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On January 1, 2027, 70 years after its founding, Tétrault Transport will change ownership. But there is no need to worry, the name will remain the same, as the company will be passed on to another Tétrault!
Since 1957, Tétrault Transport has been passed down from one generation to the next. Its founder, Gérard Tétrault, sold the company to his son, Gilbert, in 1975, who in turn sold it to his son, Réal, in 1995. Today, it is not Réal Tétrault’s son who is taking over the business, but rather his younger cousin, Patrick Tétrault, who will assume the reins alongside his business partner, Viktor Frank.
Today, Tétrault Transport specializes in bulk milk transportation. However, that was not always the case. “When my grandfather started Tétrault Transport 70 years ago, we hauled all kinds of goods, including livestock,” recalls Réal Tétrault. “It wasn’t until 1987 that we focused exclusively on milk. Since then, milk is all we transport.”
Patrick Tétrault explains that milk transportation is “a highly regulated industry. We have specific routes and designated clients. It’s not a free market.”
The number of dairy producers served by Tétrault Transport has fluctuated over the years. When Gilbert Tétrault purchased the company in 1975, it operated just two trucks. He added eight more to the fleet. As a result, Tétrault Transport grew from three or four employees to 17, and from serving between 20 and 40 producers to approximately 250.
When Réal Tétrault took over in 1995, Tétrault Transport was collecting milk from about 100 producers across southeastern Manitoba. By 2026, that number had dropped to just 24 producers, “but the farms are much larger,” he points out. “We collect more than 6 million litres of milk every month with five trucks, all within the southeastern Manitoba region around La Broquerie.”
This represents roughly 15% of the total milk produced in the province, a figure that has remained relatively stable. From southeastern Manitoba, Tétrault Transport delivers milk to cheese-making and dairy processing facilities, including plants in New Bothwell, Grunthal, and Winnipeg.
“The way milk is transported has changed dramatically over the years,” adds Réal Tétrault. “In the early days, milk was carried by hand in milk cans and loaded onto flatbed trucks. Today, we use large insulated tanker trailers that carry milk in bulk, and we collect it directly from farms using hoses.”
Réal Tétrault says it proudly: “We are very punctual, which our customers really appreciate. When we arrive at a farm, it’s almost like clockwork. They know what time it is because we’re there!”
In addition, Tétrault Transport provides service 365 days a year, “regardless of weather conditions,” emphasizes Patrick Tétrault.
Over the years, Tétrault Transport has received several awards recognizing its excellence, including the CDEM Excellence Award – Pioneer in Francophone Manitoba Entrepreneurship, presented to Gérard Tétrault in 2003, and the Manitoba Trucking Association – Omnitracs Distinguished Member Award in 2021.
Today, Patrick Tétrault is set to become the new co-owner, alongside Viktor Frank, of the 70-year-old family business.
“This was important to me because dairy production is a significant part of La Broquerie’s identity. There’s a reason there’s a cow statue in La Broquerie. For many years, this region was the largest milk-producing area in Manitoba!
“And throughout all those years, our family has played a key role in the industry. Tétrault Transport is the first and only milk transportation company in La Broquerie. I didn’t want to see that come to an end. It’s an honour for me to carry on what my grandfather started, even though those are very big shoes to fill.”
As for the future, Patrick Tétrault is already looking ahead, with guidance from his cousin Réal. “Today, there’s a very real possibility that milk will need to be transported beyond Manitoba. I’m neither equipped for nor interested in doing that,” Réal admits. “But Patrick has what it takes.”
“Once we have officially acquired Tétrault Transport, I plan to meet with Dairy Farmers of Manitoba, the organization that coordinates Manitoba’s dairy market, to learn more about their transportation needs. From there, Tétrault Transport may begin hauling milk and cream to Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and beyond.”
At the same time, while the two companies will remain clearly separate entities, Tétrault Transport will be able to benefit from the resources and expertise of One Call Logistics. “We already have a health and safety committee in place, for example, which Tétrault Transport does not currently have because it is a smaller company,” says the future owner.
To ensure a smooth transition, Réal Tétrault will remain alongside Patrick Tétrault and Viktor Frank until the summer of 2027.