COMPANYHISTORIES
NAIC 49211

Couriers

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

14companies1906–1993founding years14still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedJohn Menzies plc
1906
FoundedUnited Parcel Service, Inc.
1907
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedGreyhound Lines, Inc.
1926
FoundedYamato Transport Co. Ltd.
1929
FoundedNippon Express Company, Ltd.
1937
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedTAP
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedAirborne Freight Corporation
1946
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedSociété Luxembourgeoise de Navigation Aérienne S.A.
1948
FoundedGefco SAFoundedOtto Versand (GmbH & Co.)
1949
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedDHL Worldwide Network S.A./N.V.
1969
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedLauda Air Luftfahrt AG
1979
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedVelocity Express Corporation
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Deutsche Post AG →
Active · Germany
The Deutsche Post AG is the largest provider of postal services in Europe.
John Menzies plc →
Active · founded 1906 · United Kingdom
After more than 150 years as a retailer, John Menzies plc (Menzies is pronounced 'Mingus') has redefined its role for…
United Parcel Service, Inc. →
Active · founded 1907
Known in the industry as "Big Brown," United Parcel Service, Inc.
Greyhound Lines, Inc. →
Active · founded 1926
Greyhound Lines, Inc.
Yamato Transport Co. Ltd. →
Active · founded 1929 · Japan
Early 1980s:Yamato partners with UPS to provide worldwide delivery services.
Nippon Express Company, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1937 · Japan
Nippon Express Company, Ltd., is one of Japan's largest transportation companies, with nearly 1,170 service centers in…
TAP →
Active · founded 1945 · Portugal
Lisbon-based TAP--Air Portugal Transportes Aéreos Portugueses S.A.
Airborne Freight Corporation →
Active · founded 1946
Airborne Freight Corporation is the third largest express delivery company in the United States.
Société Luxembourgeoise de Navigation Aérienne S.A. →
Active · founded 1948 · Luxembourg
Société Luxembourgeoise de Navigation Aérienne S.A.
Gefco SA →
Active · founded 1949 · France
Gefco SA, based in Courvevoie, France, is one of Europe's leading logistics groups and one of the top ten in the…
Otto Versand (GmbH & Co.) →
Active · founded 1949 · Germany
While Otto Versand (GmbH & Co.) is the world's largest mail-order company with subsidiaries and affiliates in Europe,…
DHL Worldwide Network S.A./N.V. →
Active · founded 1969 · Belgium
DHL Worldwide Network S.A./N.V., wholly owned by Deutsche Post AG (the German post office) since December 2002, is the…
Lauda Air Luftfahrt AG →
Active · founded 1979 · Austria
Lauda Air Luftfahrt AG is a unit of Austrian Airlines Group specializing in charters and Far East travel.
Velocity Express Corporation →
Active · founded 1993
Velocity Express Corporation is one of the largest providers of same-day delivery and distribution/logistics services…
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