The history of trucking

Take a moment and do some time traveling with us as we research the origins of our occupation.

The history of trucking as an industry is one that is deeply connected with the story of America’s infrastructure as it evolved. The practicality of trucking goods and products largely manifested in the 1910′s, when both engines and vehicles had reached a point where they could bear the heavy loads. During World War I, trucking became even more important as supplies could be sent to the front lines without depending upon already-existing and predetermined train tracks to reach American troops serving in Europe.

As roads and highways began to improve and link cities and states together with safe, reliable routes, trucking really took off. Shortly thereafter in the 1940′s, truck stops began to pop up around the country and the industry began to more closely resemble its modern-day appearance. Long-distance trucking reached its zenith in the 1970′s with an amazing 18 million trucks on American roads.

Trucking continues to change and evolve with the times. Following the deregulation that occurred in the 1980′s,technology began to make more of an impact on the industry. That leads us to today, where satellites, Internet, and mobile apps have all conspired to make trucking a more efficient (and sometimes trickier) job to perform.