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JOHNSON MOTOR LINES, INC., CHARLOTTE, NC
From its start in 1946, the big orange and black rigs of the Johnson Motor Lines rules the highways on the east
Johnson was obviously happy with the performance of the big Internationals because the company numbered
over 600 in their fleet of 1800 units.
The only major acquisition which aided the company’s growth took place in 1962 with the purchase of Atlanta-
New Orleans Motor Freight (ANO). This lined up the 40 Johnson terminals in a row from New Orleans to Boston,
MA with headquarters in Charlotte.
Johnson was one of the early pioneers to install modern tractor-trailer washing equipment at its terminal
headquarters. However, this facility was seldom used because the owners didn’t believe that a little dirt slowed
the truck down.
KRAMER BROS. TRUCKING DETROIT, MI
Steve Kramer established Kramer Brothers in 1922 with one truck and built his company into one of the largest
trucking companies in the United States.
Ironically, at the time of the 1929 stock market crash, Kramer first ventured out of Michigan to Cleveland, Ohio
which established a pattern of expansion to the east which would continue throughout the company’s forty year
history.
In December 1962, Kramer Brothers merged with consolidated Freight Company of Saginaw, Michigan and
became Kramer Consolidated. The giant LTL carrier operated more than 10,000 route miles in a nine state area
which included service to Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan New Jersey New York, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia.
In addition to their 31 general commodities terminals, Kramer operated eight special products terminals.
From its start in 1946, the big orange and black rigs of the Johnson Motor Lines rules the highways on the east
Johnson was obviously happy with the performance of the big Internationals because the company numbered
over 600 in their fleet of 1800 units.
The only major acquisition which aided the company’s growth took place in 1962 with the purchase of Atlanta-
New Orleans Motor Freight (ANO). This lined up the 40 Johnson terminals in a row from New Orleans to Boston,
MA with headquarters in Charlotte.
Johnson was one of the early pioneers to install modern tractor-trailer washing equipment at its terminal
headquarters. However, this facility was seldom used because the owners didn’t believe that a little dirt slowed
the truck down.
KRAMER BROS. TRUCKING DETROIT, MI
Steve Kramer established Kramer Brothers in 1922 with one truck and built his company into one of the largest
trucking companies in the United States.
Ironically, at the time of the 1929 stock market crash, Kramer first ventured out of Michigan to Cleveland, Ohio
which established a pattern of expansion to the east which would continue throughout the company’s forty year
history.
In December 1962, Kramer Brothers merged with consolidated Freight Company of Saginaw, Michigan and
became Kramer Consolidated. The giant LTL carrier operated more than 10,000 route miles in a nine state area
which included service to Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan New Jersey New York, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia.
In addition to their 31 general commodities terminals, Kramer operated eight special products terminals.
