Hoffman Family of Companies acquires Naples transportation firm

With the acquisition of a Naples-based transportation firm, the Hoffman Family of Companies reports it is now the largest private owner-operator of a black vehicle fleet in the United States.

Hoffman Family of Companies acquired Dolphin Transportation Specialists, which operates more than 165 vehicles, including sedans, SUVs, vans, Mercedes Sprinters, mini-buses and motor coaches. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed by the family-owned private equity firm that is also headquartered in Naples. 

“Joining forces with the Hoffmann Family of Companies represents an exciting chapter for our team,” Tim Rose, who co-founded Dolphin Transportation Specialists in 1994, says in a statement. “We look forward to leveraging their expertise and resources to elevate the luxury transportation experience for our valued clients.”

Dolphin Transportation Specialists specializes in premium transportation services for large events, groups and corporate clients. One of its clients is ESPN, according to its website. Operating out of Naples, Miami, Tampa/Sarasota, Fort Myers and Marco Island, the firm expanded its reach through strategic acquisitions, including SRQ Transportation in Sarasota in 2020 and Key Transportation in Miami in 2021.

Rose will continue to lead Dolphin Transportation Specialists as president and will also assume the role of president of Hoffmann Transportation Enterprises, working with the company's directors to drive future acquisitions and enhance customer service offerings across the transportation portfolio.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dolphin Transportation Specialists into the Hoffmann family,” Director of the Hoffmann Family of Companies Randy Smith says in the statement. “Their reputation for excellence aligns perfectly with our commitment to delivering exceptional service across all our business ventures.”

Hoffman Family of Companies is a multi-vertical, family-owned private equity firm consisting of over 110 global brands and 11,000 employees with businesses in 30 countries and 400 locations worldwide. Verticals range from aviation to media to real estate.

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This year, Hoffman Family of Companies has been on a buying spree, acquiring 10 companies in the first eight months of 2024, the Business Observer previously reported. Among them were two transportation companies: CTS Aspen, a luxury limousine and travel service company in Colorado, and Pure Luxury Transportation, a car service business in California.

Hoffman's transportation portfolio now includes businesses across cities such as Miami, Tampa, Naples, Fort Myers, Sarasota and Marco Island; Dallas; Napa, Sonoma Valley and San Francisco; St. Louis and Augusta, Missouri; and Aspen.