| Gains in the fourth
quarter were very significant compared with the previous year in spite of extremely
unfavourable weather conditions in December. Throughout the year, the Company successfully
met the challenge of passing through escalating fuel prices, insurance, and health care
costs that increased at greater rates than official inflation measurements. Two business
units, the 81%-owned freight brokerage business and the recycling business, underperformed
and prevented the Company from generating even stronger results for 2000. However, with
solid performance from its core business, Vitran finished the year strongly positioned to
meet the challenges of 2001. |
