CALGARY – A reheated western economy propelled Mullen to near-record profits while Canada's largest carrier TransForce hurdled the $2 billion-revenue line for the first time ever.

The Mullen Group nearly tripled its fourth-quarter profit compared with a year ago, thanks to a boost in oilpatch drilling and acquisitions.

The company announced earnings of $33.2 million or 40 cents per diluted share for the quarter ended Dec. 31 compared with a profit of $11.1 a year ago. Revenue was $296.4 million, up from $233.6 million.

While Canada fared decently during the recession, recovery east of Saskatchewan has been slow, says chairman and chief executive Murray Mullen, who adds that the growth has been predominately in Western Canada.

"This was driven primarily by a robust recovery in western Canada which is benefiting from higher oil pricing as well as the introduction of new drilling technologies," he said.

Meanwhile in Montreal, TransForce continued to pick up speed gathered speed in the fourth quarter despite fragile markets in Central Canada and the U.S.

A series of acquisitions and cost controls helped the company pass $2-billion in revenue for the year, says President and CEO Alain Bedard.

For all 2010, revenue was just more than $2 billion, up from $1.85 billion in 2009, and earnings were $70.2 million or 76 cents a share, up from $46.5 million, or 52 cents a share.

However, Bédard said expectations should be tempered in 2011 as the North American economy recovers at a snail's pace.