Western Railroad Discussion > OT; History of some LTL truckers

I've always wondered about the number of Superior Fast Freight and PIE trailers I see scattered around the northwest. Apparently they were large LTL carriers at one time, but are no longer serving the northwest (if anywhere). I tried to Google some info but didn't really find anything useful. I was wondering if I could get a short history on what happened to these two truckers? Particularly when they folded or stopped running in the northwest.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

In addition to PIE, there was ONC (Oregon-Nevada-California), Delta, Consolidated Freightways (now known as Conway), Interstate, and Los Angeles Seattle Motor Express to mention a few.

Of course we cannot forget Pacific Motor Transport Company ... SP's Trucking Company

A number of wood chip haulers use the last of the old PIE trailers to haul chips from the forests to the co-generation plants


This page may be of interest... Hank's Transportation Page
http://hankstruckpictures.com/hankindex.htm


.

Well, of those, Consolidated Freightways just folder here a couple years ago (which took me by surprise). But the Conway subsidy may still be around (not sure though). Interstate seems to a truckload carrier that has been a heavy IM shipper on the I-5 corridor for a long time, and more recently has expanded to other lanes. I was taking pics of some Interstate trailers on the old SP "T" trains back in the mid 1990's. I remember seeing a few O-N-C trailer here and there too.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

Oops, I just realized I may confuse you on the Interstate Trucking bit. I was referring to the Interstate Distribution Company which is still around. Interstate Van Lines was bought out by Allied in 2000 and is no longer around. Another LTL carrier that isn't around as much as it used to be is Viking. Are there still operating?

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

Viking was bought-out by Federal Express.

Conway is going strong and just changed the logo's on their trailers. I don't think they are the former Consolidated Freightways. We had both companies in the Tri-Cities at the same time. Poor old CF just folded up and was sold off. However there is still CF in Canada, Canadian Freighways with the same old logo, but I see they just upgraded their graphics as well. Yes, Viking is now Fed-EX Freight. I have friends that drive for Interstate Distributing and they travel all 48. They are usually gone 5 weeks and home 5 days. They seem to like it. Well they like the money anyway. They like to get at least 1000 miles a day or more.
Lynn

Man, I'm confused!! For lo these many years I would have sworn this was a RAILROAD forum........

Former-PRR Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Man, I'm confused!! For lo these many years I
> would have sworn this was a RAILROAD forum........

That's the reason for OT in the title, for Off Topic.

Actually there are a lot of interconnections between railroads and truckers. Many LTL truckers once transloaded shipments into boxcars, and I can think of many LTL docks that had rail sidings at one point. Deregulation and a general shift in transportation trends brought a end to the long history of the LTL/LCL shipments in boxcars.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

Don't forget about Milne Truck Lines, ETMF, Smith Transportation, Trans con Lines, Riss & Co., Brown Transportation, Bowman Transportation, Lee Way Motor Freight Inc, McLean Trucking Co. IML Freight Inc, Jones Motor Co, T.I.M.E.-D.C. Inc., Willig Freight Lines, Crescent Truck Lines, USF Red Star and many many more who fell to deregulation.

System 99 and Garrett.

Captain92 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> System 99 and Garrett.




LTL TRUCKING COMPANY BANKRUPTCIES & SHUTDOWNS
1980s
COMPANY HEADQUARTERS YEAR CEASED OPERATION NOTES
Admiral-Merchants Motor Freight Inc. St.Paul MN early 1980s only LTL operations closed
American Freight System Overland Park KS 1988 _
Bender & Loudon Motor Freight Akron OH 1989 _
Blue Line Express Nashua NH 1989 _
Boss-Linco Lines Inc. Buffalo NY 1982 _
Branch Motor Express New York, NY 1984 _
Brigg’s Transportation St. Paul MN 1984 _
Brown Express Inc San Antonio, TX 1988 subsidiary of U.S. Truck Lines
Campbell’s 66 Express Inc Springfield MO 1986 _
Central Transport Sterling Heights MI 1983 _
Central Truck Lines Inc. Tampa, FL 1989 subsidiary of U.S. Truck Line since 1965
Chippewa Motor Freight Inc. Eau Claire WI 1980 _
Clairmont Transfer Co. Escanaba MI 1985 _
Cleveland, Columbus, & Cincinnati Highway Inc. Cleveland OH 1988 subsidiary of U.S. Truck Lines
Commercial-Lovelace Motor Frieght Columbus OH 1985 _
Cooper-Jarrett Motor Freight Lines Inc. Orange NJ 1981 _
C.W. Transport Inc. Wisconsin Rapids WI 1988 _
Davidson Transfer & Storage Co. Baltimore, MD 1983 _
Eazor Express Pittsburgh PA 1983 _
Gateway Transportation La Crosse 1983 subsidiary of Maislin Brothers
Glendenning Motorways Inc. St. Paul MN 1983 _
Gordon’s Transports Inc Memphis TN 1983 _
Gross Common Carriers ?? late 1980s _
Hall’s Motor Transit Co. Harrisburg PA 1986 _
Hannibal-Quincy Truck Lines Inc. Quincy IL 1983 only LTL operations closed
Hemingway Transportation New Bedford MA 1982 _
Holmes Route USA Framingham MA? 1989 _
Horn’s Motor Express Inc. Chambersburg PA 1989 _
Illinois-California Express (ICX) Denver CO 1984 _
IML Freight Inc Salt Lake City,UT 1984 _
Intercity Transportation Easton MA 1980 _
Interstate Motor Freight System Grand Rapids, MI 1984 _
Johnson Motor Lines Charlotte NC 1980 _
Jones Motor Co Inc Spring City PA 1981 only LTL operations closed
Lee Way Motor Freight Inc. Oklahoma City OK 1985 _
Maislin Brothers Transport Ltd. La Salle, Que,CAN 1983 _
Mason & Dixon Lines Inc Kingsport TN 1984 _
McLean Trucking Co. Winston-Salem NC 1986 subsidiary of Meridian Express
Milne Truck Lines Inc Salt Lake City UT 1987 subsidiary of Sun Carriers Inc.
Motor Freight Express System York PA 1982 _
Murphy Motor Freight Lines Inc. St. Paul MN 1987 _
Mushroom Transportation Philadelphia PA 1986 _
Oneida Motor Freight Inc. Carlstadt NJ 1985 _
Pilot Freight Carriers Inc. Winston-Salem NC 1989 _
Quinn Freight Lines Brocton MA 1983 subsidiary of Maislin Brothers
Richmond Cartage Inc. ? 1983 subsidiary of Maislin Brothers
Rimes Trucking Co. Chardon OH early80s _
Ringsby Truck Lines Inc. Denver CO 1984 _
Smith’s Transfer Corp. Staunton VA 1988 purchased 1987 by American Freight System
Spector-Red Ball Dallas TX 1982 _
Sterling Transit Company Inc. Montebello CA 1989 _
Suburban Motor Freight Inc. Columbus OH 1987 _
System 99 Oakland CA 1987 _
Taynton’s Freight System Inc. Wellsboro PA 1985 _
T.I.M.E.-D.C. Inc. Lubbock TX 1988 _
Tose-Fowler Inc. Bridgeport PA 1989 _
Transport Motor Express Inc. Ft. Wayne IN 1980 _
Tucker Freight Lines South Bend IN 1983 _
Wilson Freight Co. Cincinnati OH 1980 _




LTL TRUCKING COMPANY BANKRUPTCIES & SHUTDOWNS
1990s
COMPANY HEADQUARTERS YEAR CEASED OPERATION NOTES
AAA Trenton NJ 1990 _
Allegheny Freight Lines Winchester VA 1990 _
ANR Advance Transportation Co. Milwaukee WI? 1998 _
Arrow Carrier Corp North Bergen NJ 1990 _
Atlanta Motor Lines Conley GA 1997 _
Bee Line Motor Freight Co. Omaha NE 1996 _
Be-Mac Transport Co St. Louis MO 1992 subsidiary of U.S. Truck Lines
Birmingham Nashville Express _ 1996 only LTL operations closed
Bowman Transportation Gadsden AL/Atlanta GA 1990 _
Brown Transport Corp. Atlanta GA/Charlotte NC 1990 Thurston Motor Lines bought 1987
Central Storage & Transfer Co. Harrisburg PA 1991 _
Charlton Brothers Hagerstown MD 1996 _
Churchill Truck Lines Inc Chillicothe MO 1994 _
Coles Express Inc. Bangor ME 1997 shut down, subsidiary of Roadway
Commercial Motor Freight Inc. of IN Indianapolis IN 1983 _
Edson Express Casper WY/Denver CO 1991 _
Fore-Way Express Inc. Wausau WI 1996 _
Friiedman’s Express Wilkes-Barre PA 1993 _
Holmes Freight Lines Omaha NE 1998 _
Hover Trucking Co. South Bend IN 1996 _
Hyman Freightways Inc. St. Paul MN 1997 _
Ideal Truck Lines Norton KS 1996 _
Inter-City Truck Lines Mississauga, Ont,CAN 1993 _
Interlink Freight Systems Toronto, Ont,CAN 1997 ex CP Express & Transport
Jones Truck Lines Inc. Springdale,AR 1991 subsidiary of Sun Carriers Inc.
Merchants Fast Motor Lines Inc Abilene TX 1997 _
Middlewest Freightways Inc. St. Louis MO 1992 acquired by Be-Mac 1992
Motorways Ltd Toronto, Ont,CAN 1993 subsidiary of Federal Industries
Nationsway Transport Services Commerce City CO 1999 _
North Penn Transfer Lansdale PA 1992 _
Penn Yan Express Penn Yan NY 1990 subsidiary of Consolidated Freightways
P.I.E. Nationwide Inc Jacksonville FL 1990 subsidiary of Olympia Holding Co.
Preston Trucking Inc. Preston MD 1999 _
Spartan Express Inc. Greer SC 1997 shut down, subsidiary of Roadway
Standard Trucking Co. Charlotte NC 1993 subsidiary of Sun Carriers Inc
St. Johnsbury Trucking Co Inc. St. Johnsbury VT 1993 subsidiary of Sun Carriers Inc.
Transcon Lines Los Angeles CA 1990 subsidiary of Olympia Holding Co.
Riss & Co. Inc Kansas City MO 1990 _
Willig Freight Lines San Francisco CA 1995 _




LTL TRUCKING COMPANY BANKRUPTCIES & SHUTDOWNS
2000s
COMPANY HEADQUARTERS YEAR CEASED OPERATION NOTES
A-P-A Transport Corp North Bergen NJ 2002 _
Alterman Transport Lines Opa Locka, FL 2003 _
Consolidated Freightways Corp. Vancouver WA 2002 _
Crescent Truck Lines Haywood CA 2003 _
Crouse Cartage Co. Carroll IA 2000 _
Guaranteed Overnite Delivery _ 2004 only LTL operations closed
H&W Motor Express Dubuque IA 2002 _
K&R Express Systems Blue Ridge IL 2004 _
Nussbaum Trucking Normal IL 2002 only LTL operations closed
Parker Motor Freight Grand Rapids MI 2004 _
Rudolf Express Bourbonais IL 2002 _
USF Red Star Newark NJ 2004 _




Deregulation of the trucking industry in the form of the Motor Carrier Act of 1980 caused increased competition in the Less than a TruckLoad (LTL) industry. Non-union carriers quickly began taking advantage of their lower labor costs to gain market share. Most of the companies above were union carriers who were unable to compete, though a few were non-union carriers. The trend seems destined to continue until the LTL market is entirely composed of low cost non-union carriers.

More than 50 years ago, PIE was hardly a LTL outfit. They pioneered in double trailers, 18 axles (instead of 16 for single trailer rigs) and made inroads all the way to the east coast. As in all business endeavors, I always wondered what happened to Pacific Intermountain Express. I suppose that all this belongs on some trucking website.

One thing about this hobby, a lot of us pay attention to other modes of transport including trucks, ships and air. Good question, Ted.

If I remember, Willig tried to convert to non-union by closing down and then coming back to attempt to save the company but the union fought it and it was closed down permanently.

Gee, who one in that battle?

Consolidated Freightways closed down almost over night. They were under the parent corporation of CF Industies, of which the 4 ConWay companies were sisters as well as the trailer manufactoring company in Montclair, CA that I can not remember the name of. The 4 ConWay companies are now all one.

jst3751 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If I remember, Willig tried to convert to
> non-union by closing down and then coming back to
> attempt to save the company but the union fought
> it and it was closed down permanently.
>
> Gee, who one in that battle?
>
> Consolidated Freightways closed down almost over
> night. They were under the parent corporation of
> CF Industies, of which the 4 ConWay companies were
> sisters as well as the trailer manufactoring
> company in Montclair, CA that I can not remember
> the name of. The 4 ConWay companies are now all
> one.


I'm glad I left CF before the bottom fell out.

Most of the LTL companies in business in the 1970s were out of business by the end of the 1980s except for CF which fell in 2002?. Why? Deregulation. Simply put, they were not strong enough to survive without goverment regulation and fixed prices

Wow, Time DC!
I haven't thought of that name in a long time. I remember they shared a truck terminal where my Dad was a driver for GI trucking back in the early 70s. They had some nice Frieghtliner cabovers.
Thanks for the good memories drug up by this thread, it caused me to call my dad and let him talk about the old days for awhile, something I have not done too often lately.
Art in DC

DC.. Denver-Chicago

PIE was definitely an LTL trucker. They merged with Ryder to be Ryder-PIE but closed back in the late 80's, early 90's.
Yellow, Roadway, ABF, USF Holland are about the only big union LTL truckers left from the 1970's.

gmojim

Anytime a company shuts down, ultimately EVERYONE involved "loses". The only winners are the competition. LTL trucking isn't the only industry where the Unions have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Remember Eastern Airlines? The Unions dug their heels in deep with them. Look at where Eastern is today:

Yup. The airplanes not fortunate enough to end up at other carriers are now soda and beer cans.

Just like the grocers strike that is looming again here in SoCal. The workers at Ralphs, Vons, and Albertsons lost their asses last time. Evidently they've forgotten that and are determined to do it again.

If they strike, they will lose. Those grocery chains will lose. And Stater Brothers and Trader Joes will win. They don't like making "only" $20 an hour and have to pay for SOME of their bennies?

Fine. They can beat their chest and show "who's boss".

Then, satisfied that they got their point across, they can go stock shelves at Acme market for $10 an hour and NO benefits.

Idiots.

All of them.

If/when they go on strike, I will go and cross as many lines as I can.

My recollection is a recent article in Traffic World, a trade publication, said only six of the sixty largest LTL carriers survive. Another factor besides union labor was that the ICC granted routes (where competition was restricted) were carried on the books as assets. These had to be written down to zero when anybody could haul anywhere.

Alex Huff