Daimler Trucks North America was built on a concept as relevant today as it was when the company was founded more than 60 years ago: Build a better vehicle. That challenge has been the driving force behind the company since its inception.
In the late 1930s, Leland James, president of Portland, Oregon-based trucking company Consolidated Freightways (CF), sought a lighter, more durable truck that could haul more payload and bring in more revenue for his company. When he approached truck manufacturers with his idea of building truck components with lightweight aluminum instead of steel, he was met with resistance and skepticism. At the time, aluminum was not widely used in industrial applications, so James decided to hire a group of engineers and build the vehicles himself.
Featuring a cab-over-engine design, James’ trucks were not only lighter, but more durable and easier to handle than other trucks of the era. These new trucks quickly became popular with CF’s drivers, and in 1940 James helped establish Freightways Manufacturing Company in Salt Lake City to produce the vehicles. In 1942, the manufacturing company changed its name to Freightliner Corporation, thus giving birth to the company that would become North America’s leading heavy-duty vehicle manufacturer. With the onset of World War II, and shortages of aluminum and manpower, operations were converted to wartime production of ship and aircraft parts.
After the war, Freightliner Corporation resumed truck-building operations in 1947 by opening a manufacturing facility in Portland, Oregon. The postwar economy boomed, and in 1950 the Hyster Company of Portland became the first private carrier to order a Freightliner. Word of this new “Western truck” quickly spread, and soon Freightliner was making vehicles for other carriers. Freightliner became well known for its trucks, made to customers’ specifications. Production volumes grew from 116 vehicles per year in 1950 to 931 in 1960 and 6,206 in 1970.
In 1981, Daimler-Benz AG, one of the world’s premier automotive companies and world-renowned builder of heavy-duty commercial vehicles, purchased Freightliner from Consolidated Freightways. In the next decade, vehicle sales more than doubled. With its vast technological resources, Daimler-Benz helped Freightliner reach the top of the North American heavy-duty truck market by 1992.
The 1990s marked a decade of acquisitions and significant growth. 1995 saw the purchase of Oshkosh Corporation’s chassis division to found the Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation. Also in 1995, Freightliner acquired firefighting/emergency vehicle manufacturer American LaFrance. In 1997 it purchased the heavy truck division of Ford Motor Company and soon after launched the Sterling brand. Continuing its acquisition of complementary products, in 1998, as a member of the newly formed DaimlerChrysler, Freightliner acquired school bus manufacturer Thomas Built Buses. Further growth and diversification continued with the purchase of Western Star Trucks in 2000 and the launch of the North American Unimog in 2003.
In 2007, Sterling celebrated its 10th year as a brand while Western Star celebrated its 40th. Also in 2007, Daimler sold the majority interest in Chrysler to Cerberus Capital Management, L.P., a private-equity company based in New York. This sale allowed Daimler to again focus on the premium vehicle segments represented by the Mercedes Car Group and the Truck Group in addition to the important and related Financial Services activities.
Today, Daimler Trucks North America is the leading commercial vehicle manufacturer in North America. Its portfolio of distinctive brands serves a multitude of industries and commercial vehicle applications. Through its affiliated companies like Detroit Diesel, the company also is a leading provider of heavy- and medium-duty diesel engines.
As Daimler Trucks North America moves through its seventh decade in business, it remains committed to the values on which it was founded: innovation, quality and an unwavering dedication to meeting customers’ needs.
Daimler Trucks North America, on
June 7, 2010
MIDWEST MOTOR EXPRESS, INC.’s history dates back 92 years to 1918 with its earliest co-founder, Charles Snyder. At that time Snyder’s Dray and Transfer in Bismarck, ND hauled sand, gravel and freight with horses and wagons. Snyder subsequently merged with Joseph Greenstein and Julius Roswick, operating Rowsick-Greenstein-Snyder, Inc. for a short time before changing the name in 1938 to Midwest Motor Express, Inc.
MIDWEST MOTOR EXPRESS, INC. expanded by applying for additional authority and through the following acquisitions: Midnite Express, Inc. (1945), Schmidt Truck Lines (1956), Auto X-Press (1956), Culp Truck Lines (1957), Daniel Auto Express (1962), operating authority of Advanced-United Expressways (1965), operating authority of Ringsby United (1965) and operating authority and equipment of Twin City Freight (1988).
Deregulation created both challenges and opportunities for Midwest Motor Express, Inc. The competitive pressures arising from deregulation required Midwest Motor Express, Inc. to evaluate its long-term viability and the Company concluded in 1990 that, for it to remain competitive, a new level of cooperation with the Teamsters Union was necessary. The union, however, was not inclined to deviate from the National Agreement that they had with the large carriers and subsequently struck Midwest Motor Express, Inc. After a prolonged strike the Company’s replacement workers decertified the union, and it has operated as a non-union company since 1994.
Midwest Motor Express, Inc. expanded coverage to include the markets of Chicago, Omaha, Kansas City, Memphis and Milwaukee and is now the pre-eminent regional carrier in the Upper Midwest and Great Northwest. For more information, visit http://www.mmeinc.com.
Midwest Motor Express, on
May 7, 2010
Reddaway, founded in Clackamas, Oregon, has served the Pacific Northwest since 1919. Through our comprehensive western local service center network, we have built a long-standing tradition of next-day and two-day delivery services. We are a complete and formidable western service provider. With high on-time reliability and one of the lowest claim ratios in its region, Reddaway is among the most efficient providers in the industry.
Our 4,100 loyal employees have earned the prestigious Quest for Quality award from Logistic Management magazine every year since the early 1990s.
Reddaway provides direct, regional delivery in 11 western states and 1 Canadian province: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming and British Columbia.
For more information, visit http://www.reddawayregional.com.
Reddaway, on
May 7, 2010
The W. J. Beitler Co. was founded by William J. Beitler on May 15th, 1917 by virtue of an agreement to purchase a merchandise, brokerage and distributing business for $500.00. The agreement was contingent upon the accounts accepting the purchaser, and continued satisfactory representation and service as agent in the county of Allegheny.
Early operations consisted of spotting a railcar for distribution by horse or motor wagon to wholesalers in the Pittsburgh area. One of the accounts decided to open a warehouse in Pittsburgh in 1925 to prevent shortages in product which became a problem in World War I after the U. S. Government took over the railroads during the War and boxcars became limited. The W. J. Beitler Co. now became a warehouse and trucking company, employing chain drive, solid tire and pneumatic tire, open tarp, trucks. Over the next 20 years all the major accounts commenced warehouse operations with the company, which received by rail and delivered to wholesalers by truck. As the highways and trucks improved, the geographical area served by the company grew from one county to 5 states.
In 1954 the W.J. Beitler Co. built a warehouse and moved operations to Esplen which is located within the city limits just west of downtown Pittsburgh. Slow steady growth over the years has brought about three additions to the original building. Today the company operates a full service warehouse and a fleet of trucks.
Oak Harbor Transfer, the forerunner to Oak Harbor Freight Lines, was founded in 1916 by Ben Koetje of Oak Harbor, Wash. Oak Harbor Transfer was a local cartage carrier servicing Whidbey Island. In 1936 John and Gus Vander Pol purchased the small island carrier for $600.00 cash and assumed it’s debt. Their younger brother Henry joined them in 1937. In 1942 the brothers purchased another small carrier called Oak Harbor Freight Lines, they merged the two operations together and kept the latter name.
The brothers over time developed the carrier into a small LTL operation serving a number of counties in Western Washington. In 1974 Henry purchased the company in full. In this same year his two sons Edward and David began working with their father.
With deregulation in 1980 Oak Harbor began its expansion which continues today. Throughout this period Oak Harbor Freight Lines developed into a highly respected regional LTL carrier serving points throughout the States of California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. Currently with 32 terminals, 1,300+ employees and annual revenues over $150 million Oak Harbor has established itself as a leading premium service carrier in the west, providing consistent high quality services at competitive (not the lowest) prices.
Currently owned and operated by Edward and David Vander Pol, the company’s co-presidents, Oak Harbor Freight Lines serves more points direct in the Northwest than any other single carrier.
For more information, visit http://www.oakh.com.
Daimler Trucks North America was built on a concept as relevant today as it was when the company was founded more than 60 years ago: Build a better vehicle. That challenge has been the driving force behind the company since its inception.
In the late 1930s, Leland James, president of Portland, Oregon-based trucking company Consolidated Freightways (CF), sought a lighter, more durable truck that could haul more payload and bring in more revenue for his company. When he approached truck manufacturers with his idea of building truck components with lightweight aluminum instead of steel, he was met with resistance and skepticism. At the time, aluminum was not widely used in industrial applications, so James decided to hire a group of engineers and build the vehicles himself.
Featuring a cab-over-engine design, James’ trucks were not only lighter, but more durable and easier to handle than other trucks of the era. These new trucks quickly became popular with CF’s drivers, and in 1940 James helped establish Freightways Manufacturing Company in Salt Lake City to produce the vehicles. In 1942, the manufacturing company changed its name to Freightliner Corporation, thus giving birth to the company that would become North America’s leading heavy-duty vehicle manufacturer. With the onset of World War II, and shortages of aluminum and manpower, operations were converted to wartime production of ship and aircraft parts.
After the war, Freightliner Corporation resumed truck-building operations in 1947 by opening a manufacturing facility in Portland, Oregon. The postwar economy boomed, and in 1950 the Hyster Company of Portland became the first private carrier to order a Freightliner. Word of this new “Western truck” quickly spread, and soon Freightliner was making vehicles for other carriers. Freightliner became well known for its trucks, made to customers’ specifications. Production volumes grew from 116 vehicles per year in 1950 to 931 in 1960 and 6,206 in 1970.
In 1981, Daimler-Benz AG, one of the world’s premier automotive companies and world-renowned builder of heavy-duty commercial vehicles, purchased Freightliner from Consolidated Freightways. In the next decade, vehicle sales more than doubled. With its vast technological resources, Daimler-Benz helped Freightliner reach the top of the North American heavy-duty truck market by 1992.
The 1990s marked a decade of acquisitions and significant growth. 1995 saw the purchase of Oshkosh Corporation’s chassis division to found the Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation. Also in 1995, Freightliner acquired firefighting/emergency vehicle manufacturer American LaFrance. In 1997 it purchased the heavy truck division of Ford Motor Company and soon after launched the Sterling brand. Continuing its acquisition of complementary products, in 1998, as a member of the newly formed DaimlerChrysler, Freightliner acquired school bus manufacturer Thomas Built Buses. Further growth and diversification continued with the purchase of Western Star Trucks in 2000 and the launch of the North American Unimog in 2003.
In 2007, Sterling celebrated its 10th year as a brand while Western Star celebrated its 40th. Also in 2007, Daimler sold the majority interest in Chrysler to Cerberus Capital Management, L.P., a private-equity company based in New York. This sale allowed Daimler to again focus on the premium vehicle segments represented by the Mercedes Car Group and the Truck Group in addition to the important and related Financial Services activities.
Today, Daimler Trucks North America is the leading commercial vehicle manufacturer in North America. Its portfolio of distinctive brands serves a multitude of industries and commercial vehicle applications. Through its affiliated companies like Detroit Diesel, the company also is a leading provider of heavy- and medium-duty diesel engines.
As Daimler Trucks North America moves through its seventh decade in business, it remains committed to the values on which it was founded: innovation, quality and an unwavering dedication to meeting customers’ needs.
MIDWEST MOTOR EXPRESS, INC.’s history dates back 92 years to 1918 with its earliest co-founder, Charles Snyder. At that time Snyder’s Dray and Transfer in Bismarck, ND hauled sand, gravel and freight with horses and wagons. Snyder subsequently merged with Joseph Greenstein and Julius Roswick, operating Rowsick-Greenstein-Snyder, Inc. for a short time before changing the name in 1938 to Midwest Motor Express, Inc.
MIDWEST MOTOR EXPRESS, INC. expanded by applying for additional authority and through the following acquisitions: Midnite Express, Inc. (1945), Schmidt Truck Lines (1956), Auto X-Press (1956), Culp Truck Lines (1957), Daniel Auto Express (1962), operating authority of Advanced-United Expressways (1965), operating authority of Ringsby United (1965) and operating authority and equipment of Twin City Freight (1988).
Deregulation created both challenges and opportunities for Midwest Motor Express, Inc. The competitive pressures arising from deregulation required Midwest Motor Express, Inc. to evaluate its long-term viability and the Company concluded in 1990 that, for it to remain competitive, a new level of cooperation with the Teamsters Union was necessary. The union, however, was not inclined to deviate from the National Agreement that they had with the large carriers and subsequently struck Midwest Motor Express, Inc. After a prolonged strike the Company’s replacement workers decertified the union, and it has operated as a non-union company since 1994.
Midwest Motor Express, Inc. expanded coverage to include the markets of Chicago, Omaha, Kansas City, Memphis and Milwaukee and is now the pre-eminent regional carrier in the Upper Midwest and Great Northwest. For more information, visit http://www.mmeinc.com.
Reddaway, founded in Clackamas, Oregon, has served the Pacific Northwest since 1919. Through our comprehensive western local service center network, we have built a long-standing tradition of next-day and two-day delivery services. We are a complete and formidable western service provider. With high on-time reliability and one of the lowest claim ratios in its region, Reddaway is among the most efficient providers in the industry.
Our 4,100 loyal employees have earned the prestigious Quest for Quality award from Logistic Management magazine every year since the early 1990s.
Reddaway provides direct, regional delivery in 11 western states and 1 Canadian province: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming and British Columbia.
For more information, visit http://www.reddawayregional.com.
The W. J. Beitler Co. was founded by William J. Beitler on May 15th, 1917 by virtue of an agreement to purchase a merchandise, brokerage and distributing business for $500.00. The agreement was contingent upon the accounts accepting the purchaser, and continued satisfactory representation and service as agent in the county of Allegheny.
Early operations consisted of spotting a railcar for distribution by horse or motor wagon to wholesalers in the Pittsburgh area. One of the accounts decided to open a warehouse in Pittsburgh in 1925 to prevent shortages in product which became a problem in World War I after the U. S. Government took over the railroads during the War and boxcars became limited. The W. J. Beitler Co. now became a warehouse and trucking company, employing chain drive, solid tire and pneumatic tire, open tarp, trucks. Over the next 20 years all the major accounts commenced warehouse operations with the company, which received by rail and delivered to wholesalers by truck. As the highways and trucks improved, the geographical area served by the company grew from one county to 5 states.
In 1954 the W.J. Beitler Co. built a warehouse and moved operations to Esplen which is located within the city limits just west of downtown Pittsburgh. Slow steady growth over the years has brought about three additions to the original building. Today the company operates a full service warehouse and a fleet of trucks.
For more information, visit http://www.wjbeitler.com.
Oak Harbor Transfer, the forerunner to Oak Harbor Freight Lines, was founded in 1916 by Ben Koetje of Oak Harbor, Wash. Oak Harbor Transfer was a local cartage carrier servicing Whidbey Island. In 1936 John and Gus Vander Pol purchased the small island carrier for $600.00 cash and assumed it’s debt. Their younger brother Henry joined them in 1937. In 1942 the brothers purchased another small carrier called Oak Harbor Freight Lines, they merged the two operations together and kept the latter name.
The brothers over time developed the carrier into a small LTL operation serving a number of counties in Western Washington. In 1974 Henry purchased the company in full. In this same year his two sons Edward and David began working with their father.
With deregulation in 1980 Oak Harbor began its expansion which continues today. Throughout this period Oak Harbor Freight Lines developed into a highly respected regional LTL carrier serving points throughout the States of California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. Currently with 32 terminals, 1,300+ employees and annual revenues over $150 million Oak Harbor has established itself as a leading premium service carrier in the west, providing consistent high quality services at competitive (not the lowest) prices.
Currently owned and operated by Edward and David Vander Pol, the company’s co-presidents, Oak Harbor Freight Lines serves more points direct in the Northwest than any other single carrier.
For more information, visit http://www.oakh.com.