Carrier Security Corporation
"TRAILER SECURITY & TRAILER CONTROL - CRITICAL FOR SUCCESSFUL FLEET OPERATIONS!"
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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.