One of several prominent trucking magazines during the heyday of the LTL period was Fleet Owner magazine. In this post we take a look at the news from the May 1971 issue.

Transcon converts 460 trailers from 40 to 45 ft. A major program is underway at Transcon Lines to convert trailers to a longer legal length, with the actual work being performed by Strick Trailer Co. In Chicago and two “outside” shops in the Los Angeles area. By late May 1971 some 81 units had been converted.

Transcon plans air forwarder unit, New England expansion. Entrance into air freight forwarding, expansion of New England service and two new terminals figure into Transcon Lines plans for 1971. Transcon expects to complete a new Los Angeles terminal, now under construction on a 50 acre site at Santa Fe Springs, CA early this year. It will be the largest on the West Coast. In February, a new terminal at Houston, TX was placed into operation. In January, Transcon agreed to acquire an operation between New York and Boston with service to points in Massachusetts and Connecticut. By July 1971 Transcon expects to get authority underway to operate as a domestic air freight forwarder.

Spector Freight System appointed Robert J. Franco as president. He was previously vice-president and general manager of REA Express-Pacific Region and most recently was president and chief operating officer of the Gilbert Companies, Inc.

Cooper-Jarrett’s new terminal and shop at Sharon, PA built on a 27 acre site near the intersection of I-80 and PA Route 18, the facility has a total of 325 employees, of which includes 177 road drivers and 50 workers at the 44 door relay terminal. The shop has 71,220 square feet on the ground floor and centered on top is a second floor of 19,800 square feet. The tractor shop can easily handle 25 units, but if necessary up to 36 units can be squeezed in. There are six check lanes that are 120 feet long to accommodate two tractor trailer units in each lane at a time. With the completion of the new Sharon complex, Cooper-Jarrett closed its former shop at Irwin, PA, some 90 miles away. Sharon is a busy terminal, with 180 units in and out every 24 hours.

Terminals for sale from Smith’s Transfer Corp include Bristol, VA (24 doors), Charlotte, NC (36 doors), Dayton, OH (20 doors) and two in Roanoke, VA (16 and 25 doors)