N.O. freight company acquired

Chicago-based Livingston International has acquired New Orleans-based M.G. Maher & Co., as well as the business of its affiliate MCLX Inc., Livingston’s President and CEO Peter Luit said Tuesday.

The acquisition strengthens Livingston’s international freight forwarding business globally and its customs brokerage business in the U.S., the company said. It also establishes Livingston in New Orleans and expands its operations in Houston.

Not included in the transaction is MBLX, the barge freight handling and transportation affiliate of M.G. Maher.

MBLX will continue to operate independently and provide clients of both companies the same services it does today.

“This merger creates exciting new opportunities for our staff, and means a broader range of services is available for our customers,” said David Schulingkamp, president of M.G. Maher and MCLX. “With our combined expertise, we will be a much stronger full-service national customs broker and international logistics and freight forwarding provider.”

Established in 1949, Maher is an international freight forwarder, customs broker and logistics provider employing approximately 100 people in New Orleans and Houston.

With its U.S. air/sea hub located in Chicago and regional centers in Los Angeles, New York and Norfolk, Livingston is a dominant customs broker along the U.S.-Canada border.

Livingston employs more than 2,700 employees at over 100 border points, sea ports, airports and other strategic locations across North America as well as in Europe and Asia.