DQS Acquires Contract Logistics Provider CLI in Warehouse Push

DQS Solutions & Staffing acquired Comprehensive Logistics, Inc., a contract logistics provider operating over 20 facilities spanning 17 states and more than 5 million square feet of warehouse space. Financial terms were not disclosed.

What does the CLI acquisition add to DQS's platform?

The acquisition gives Dearborn, Michigan-based DQS control of CLI's proprietary warehouse management system, which oversees inventory, sequencing, and manufacturing logistics. The deal merges CLI, DQS, and McLaren Transport — which DQS acquired in April 2025 — under parent company Axvor. Each company will continue to operate under its current banner.

"Having previously served as the Plant Manager of the CLI Dearborn Plant as well as on the CLI Leadership Team, I witnessed firsthand the company's tremendous potential," said DQS CEO Joshua Morris in a Wednesday news release. "Our goal is to build on CLI's strong foundation while investing in the people, facilities, and expanded services our clients need."

DQS's pivot from staffing to logistics

The CLI acquisition is part of a multi-year pivot for DQS. The company was originally launched as Detroit Quality Staffing, an employment agency focused on manufacturing workforce solutions. Over the past few years it began layering in security, transportation, and warehousing services.

The April 2025 acquisition of Detroit-based McLaren Transport onboarded trucking assets and a 75,000-square-foot cold storage facility, along with two decades of automotive supply chain leadership experience. With these acquisitions, DQS now offers complex cross-border and inbound-to-manufacturing logistics.

Why warehouse consolidation matters for small carriers

For owner-operators and small fleets running automotive or manufacturing lanes, warehouse consolidation by third-party logistics providers can shift where loads originate and how quickly they turn. When a 3PL acquires multiple facilities, it often centralizes inventory and reroutes shipments to optimize its own network — which can mean fewer short-haul moves and more regional runs out of consolidated hubs.

CLI's 20-facility footprint spans 17 states, concentrated in regions with heavy automotive and manufacturing freight. If DQS consolidates operations or shifts volume between facilities, carriers who've run regular routes into or out of CLI warehouses may see dispatch patterns change. The proprietary WMS gives DQS visibility into sequencing and just-in-time delivery schedules, which can tighten pickup windows and increase detention risk for carriers without appointment flexibility.

The McLaren acquisition last year brought cold storage and cross-border capability, signaling DQS is building a vertically integrated logistics platform that can handle freight from import to final mile. For small fleets, that means fewer handoffs — and potentially fewer load opportunities — as DQS internalizes moves that previously went to the spot market or third-party carriers.

What the deal signals about 3PL M&A

DQS's expansion mirrors a broader trend in third-party logistics: companies that started in adjacent services — staffing, security, regional trucking — are buying warehouse networks to capture more margin per shipment. When a 3PL controls both the warehouse and the truck, it can bid lower on contract freight because it eliminates the carrier markup. That pricing pressure shows up in contract rates for small fleets competing for the same lanes.

The deal also reflects continued appetite for warehouse assets despite softer freight demand. CLI's 5 million square feet of space gives DQS negotiating leverage with shippers who need dedicated or shared warehousing tied to transportation. For carriers, that can mean more dedicated contract opportunities — but at rates set by a 3PL that owns the warehouse and can afford to run trucks at breakeven to keep the facility full.

Small fleets running automotive or manufacturing lanes out of Michigan, Florida, or the 15 other states where CLI operates should verify the operating authority and fleet size of any new DQS-branded entities that emerge from the merger. Axvor's strategy of keeping acquired companies under their original banners means CLI, McLaren, and DQS will all remain visible in the market — but dispatch, billing, and insurance may consolidate under Axvor, which can complicate carrier vetting and payment terms.

The line for small fleets

If you've been running regular loads into or out of CLI facilities, expect potential changes to pickup schedules, consolidation points, and rate negotiations as DQS integrates the network. The proprietary WMS means DQS can sequence shipments more tightly, which can improve turn times for carriers with flexible schedules but increase detention for those running tight appointment windows. Watch for dispatch pattern shifts in Q2 and Q3 as the integration unfolds.