About Pickands Mather
Forged by Mining and the Great Lakes, Ready for Tomorrow
Deeply rooted in transporting bulk commodities and raw materials across the Great Lakes and Inland River Systems for more than 140 years, Pickands Mather is rich in history but future-focused with where the industry is going. From modernizing and offering nationwide services to providing configurable tech-enabled solutions that can meet your logistical needs, we never lose track of our North Star: being an industry leader and trustworthy partner you can rely on.
Core Principles
​Creativity lives at the center of how we approach logistical challenges.
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Moving bulk materials requires multiple modes of transportation to get the most efficient routing.
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Data lies at the center of decisions we make for our clients – we utilize the best system in the market to make a difference.
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Every client deserves confidentiality that comes with our promise.
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Our people, from the top to our inspectors at terminals and ports throughout the region, are here to safeguard our clients’ business.
Our History
It all started in Cleveland, Ohio in 1883, with the founding of Pickands Mather & Company. James Pickands, Samuel Mather and Jay C. Morse got their start mining and moving iron ore to support the booming steel industry. The business grew into a widespread operation, as our founders got into the vessel business and formed what would become the Interlake Steamship Company. Along the way, Pickands Mather’s mining interests grew, we acquired interests in blast furnaces and our predecessors learned firsthand the importance of leveraging the benefits of multi-modal transportation instead of relying on just one or two modes.
Having Interlake Steamship Company in the portfolio gave Pickands Mather one of the largest shipping fleets on the Great Lakes. In 1987, the Interlake Steamship Company became a privately held company while what remained of Pickands Mather went under the stewardship of Cleveland Cliffs, until being sold in 1992. Ever since, we have had private ownership, embodying both our history and bright future as innovators and trusted advisors.
Headquartered in Kirtland, Ohio — near Lake Erie — our history runs deep and there have been many iterations of the Pickands Mather Group over the decades. Now, we are a full-service logistics partner who stays true to our values.