Company: Oak Harbor Freight Lines, Inc.
Founded: 1916 (100+ years in operation)
Headquarters: 1339 West Valley Hwy North, Auburn, WA 98001
Website: www.oakh.com
Tagline: "Bringing Peace of Mind Since 1916"
Executive Summary
Oak Harbor Freight Lines is a privately-owned, family-operated regional LTL (Less-than-Truckload) carrier serving the western United States. With 41 locations, 850+ tractors, and 2,600+ trailers, they provide comprehensive freight services across seven western states: Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. Through strategic partnerships, they extend services nationally and to Canada.
Service Coverage
Direct Territory (7 Western States)
| State | Key Terminals |
|---|
| Arizona | Phoenix, Tucson |
| California | Bakersfield, Chino, Eureka, Fontana, Fresno, Los Angeles (Montebello), Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, Stockton |
| Idaho | Boise, Idaho Falls, Lewiston, Pocatello, Twin Falls |
| Nevada | Las Vegas, Reno |
| Oregon | Bend, Coos Bay, Eugene, Klamath Falls, Medford, Portland, Salem |
| Utah | Cedar City, Salt Lake City |
| Washington | Auburn, Bremerton, Mt Vernon, Olympia, Pasco, Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Yakima |
Extended Network
- National Service: Partnership with network carriers for coast-to-coast delivery
- Canada Shipping: Full cross-border capabilities with dedicated Canadian Desk team
Core Services
1. LTL (Less-than-Truckload) Services
- Primary service offering for shipments under 19,999 lbs
- Direct service in 7 western states
- 1-3 days faster than transcontinental carriers through strategic partnerships
- Service Matrix available for transit time calculations between all terminals
2. Truckload Services
Full range of truckload options:
| Equipment Type | Max Weight |
|---|
| Dry Van/Reefer 53' | 45,000 lbs |
| Dry Van/Reefer 48' | 36,000 lbs |
| Intermodal 48' | 43,000 lbs |
| Intermodal 53' | 45,000 lbs |
| Flatbed/Stepside/Lowboy/Curtain Van | 47,000 - 49,000 lbs |
Special Equipment: Swing doors, load bars, e-track (horizontal/vertical), straps, blankets
3. Guaranteed Delivery Services
Guaranteed Standard
- Delivery within standard transit times
- Cost: 25% up-charge ($85 minimum)
- No claims to file if service fails - simply no billing
Guaranteed Hour
- Delivery within 1-hour window of customer's choosing (9AM - 5PM)
- Cost: 45% up-charge ($135 minimum)
- No claims to file if service fails - simply no billing
4. National Service (Partnership Network)
- "Weekend Advantage": Friday pickups in the West can be delivered in the East by Tuesday
- Dedicated sleeper team lanes from key cities (Salt Lake City, Sacramento) to gateway cities
- Premium transit times through direct loading and expedited sleeper teams
5. Canada Shipping
- Full cross-border documentation support
- Dedicated Canadian Desk: CanadianTeam@oakh.com
- Fax documentation by 3:00 PM PST (12:00 PM for East Coast brokers)
Logistics Services (Oak Harbor Logistics - powered by eShipping Exchange)
Extended logistics offerings through strategic partnership:
| Service | Description |
|---|
| Truckload/Partial-Load | Access to 11,000+ approved carriers |
| Expedited | Time-critical delivery options |
| TMS | Transportation Management System optimization |
| International | Import/export, freight forwarding, ocean & air freight |
| Parcel | Recovery, optimization & procurement services |
| Warehousing | Strategic and custom warehousing solutions |
Shipment Management
| Tool | Functionality |
|---|
| Tracing | Real-time shipment tracking via PRO/BOL number |
| Create BOL | Online Bill of Lading generation |
| Create Pickup | Schedule pickup requests |
| Review My Pickup | Check status of scheduled pickups |
| Rate Quote | Get instant freight quotes |
| Truckload: Load Request | Request truckload services |
Calculators & Utilities
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|
| Service Time Calculator | Calculate transit times between points |
| Density Calculator | Determine shipment density (weight per volume) |
| Point Lookup | Find service points and terminal information |
| Territory Map | Interactive service area visualization |
| Service Matrix | Transit time grid between all terminals |
Notifications & Inquiries
| Feature | Description |
|---|
| Delivery Notification | Automated delivery status alerts |
| Rate Quote Inquiry | Follow up on quote requests |
| Truckload Inquiry | Check truckload request status |
| Service Alerts | Real-time service disruption notices |
Account Management (My OHFL Portal)
- User account creation and login
- Profile management
- Billing information management
- Shipment history access
Technology & Integration
EDI (Electronic Data Interchange)
Full X12 document support:
| Document | Purpose |
|---|
| 204 | Pickup Request |
| 990 | Documents |
| 210 | Freight Bill Invoice |
| 211 | Bill of Lading |
| 214 | Shipment Status |
| 820 | Remittance Advice |
| 997 | Acknowledgement |
Communication Protocols: FTP, SFTP, AS2, VAN (Value Added Network)
Onboarding: ~8 weeks (often expedited after testing begins)
Web Services API
RESTful API for B2B integration:
- Get rate quotes
- Retrieve shipment information
- Request pickups
- Submit Bills of Lading
- Retrieve images (POD, BOL)
Electronic Invoice Options
| Format | Description |
|---|
| PDF | Email delivery, customizable file sizes |
| Excel (XLS) | Weekly consolidated spreadsheet (Fridays), includes additional shipping data |
| EDI 210 | Direct system integration |
Payment & Claims
BillTrust Payment Portal
- Partnership with Billtrust & JP Morgan Chase
- Secure online invoice payment
- Credit card, ACH, and other payment methods supported
- Improved accuracy and efficiency through financial software
Claims Process
- Goal: Settlement within 30 days
- Timeline: 30-120 days depending on complexity
- Requirements: Original vendor invoice required
- Repair Claims: Detailed repair invoice with parts breakdown required
- Acknowledgment: Within 15 days of receipt
Fuel Surcharge
- Updated weekly based on U.S. DOE West Coast (PADD5) Diesel Index
- Separate line item on freight bills
- Applied to net line haul charges after discount
- Current rates published online (as of Jan 2026: LTL 38.2%, TL 55.5%)
Resources & Downloads
| Resource | Description |
|---|
| OAKH 100 | Rules and Additional Charges documentation |
| Territory Map | Visual service area coverage |
| Locations List | Full terminal directory with contact info |
| Holiday Schedule | Non-service days calendar |
| Fuel Surcharge Schedule | Weekly updated rates |
| Service Matrix | Terminal-to-terminal transit times |
| Points Downloads | Downloadable service point data (email delivery) |
| Service Info Downloads | Comprehensive service documentation |
Company Infrastructure
Fleet Size
- 41 terminal locations
- 850+ tractors
- 2,600+ trailers
Leadership
| Role | Name |
|---|
| Chairman | Edward H. Vander Pol |
| Co-President | Dan Vander Pol |
| Co-President | Eric Vander Pol |
| VP of Pricing | Mark Vander Pol |
| VP of Operations | Kevin Kellermann |
| VP of Administration | Jackie Knox |
| VP of Information Technology | Robert Rosales |
Key Directors
- Director of Customer Experience: Kara Smallwood
- Director of Applications: Laura Parkinson
- Director of IT Infrastructure: Rick Potter
- Director of Engineering: Joe Cook
Key Differentiators
- 100+ Years of Experience - Family-owned since 1916
- Regional Expertise - Deep knowledge of Western U.S. freight corridors
- Strategic Partnerships - National reach without compromising service quality
- Weekend Advantage - Coast-to-coast delivery leveraging weekend operations
- Guaranteed Service - Simple, no-hassle guarantee with no claims filing
- Full Technology Stack - EDI, Web Services API, multiple invoice formats
- Comprehensive Self-Service - Robust online tools for tracking, quoting, and booking
Observations & Notes for Discovery
Strengths
- ✅ Comprehensive self-service portal with extensive tooling
- ✅ Strong EDI and API integration capabilities
- ✅ Transparent pricing (fuel surcharge published weekly)
- ✅ Simple guaranteed delivery program
- ✅ Multi-format electronic invoicing
- ✅ Extensive terminal network in Western states
Potential Areas for Competitive Analysis
- Mobile app presence (Google Play listing found but not accessible)
- Real-time tracking granularity
- Customer portal UX modernization
- API documentation accessibility
- Integration marketplace/partnerships
Document generated: January 20, 2026
Source: oakh.com
Generated using Tavily web extraction and requested as an artifact