COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 4213

Trucking, Except Local

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

30companies1911–1985founding years30still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedOscar Mayer Foods Corp.FoundedOscar Mayer Foods Corp.
1911
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedColes Express Inc.
1917
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedRoadway Express, Inc.
1930
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedBekins Company
1940
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedEmery Worldwide Airlines, Inc.
1946
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedAtlas Van Lines, Inc.FoundedAtlas Van Lines, Inc.
1948
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedLeaseway Transportation Corp.
1960
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedMcLane Company, Inc.
1964
FoundedArkansas Best Corporation
1966
FoundedLindsay Manufacturing Co.
1969
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
FoundedSimon Transportation Services Inc.FoundedSimon Transportation Services Inc.
1972
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedHeartland Express, Inc.
1978
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
FoundedLADD Furniture, Inc.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedJ.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc.
1983
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedOTR Express, Inc.
1985
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Oscar Mayer Foods Corp. →
Active · founded 1911
Oscar Mayer Foods Corp.
Oscar Mayer Foods Corp. →
Active · founded 1911
Oscar Mayer Foods Corp.
Coles Express Inc. →
Active · founded 1917
Coles Express Inc.
Coles Express Inc. →
Active · founded 1917
Coles Express Inc.
Roadway Express, Inc. →
Active · founded 1930
Roadway Express, Inc.
Roadway Express, Inc. →
Active · founded 1930
Roadway Express, Inc.
Bekins Company →
Active · founded 1940
The Bekins Company is a leader in the moving and storage industry.
Bekins Company →
Active · founded 1940
The Bekins Company is a leader in the moving and storage industry.
Emery Worldwide Airlines, Inc. →
Active · founded 1946
Emery Worldwide Airlines, Inc., commonly known as Emery Worldwide, is an integrated air freight carrier that provides…
Emery Worldwide Airlines, Inc. →
Active · founded 1946
Emery Worldwide Airlines, Inc., commonly known as Emery Worldwide, is an integrated air freight carrier that provides…
Atlas Van Lines, Inc. →
Active · founded 1948
The fifth-largest moving company in the United States, Atlas Van Lines, Inc., derives the majority of its revenue from…
Atlas Van Lines, Inc. →
Active · founded 1948
The fifth-largest moving company in the United States, Atlas Van Lines, Inc., derives the majority of its revenue from…
Leaseway Transportation Corp. →
Active · founded 1960
Leaseway Transportation Corp.
Leaseway Transportation Corp. →
Active · founded 1960
Leaseway Transportation Corp.
McLane Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1964
McLane Company, Inc., is one of the largest wholesale distribution companies in the United States.
McLane Company, Inc. →
Active · founded 1964
McLane Company, Inc., is one of the largest wholesale distribution companies in the United States.
Arkansas Best Corporation →
Active · founded 1966
Parent company of one of the leading truckers in the United States, Arkansas Best Corporation (ABC) ships general…
Arkansas Best Corporation →
Active · founded 1966
Parent company of one of the leading truckers in the United States, Arkansas Best Corporation (ABC) ships general…
Lindsay Manufacturing Co. →
Active · founded 1969
Lindsay Manufacturing Co.
Lindsay Manufacturing Co. →
Active · founded 1969
Lindsay Manufacturing Co.
Simon Transportation Services Inc. →
Active · founded 1972
Simon Transportation Services Inc.
Simon Transportation Services Inc. →
Active · founded 1972
Simon Transportation Services Inc.
Heartland Express, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
Heartland Express, Inc.
Heartland Express, Inc. →
Active · founded 1978
Heartland Express, Inc.
LADD Furniture, Inc. →
Active · founded 1981
LADD Furniture, Inc., one of the largest residential furniture manufacturers in the United States, designs,…
LADD Furniture, Inc. →
Active · founded 1981
LADD Furniture, Inc., one of the largest residential furniture manufacturers in the United States, designs,…
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
J.B.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
J.B.
OTR Express, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
OTR Express, Inc.
OTR Express, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
OTR Express, Inc.
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