By Sean Delaney
This year, Carmen Transport celebrates an impressive 40-year journey—from a humble single-truck operation in 1985 to one of Canada’s most respected and reliable cross-border fleets. A proudly family-owned business rooted in Emery Village, Carmen continues to grow, evolve, and lead while staying true to the values on which it was founded.
I sat down with Vince Tarantini, son of the company’s founder and current president, to learn more about the journey that has taken Carmen from its local beginnings to a thriving operation with nearly 100 trucks and over 300 trailers. Vince’s approach is grounded and thoughtful, much like the man who started it all.
“My father had never been to the U.S.,” Vince said. “So cross-border expansion wasn’t even on the radar. It was more like, ‘Hey Dad, I want to try this,’ and he’d say, ‘Are you sure? Be careful.” Vince learned by doing, expanding slowly from the GTA to Ottawa, Montreal, Sudbury, and eventually into the U.S. “He let me think about risk,” Vince added. “He didn’t talk about the size of the business—he just focused on meeting customers’ needs.”
That principle—meeting needs with care and integrity—remains at the heart of Carmen Transport. Today, the third generation has joined the company, as Vince’s twin sons, Andrea and Luca, step into leadership roles, eager to take the family legacy forward.
“They want to do smart business,” Vince shared. “They want to embrace systems, technology, and modern logistics tools. The hype around AI is just starting to touch our industry, and they’re keen to explore it.” He added: “We’re not chasing growth—we’re building sustainability.”
Carmen was an early adopter of electronic logging devices, implementing them over 15 years ago, long before the government mandate. “We knew it was coming, and we were ready,” Vince said. “Compliance is at the core of how we operate.”
After 20 of Carmen’s 40 years residing in Emery Village, Carmen continues to contribute to and collaborate with the local business community. “This is an older neighbourhood,” Vince noted, “but there’s a real effort now to keep it clean and presentable. We help out where we can—whether it’s snow removal or property upkeep. There’s a lot of neighbourly cooperation.”
Carmen remains proudly Canadian, and family values still drive the operation. Vince’s wife, Sonia, has joined the team as well, and longtime employees are deeply respected. A recent retirement lunch for an 18-year team member turned into a moment of reflection. “He told the younger staff not to fear what’s coming,” Vince said. “You’ll adjust—and become the next generation of leaders.”
With that kind of mindset—and with Andrea and Luca continuing the tradition—Carmen Transport is well-positioned for another 40 years of service, growth, and family-led excellence.