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GASTONIA, NC
CHARLOTTE BASED AKERS MOTOR LINES ONCE WAS ONE OF THE LARGEST CARRIERS SERVING THE
ATLANTIC SEABOARD WITH SERVICE FROM GEORGIA TO BOSTON.
FOUNDED IN 1913 BY WW AKERS AFTER THE ACQUISITION OF HUDSON MOTOR LINES, THE MOTOR LINE
GREW DRAMATICALLY IN ITS EARLY YEARS AFTER SURVIVING THE AFTERMATH OF THE GREAT
DEPRESSION.
IN THE HARROWING YEARS FOLLOWING THE GREAT DPRESSION, AKERS MOTOR LINES STRUGGLED FOR
SURVIVAL IN A FAILING ECONOMIC CLIMATE AND SLUGGISH CASH FLOW THAT OFTEN STRANDED
DRIVERS IN NEW YORK CITY WITHOUT FUNDS TO RETURN TO CHARLOTTE.
HOWEVER, AS THE ECONOMY RECOVERED, SO DID AKERS MOTOR LINES WITH AN AVERAGE INCREASE
OF 35 PERCENT IN BUSINESS DURING THE FIRST 20 YEARS OF EXISTENCE. IN 1960, AKERS MOTOR LINES
BUILT A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR TERMINAL AND HEADQUARTERS BUILDING ON THE SOUTHERN OUTSKIRTS
OF CHARLOTTE THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST MODERN AND EFFICIENT OF ITS TME.
THE TERMINAL WAS DESIGNED TO HANDLE 128 TRAILERS AND THE COMPANY WAS ONE OF CHARLOTTE’
S LARGEST EMPLOYERS AT ONE TIME. AKERS OPERATED MOSTLY MACK AND GMC TRACTORS THAT
WERE ALWAYS CLEAN AND WELL-MAINTAINED.
IN 1971, THE COMPANY HAD 2,000 EMPLOYEES AND NEARLY 2,000 PIECES OF EQUIPMENT. IN DECEMBER
1971, PEPSICO BOUGHT THE COMPANY AND ADDED THE FINANCIALLY AILING CENTRAL MOTOR LINES TO
THE FLEET. THAT ACQUISITION ADDED ANOTHER 1,300 PIECES OF EQUIPMENT. CML HAD MANY OF THE
SAME ROUTES AS AKERS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF OHIO AND THE COMBINED COMPANY HAD 83 SERVICE
LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE EASTERN SEABOARD. AKERS BOASTED OF “DIRECT ONE CARRIER
SERVICE” TO 90 PERCENT OF THE INDUSTRY ALONG THE ALTLANTIC COAST STATES.
HOWEVER, A FAILING ECONOMY HIT AKERS AND REVENUES FELL FORM $76 MILLION IN 1974 TO $55
MILLION IN 1975 DURING THE RECESSION OF THAT PERIOD. IN ADDITION, A SEVERE WINTER IN THE
NORTHEAST ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO SHARP DECLINES IN GENERAL COMMODITY SHIPMENTS, FORCING
STAFF CUTBACKS AND DRIVER LAYOFFS.
FINALLY, UNABLE TO HEAD OFF THE TROUBLES, AKERS MOTOR LINES CLOSED ITS DOORS IN 1977.
CHARLOTTE BASED AKERS MOTOR LINES ONCE WAS ONE OF THE LARGEST CARRIERS SERVING THE
ATLANTIC SEABOARD WITH SERVICE FROM GEORGIA TO BOSTON.
FOUNDED IN 1913 BY WW AKERS AFTER THE ACQUISITION OF HUDSON MOTOR LINES, THE MOTOR LINE
GREW DRAMATICALLY IN ITS EARLY YEARS AFTER SURVIVING THE AFTERMATH OF THE GREAT
DEPRESSION.
IN THE HARROWING YEARS FOLLOWING THE GREAT DPRESSION, AKERS MOTOR LINES STRUGGLED FOR
SURVIVAL IN A FAILING ECONOMIC CLIMATE AND SLUGGISH CASH FLOW THAT OFTEN STRANDED
DRIVERS IN NEW YORK CITY WITHOUT FUNDS TO RETURN TO CHARLOTTE.
HOWEVER, AS THE ECONOMY RECOVERED, SO DID AKERS MOTOR LINES WITH AN AVERAGE INCREASE
OF 35 PERCENT IN BUSINESS DURING THE FIRST 20 YEARS OF EXISTENCE. IN 1960, AKERS MOTOR LINES
BUILT A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR TERMINAL AND HEADQUARTERS BUILDING ON THE SOUTHERN OUTSKIRTS
OF CHARLOTTE THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST MODERN AND EFFICIENT OF ITS TME.
THE TERMINAL WAS DESIGNED TO HANDLE 128 TRAILERS AND THE COMPANY WAS ONE OF CHARLOTTE’
S LARGEST EMPLOYERS AT ONE TIME. AKERS OPERATED MOSTLY MACK AND GMC TRACTORS THAT
WERE ALWAYS CLEAN AND WELL-MAINTAINED.
IN 1971, THE COMPANY HAD 2,000 EMPLOYEES AND NEARLY 2,000 PIECES OF EQUIPMENT. IN DECEMBER
1971, PEPSICO BOUGHT THE COMPANY AND ADDED THE FINANCIALLY AILING CENTRAL MOTOR LINES TO
THE FLEET. THAT ACQUISITION ADDED ANOTHER 1,300 PIECES OF EQUIPMENT. CML HAD MANY OF THE
SAME ROUTES AS AKERS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF OHIO AND THE COMBINED COMPANY HAD 83 SERVICE
LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE EASTERN SEABOARD. AKERS BOASTED OF “DIRECT ONE CARRIER
SERVICE” TO 90 PERCENT OF THE INDUSTRY ALONG THE ALTLANTIC COAST STATES.
HOWEVER, A FAILING ECONOMY HIT AKERS AND REVENUES FELL FORM $76 MILLION IN 1974 TO $55
MILLION IN 1975 DURING THE RECESSION OF THAT PERIOD. IN ADDITION, A SEVERE WINTER IN THE
NORTHEAST ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO SHARP DECLINES IN GENERAL COMMODITY SHIPMENTS, FORCING
STAFF CUTBACKS AND DRIVER LAYOFFS.
FINALLY, UNABLE TO HEAD OFF THE TROUBLES, AKERS MOTOR LINES CLOSED ITS DOORS IN 1977.
