Most of those having an interest in “fallen flag” carriers will recognize the name Johnson Motor Lines, the carrier that ran from Louisiana up the east coast to New England. Johnson was headquartered in Charlotte, NC and was one of the early trucking companies to fall in the first few months of deregulation in 1980.… Continue reading The “other” Johnson Motor Lines

The Motor Carrier Act of 1935 required all motor carriers to submit an application to the Interstate Commerce Commission for a certificate of operating authority. For those operating when the Act was signed into law the date for submission was no later than February 28, 1936. All carriers, whether it be a common carrier, contract… Continue reading Assigned ICC Numbers (updated on Jan 23, 2025)

Compiled from research in a city directory I present a list of employees that worked for Jocie Motor Lines, Inc. at the terminal in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1961. The photo is from a matchbook from years prior, perhaps from the late 1940s to early 1950s. I know this since growing up in Greensboro that… Continue reading Jocie Motor Lines, Inc Charlotte Employees in 1961

From a 1940 Benton Harbor, Michigan city directory I found this advertisement in the buyers guide section.

As of today, pages viewed during 2018 have exceeded that of the entire year 2017 and it only took until July 14th to do it! I big thank you is due to my readers for such an accomplishment. I never imagined that this blog would be so popular with its specific area of trucking history.… Continue reading Thank You!

In previous articles I introduced the large multi-tenant terminals in large cities such as Chicago, Illinois and Louisville, Kentucky. Smaller terminals of the same type could be found in smaller cities. I recently researched one in Indianapolis, Indiana that opened in 1942. It was located on the 400 and 500 blocks of Kentucky Avenue and… Continue reading Indiana Motor Freight Terminal in The 1940’s

Adkins Transfer Company, Inc. Herman H. Weixler- Vice President John W. Hayden- assistant to manager Mary L. Willett- clerk Salvador Campisano- driver Cletus Hanka- driver Ernest G. Hanka- driver Garland B. Humphrey- driver John H. Linker- driver Acme Fast Freight, Inc. J. Jerome Gunther- general agent William G. Frank- agent Dorothea Zinninger- clerk Burkhead Transfer… Continue reading Those In The Trucking Industry Of Louisville, Kentucky in 1947

For the June 2018 installment of trucking companies you have never heard of, we present to you the story of Denny Motor Freight Lines Of New Albany, Indiana. Formed in 1918 the company originally transported freight between New Albany, Indiana and Louisville, Kentucky. Later the route was extended from New Albany to Bedford. In 1924… Continue reading Companies You Never Heard Of- Denny Motor Freight Lines

Abbott Bros. Freight Transfer 110 N Floyd Street Acme Fast Freight 920 West Broadway Adkins Transfer Co. Inc. 828 S Floyd Armes Motor Lines 116 Water Street Banner Transfer Co. 1029 West Main Street BB & I Motor Freight, Inc. 817 West Liberty Bowman Company, Inc. 730 East Main Street Bardstown Transfer Line 216 South… Continue reading Carriers Serving Louisville, Kentucky in 1947

In the early days of common carriers there were truck terminals close to downtown areas with multiple tenants. Similar to an office building that would be home to different companies and individuals these truck terminals  would have been rented to firms of all sizes. In some locales these facilities were named Union Truck Terminal.  The… Continue reading The Louisville Terminal at 110 North Floyd Street