President's Message
December 21, 2022
Wow! We had the most amazing 15th Anniversary MEGA Christmas Party this year! It was the most fun, exciting and memorable celebration to date. It was also the biggest event we have ever hosted with over 1,000 employees and guests joining together for an unforgettable and magical evening! Everyone enjoyed the unlimited food, drinks, professional photos, Vegas-rivaling entertainment, games as well as a lottery with over 100 prize giveaways and our grand prizes – TWO(!) trips for two at a 5-Star All-Inclusive Luxury Resort for 7 days in the Dominican Republic! Between the 10ft-tall LED robot-donned dancers, beautiful holiday décor and packed dancefloor with hundreds of our guests dancing and singing along in unison, this was undoubtedly THE party of the year!
This year, we were proud to give our special thanks and gifts to over 30 employees celebrating 10 & 15 years of employment with us! It is very important for all of us to commemorate such a significant milestone as a company with the people who helped us build it from the very beginning.
Our annual parties are also known for their philanthropic component. This year, we once again managed to raise a record amount for the SickKids Foundation. Highlight has matched the total donations dollar for dollar, doubling the impact for a great cause!
We are excited to have shared this one-of-a-kind experience with all our Highlight friends and family and will cherish the memory of this unforgettable evening.
I am so thankful to each and every one of our Highlight employees across Canada and the USA as well as our great clients, partners and everyone who supports us in our growing success! I’m very proud of you individually and of our achievements together!
Merry Christmas & all the best in 2023 to you and your families!
Love you all,
Cheers!
Kirk
October 19, 2022
Highlight supports world-class HPB program at St. Joseph’s Health Centre
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. I'm touched by their incredible work and honoured to be involved in this cause by contributing to their continued treatment and research efforts.
I encourage you to 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/
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
September 27, 2022
Bringing you a new distribution facility with MORE warehousing space in the GTA!
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 short and long-term storage space. To ensure the safe and efficient handling of 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 incoming shipments while offering custom distribution and value-added solutions for the final mile.
This investment is one of the many ways Highlight demonstrates our ongoing commitment to our customers and our company’s growth. It’s also a huge honour for me to be able to create even more jobs for our amazing community!
For more information about Highlight’s newest location, email: [email protected]
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
September 15, 2022
Sponsoring Brain Cancer Canada’s Mission to Save Lives
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.
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. 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/
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
June 3, 2022
HIGHLIGHT SHOWS SUPPORT FOR WOMEN IN TRANSPORTATION
As part of Highlight’s 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, will focus 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.”
As an advocate for women in transportation, I strongly believe they should feel welcome to join the field and have access to the same opportunities as everyone else. I’m so glad we can support events like Women with Drive 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, I 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.”
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
May 26, 2022
Highlight Motor Group Turns 15!
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!
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
March 29, 2022
Investing in the Canadian Cancer Society’s Fight Against Cancer
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 finding cures and giving us guidance. They’re a beacon of hope for us by creating a future where we will no longer have to fear cancer. It’s a privilege to stand by them as donors and I encourage everyone to do the same.
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.
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
March 4, 2022
Highlight wrapped up 2021 bringing joy (and toys!) to families in the York Region
As a whirlwind of a year full of company achievements and other giving back initiatives was coming to a close, Highlight 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.
The team and I felt 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 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!
On behalf of myself and the entire Highlight family, I’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. The team and I are 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
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
January 10, 2022
New Year, new equipment!
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.
I’d also like to share my appreciation to Volvo Trucks North America 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. I hope you enjoy riding in your BRAND-NEW Volvos!
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
December 22, 2021
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM HIGHLIGHT!
Merry Christmas and happy holidays from our Highlight family to yours! As we wrap up 2021, I’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, Highlight has 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, Highlight 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, our team has 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 all of us at Highlight, and 2022 looks more promising than ever, beginning with the opening of our new Brampton facility in January! We look forward to 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’s achievements this year. I hope you and your loved ones stay safe and enjoy a wonderful holiday season!
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
December 20, 2021
Introducing Our New Brampton Facility Coming 2022!
I’m 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!
I’m excited to use this site to not only add more capacity for Highlight but introduce even more jobs to our community! To support its 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 Highlight’s new Brampton facility or our other services and locations, please email [email protected].
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
December 14, 2021
Here’s to 15 years of wrapping gifts and breaking records!
For a 15th year in a row, we gathered to pack presents AND broke our all-time revenue high!
Last weekend, the Highlight team and I 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 Highlight’s 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, I’d like to say a big THANK YOU! I hope you enjoy the BEAUTIFUL gifts coming your way!
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
December 6, 2021
We’re celebrating 10 YEARS as Canadian Wildlife sponsors!
2021 marks Highlight’s 10th year of donating to the Canadian Wildlife Federation – a major milestone for us! This longstanding sponsorship is a true testament of our team’s 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. I’m so glad we’ve aligned 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/
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
November 26, 2021
Our team is growing moustaches & raising funds for men’s health
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, I’m proud to announce that Highlight 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/
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
November 16, 2021
Highlight is proud to support the U13 AE Newmarket Renegades!
With many sports fans 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 glad 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!
I'm personally thrilled to sponsor this fantastic team and can't wait to see how they do this season. Most importantly, I hope everyone has as much fun as possible!
From all of us at Highlight, GO RENEGADES!
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
November 5, 2021
We’ve added more custom-wrapped 2022 Stoughton reefers to our fleet!
THEY’RE HERE!
In response to our customers’ increasing demands for temperature-controlled freight services, I’m thrilled to announce another large order of brand new 2022 Stoughton reefers have just arrived at Highlight!
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, I’m ready 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!
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
November 5, 2021
Highlight is celebrating 9 years of supporting the Canadian Red Cross (and counting!)
This October marked Highlight Motor Group's 9th consecutive year of donating to the Canadian Red Cross. We're extremely proud of this milestone as it shows our 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, we’ve 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.
Everyone on our team 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.
To any business or individual out there, I encourage you to donate what you can. Any amount can help the people who need it most!
As we will soon be entering our 10th consecutive year as a donor, we couldn’t think of any greater reward than these kind words from the Canadian Red Cross, "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/
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
June 4, 2021
Happy National Doughnut Day!
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.
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
June 1, 2021
Thank you, York Public Health!
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!
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
April 30, 2021
HIGHLIGHT’S BIGGEST-EVER ORDER OF KENWORTH TRACTORS ARE NOW HERE!
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!
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
April 23, 2021
OUR NEW 2022 VOLVO TRACTORS HAVE ARRIVED!
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!
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
December 23, 2020
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Wishing you a joyous holiday season and a most prosperous New Year! Stay healthy and safe!
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
November 23, 2020
HIGHLIGHT CONTINUES TO GIVE OUR DRIVERS REASONS TO GET EXCITED!
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!
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
November 2, 2020
HIGHLIGHT MOTOR GROUP KEEPS OUR DRIVERS ROLLING IN STYLE AND IN COMFORT
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 more photos? See them in our gallery!
Want to see the video? Check it out here!
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
November 2, 2020
FIFTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR HIGHLIGHT MOTOR GROUP RANKED AS ONE OF CANADA’S FASTEST GROWING COMPANIES
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! 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 our tireless efforts, our continued growth is attributed to the ongoing investments we make in ourselves. We brought in a minority shareholder, opened Highlight Repair Shop, continue to add new equipment and continue to create new jobs. 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.
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
September 23, 2020
A few months ago Highlight Motor Group 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. I never imagined we would receive such an awesome reaction to this tribute! I am 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. Enough appreciation cannot be shared in these unprecedented times.
Check out this awesome video of our tribute coming to life!
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
August 25, 2020
Our brand new limited edition fleet of tractors and trailers are ready to roll! I am excited for everyone to see them on the road!
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
August 14, 2020
Highlight expands on tribute to front-line heroes with the introduction of brand new Limited Edition city truck wraps!
When we released our recent tribute trailer wraps, which showcased our appreciation for all the dedicated men and women working on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic, we received a massive outpouring of positive feedback! So much so, that I decided we would fully wrap 20 brand new, 2021 Volvo, Limited Edition city trucks! Some of our top drivers received these trucks and they are extremely proud to participate in honouring these everyday heroes.
Once again we teamed up with Palmer Marketing for the design and Turbo Images for the output and install of the truck wraps and I’m ecstatic with the results. 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!
View more images here!
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
August 14, 2020
Community is so important and when we work together, great things can be achieved!
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.
I 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.
From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of the entire Highlight Motor Group team, I 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!
View images here
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
July 6, 2020
Our employees are like family to us. I am 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 head management for this idea and making sure our entire family is staying safe and looking GREAT!
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
June 5, 2020
I am excited to share the design of our new trailers which showcases our 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 our cross border runs between Canada and the USA.
I'm thrilled with the new design and 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. 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 our trailers. Our partners share the same appreciation for these heroes and have been so great to work with. I 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.
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
May 22, 2020
I am proud to announce the grand opening of Highlight Motor Group's brand new, state-of-the-art repair shop. Connected to our 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. I have to say, I am thrilled with this new launch! 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, we are continuing to build momentum and better position ourselves for the future in the post-pandemic world.
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 our business, all new employees will be fully trained to meet Highlight’s high quality standards in service, health and safety.
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
April 7, 2020
CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR FRONT LINES BATTLING COVID-19
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!
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
April 3, 2020
HIGHLIGHT MOTOR GROUP AND FLOW WATER ASSIST FRONT LINES BATTLING COVID-19
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 New Market, 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.
I 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.
I 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.
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
February 20, 2020
HIGHLIGHT MOTOR GROUP CONTINUES TO RAISE FUNDS FOR SICKKIDS VS CAMPAIGN
Myself together with our 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 we have 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.
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 all of you at Highlight are so giving that I’m extremely proud to say we didn’t just double it, we tripled it!
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.
We’re thrilled with all of our employees for your caring attitudes and generous donations. Every bit of money helps no matter how small and we encourage everyone to continue to donate as much as you can. We will continue to support SickKids VS and although we have just tripled our donation from last year, I know the entire Highlight Motor Group team will support me in saying that our goal is to once again double our donation next year!
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
February 6, 2020
HIGHLIGHT MOTOR GROUP TAKES ON CRÉDIT MUTUEL EQUITY AS MINORITY SHAREHOLDER
Highlight Motor Group has partnered with Crédit Mutuel Equity which is the North American private equity arm of France’s major banking group, Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale. The private equity firm invested $55MM of capital and will act as an influential minority shareholder assisting in Highlight’s plans for further growth.
Highlight has been growing rapidly and has been recognized by Growth 500 as one of Canada’s Fastest Growing Companies for four consecutive years. Highlight was also named as Top Fleet Employers and according to the Growth 500 report, now have over 650 full-time employees on board across their four terminals in Canada and the USA. There are no signs of slowing down and this partnership only helps to accelerate both their short and long-term development strategies.
I’m very excited to welcome Crédit Mutuel Equity as a leading minority shareholder. They bring a track record of success and reliability to the table and share the same passion for delivering the highest quality of service possible.
David Dickel, Managing Director of Crédit Mutuel Equity in Canada stated, “Kirk founded Highlight Motor Group at the age of 25, starting out in the transportation industry as a driver/owner-operator of a single truck. His dedication, field experience and leadership have enabled HMG to become a dominant player in the North American transportation and logistics market over the past decade, with the strongest growth in Canada according to the Growth 500 ranking.”
From the one truck operation over a decade ago, Highlight had steadily increasing sales of $120MM (2018) and now boasts over 430 late-model, fully-equipped tractors and more than 800 trailers of various configurations including heated and reefer units.
We saw a demand in the market, we saw room to grow and we continue to see room to grow much further still. Partnering with Crédit Mutuel Equity helps us to accelerate our plans and is a perfect marriage as we share the same vision for our future. We are not disclosing any specific details at this time but you can rest assured – there are exciting times ahead for Highlight Motor Group!
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
January 29, 2020
2019 was a great year for Highlight Motor Group. We were named Top Fleets to Drive For, we opened the doors on another mega terminal and we added to our fleet with brand new, top of the line Kenworth trucks. It was from these initiatives, investments and our incredible work ethic that we were recognized for the fourth year in a row as one of Canada’s Top 500 Fastest Growing Companies!
With the recognition and accolades comes a responsibility to give back. I’m so proud of our entire team for putting us in the position to be able to support our communities and charitable organizations. It is your hard work and dedication that brings our vision to life, drives our forward momentum and is ultimately what makes Highlight Motor Group the success that it is today.
To celebrate our success and show my appreciation for all of your hard work, we threw the biggest Christmas party in our company’s history with over 750 guests! What a blast! If you haven’t seen the video, view it in our website’s video gallery to see just how crazy a Highlight Christmas Night Party can be! In addition to the delicious food, entertainment, dancing, amazing prize giveaways and employee recognition, our employees stepped up once again to raise funds for the SickKids Foundation. Last year we set a goal to double the amount raised and I couldn’t be more ecstatic to tell you we flew passed our goal! Just like last year, I’ve committed to match all funds raised, dollar for dollar to donate towards a new SickKids children’s hospital being built in Toronto. We’ll be delivering the cheque to SickKids in the next few weeks. I couldn’t be happier with how this event went and want to thank you again for your generosity!
Now that 2019 is behind us, we need to look forward to making 2020 even better. We have big plans for further growth as we continue on our journey to provide our customers with the best service possible! So let’s keep up the great work and keep the momentum going!
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
September 25, 2019
Four consecutive years as one of Canada's Top 500 Fastest Growing Companies!
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, we once again ranked as number 11.
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! 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.
Earlier this year we were also named as Top Fleet Employers and now have 650 full-time employees on board across our four terminals in Canada and the USA.
Our growth stems from everyone's commitment to company culture. 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.
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
June 26, 2019
Proud Sponsor of Bikers Battling Cancer
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 our driver, 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.
Highlight Motor Group is one of the Platinum Sponsors and we are extremely proud to provide our support. 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.
When Don heard about the new Highlight trucks we were bringing in, he inquired if one of them would be for him. I couldn’t wait to tell him my idea for his new truck. I wanted to custom wrap it for him with the Bikers Battling Cancer branding and information to help raise more awareness for the charity and their annual event. Don was thrilled with my idea and in return, he presented me with a rally shirt and a leather vest with their Ride for Families patches on it – proclaiming I was now a “Brother” to the Bikers Battling Cancer.
I encourage everyone to go to this event. You will have a great time and it’s for such a great cause!
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
June 5, 2019
Brand New Facility in Chicago, Illinois Now Open!
We have officially opened the doors to our 4th facility and now the 3rd in the USA on May 28th. It is located 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.
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!
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 our new mid-west facility. 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 entire team in place are the right people to make this expansion another success for the Highlight Group of Companies!
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
May 24, 2019
Highlight Motor Group Opening Brand New Facility in Chicago, Illinois!
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!
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
May 10, 2019
Forty brand new, 2020 Kenworth T680 trucks hit the road today
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.
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
April 17, 2019
HIGHLIGHT MOTOR GROUP AWARDED 2019 TOP FLEET EMPLOYER
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!
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
February 22, 2019
We go the extra mile to keep our drivers happy!
Myself along with Service Fleet Manager, Oleg Belchuk toured the Chillicothe, Ohio Kenworth assembly plant to see the new 2020 Kenworth T-680 models being built. The Kenworth management team lead us through the entire assembly plant, providing us with the opportunity to see all of the impressive new technology and equipment being used. 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!
Encouraging our drivers to communicate with us and really taking their feedback into consideration is one of the main reasons our company is successful. 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!
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
February 13, 2019
Giving to a good cause!
Recently myself along with Vice-Presidents, Bob Cascagnette and Yury Eskin, delivered a $5,000 donation to the SickKids Foundation. These funds will be put towards the SickKidsVS campaign to build a new SickKids hospital. We wanted to support this great cause and told all Highlight personnel we would match the amount they were able to generate during our company Christmas party. We’re very proud of our employees for their participation and for donating so generously. Highlight is extremely happy to continue to support SickKids and have set a goal to double our donation in the upcoming year!
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
January 25, 2019
At Highlight Motor Group we work hard and celebrate our success that follows!
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! To see more photos, visit our Gallery!
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
October 23, 2018
I really can’t believe 2018 is coming to an end. It went by at lightning speed but that didn’t keep us from accomplishing many amazing things along the way.
We ranked #11 in the fastest growing Canadian transportation companies in 2018, receiving the Growth 500 award across all industries for the third consecutive year. To me, that speaks volumes about the consistency and quality we create together as the Highlight Motor Group team.
One year after opening our Los Angeles operation we were able to expand our presence there opening a new terminal in August of 2018. We provide our full suite of services and focus on connecting California and Canadian markets. It’s one more step to even greater things to come.
We launched our driver school in 2018 and are working closely with the best institutions to bring new, well trained drivers into the workforce. We are not sitting back and crying about how hard it is to find great drivers. We are creating solutions that will greatly benefit our continued growth as a company.
On a lighter note, having your company “go to the dogs” can be a good thing. That’s right, we are a pet-friendly transportation company. Our drivers can bring their canine friends on the road and even into our drivers’ lounges at our various terminals. Pets make a great companion. We encourage that companionship and want Highlight Motor Group to be known as a company that understands and cares about keeping our driving force happy and healthy.
The Holiday season is a great time to step back and truly appreciate your family and friends. I want you to know that Highlight Motor Group is also here as part of your extended family. Together we have built a fantastic company and I look forward to working with you all to make 2019 another banner year!
Happy Holidays Everyone!
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
December 21, 2017
The celebration of our 10 year anniversary is behind us as we look to 2018 and another fantastic year for Highlight Motor Group. We’ve accomplished so much during this time and that is a testament to our staff, driving force and most of all our valued customers. These all play a critical part in our success story.
In 2017, we expanded our operation to California and for the second consecutive year, recognized as one of Canada’s Fastest Growing Companies. We continued to upgrade our equipment throughout 2017 and put the technology in place to be ELD Compliant for the December 18, 2017 deadline.
Our team is growing too and we are now over 200 people strong across our Canada/USA service area. Along with being ELD Compliant, that same technology will give us a wealth of new information to create greater efficiencies and partner even closer with our customers, improving KPIs across the board.
This holiday season is a time to enjoy friends and family and set our goals for the New Year. Thank you one and all for your hard work, professionalism and loyalty. Because of you, our company will flourish and take further steps on our journey for continuous improvement and success in 2018!
Merry Christmas Everyone!
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
July 4, 2017
As we ramp up for the last half of 2017, I am very excited to announce that on July 5, 2017 our new facility in Los Angeles, California will be open for business. We’ve put a lot of planning into this new venture and I believe it will be a game changer for our company.
We have an experienced team in place at our Los Angeles location with decades of experience in dispatch, sales and cross-dock operations. We will be offering LTL and Truckload service with daily departures within the U.S. and to and from all our service points in Canada. Our ability to consolidate our customers’ LTL shipments more effectively allows us to operate leaner and pass that savings on to our valued customers. Service times are also improved with Highlight’s new California service.
We will be promoting this new offering through a digital marketing strategy. We have access to a large shipper audience with high demands to connect Canada and California markets. Our modern van and reefer equipment meet the stringent EPA requirements and we are all systems go to become an LTL and Truckload leader to and from California.
As we continue to celebrate our 10th anniversary (2007-2017) there will be more growth and innovation. Thank you to all our loyal customers, suppliers and our Highlight Team for helping make 2017 a resounding success!
Sincerely yours,
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
February 1, 2017
I am anticipating another outstanding year for Highlight in 2017. We built great momentum in 2016, growing by 28% and Profit Magazine named us as one of Canada’s Fastest Growing Companies. We ranked 7th overall in the transportation sector and are very pleased to receive this recognition for our company’s efforts.
I would like to thank our customers, suppliers and our Highlight Team for making this achievement possible and invite you all to help us celebrate our 10th year anniversary (2007-2017). We will continue to improve processes and overall performance by measuring and managing the KPIs that are critical to your growth and success.
We launched our website in 2016 and will continue to market our company aggressively through online methods, promotions, trailer wraps and face-to-face presentations by our sales force.
As always, we will continue to work diligently to serve you, our valued customers, and deliver our very best effort with every shipment placed in our care. By the skid or by the truckload, you can count on each member of our team to deliver “Highlight Quality Service” throughout Canada and the USA.
Sincerely yours,
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies
January 1, 2016
Thanks to everyone involved, who help me achieve my dream to build a new wave of transportation "in style" that reflects everything I believe in, has become a reality. I would personally like to thank our customers, suppliers and the entire Highlight Team for helping make that possible. Last year was a banner year for us and will serve as a foundation for further growth this year and for many years to come.
Our recent expansion in Concord, ON has come together nicely, providing a great work environment for our people and lots of room for expansion. We have been fortunate to have grown our business by 40% per year for the last 5 years and we will continue to grow to serve the needs of our customers. We’ve recently introduced a new tridem service in Canada and our expedited tailgate service to the eastern seaboard has received a great response from our customers. Our fleet has grown by 100 power units, proudly flying our bold Highlight colours. We have launched our website and though it took some time to come together, we hope you find the approach to our online presence entertaining and informative.
We work hard and take great pride in every aspect of our company. We have become a leader in LTL and Truckload service and offer a host of value added offerings to better serve our customers. As we approach our 10 Year Service Anniversary, I would like to take this time to thank you all once more. Your ongoing support is truly appreciated.
Sincerely yours,
Kirk Kalinitchenko
Founder, President and CEO
Highlight Group of Companies