CHICAGO – Today, Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot announced Elite Transit Solutions (ELITE) expansion in Chicago, becoming its new central hub. Michael Johnson, CEO of ELITE, signed a multi-year office lease for 9,000 square feet in the newly refurbished 600 West Fulton building at Jefferson and Fulton Streets in Chicago's west loop and historic Fulton Market neighborhood. Chicago will anchor the company’s aggressive national expansion plan in the wake of its explosive growth. ELITE is a third-party logistics (3PL) leader in the freight management logistics industry, delivering innovative technology solutions for customers in food and beverage, OEM, industrial, and chemical companies. 

"On behalf of the City of Chicago, I want to extend a warm welcome to ELITE's team, who is coming to our city right as our workforce is preparing to return to the office," said Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot. "ELITE joins a growing list of other companies choosing to grow their business here in Chicago and it will undoubtedly help to further secure the future prosperity of our city. I am thankful to ELITE for investing in our city and look forward to seeing how they tap into our city's historic strengths in commerce, TD&L and technology." 

“ELITE joins a growing stream of companies declaring Chicago to be the chosen location for hubs, headquarters, expansion and more,” said Michael Fassnacht, President & CEO, World Business Chicago. “When talking to business leaders like Elite’s Michael Johnson, they share their enthusiasm for our city’s strengths in TD&L, central location and abundant talent, and comfort in seeing the city on a path to strong economic recovery.” 

"Our company considered several metropolitan areas for our new Commercial Operations Center, but ultimately, we knew Chicago was the ideal location,” said Michael Johnson, CEO of Elite Transit Solutions. “The city's legacy as an epicenter of transportation brokerage is the perfect fit. In Chicago, kids grow up wanting to be firefighters or freight brokers, so we are confident in the quality talent we know we can hire here. Our business – and our company – is exciting, fast-paced, and highly competitive, so we're seeking enthusiastic candidates that thrive in this high-energy mindset that truly is a lifestyle."  

ELITE's rapid transformation from a regional transportation logistics company to a national brand is fueled by its proprietary Chameleon TMS software. The breakthrough technology employs predictive analytics to automate up to 80% of logistics tasks, which takes the burden off shippers and helps the company maintain its industry-leading 98% on-time delivery rate. Of the roughly 16,000+ brokers in the industry, less than a dozen companies own and develop their own software.  

ELITE is now looking to fill open roles, hiring staff from entry to mid-sales, customer service and operations in the company’s Fulton Market office. Brian Duffy, Senior Vice President, Stream Realty Partners, is credited with helping ELITE secure its new Chicago space in the historic Fulton Market area.  

In addition to its new location in Chicago, ELITE has also opened an additional office in Charlotte. Its Pittsburgh office currently employs more than 100. With plans to open more locations around the country next year, it expects to hire more than 200 new employees nationally by the end of 2022. Interested candidates should visit elitetransit.com/careers to access job postings, which continue to be updated. 

ELITE is on pace to move more than 100,000 truckloads for its customers in 2021, up from over 50,000 truckloads in 2020. Launched in 2013, ELITE ranked 997 on the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies list last year, showing a three-year revenue growth of 463 percent. ELITE has made the list for the past four consecutive years. 

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