COMPANYHISTORIES
NAIC 48411

General Freight Trucking, Local

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

12companies1902–1993founding years12still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedStinnes AG
1902
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedA.P. Møller - Maersk A/S
1904
FoundedCrowley Maritime Corporation
1906
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedNippon Express Company, Ltd.
1937
FoundedSchneider National, Inc.
1938
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedNichirei Corporation
1942
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedMotor Cargo Industries, Inc.
1954
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedAPL Limited
1983
FoundedTransport Corporation of America, Inc.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedEvergreen Marine Corporation (Taiwan) Ltd.
1987
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedStelmar Shipping Ltd.
1992
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

Stinnes AG →
Active · founded 1902 · Germany
Following its acquisition in 2002 by rail operator Deutsche Bahn AG, Stinnes AG has been repositioned as the lead…
A.P. Møller - Maersk A/S →
Active · founded 1904 · Denmark
A.P.
Crowley Maritime Corporation →
Active · founded 1906
Crowley Maritime Corporation is the largest operator of tugboats and barges in the world.
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…
Schneider National, Inc. →
Active · founded 1938
Schneider National, Inc.
Nichirei Corporation →
Active · founded 1942 · Japan
Nichirei Corporation has developed a two-pronged leadership strategy in two core markets: processed foods, on the one…
Motor Cargo Industries, Inc. →
Active · founded 1954
Motor Cargo Industries, Inc.
APL Limited →
Active · founded 1983
APL Limited, formerly called the American President Companies Ltd., operates container shipping services by container…
Transport Corporation of America, Inc. →
Active · founded 1984
Transport America, legally named Transport Corporation of America, Inc., is a trucking firm headquartered in Eagan,…
Evergreen Marine Corporation (Taiwan) Ltd. →
Active · founded 1987 · Taiwan
With more than 130 owned and long-term chartered ships, Evergreen Marine Corporation (Taiwan) Ltd.
Stelmar Shipping Ltd. →
Active · founded 1992 · Greece
Stelmar Shipping Ltd.
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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