Deregulation of the U.S. trucking industry began in the late 1970s. Congress passed the Motor Carrier Act of 1980 and it was signed into law by President Carter on July 1, 1980.
One of the most dramatic changes due to deregulation was the virtual explosion in the number of trucking firms. From 1980 to 1990, the number of licensed carriers doubled – from fewer than 20,000 to more than 40,000!
Forty years after the deregulation of the American trucking industry, truckinginfo.net estimates that there are 1.2 million trucking companies in the U.S. About 80% of these trucking companies are regarded as small businesses, with six trucks or less. So while the industry is still regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the opportunities to enter the market have broadened dramatically. It is estimated that there are over 15.5 million trucks on the road; about two million are tractor-trailers.
During Thanksgiving week, FreightWaves Classics will highlight a number of these American trucking companies, and continue to do so over time. FreightWaves Classics will also feature the photography of Jim Allen, who supplies and/or finds the majority of the photographs used on FreightWaves.com.
Some might say that “trucks are trucks…” and that is true to a degree. But every company has its own story. Moreover, almost every trucking company’s tractors and trailers have their own identities – different paint jobs, logos, decals, messages, etc. And looking at them for many of us never gets old!
American National Logistics, Inc.
Based in Caddo Mills, Texas, American National Logistics, Inc. offers refrigerated and dry truck loads, less-than-truckload (LTL)service as well as transportation and private fleet analysis. The company is an asset-based logistics company.
American Van Lines
American Van Lines is based in Pompano Beach, Florida and has been in business since 1995. A full-service, nationwide moving company, it began with “two trucks and a dream.” We’ve since grown to have multiple locations in order to better serve our customers.
Family-owned and operated, American Van Lines is licensed and insured. The AMSA ProMover stamp of approval illustrated by the ProMover logo provides customers with reassurance that the company is within ethical guidelines and operates at the highest standards of quality.
American West Worldwide Express, Inc.
As a family of specialized furniture carriers, American West is independently owned and operated. Based in San Luis Obispo, California, the company was established in 1992.
Focused on furniture freight management, American West provides logistics and is an all-inclusive services – in-home final mile deliveries, full truckload and less-than-truckload.
Ten percent of American West profits annually go to support organizations and those in need. In the U.S., the company has supported food ministries and has helped feed more than one million people in the Santa Ana region of California. American West also has provided freshwater wells in Ethiopia and Uganda, as well as starting schools in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Zambia.
AmeriFreight Systems LLC
A family-run trucking company, AmeriFreight is based in Bensenville, Illinois, with a second location in South Plainfield, New Jersey. AmeriFreight’s focus is long-haul full truckload services across the continental United States and parts of Canada. It also provides related logistics services, including brokerage and expedited deliveries.
The Valnev family immigrated to the Chicago area from Bulgaria in 2003. Recognizing an opportunity in the trucking logistics industry, the family founded AmeriFreight Systems LLC in 2006. The company is named “after the country that afforded us the opportunity to start the company in the first place.”
AmeriFreight began with 15 tractors and trailers in 2006, then doubled the fleet to 30 in 2007, tripled it in 2008 and by the end of 2009, had 160 leased and operator-owned vehicles. Now, after offering high-value services at competitive rates since opening, its fleet numbers over 500.
The company transports dry and refrigerated goods across North America and is expanding operations and continues to invest in new technology.
All Mobile Video
All Mobile Video (AMV) is one of the most established television production facilities in New York. Founded in 1976, the company’s equipment consisted of a small ¾” offline video editing system, one camera, one ¾” VTR, and a minivan.
AMV’s early jobs involved taping across the metropolitan New York City area, with limited equipment and personnel. However, as the company grew, “all mobile took on a very literal meaning.”
In the intervening years, AMV crews and equipment have been on location shoots all over the United States, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Kenya, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico.
Amigos Meat Distributors
Founded in Houston in 1994, Amigos Meat Distributors quickly became a respected name in the industry. To service the Midwest, the company expanded into Chicago in 2001, one of the most competitive meat markets in the U.S.
Continuing its expansion, Amigos opened two more facilities in Atlanta and Phoenix to service the eastern and western regions of the country in 2006. These actions put Amigos on a national scale. Most recently, Amigos opened a distribution center in Dallas to operate more efficiently and better serve its Texas-based customers.
AMSOIL
AMSOIL 10W-40 synthetic motor oil was developed in 1972 after years of research. Inspired by aerospace technology, AMSOIL became the world’s first synthetic motor oil to meet American Petroleum Institute service requirements. Outperforming conventional oils on all counts, AMSOIL signaled a new age in lubrication science. Now, virtually every other motor oil manufacturer has recognized the superiority of synthetic lubricants and followed AMSOIL by introducing synthetic motor oils of their own.
AMSOIL was founded by industry pioneer Al Amatuzio. He built the company using the same principles that defined his time as a jet fighter squadron commander – excellence, integrity and strong leadership.
Headquartered in Superior, Wisconsin, AMSOIL synthetic lubricant products are formulated, blended and packaged in the United States. They are distributed exclusively through independent AMSOIL dealers and their retail partners.
Andrews Van Lines
Andrews Van Lines was founded by Roy Andrews in Norfolk, Nebraska, in 1920. The business was sold in 2013, but is still located in Norfolk.
From 1954 to 2013 Andrews Van Lines was led by Roy Andrews’ son, Clayton, who was born the same year the company was founded. “I grew up in the business,” he said. Andrews built the company into a worldwide transportation company with 132 agencies.
Andrews Van Lines focuses mainly on moving household goods and general commodities. It also has contracts with the government to move military personnel to and from destinations overseas.
When Andrews sold the family business, he told the Norfolk Daily News, “The purchaser had to keep the company in Norfolk… and could not terminate any of my employees. As far as my employees are concerned, if we had not told them that there was a sale, they would not even have been aware of it.”
In addition to building Andrews Van Lines, Andrews also co-founded the Christian-based international humanitarian organization Orphan Grain Train in 1993.
Andrus Transportation Services
According to the company website, “Andrus Transportation is an established, profitable and growing regional transportation employer in business today due to the sacrifice, vision and entrepreneurial spirit of twin brothers Jim and Bill Andrus.”
Jim Andrus and his wife, Mary, established a trucking business in Mesquite, Nevada in 1970. The business grew, and Andrus added more trucks and began hauling hay cubes to California in addition to a separate fertilizer business. He then built an office in his home’s carport and hired a crew of dispatchers, customer service representatives and accounting personnel. With 17 employees the company outgrew its office and Andrus Transportation moved to a larger facility with a yard to park the trucks. A trailer housed the office staff and a shop was built to repair the growing fleet of Andrus trucks.
In 1986, Jim’s brother, Bill, who had been driving trucks for years, became a business partner. Andrus Transportation moved its corporate office from Mesquite to St. George, Utah in 1988.
While licensed in the 48 continental states, Andrus Transportation Services primarily operates in the 11 western states.
The business began by providing local produce transportation, but now delivers regional van freight, regional deliveries in and out of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, as well as flatbed service. In addition to its St. George headquarters, Andrus has terminals in Fontana, California, Dallas and Salt Lake City.
James R. Andrus, Jim and Mary’s son, was promoted to President of Andrus Transportation in late 2010. A third-generation transportation specialist, Jim was raised in the business and held a number of key positions.
