Oak Harbor Freight Lines Inc., an Auburn, Wash.-based trucking company that has operated a terminal here but used the services of another company to make its Spokane-Coeur dAlene area deliveries, now has decided to handle those deliveries itself.


Because of that decision, the Auburn company, which already employed eight people at its Spokane terminal, is hiring its own local delivery crew of 30 truck drivers and managers, says Jack Girnus, Oak Harbors sales executive here.


Girnus says that for the past 13 years the company has contracted with Spokane-based Grimmer Transfer & Storage, which used its own drivers and tractors to haul loads locally for Oak Harbor. Now, Oak Harbor has decided to break its ties with Grimmer.


As it launches its own delivery operation here, Oak Harbor also plans to bring a fleet of 18 tractors to Spokane and operate those along with the 42 trailers it already has stationed here.


Grimmer Transfer has done a very good job for us. It was a difficult decision, Girnus says. He says that Oak Harbor just decided the time was right to staff its terminal with its own drivers.


Meanwhile, Girnus and Spokane terminal manager John Renford will swap roleswith Girnus becoming terminal manager here and Renford taking on the position of sales executive, Girnus says.


Oak Harbor specializes in less-than-truckload hauls. It mostly serves customers in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and California, where it operates 23 terminals.