Trucking is a much older profession than most people think. Several trucking companies in the United States are more than 100 years old, and the legacy of Canadian trucking is almost as long. Believe it or not, the oldest trucking companies still around today were formed before trucks became available. They diversified fleets of horses and early cars into trucks at the right moment, proving that innovation is key to success in the industry!
The World’s Oldest Trucking Company
The oldest carrier in the world didn’t start with a truck; it started with a horse and wagon team! What is now the Jones Motoring Group began in 1894 when John Jones, an immigrant from Wales,turned his horse and cart into a fleet. He continued expanding this fleet until purchasing the company’s first truck in 1912. Until then, most trucks were novelties, and very few companies took them seriously to do the work needed. Jones Motoring believed in it, and the company has been hauling freight in Pennsylvania ever since.
In the early days, most freight was moved around North America by trains. This meant goods could only be sent to larger city-centres, but trucks didn’t exist in enough numbers to make it a viable way of moving freight across the continent. An American company like Jones Motoring would move goods from centres out to smaller populations with horses and carts. This changed after 1910, because the improvement of gasoline-powered engines and transmissions, the creation of the gear drive, and the development of the tractor-trailer made larger vehicles more reliable. World War 1 made trucking much more necessary, and after the war, shipping was never the same. It only improved and expanded its reach with the creation of highway systems and car culture. Now, trucks carry more than 63% of the freight transported in North America!
Another Pennsylvania-based company, Mawson and Mawson, started a year after John Jones, and they’re still going, too. But these are very local companies in the United States. One of the biggest shipping companies in the world got their start as the American Messenger Co. in 1907. They began by delivering food trays from restaurants, handwritten notes between houses, and running errands for customers – sort of an early Uber prototype, but without cars. The company purchased its first motorized vehicle, a Model T, in 1913. It took on the colour brown as its signature look, and soon, the company now known as UPS was delivering parcels all over.
The Oldest Canadian Companies
When it comes to vehicles and trucking, what happens in the U.S. quickly follows suit in Canada. However, Canadian-owned and operated companies took a while to grow. The largest transport company in Canada, Montreal-based TFI International, started in 1957 as a small service based in Cabano, Quebec. It was incorporated in 1985, and after acquiring much of the local competition, became TFI in 1999.
TFI has become so big that it now owns what could be called the oldest trucking company in Canada, Canadian Freightways. Canadian Freightways was incorporated in 1935 but was acquired by TFI in 2004. It still operates under this name in Western Canada and the United States.
Despite more than a century, trucking remains as important to the economy as ever. Technological advancements and economic growth make it a necessity, and we could be talking about these companies in another hundred years, too!
FAQs
The oldest carrier in the world didn't start with a truck; it started with a horse and wagon team! What is now the Jones Motoring Group began in 1894 when John Jones, an immigrant from Wales, turned his horse and cart into a fleet.
What was the first trucking company in the United States? ›
Alexander Winton– Founded and created the first-ever trucking company in 1897 called Winton Motor Carriage Company of Cleveland. Otto Neumann and August Fruehauf– A blacksmith and a Wagon-maker were both responsible for inventing the very first semi-trailer in 1914.
What is the oldest truck? ›
The Daimler Motor-Lastwagen is the world's first truck, manufactured in the year 1896 by Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft and designed by Gottlieb Daimler.
What is the second largest trucking company? ›
What is the history of McLean trucking company? ›
The company was founded in 1934 in Raleigh, North Carolina by Malcom McLean. Eventually, the company's headquarters moved to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in an effort to be closer to one of McLean's largest customers. McLean would come to be known as one of the pioneers of less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping.
What are the oldest US trucking companies? ›
What is now the Jones Motoring Group began in 1894 when John Jones, an immigrant from Wales, turned his horse and cart into a fleet. He continued expanding this fleet until purchasing the company's first truck in 1912.
What is the richest trucking company in America? ›
Biggest Trucking Companies in the US
- UPS Inc. Founded: 1907. Revenue: 97.3 billion USD (2021) ...
- FedEx Corp. Founded: 1971. ...
- XPO Logistics. Founded: 1989. ...
- J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. ...
- Knight-Swift Transport Services. Founded: 1990. ...
- YRC Worldwide. Founded: 1929. ...
- Schneider. Founded: 1976. ...
- Landstar Systems. Founded: 1968.
After forming the Ford Motor Company in 1903, Henry Ford had a vision to convert the military pickup truck into a vehicle for civilians. In 1917, Ford had produced what may be considered the first pickup truck made in America — the Ford Model TT.
Who made the first truck, Ford or Chevy? ›
Henry Ford and America's First Pickup Truck
That's right, the market's first pickup truck can be traced back as far as the Ford Model T Runabout made by Henry Ford in 1925.
What is the oldest semi-truck manufacturer? ›
In 1899, Winton Motor Carriage started manufacturing the hauler for its own use as well as other car manufacturers. The first semi trailer used a modified short-wheeled touring automobile (the tractor) with a cart (the trailer) attached to the rear of it.
Who owns the most trucks in the US? ›
The biggest fleet in the U.S. belongs to PepsiCo, Inc. It owns 11,079 tractors, 16,138 trucks, and 6,682 pickup trucks and cargo vans. PepsiCo also owns 20,105 trailers for securing goods in transit. This enormous fleet helps PepsiCo take in $79.5 billion per year in sales.
Which truck company sells most? ›
What Is The Number One Best-Selling Truck? The Ford F-Series is still the number one best-selling truck for 47 consecutive years. Ford delivered over 750,000 examples of the F-Series in 2023.
Who bought Interstate Trucking company? ›
Who acquired Interstate Distributor Company? Interstate Distributor Company was acquired by Heartland Express.
Who owns Yellow Trucking? ›
By July 31, 2023, MFN Partners LP, a Boston-based hedge fund, had accumulated a 25% stake in the company and become the second largest owner after the federal government, with a 30% stake, although Kansas City's American City Business Journals noted that the company will likely file for bankruptcy.
Who started Schneider trucking? ›
Al Schneider took a leap of faith in 1935 when he sold the family car to buy our first truck. Al, and his son Don after him, recognized the growth of our roadway system and the need to efficiently transport goods. They built the company on values — and they built it to last.
Who made the first truck in America? ›
Truck Origins: Frequently Asked Questions
The first American truck ever made was the Ford Model TT, which rocked a chassis designed to support heavier loads. The Ford Model TT rolled out in 1917, less than a decade after the creation of the original Ford Model T in 1908.
Who brought USA trucking? ›
DB Schenker, one of the world's leading logistics service providers, today announced the completion of its previously announced acquisition of USA Truck, a leading capacity solutions provider.
What was the first truck stop in America? ›
Established in 1928, the Dixie Travel Plaza is regarded as the oldest truck stop in America.
Another Pennsylvania-based company, Mawson and Mawson, started a year after John Jones, and they’re still going, too. But these are very local companies in the United States. One of the biggest shipping companies in the world got their start as the American Messenger Co. in 1907. They began by delivering food trays from restaurants, handwritten notes between houses, and running errands for customers – sort of an early Uber prototype, but without cars. The company purchased its first motorized vehicle, a Model T, in 1913. It took on the colour brown as its signature look, and soon, the company now known as UPS was delivering parcels all over.
