It was a difficult battle for a relatively small Canadian company to become part of a international publicly-traded giant.
After 13 years in Elliot Lake, HiRail Leasing on Perini Road has seen its efforts rewarded through a significant buyout.
The firm has been acquired by Custom Truck One Source, headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri.
"Thank you everyone for all your hard work, dedication and endless hours spent making the company so successful," HiRail President Shirley Foster said in a statement.
"Your future is filled with endless options and this decision was not made lightly and without each and every one of you in mind."
Ms. Foster went on, "For those of you who are calling, texting and emailing, I can confirm that HiRail Leasing has been sold to Custom Truck One Source giving us access to over 9,500 trucks, (at) 35 locations across North America and (with) the power to be part of a publicly-traded company.
"We are very excited about this opportunity and venture," she added.
Foster said that HiRail Leasing will continue to operate under that name, all local staff (23) will remain the same, operate the same and continue to provide its established customer service and trucks.
Foster added the only changes anyone will notice is Custom Truck One Source's growth and expansion across the Canadian market with more staff, locations and an increase in trucks to service customers in Canada and beyond.
HiRail also operates out of Acheson, Alberta, not far from Edmonton.
"Strategically, it was such a smart move. One Source is doing the same thing (as HiRail)," Foster continued.
"But they're in the U-S and they did not have a Canadian presence."
HiRail has been in operation for 30 years in all.
"We've grown and grown and we're at 600 rental units right now.
"We don't deal with the public at all. So we build and rent trucks and vehicles that work on the railroad. We rent to the class one railroads like CN and CP and to a lot of contractors that do maintenance on the railroads just to keep the railroads running."
HiRail is seen as an essential service and has worked through the pandemic. The company brings money into Elliot Lake and makes an effort to spend it locally, but their business base is not reliant on the City of Elliot Lake.
"We've had people move here to work for us."
"We are all very excited and have worked very hard to be acquired by such a successful company, Custom Truck One Source," Foster concluded.