital inventory management system. Our team will manage the seamless intake of your incoming shipments while offering custom distribution and value-added solutions to prepare them for the final mile.
This investment is one of the many ways Highlight demonstrates our ongoing commitment to those who count on us!
For more information about our services and location, email: [email protected]
Sponsoring Brain Cancer Canada’s Mission to Save Lives
September 15, 2022
Highlight is delighted to be co-event sponsors for tonight's Gala for Brain Cancer Research! The event will be filled with inspiring speeches, live music, wine tastings and more to help raise funds for pediatric and adult brain cancer research.
Brain Cancer Canada is formed by volunteers who are bridging the gap between ground-breaking research and life-saving treatments. They advocate for patients and their families while supporting modern initiatives to improve survival rates for malignant brain tumours.
Highlight President & CEO, Kirk Kalinitchenko comments, “I’m exceptionally honoured to be able to participate and support such a great cause. They’re making a significant impact in creating a future where a brain tumour doesn’t mean the end.”
He adds, “I encourage everyone to join this mission and make a contribution in whatever way you can!”
To learn more or donate to Brain Cancer Canada, visit: https://braincancercanada.ca/
HIGHLIGHT SHOWS SUPPORT FOR WOMEN IN TRANSPORTATION
June 3, 2022
As part of our commitment to improve the representation of women in transportation, we proudly sponsored yesterday’s Women with Drive Leadership Summit hosted by Trucking HR Canada.
The Women with Drive event involves industry leaders gathering to learn and exchange recruitment and retention strategies to make careers in transportation more inviting to women. This year’s theme, Driving Diversity, focused on achieving diversity and inclusivity in the workplace.
“The representation of women in the trucking and logistics industry remains well below their representation in Canada’s workforce as a whole,” states Angela Splinter, CEO of Trucking HR Canada. “The Women with Drive Leadership Summit puts the issue front and center; promotes the sharing of ideas, experiences and leadership practices while providing richer perspectives on the issue.”
Highlight sponsored this event as an advocate for women in transportation. President and CEO Kirk Kalinitchenko comments, “Women should feel welcome to join the field and have access to the same opportunities as everyone else. We are more than happy to support events like the Women with Drive Summit that are inspiring industry-wide change.”
At Highlight, we've focused internally on creating a work environment where people of various backgrounds and experiences can thrive professionally. We follow unbiased hiring practices as recognized by Jody R., who has been driving for us since 2017, "Highlight gives equal opportunities to everyone. To them, it's about your qualifications and potential - not your gender."
With a wide range of rewarding careers available in transportation, we encourage more women to apply and enjoy the many benefits this industry has to offer! Our driver, Larissa P., offers her insights for the next generation curious about trucking, “You get more freedom in this field than any other." She continues, "If you have a drive for exploration, trucking is for you. With every trip there is something new and exciting where you can experience the change of seasons across North America over the span of days. It never gets old.”
Highlight Motor Group Turns 15!
May 26, 2022
Highlight is proudly celebrating 15 AMAZING years of service! It's been our honour to support the North American shipping community with top-tier transportation services since Day 1.
We share this milestone with our staff and drivers whose dedication has earned us ongoing industry praise and awards over the years. Your generosity toward one another, our customers and others in need has helped us build a unified company culture and become prominent members of our community.
We'd also like to extend our gratitude to our loyal customers and partners for supporting Highlight's growth and success. You inspire us to continue elevating our standards of service!
To our entire Highlight family, THANK YOU! Here's to 15 more years of EXCELLENCE!
Investing in the Canadian Cancer Society’s Fight Against Cancer
March 29, 2022
At Highlight, we’re doing our part in the fight against cancer by contributing to the Canadian Cancer Society’s efforts that are bringing hope and a better quality of life to those affected.
Since the 1940s, the Canadian Cancer Society has been advocating for public policy changes to reduce cancer rates and has invested over $2 billion into research. This intensive research has been uncovering more insights about the 100+ cancer variations and finding the best treatments to improve patients’ survival rates. The information they share saves lives as it enables Canadians to catch early signs and avoid preventable forms. On top of that, they help patients and loved ones navigate their experiences by providing valuable resources and support services.
Our Highlight family is grateful for the Canadian Cancer Society’s unending commitment to creating a future where we will no longer have to fear cancer. President & CEO Kirk Kalinitchenko reflects, “The Canadian Cancer Society is a true beacon of hope for us. It’s a privilege to stand by them as donors and we encourage everyone to do the same so together, we can beat cancer!”
Visit https://cancer.ca/en/ to learn more about the Canadian Cancer Society’s many services and resources or make a donation now.
Highlight wrapped up 2021 bringing joy (and toys!) to families in the York Region
March 4, 2022
As a whirlwind of a year full of company achievements and other giving back initiatives was coming to a close, our team joined the York Regional Police in their 2021 Holiday Heroes campaign to collect essentials and gifts for families in need. While this is an annual drive, the Holiday Heroes contributions also go to year-round programs offering resources and counselling to adults and children with limited access.
We were honoured to be among the 150+ local businesses, 76 schools and numerous citizens who gathered money, food, clothing, gift cards and (of course!) many toys over November and December. Together, we made this year’s campaign the biggest success EVER in 25 years, bringing smiles to more than 3,000 families and 5,000 children! Our Highlight drivers enjoyed every second of delivering the toys we collected at our offices directly to Holiday Heroes’ partner organizations, the Salvation Army and Victim Services of York Region!
From the Highlight team, we’d like to extend a big THANK YOU to the York Regional Police, Salvation Army and Victim Services of York Region. We are grateful for your endless work in protecting and bringing hope to families in our community. Our team is already looking forward to making 2022’s campaign an even BIGGER success!
To learn more about the Holiday Heroes campaign, visit: https://www.yrp.ca/en/community/Holiday-Heroes-Food-and-Toy-Drive.asp
New Year, New Equipment
January 10, 2022
At Highlight, we’re kicking off the year by expanding our fleet with another delivery of beautiful new 2022 Volvo highway trucks equipped with leading tech and luxury features! We value our committed drivers for their dedication to serving our customers across North America, so in return, we’re constantly investing in the best equipment to provide them unmatched safety, comfort and style.
We’d also like to share our appreciation to the Volvo Trucks North America team for delivering our new trucks on time during these challenging, unprecedented times. It’s an honour to have you as our wonderful, reliable partners for more than 15 years!
To our drivers, thank you for keeping Highlight moving forward and enjoy riding in your BRAND-NEW Volvos!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM HIGHLIGHT!
December 22, 2021
Merry Christmas and happy holidays from our Highlight family to yours! As we wrap up 2021, we’d like to say a big THANK YOU to our customers, partners, staff and drivers for such a successful year. Together, we’ve achieved so much, including topping our annual revenue record for a 15th consecutive year!
During another year of this pandemic, we’ve prioritized taking care of those around us - starting with our team. In the early stages of the COVID vaccine rollout, we connected with York Public Health’s wonderful nurses and staff who visited our Canadian head office and helped get our ENTIRE team vaccinated! Additionally, as a commitment to giving our drivers the best in luxury, efficiency and safety, we added huge new orders of 2022 Volvo VLN 760 and 860 tractors, Kenworth T680s and custom-wrapped Stoughton reefers to our growing modern fleet.
This year, we’ve been actively supporting organizations focused on helping people and strengthening our community. 2021 has been all about giving back - from delivering doughnuts to frontline heroes for the Salvation Army, to sponsoring a local youth hockey team (GO RENEGADES!), to making big contributions to charities we’ve been committed to for years, including the Canadian Red Cross, Movember, the Canadian Wildlife Federation among many others.
2021 has been quite the ride for us at Highlight and 2022 looks more promising than ever, beginning with the opening of our new Brampton facility in January! We look forward using this expansion to further improve our services as we aim to keep finding ways to take care or our customers, our partners, our team and our community in the next year.
Once again, thank you to everyone involved with Highlight. We hope you and your loved ones stay safe and enjoy a wonderful holiday season!
Introducing Our New Brampton Facility Coming 2022!
December 20, 2021
We're extremely thrilled to announce that Highlight will be kicking off 2022 with the opening of our 5th facility at 1 Van Der Graaf Court in Brampton!
This new warehousing and distribution centre is in response to our customers' growing supply chain needs. It will offer over 100,000 sq. ft. of both short and long-term storage, cross-docking and distribution services for all general freight and non-perishable foods. We approached our search very strategically, choosing a 2nd GTA location with quick access to all major highways so we can provide greater service to our valued customers!
We look forward to using this location to not only add more capacity but introduce even more jobs to our community. To support our 24/7/365 operations, we'll be looking for around 100 new employees to join our team!
We’re scheduled to open the doors January 15th, 2022. If you would like to learn more about our new Brampton facility or our other services and locations, please email [email protected].
Here’s to 15 years of wrapping gifts and breaking records!
December 14, 2021
For a 15th year in a row, we gathered to pack presents AND broke our all-time revenue high!
Last weekend, the Highlight team wrapped 1,500 holiday gifts for our customers, office staff and of course, our valued drivers who keep our business rolling with so many days and nights spent on the road.
These gifts are a token of appreciation for everyone involved in our group of companies. It’s because of our employees’ unwavering dedication and our clients’ ongoing support that we’ve had another year of record-breaking success!
To everyone in the Highlight community, THANK YOU! We hope you enjoy the BEAUTIFUL gifts coming your way!
Celebrating 10 YEARS as Canadian Wildlife sponsors!
December 6, 2021
2021 marks Highlight’s 10th year of donating to the Canadian Wildlife Federation – a major milestone for us! We consider this longstanding sponsorship a testament of our commitment to the environment as we’ve been supporting the CWF’s mission to foster a Canadian way of life that’s rooted in appreciating and protecting our wildlife and natural resources.
Our contributions to the Canadian Wildlife Federation support their many initiatives focused on connecting Canadians with nature, defending vulnerable wildlife populations and conserving or restoring their habitats. Their work is not only inspiring Canadians to value the nature around them, but to also take good care of it.
At Highlight, we’re invested in creating a sustainable future for our country and our planet. We’re proud to align with organizations like the Canadian Wildlife Federation who are making a difference in preserving what makes Canada so BEAUTIFUL!
To donate to the Canadian Wildlife Federation’s efforts, visit their website here:https://cwf-fcf.org/en/
Our team is growing moustaches & raising funds for men’s health
November 26, 2021
At this point in November, you may see several beards and moustaches among the Highlight team, like our Yard Manager, Dennis Moraitis’! This is one of the ways our employees are showing their support for Movember – an organization focused on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention for men.
In addition to our team members’ individual efforts, Highlight is honoured to support the cause and has made a BIG donation to Movember Canada, the leading charity committed to finding the best treatments and resources to support men’s health.
On top of the Movember campaign, they’ve funded over 1,250 projects including Movember Conversations, an app that opens dialogue for men struggling with mental health issues and Brotherland, a program dedicated to helping Indigenous men build self-confidence and hope by reconnecting with their heritage. They’ve also invested in Prostate Cancer TrueNth, a network providing elevated prostate cancer care for patients and their families.
Movember’s mission is to reduce the number of men dying prematurely by 25% for 2030. We understand the impact these health issues have on the men in our families and communities and truly appreciate all the progress Movember Canada, its supporters and ambassadors have made so far.
Thank you to everyone who helps to raise funds and awareness for men’s health and a special thank you to Dennis who is not only growing out his moustache for the month – he has committed to dyeing it a beautiful Highlight blue and is keeping it an extra week into December! Way to go Dennis!
To learn more about Movember, access their many resources promoting men’s health or make a contribution, visit: https://ca.movember.com/
Highlight is proud to support the U13 AE Newmarket Renegades!
November 16, 2021
With many sports fans here at Highlight Motor Group, we want to make sure youth athletes in our area have opportunities to play and develop their skills. That's why we're proud to contribute to the Newmarket Renegades U13 AE hockey team as Platinum Sponsors.
Hockey can be an expensive sport and we're more than happy to help with the costs of uniforms, training equipment, tournament fees and more. With some of these expenses covered, talented players can afford to join the team and take another step toward reaching their full potential. On top of getting great exercise, they'll learn the valuable lifelong lessons of teamwork, discipline and sportsmanship while enjoying some friendly competition on the ice!
Highlight President & CEO Kirk Kalinitchenko comments, "We're thrilled to sponsor this fantastic team and can't wait to see how they do this season. Most importantly, we hope everyone has as much fun as possible! From all of us at Highlight, GO RENEGADES!"
We’ve added more custom-wrapped 2022 Stoughton reefers to our fleet!
November 5, 2021
THEY’RE HERE!
In response to our customers’ increasing demands for temperature-controlled freight services, we’re thrilled to announce another large order of brand new 2022 Stoughton reefers have just arrived!
These reefers are fully wrapped in our cool custom Highlight design and now they’re ready to hit the road. Our drivers get to enjoy smooth, comfortable, reliable rides in the best-in-class equipment while looking good along the way!
Stoughton is a trusted trailer manufacturer with decades of experience in engineering long-lasting, high-performance equipment. Their leading-edge refrigerated trailers are lightweight and promise safety and thermal efficiency, helping us transport more loads while ensuring our customers’ temp-sensitive goods maintain their quality on-route.
Serving our customers is the #1 priority at Highlight. Expanding our fleet and resources is only one of the many ways we demonstrate our endless commitment to providing top-notch services. With 2022 just around the corner, we plan to keep this momentum going so our customers know they can always rely on Highlight to deliver the best solutions for their evolving needs.
Keep an eye out for these beautiful new reefers or check out our photos on Facebook here!
Highlight is celebrating 9 years of supporting the Canadian Red Cross (and counting!)
November 5, 2021
This October marked Highlight Motor Group's 9th consecutive year of donating to the Canadian Red Cross. The entire team is extremely proud of this milestone as it shows their commitment to assisting those in need by donating to organizations that not only keep people safe but also help get them back on their feet when tragedy strikes.
Since 2013, Highlight has been contributing to the Canadian Red Cross' efforts to support those who are vulnerable on a local, provincial, national and international scale. Their initiatives make a massive difference to anyone facing ongoing or unforeseen struggles like natural disasters, COVID-19, starvation and more. On top of that, they provide people with the tools to improve or save lives around them with anti-bullying and First Aid training programs.
Highlight Motor Group President & CEO, Kirk Kalinitchenko reflects, "Everyone at Highlight admires the frontline heroes at the Red Cross for always answering the call to help others and we’re honoured to be a part of their efforts. Our entire family at Highlight would like to thank all members of the Red Cross for their unending courage and generosity.” Kirk continues, “We encourage any business or individual to donate what you can. Any amount can help the people who need it most!”
As Highlight will soon enter their 10th consecutive year as a donor, the Canadian Red Cross shared these kind words, "It's through your continued commitment that we're able to give the gift of a better tomorrow for people who lost everything except hope."
To donate to the Canadian Red Cross today, click here: https://www.redcross.ca/
Happy National Doughnut Day!
June 4, 2021
Today, we are so honoured to have been a part of this year’s National Doughnut Day campaign with the Salvation Army Ontario Division! We are more than thrilled to have our Highlight Motor Group trucks driving around the GTA with ENTIRE LOADS of delicious doughnuts! This campaign is to show appreciation to workers on the frontlines and we’re very happy to see the many successful doughnut deliveries made by the Salvation Army team to hospitals, vaccine clinics, shelters and more.
We’d like to thank the Salvation Army Ontario Division team for the amazing opportunity to showcase our gratitude to the essential service workers who have been guiding everyone through these challenging times. An additional THANK YOU is for delighting our Concord team with their own delicious doughnuts from Mavericks Donuts!
Our team at Highlight Motor Group admire the Salvation Army’s mission and are so happy to be a part of another successful National Doughnut Day! We look forward to continuing to extend a helping hand to the organizations who bring hope and smiles to the people in our community. You can learn more about the Salvation Army, Mavericks Donuts and Highlight’s partnership for this year’s National Doughnut Day here.
Thank you, York Public Health!
June 1, 2021
At Highlight Motor Group, we’re a family. With the help of York Public Health this past Friday, May 28th, we were able to continue fulfilling our goal to keep everyone in our Highlight family safe and well. The kind nurses and staff at York Public Health spent the day at our Canadian head office and now, thanks to their efforts… our ENTIRE Highlight team is vaccinated! The exceptional frontline workers at York Public Health were so generous to come to us and we couldn’t be more grateful for their support in keeping us safe during this pandemic.
We are constantly amazed by healthcare professionals who are taking care of our communities so we can get through these challenging times together. These people are giving us hope for a brighter future as we continue fighting the virus spread by following their guidance. To all the frontline workers at York Public Health and in our surrounding areas, our team at Highlight Motor Group want to give you a big THANK YOU!
Now, everyone at Highlight is more than ready to carry on through our busy season happy, healthy and vaccinated. Inspired by the frontline workers in our community, we’re prepared to apply an outstanding level of commitment and dedication to our valued clients as we enter this summer excited for what’s to come!
HIGHLIGHT’S BIGGEST-EVER ORDER OF KENWORTH TRACTORS ARE NOW HERE!!
April 30, 2021
Last week we announced that our new 2022 Volvos had arrived and this week we're happy to share more great news! We have just received the largest influx of brand new Kenworth T680s in Highlight history! These 2022 trucks are top of the line and as with all Highlight trucks, they are FULLY LOADED and customized to specs based on feedback from our drivers and technicians!
We listen to our employees and are so happy to be able to provide them with the beautiful trucks they deserve. Highlight strongly believes that happy employees will bring great success to any organization! Kenworth trucks are known to be some of the best and most luxurious on the road and provide great fuel efficiencies, safety and driver-assist features, comfort and STYLE!
We would also like to send a special THANK YOU to Mark King, Grant Easton & Vince Tarola from Kenworth Truck Centre in Vaughan, Ontario for providing us with such amazing service and delivering on-time during these challenging times. Everyone is thrilled and our drivers can’t wait to start driving these beautiful trucks across North America!
OUR NEW 2022 VOLVO TRACTORS HAVE ARRIVED!
April 23, 2021
We are proud to announce our brand new, large amount of beautiful 2022 Volvo VNL 760 and 860 tractors have arrived! These trucks are FULLY LOADED giving our drivers the best of luxury, efficiency and safety while on the roads delivering products to our customers across North America.
This latest addition to our fleet is in response to the demand of new national-size accounts recently awarded to us in Canada and the USA. Highlight is continuing to grow and we always make sure our professional drivers have the best in quality, comfort and style! Want to see more? Check out the photos of these awesome trucks!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
December 23, 2020
Wishing you a joyous holiday season and a most prosperous New Year! Stay healthy and safe!
HIGHLIGHT CONTINUES TO GIVE OUR DRIVERS REASONS TO GET EXCITED!
November 23, 2020
In addition to our recent purchase of 100 brand new 2021 Volvos, we have just signed a deal with Kenworth and Volvo to add OVER 200 FULLY LOADED 2022 model tractors to our fleet! Our professional Highlight drivers will start to receive these brand new trucks as early as January of 2021. We are very happy to continue to build on our relationships with these manufacturers because of their incredible commitment to safety and quality and because our drivers are extremely happy to drive in such luxury all day long!
For any drivers who want to join the Highlight family, it’s not too late to get into one of our brand new trucks and feel the joy of driving these heavy-duty, luxurious “toys” across North America! We at Highlight make sure our drivers have the best equipment loaded with the latest and greatest driver-assist technologies. If you are a professional and safe driver, it’s time to see how good it can be to drive with Highlight!
HIGHLIGHT MOTOR GROUP KEEPS OUR DRIVERS ROLLING IN STYLE AND IN COMFORT
November 2, 2020
Over 100 of our drivers were extremely happy to receive brand new 2021 Volvo VN760 and VN860 tractors! These trucks are all fully loaded with all the latest technologies including Bluetooth, GPS, fridge, invertor and so much more. They also have the latest in safety and driver-assist features to help ensure everyone stays safe on the roads.
A happy customer starts with a happy driver and our drivers LOVE these new trucks. They are beautifully designed and when hauling our fully wrapped frontline tribute trailers, they are an absolute showstopper! Our drivers tell us that wherever they go, people always want to get a picture with their trucks. We’re so happy with the positive feedback we receive and very thankful that all this attention creates more awareness for all the front-line workers out there working to keep us safe.
As new features and technologies become available, we will always add to our fleets to ensure our drivers are driving in the safest, most luxurious and most stylish trucks on the road!
Want to see the video? Check it out here!
FIFTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR HIGHLIGHT MOTOR GROUP RANKED AS ONE OF CANADA’S FASTEST GROWING COMPANIES
November 2, 2020
The majority of 2020 has posed a variety of unique challenges to a lot of businesses. Business leaders who have demonstrated their ability to adapt have not only been able to survive, they have been able to thrive. Given these uncertain times, making this year’s list as one of Canada’s Fastest Growing Companies may be more impressive than ever before.
If being recognized by Canadian Business in 2020 wasn’t impressive enough, this year also marks the fifth consecutive year Highlight Motor Group has made the list. Founder, President and CEO, Kirk Kalinitchenko exclaims, “I’m not sure how many transportation companies have been able to reach this milestone but I will say I am extremely proud of our entire group. Each member of our team understands that what we do is essential. They work incredibly hard to ensure our customers’ freight moves without delay so that people across Canada and the USA can continue to have the products they need readily available to them.”
In addition to their tireless efforts, Highlight’s continued growth is attributed to the ongoing investments they make in themselves. They brought in a minority shareholder, opened Highlight Repair Shop, continue to add new equipment and continue to create new jobs. Mr. Kalinitchenko explains, “Although we are growing ‘fast’, it is a sustainable growth because it’s based on customer needs. We have shown and we will continue to show that we will do whatever we need to keep our customers happy.”
September 23, 2020
A few months ago we launched special, limited edition trailer wraps on 5 of our new reefer units showcasing our “Thank You to All Front-line Heroes” message! The goal was to show our respect to all people, across North America, who work tirelessly to keep us protected. We never imagined we would receive such an awesome reaction to this tribute! We are truly humbled by the outpouring of positive feedback. From all around the world, we have received thousands of messages and phone calls of appreciation from doctors, nurses, hospital staff and from other industries where front-liners work around the clock to keep us healthy and safe.
Considering Highlight Motor Group’s geographic service area covers almost all of North America, I realized that only 5 trailers with such a great message is not nearly enough to display it across all of Canada and the USA. With that in mind, I have decided to wrap another 20 trailers in our fleet with our tribute message! This will increase the opportunities for people, especially those who are putting their lives at serious risk to battle COVID-19, to see our Thank You to them on the road more often. We cannot share enough appreciation, in these unprecedented times. – Mr. Kirk Kalinitchenko, Founder & President, Highlight Motor Group of Companies.
Check out this awesome video of our tribute coming to life!
Our brand new limited edition fleet of tractors and trailers are ready to roll! Keep an eye out for them on the road.
August 25, 2020
Highlight expands on tribute to front-line heroes with the introduction of brand new Limited Edition city truck wraps!
August 14, 2020
When Highlight Motor Group released their recent tribute trailer wraps, which showcased their appreciation for all the dedicated men and women working on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic, they received a massive outpouring of positive feedback! So much so, that they decided to fully wrap 20 brand new, 2021 Volvo, Limited Edition city trucks! Some of their top drivers received these trucks and they are extremely proud to participate in honouring these everyday heroes.
Once again teaming up with Palmer Marketing for the design and Turbo Images for the output and install of the truck wraps, President and CEO, Mr. Kirk Kalinitchenko is ecstatic with the results. He comments “With the amount of positive comments, support and overall feedback we received on our trailer wraps, I knew we had to take this project another step further. Our partners shared passion for this project made taking this next step go just as smoothly as the last and we now have a truly mega-salute to the heroes working tirelessly to keep us all safe!”
These Limited Edition trucks and trailers will be rolling across North America for the better part of the next decade. What a great reminder for everyone to be thankful and show their appreciation for the heroes on the front lines of the pandemic, today, tomorrow and forever!
Community is so important and when we work together, great things can be achieved!
August 14, 2020
Highlight recently partnered with Turbo Images and 3M to raise awareness for The Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army provides support to vulnerable people in 400 communities across Canada and last year alone, assisted over 1.6 million people in need.
Their support came in the form of meals being served at schools and shelters, sending children to camp, rescue and suicide prevention, addiction and mental health, disaster relief and the list doesn’t stop there. Rehabilitation programs, long-term and palliative care, language training, life-skills classes… The Salvation Army provides hope to the people who need it most.
We couldn’t be happier to show our support and help raise awareness for this amazing charity. It was an honor to donate a 53 foot canvas in the form of a brand new trailer. Keep an eye out for this rolling billboard which will travel locally within the GTA and across our nation as we deliver goods throughout our domestic Canada network.
On behalf of the entire Highlight Motor Group team, we would like to express a heartfelt Thank You to all of The Salvation Army front-line workers, volunteers and to those who donate in support of their efforts!
OUR EMPLOYEES ARE OUR FAMILY AND THEIR SAFETY IS OUR TOP PRIORITY
July 6, 2020
That’s why our head management team had the idea to supply our ENTIRE operation with beautifully custom designed, Health Canada-approved face masks!
Our employees are like family to us. We are so proud of them all for doing everything they can to stay safe and to help keep our customers safe. The well-being of our family is our highest priority. That’s why head management came up with the creative idea to develop beautiful, Health Canada-approved, custom face masks and distribute them throughout our operation! What better way to help keep everyone safe during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic than to give them the PPE (personal protective equipment) to do so. Thank you to management for this idea and making sure our entire family is staying safe and looking GREAT!
HIGHLIGHT MOTOR GROUP LAUNCHES BRAND NEW HIGHLIGHT REPAIR SHOP
June 5, 2020
Highlight Motor Group is excited to share the design of their new trailers which showcases their strong appreciation for all dedicated people working on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic. These wraps are featured on five brand new reefer trailers which will be set to travel on their cross border runs between Canada and the USA.
President & CEO Mr. Kirk Kalinitchenko is thrilled with the new design and explains, “To put it simply, we just wanted to show how thankful we are to everyone who is working to keep us all safe and healthy. What better way to achieve this than by creating 53’ rolling billboards which will be travelling across North America for years to come.” Kirk adds, “It’s not just about the present. These trailers will be rolling for upwards of ten years and as we say on the design, we want to salute these heroes today, tomorrow and forever!”
Highlight Motor Group has been quite active during the pandemic and has partnered with various companies to deliver supplies free of charge and generate awareness to the dedication of front-line workers. Earlier in April, Highlight teamed up with Flow Water to deliver truckloads of water to several hospitals across the GTA and New York. With these limited edition trailer wraps, Highlight teamed up with Palmer Marketing for all design work and Turbo Images for the output and install of the wraps on all their trailers. Mr. Kalinitchenko exclaims, "Our partners share the same appreciation for these heroes and have been so great to work with. We couldn’t be happier with how things turned out.”
As a further tribute to those on the front lines, Highlight has recently purchased 13 new Volvo city trucks and will be working with both Palmer and Turbo again to get them fully wrapped and out on the road reminding everyone to show their appreciation to all the heroes helping us get through COVID-19 safe and healthy.
HIGHLIGHT MOTOR GROUP LAUNCHES BRAND NEW HIGHLIGHT REPAIR SHOP
May 22, 2020
Highlight Motor Group is proud to announce the grand opening of their brand new, state-of-the-art repair shop. Connected to their head office in Concord, Ontario, this large 2 story facility sits on over 2 acres of land and boasts 22 bay doors.
Highlight Repair Shop offers a full suite of services including all repairs, maintenance, oil changes, safety inspections, truck and trailer alignments, tires, washing stations and much more. President & CEO Mr. Kirk Kalinitchenko is thrilled with this new launch and states, “This was in the works for almost two years and our whole team is so happy with how things came together. The coolest part about this is that the launch aligns with the Highlight Motor Group anniversary which celebrated its grand opening back on May 22 of 2007.”
The alignment of anniversaries is a fun fact but the most impressive aspect of this launch is the fact that it’s happened amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Where a lot of companies in transportation have seen reductions in revenue and personnel, Highlight is continuing to build momentum and better position themselves for the future in the post-pandemic world.
Mr. Kalinitchenko explains, "A lot of people are losing their jobs due to the current state of our economy. We’re putting forth a great effort to not only retain our employees but find ways to bring on more. With this new repair shop, we are hiring Truck and Trailer Mechanics, Parts Advisors, Fleet CSR Supervisors and more. All said and done, we are expecting this new facility to create more than 70 jobs.”
Highlight Repair Shop will begin by operating 2 shifts, 7 days a week with the intention of switching to a full 24/7 operation later this year. As with the transportation and storage aspects of their business, all new employees will be fully trained to meet Highlight’s high quality standards in service, health and safety.
CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR FRONT LINES BATTLING COVID-19
April 7, 2020
Highlight Motor Group and Flow Water’s 2nd combined donation to support front line heroes battling the COVID-19 pandemic was a success!
Today our free delivery of Flow Alkaline Spring Water was to Southlake Hospital in Newmarket, ON. On arrival, our driver was greeted by very gracious doctors and nurses, who told him “We cannot thank you enough for the generosity you are showing us today!”. In response, "It’s truly our pleasure to be able to assist and show a small token of our appreciation for their great efforts".
Our plan to assist those on the front lines continues as later this week Highlight Motor Group will be providing the transportation and distribution for a full truckload of bottled Spring Water across the Canada/USA border. Our shipment will be safely dispersed to several hospitals within New York.
Thank you again to truck drivers, medical professionals and all front line heroes who are working tirelessly to help us all stay healthy, safe and able to obtain the things we need during this COVID-19 pandemic.
Together we can make a difference. Together we will get through this!
HIGHLIGHT MOTOR GROUP AND FLOW WATER ASSIST FRONT LINES BATTLING COVID-19
April 3, 2020
Highlight Motor Group together with our valued partner Flow Water, have just completed our first combined donation to assist those on the front lines battling the COVID-19 pandemic.
With Highlight Motor Group donating our transportation and distribution services and Flow Water donating their Spring Water, we delivered a skid to Sunnybrook Hospital located in Toronto, ON and have plans to do much more. Our next stop is on Monday to deliver this same Spring Water to Southlake Hospital in Newmarket, ON and also next week, we will be transporting a full truckload of bottled Spring Water and distributing across the border to several hospitals in New York.
We want to thank our partners and thank all of those people working tirelessly to help us stay healthy and safe. The entire Highlight Motor Group family will continue to donate our services to support our community, our country and all citizens throughout North America during these challenging and very trying times.
We would also like to say thank you to not only our truck drivers, but all truck drivers! It is because of you that we are able to ensure everyone is still getting what they need to combat and contain COVID-19.
Stay safe and stay strong! Together we will get through this.
HIGHLIGHT MOTOR GROUP CONTINUES TO RAISE FUNDS FOR SICKKIDS VS CAMPAIGN
February 20, 2020
Highlight Motor Group President & CEO Mr. Kirk Kalinitchenko together with Vice-President of Sales, Mr. Bob Cascagnette, delivered a $15,000 donation to the SickKids Foundation in support of the SickKids VS campaign to build a new SickKids hospital in Toronto, Ontario.
This marks the second year in a row that Highlight has contributed to the $1.3 billion fundraising initiative which will fund a complete transformation of SickKids Toronto, allowing them to maintain their position as a world-class, family-centred facility.
Mr. Kalinitchenko explains, "After the success of our original fundraising initiative at our 2018 company Christmas party, we made it our goal to raise double the amount in 2019. I promised to once again match the amount generated during this past year-end celebration and the entire staff at Highlight are so giving that I’m extremely proud to say we didn’t just double it, we tripled it!”
Mr. Cascagnette adds, “With February being Heart Month, we were very excited to donate at this time and raise awareness for such a great cause. We were so happy to have met little Kensley Mercer and her mom Kaitlin. This incredible little girl received the life-saving gift of a heart transplant right in here at SickKids Toronto. It’s for everyone out there just like Kensley that we need to continue to donate and do our best to ensure these brave kids are getting the best treatment possible.”
The Highlight President & CEO closes by saying, “We’re thrilled with our employees for their caring attitudes and generous donations. Every bit of money helps no matter how small and we encourage everyone to donate as much as they can. We will continue to support SickKids VS and although we have just tripled our donation from last year, I know the Highlight Motor Group team will support me in saying that it’s my goal to once again double our donation next year!”
A MEGA CELEBRATION
January 29, 2020
Our annual Christmas party, held Dec 21, 2019 at the beautiful Terrace Banquet Centre in Vaughan, Ontario, can easily be described as unforgettable! With a record attendance of more than 750 guests, this was truly a mega celebration and easily the largest, fully loaded and best party in our company’s history! Our employees stepped up once again and raised funds for the SickKids Foundation, doubling the amount raised last year! All funds will be matched dollar for dollar by Highlight Motor Group and donated to the SickKids Foundation SickKidsVS campaign towards building a new children’s hospital. The atmosphere was electric! Every detail was remarkable from the delicious food to the games to the exclusive entertainment shows you won’t see anywhere else, we even had robots! During the event over 150 prizes were given away that included big screen TV’s, iPads and iPhones. One lucky manager even won a trip for 2 to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, in an all-inclusive 5 star resort! We invite you to watch the short video in our Video Gallery showcasing just how crazy a Highlight Christmas Night Party can be.
HIGHLIGHT MOTOR GROUP NAMED FOUR CONSECUTIVE YEARS AS ONE OF CANADA’S TOP 500 FASTEST GROWING COMPANIES
September 25, 2019
For the fourth consecutive year, Highlight Motor Group has been recognized as one of the Top 500 Fastest Growing Companies in Canada. From the 500 companies named in the 2019 list, only 25 were in the transportation industry and out of those 25 companies, Highlight Motor Group once again ranked as number 11.
Founder, President and CEO, Kirk Kalinitchenko exclaims, "I'm very happy that Highlight has been recognized for our teams’ hard work. Not many businesses get the honour of this achievement one time, let alone four years in a row!" Kirk adds, "We saw a demand in the market, we saw room to grow and we continue to see room to grow. Last year we added our California terminal and just earlier this year, added our fourth terminal in Illinois."
Highlight does not appear to be slowing down any time soon. Earlier this year they were also named as Top Fleet Employers and according to the Growth 500 report, now have 650 full-time employees on board across their four terminals in Canada and the USA.
Kirk attributes a large portion of Highlight's growth strategy success to his commitment to company culture. He explains, "People want to work here. We’ve worked so hard to build a great team environment – everyone treats each other like family. When focusing on growing your business, you need to have the right people in place and have everyone be able to work together towards a common goal. The objective of our growth is to provide greater service to our customer base and a happy customer always starts with a happy employee."
Proud Sponsor of Bikers Battling Cancer
June 26, 2019
Concord, ON June 26, 2019 – Bikers Battling Cancer is a non-profit organization created to help raise funds for families who are financially affected by a loved one dealing with any form of cancer. 2019 marks the organization’s 3rd year and will be kicking off their fundraising event on Canada Day weekend, June 28th – June 30th. This event (Rockin’ The Ridge) will take place in Sundridge, Ontario at the SSJ Arena and Strong Agri Grounds.
This charitable organization was founded by Don Smith who states that his motivation was really quite simple, “My Granddad passed away after losing the fight against cancer. My mom was also diagnosed with cancer and I am fortunate enough to say that she won her battle. Just about everyone is affected by this horrible disease. If it hasn’t affected them or their loved ones, chances are they know somebody who has fought or continues to fight. I want to do all I can to support those in need.”
This event continues to gain traction. This year features a motorcycle ride, a car show, motorcycle stunt riders, rodeo games, beer gardens, live music and a live auction comprised of items donated by the group's numerous sponsors.
One of the Platinum Sponsors is Highlight Motor Group who is extremely proud to provide their support. President Kirk Kalinitchenko states, “Don has driven for us for four years now and I know him to be a great employee and a great man. When he approached me to help support his charity, I was more than happy to chip in. Everyone at Highlight is a big family and we back each other as best we can. I encourage everyone to go to this event. You will have a great time and it’s for such a great cause!”
As Don explains, Kirk went above and beyond with his support, “The new Highlight trucks were coming in and I inquired to see if I was going to get one of them. The next thing I know, I receive a phone call and it’s Kirk who says yes, of course you’re getting one and I have an idea… He went on to tell me that he would wrap this truck with the Bikers Battling Cancer branding and information. I was floored! This gesture brought tears to my eyes because I knew how much more awareness this will bring to our cause. I can’t thank Kirk enough. I presented him with a rally shirt and a leather vest with our patches on it – Kirk is now ‘Our Brother’.”
One of the families being supported by this organization is Stephanie Ward, a single mother of two. Her youngest son, Cypress who is only 3 years old, was diagnosed with autism and leukemia. Don states, “Thank you to all those who sponsored, supported, attended or volunteered at our 2018 event. Your support is making a real difference in these families lives. I was honoured to meet Stephanie and Cypress and we are committed to helping them over the long-term. She is not alone and she and her family are now a part of a much bigger family.”
Highlight Motor Group Opens Brand New Facility in Chicago, Illinois!
June 5, 2019
Concord, ON June 5, 2019 – Highlight Motor Group officially opened the doors to its 4th facility and now the 3rd in the USA on May 28th. It is situated in Chicago (Aurora), Illinois, which is the transportation and communication hub of the nation and also the world’s largest inland port of entry for intermodal traffic. Boasting over 100,000 square feet of warehousing space and 15 loading docks, this is an excellent location for consolidating California, Chicago and New York freight with daily departures to and from Toronto, Montreal and all other Canadian destinations.
President Kirk Kalinitchenko states, "We could not be more proud to announce the opening of our new location. Situating ourselves in Illinois will complement our current offices in Concord, Ontario, Parsippany, New Jersey and Santa Fe Springs, California. This is another step forward in our continued growth strategy to provide our valued customers with complete coverage and best in class service!"
Highlight will be engaging in a partnership with Import Logistics, a long-standing business specializing in warehousing, logistics and supply chain solutions. In addition to sharing the customs bonded warehousing space, Highlight Motor Group will act as the in-house trucking company for Import’s customers.
"Aligning yourself with like-minded people is important when entering into any kind of partnership" explains Kirk, "Not only is Illinois the ideal location for us but Import Logistics is the ideal partner for us. Just like us, they take pride in doing great work and understand the importance of a happy customer."
Leading the helm at this new terminal will be Mr. Paul Fries, who was named as General Manager. Mr. Fries brings a wealth of cross-border and domestic freight experience to the table and is tasked with developing and managing Highlight’s new mid-west facility. Kirk adds, “We are excited to have Paul come on board and lead the way. He brings the right attitude, the right experience and we are confident that he and the Highlight team in place are the right people to make this expansion another success for the Highlight Group of Companies!”
Highlight Motor Group Opening Brand New Facility in Chicago, Illinois!
May 24, 2019
We could not be more proud to announce that our new location will be opening May 28, 2019. Our new facility, located in Chicago (Aurora), Illinois, is not only in the transportation and communication hub of the nation but also in the world’s largest inland port of entry for intermodal traffic. Boasting over 100,000 square feet of warehousing space and 15 loading docks, this is an excellent location for consolidating California, Chicago and New York freight with daily departures to and from Toronto, Montreal and all other Canadian destinations.
We will be engaging in a partnership with Import Logistics, a long standing business encompassing the skills required to manage warehousing, container destuffing as well cross border supply chain and all other logistics solutions.
This new Illinois location will complement our current offices in Concord, Ontario, Parsippany, New Jersey and Santa Fe Springs, California. This is another step forward in our continued growth strategy to provide our valued customers with complete coverage and best in class service!
Forty brand new, 2020 Kenworth T680 trucks hit the road today
May 10, 2019
In February, we were thrilled to tell you about our tour of the Chillicothe, Ohio Kenworth assembly plant. I still have to say the highlight of our tour was seeing our very own Kenworth T680 trucks moving along the assembly conveyor. Remembering the sound of the engine starting up for the very first time still puts a smile on my face.
Today my smile is even bigger. I get to announce that 40 brand new, 2020 Kenworth T680 trucks hit the road and our drivers are behind the steering wheels of the safest, most luxurious and comfortable trucks in the market. All because of the communication and feedback our drivers provide us with. We’re not only investing in our equipment, we’re investing in our drivers.
HIGHLIGHT MOTOR GROUP AWARDED 2019 TOP FLEET EMPLOYER
April 17, 2019
All of us at Highlight are very excited to receive this award. This shows how much we care about our employees and how much effort everyone puts into making Highlight a great place to work. We continue to offer our team ongoing training, best-in-class pay packages and top-of-the-line equipment because at the end of the day, we understand that having happy employees translates into happy customers.
This is the first year we have been named a Top Fleet Employer but as we continue to grow, we will continue to support our staff and treat them all as if they are a member of our family. We are one of Canada’s Fastest Growing Companies 3 years in a row and this is because of our great team.
There are no signs of slowing down at Highlight Motor Group but no matter how much we grow, we will always listen to the needs of our team, show them respect, acknowledge their hard work and reward a job well done. Thank you to our entire team – we could not have received this award without you!
HIGHLIGHT MOTOR GROUP GOES THE EXTRA MILE TO KEEP THEIR DRIVERS HAPPY
February 22, 2019
Kirk Kalinitchenko, Founder, President and CEO of Highlight Motor Group along with Service Fleet Manager, Oleg Belchuk recently toured the Chillicothe, Ohio Kenworth assembly plant to see the new 2020 Kenworth T680 models being built. The Kenworth management team led them through the entire assembly plant, providing them with the opportunity to see all of the impressive new technology and equipment being used.
Kirk exclaims “The team at Kenworth were so accommodating and really took the time to show us all that goes into manufacturing these trucks. I have to say the highlight of our trip came when we saw our very own trucks moving along the assembly conveyor. Not only were we able to inspect the inside of the truck for comfort and quality of workmanship, we had the honour of starting up the engine for the very first time!”
The Kenworth T680 is known as “The Driver’s Truck” and that’s because they focus on what the driver wants. Comfort, superior handling and the latest technologies are just a few of the reasons why drivers choose Kenworth. Just as Kenworth focuses on the driver, so too does Highlight Motor Group. “Encouraging our drivers to communicate with us and really taking their feedback into consideration is one of the main reasons our company is successful” states Kirk. “It’s also the reason we are customizing the orders of our new trucks. It’s so important to us to make sure our drivers operate the safest, most luxurious and comfortable trucks available in the market. We are always investing in our equipment to ensure our drivers are always happy in their trucks.”
At Highlight Motor Group we work hard and celebrate our success that follows!
January 25, 2019
Our annual Christmas party, held Dec 15, 2018 at the National Event Venue in North York, Ontario was a huge success! Over 650 guests were entertained with live performances including a fire show, acrobatics and dancing performers. We had over 200 giveaway prizes of electronics and one lucky HMG driver was the grand prize winner of an all inclusive 7 day trip to Mexico!
Highlight Motor Group is recognized by the industry as one of Canada’s fastest growing companies in 2018
October 23, 2018
For the third consecutive year, Highlight Motor Group was ranked as one of Canada’s Growth 500 Fastest Growing Companies (formerly Profit 500). Highlight Motor Group ranked #11 within the transportation sector and placed in the top half of the Growth 500 companies overall.
“The companies on the 2018 Growth 500 are truly remarkable. Demonstrating foresight, innovation and smart management, their stories serve as a primer for how to build a successful entrepreneurial business today,” says Deborah Aarts, Growth 500 program manager. “As we celebrate 30 years of the Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies program, it’s encouraging to see that entrepreneurship is healthier than ever in this country.”
According to Highlight Motor Group’s Founder, President and CEO, Kirk Kalinitchenko, “Being recognized by this prestigious organization is truly rewarding. I am very thankful for our loyal customers and dedicated team members for making our unrelenting growth and prosperity possible. 2018 has been a great year at Highlight Motor Group and we will carry on this momentum to fuel our continued growth for 2019!”
Highlight Motor Group Moves to New Facility in Los Angeles, California
August 6, 2018
Highlight celebrates its one year anniversary with its own Los Angeles operation
Highlight Motor Group is pleased to announce their move to a new, better suited facility in Santa Fe Springs, a gateway city of southeast Los Angeles. The move takes place on their one year anniversary of opening a Los Angeles location.
The new location is strategically located near the 605 and 5 freeways. Santa Fe Springs is home to a high density of very large industrial and manufacturing facilities and is well known for aircraft, aerospace and defense contract industries. With a population just under 20 million it is seen as an area of great opportunity to further expand Highlight’s scope of business between California and Canada.
President of Highlight Motor Group, Kirk Kalinitchenko comments, “We put a lot of thought and planning into opening up our own California operation last July. It’s gone very well and this new location is a stepping stone to even larger facilities there. It is well suited for our current requirements with brand new built state of the art facility includes spacious warehouse, 6 dock level doors 2 storeys office space. We continue to offer van and reefer service for both truckload and LTL customers, a logistics offering and warehousing services. I am proud to say that connecting California and Canada with Highlight’s premium transportation and warehousing service continues in style.
Highlight Motor Group Funds Class A Driver College Program
July 20, 2018
Highlight Motor Group is pleased to announce the commencement of its Class AZ driver training college. In partnership with leading driver training college, Highlight Motor Group has created a customized program at their Concord head office facility. The comprehensive training program uses their yard, equipment and cross dock facility to not only attain a Class AZ truck drivers license. Graduating students also have an automatic 12 month high paying driver career with one of Canada’s Fastest Growing Companies.
The cost of the AZ driver license is $8,000, Highlight Motor Group will reimburse 100%. An $8,000 savings!
The program was created in direct response to the overwhelming demand for quality truck drivers. Kirk Kalinitchenko, Founder, President & CEO of Highlight Motor Group explains, “We are a solutions provider in all that we do, so we decided to tackle the driver shortage head-on. For young people without a university education, being a professional truck driver provides an above average wage. The demand for drivers is great and jobs are readily available at Highlight Motor Group. It is a 2 stage evaluation process for acceptance, one with the partner college and the other with our human resources department. Upon acceptance the candidate will be making a full time driver wage after successfully completing the 5 week program. We’re excited about introducing young people to our industry as professional class A drivers.”
HIGHLIGHT MOTOR GROUP CLOSES DEAL ON BRAND NEW FACILITY IN CALIFORNIA
June 15, 2018
Highlight Motor Group has just finalized the deal which will have them moving into a state of the art facility in Santa Fe Springs, California. It has been one year since the opening of their first California terminal but when the opportunity arose to move into a larger, more strategically located facility, they couldn’t say no. The Highlight team has worked tirelessly to put this deal together and now, their team will continue to work around the clock to become fully operational in August of this year. President of Highlight Motor Group, Kirk Kalinitchenko explains, “We couldn’t be happier with how this has come together and I want to thank each one of our Highlight team members for their hard work. This new facility will put us in a great position to better serve our customers and it shows that Highlight Motor Group remains committed to growth and focused on the future.”
Only the Best for Highlight Motor Group Drivers
May 10, 2018
Highlight Motor Group is proud to announce that they invest in the latest 2019 Volvo VNL 760 sleeper cabs for their company drivers. Thirty units were recently added to their fleet in the distinctive Highlight colours. These units are currently based out of the Concord location and will be running Canada and USA routes.
The new VNL series boast many advancements including innovative technology, optimized power and improved aerodynamics which all lead to greater fuel efficiency. Inside the VNL the cab has been totally redesigned to improve both working and living space for the driver. Safety is paramount in all the design changes and the Volvo uptime team manages service and schedules repairs around the clock and throughout North America.
Kirk Kalinitchenko, Founder, President & CEO of Highlight Motor Group started his transportation career as a driver and states, “I understand life on the road and the importance of great equipment and a professional company to work for. We do not compromise when it comes to keeping our drivers safe and operating the best equipment. The new LED lighting on the VNL greatly improves visibility, the reshaped front end improves airflow and the added comfort makes this power unit truly a home away from home.”
Highlight Motor Group has locations in Concord, New Jersey and Los Angeles. Along with drivers based out of these operational hubs they encourage drivers based out of other high activity locations like Calgary and Vancouver to join their team. They are planning to add more of the 2019 VNL sleepers as opportunities for additional quality drivers arise.
Highlight Motor Group is Ranked One of Canada’s Fastest Growing Companies Again in 2017
October 12, 2017
For the second consecutive year, Highlight Motor Group has ranked as one of Canada’s PROFIT 500 Fastest Growing Companies. Within the transportation industry only 21 companies achieved this honour in 2017 and Highlight Motor Group ranked #5 within their industry sector.
“It is never easy to earn a spot on the PROFIT 500, but this year’s applicant pool was the most competitive yet,” says Deborah Aarts, PROFIT 500 program manager. The 29th year for the award, PROFIT and Canadian Business have identified Canada’s Fastest Growing Companies by ranking applicant firms based on five-year revenue growth (from 2011 to 2016, or fiscal 2012 to 2017). All eligible companies were independent and Canadian-owned at the end of the 2017 PROFIT 500 research period.
According to Highlight Motor Group’s Founder, President and CEO, Kirk Kalinitchenko, “As we celebrate our 10th year in business, we are very proud to be recognized again by such an esteemed organization. We will continue our journey of service excellence, innovation and expanded service offerings for our valued customers.”
Highlight Motor Group Opens Los Angeles Facility
July 20, 2017
Highlight Motor Group provides LTL and Truckload Service between California and Canada
The President, CEO and Founder of Highlight Motor Group, Kirk Kalinitchenko announced today that their new transportation terminal in Los Angeles, California is open for business. The facility officially opened July 5 and is manned by an experienced team with decades of experience in dispatch, sales and cross-dock operations. The service expansion has been in the planning stages over the last year and Highlight Motor Group’s management believe it will be a game changer for their company and the industry.
Highlight Motor Freight will be offering LTL and Truckload service with daily departures within the U.S. and to and from all their service points in Canada. Their ability to consolidate customers’ LTL shipments more efficiently allows the company to operate leaner and pass that savings on to their valued customers. Service times are also improved with Highlight Motor Group’s enhanced California service.
The company will be promoting this new offering through a digital marketing strategy. They have access to a large shipper audience with high demands to connect Canadian and California markets. Their modern van and reefer equipment meet the stringent EPA requirements in California and they are all systems go to become an LTL and Truckload leader to and from California.
According to Kirk Kalinitchenko, “As we continue to celebrate our 10th anniversary (2007-2017) there will be more growth and innovation. I want to take this time to thank all our loyal customers, suppliers and Highlight Team for making the California expansion possible. I invite customers throughout Canada and the USA to place their California LTL and Truckload requirements in our care!
Highlight Motor Group expands fleets with heated, tri-axle trailers
February 14, 2017
Highlight Motor Group Inc. is pleased to announce the introduction of heated, tri-axle service for their Canadian customers. The specialized fleet will serve their accounts between Ontario and Quebec and to Western Canada.
The purchase of these heated tridem vans was in direct response to customers needing greater payloads and “protect from freezing” service. According to Kirk Kalinitchenko, President and CEO of Highlight Motor Group, “The secret to our success is listening to our customers and responding with the equipment and the services they need. We are proud to partner with our customers and grow with them into the future.”
These new heated tridems are in addition to an already significant fleet of tandem and tridem dry vans, reefers, tailgate equipped expedited power and 5 ton P&D trucks. Highlight Motor Group’s late model Volvo fleet, flying the bold Highlight Motor Group colours, can be seen on the highways throughout North America. A continued investment to modernize and grow their fleet has ranked them in the top 10 fastest growing carriers in Canada for 2016, according to Profit magazine.
Highlight Motor Group donates to a worthy cause
January 11, 2017
Highlight Motor Group Inc. has added Autism Speaks Canada to their growing list of charitable efforts, presenting them with a cheque for $5,000. The donation was raised during Highlight Motor Group’s 2016 Christmas party and was presented to Susan Smart, Regional Walk Manager for the Greater Toronto Area.
Highlight Motor Group has been supporting non-profit organizations in Canada for some time now, with donations being presented to the Canadian Red Cross, Cancer Research Society, Canadian Cancer Society, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada, among others.
“Over the holidays, our team thought about which charity we’d like to donate to and ‘Autism Speaks Canada’ hit home for us”, said Kirk Kalinitchenko, President and CEO at Highlight Motor Group.
Autism Speaks Canada is the world’s leading science organization for raising awareness of autism and providing resources for families in need. Kalinitchenko says, “Highlight Motor Group prides itself on giving back to the community and plans to continue supporting worthy local and national charitable organizations.”
Highlight Motor Group named one of the 2016 PROFIT 500: Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies
September 15, 2016
Highlight Motor Group ranked #7 in the Transportation and Logistics Industry and the PROFIT 500 ranking of #166 as one of Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies. Published in the October issue of Canadian Business and at PROFITguide.com, the PROFIT 500 ranks Canadian businesses by their five-year revenue growth. Highlight Motor Group saw a growth rate of 383%.
“Companies become a part of the PROFIT 500 through innovative thinking, smart strategy and sheer grit,” says James Cowan, Editor-in-chief of PROFIT and Canadian Business. “These firms demonstrate what Canadian entrepreneurs can achieve, both at home and across the globe.”
According to Highlight Motor Group’s Founder, President and CEO, Kirk Kalinitchenko, “It is a great honour to be recognized for our hard work and consistent growth. We will continue on our journey of success through excellent service, a modern fleet and a dedicated Highlight team to respond to the changing needs of our customers”.
There seems to be no stopping Highlight Motor Group
June 29th, 2016
Today, Highlight Motor Group launched their one-of-a-kind website to the world at large. There is certainly nothing else like it in the transportation industry. This is a true success story that saw the firm grow from 1 truck to over 300 trucks under the management of founder Kirk Kalinitchenko… and this is over a 10 year period.
Their fleet is distinctive and you certainly can’t drive from Toronto to their facility in New Jersey without seeing a strong Highlight Motor Group presence on the highways. This specialized niche is well established for the company and is probably what they are best known for in the transportation industry.
You may see one of their recent, fully wrapped vehicles on the highways too. The over the top design is typical Highlight Motor Group style; distinctive, flamboyant and fun. Also, if you get a chance, stop by their new facility in Concord it will blow your mind… this is definitely not your typical trucking company.
