Owner Operator Magnets

Pacific Intermountain Express (P.I.E) got their start in 1927 when the Lilenquest brothers began providing freight service in Idaho, running two Model A trucks between Pocatello to Idaho Falls. The company grew steadily, but P.I.E finally took shape after procuring three other firms and consolidating them in 1940. By 1946 P.I.E had 535 employees and was growing rapidly through ongoing acquisitions in the late 1940s and 1950s. In 1954, P.I.E became the largest hauler of petroleum products in the world. Service now extended from the west coast all the way to St. Louis and Chicago. By the mid 1960s, P.I.E extended service to the east coast through more acquisitions, giving them 67 terminals in 29 states.

Roadway Express, Inc. was founded in Akron, Ohio in December 1930. While Roadway began with an owner-operator model and primarily focused on truckload shipments, but by the mid '40s, it had shifted entirely to company-owned vehicles and mostly to less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping. Roadway became a publicly traded company in 1956, and in subsequent years, it expanded across the United States and by 1982 was operating over 500 terminals nationwide. By 2003, Roadway Express was the largest LTL carrier in the US, and held that title until 2009 when they were purchased by a logistics holding company that would merge Roadway into their operations, ending Roadway's nearly 80 year legacy.

In 1936, Dick Cantlay and Joe Tanzola's trucking company purchased Western Truck Lines which allowed them to move into dry freight and then 20 years later, the purchase of Gillette Motor Freight had them changing names to Western Gillette Motor Freight and reaching all the way to Chicago and serving 1,400 cities in between. By the ’70s, the company had over 2,000 employees operating out of 52 company terminals in 15 States and a fleet of over 1,000 trucks. Cash flow problems started to rear their heads and in 1976 the company was sold to Roadway, marking the untimely end of Western Gillette Motor Freight.

Funny gift idea for tow truck operators, drivers and construction workers

Farm gift ideas

Tony's Express Inc. was founded in 1954 by Tony Raluy in Fontana, California. The company was family-owned for almost 70 years, but was sold in 2023. At the time they were sold, Tony's had 200 employees, 87 drivers, and a dozen owner-operator line haul drivers. The following year, the fortunes of Tony's Express took a turn as they suddenly found themselves insolvent, ultimately resulting in the troubled firm shutting down for good.

A cute corgi driving an excavator design, kawaii style with rainbows behind, hearts and the phrase I Dig My Happiness. This is perfect for those working on an excavator, corgi owners, pet lover on Valentines Day or Singles Day for those loving cute outfits, cartoony style designs.

Founded in 1945 by A.M. Bell, Bell Lines Inc. hit the ground running, moving more than 20k shipments over 1.5 million miles in their first year of business. By 1965, Bell Lines went as far north as Detroit, Michigan, south to Charleston, South Carolina, and as far west as Nashville, Tennessee, and east to Raleigh, North Carolina. From their centrally located headquarters in Charleston, West Virginia, and with a network of 25 terminals, Bell Lines never tried to be the biggest, only the best in their carefully defined service areas, something hat may have been their undoing as they were taken over by Smith Transfer of Staunton, Virginia in 1970.

Founded in 1980, Dillon Transport provided dry bulk and liquid tanker services to the agriculture, building products, industrial and energy sectors. Dillon Logistics, which did business as Dillon Transport, was headquartered in Burr Ridge, Illinois and had over 340 drivers and 323 trucks at its peak and operated 10 terminals throughout the Southern and Midwestern United States.

A cute corgi driving an excavator design, kawaii style with rainbows behind and the pun I Dig You. This is perfect for those working on an excavator, corgi owners, pet lover on Valentines Day or Singles Day for those loving cute outfits, cartoony style designs.

Pacific Intermountain Express (P.I.E) got their start in 1927 when the Lilenquest brothers began providing freight service in Idaho, running two Model A trucks between Pocatello to Idaho Falls. The company grew steadily, but P.I.E finally took shape after procuring three other firms and consolidating them in 1940. By 1946 P.I.E had 535 employees and was growing rapidly through ongoing acquisitions in the late 1940s and 1950s. In 1954, P.I.E became the largest hauler of petroleum products in the world. Service now extended from the west coast all the way to St. Louis and Chicago. By the mid 1960s, P.I.E extended service to the east coast through more acquisitions, giving them 67 terminals in 29 states.

Smell of diesel brings back memories of younger times. They know all the lingo on the CB radio; babe bear, beaver fever, boat anchor, camera & coffee break. Great for mechanics, truckers, 4 wheelers with big trucks and four by fours. Husband owner-operator love being an open road truck engineer? Whether you drive an 18 wheeler or smaller, long haul or short haul, this design is it. Pull the horn honk cord & engage the Jake brake! Your road hog Dad or Mom will absolutely love this gift.

Fun thin gold line american flag in a paw print design for dispatchers

Viking Freight System got their start in January 1966 as Viking Delivery Service based in San Jose, California. Their first customer was Pacific Telephone, and the cargo was computer punch cards that contained the daily phone number changes. These cards had to be delivered to 13 phone company offices at night so that updated information would be available the next day. By 1973 the company had grown to a large fleet of 27' van and flatbed trailers for both local and line haul routes as annual revenues reached $2.8 million. By 1981, Viking was the largest interstate carrier in California, with annual revenues of $48.0 million. Viking's success would eventually be their undoing as they were purchased by a worldwide carrier.

The Fraternal Association of Steel Haulers (FASH) was organized in 1967 by eight frustrated owner-operator steel haulers who were less than satisfied with their representation by the well established cartage union. FASH grew quickly, adding more steel haulers to their ranks day by day, and what started as a dual union situation resulted in secession by FASH after the established union alienated and ultimately pushed FASH out. Along the way there were weeks of strikes, violent assaults, shootings, bombings, and other unsavory actions taken by both sides, though according to news reports, the established union was clearly behind most of the heavy-handed attacks on FASH members.