New Trucker Merch

New England Motor Freight (NEMF) began in 1918, hauling products for commercial bakeries in New Jersey. Over the next 100 years, the LTL carrier continued to expand, eventually building up to a fleet of 1,550 power units, 40 company terminals and, 3,700 employees, all while becoming a favorite among businesses in the northeast. Despite NEMF's size and reach, their fortunes took a turn in 2018, and amidst a downward spiral, New England Motor Freight filed for bankruptcy protection in 2019, ending what can only be described as a heck of a run.

In 1921, Harry Zabarsky and his brother, Mickey, started St. Johnsbury Trucking (SJT) with a single truck, and within a few years, had a growing fleet. Based in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, SJT grew to serve the northeastern U.S., and much of eastern Canada. The company grew and expanded heavily through acquisitions of trucking companies, operating terminals throughout Delaware, New England, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. The mid '80s saw fortunes turn for SJT in a post deregulation trucking industry, and by the end of the decade, it was clear the company was in trouble. After more than seven decades of business, St. Johnsbury Trucking officially closed its doors on June 14, 1993, leaving 4,400 hardworking people out of work.

If you travelled Route 66 between Amarillo, Texas and Albuquerque, New Mexico at some point between 1949 and 2000, you probably at least thought about pulling off at the Westerner Drive-Inn in Tucumcari, New Mexico. Located at 1001 West Route 66 Boulevard, it was the only thing around on this particular stretch and was pretty hard to miss, and frequent travelers have undoubtedly knew it was the place to get a great meal. Operating as an old school drive in for just over five decades, the Westerner specialized in big burgers, golden fries, and traditional sodas, even offering a full breakfast menu to weary travelers.

Quadrel Brothers Trucking was founded by two brothers after returning from WWII. Based out of Rahway, New Jersey, Quadrel Brothers was a specialized tanker hauling company with both liquid and dry tankers that transported everything from fuel and chemicals, to potable water and foodstuffs, though probably not in the same tanker trailers.

Starting out as Branch Storage Company in Perkasie, Pennsylvania in 1920, and went into the freight business as Branch Motor Express Company in 1923. It did not take long for the company to make its mark in moving freight, and applied for intrastate certificate of authority on several key routes within Pennsylvania. With two decades of building their intrastate business, Branch applied and received interstate authority from the ICC in 1944, relocated their headquarters to New York City, and began running between key manufacturing regions throughout the East Coast. Billing themselves as "The Main Stem of The Industrial East," Branch was a key player in manufacturing, moving both raw materials and finished goods throughout their network.