18 Wheeler Pins and Buttons

Founded in the mid-sixties in Overland Park, Kansas, American Freight System grew from a Midwest regional short haul carrier to a national long haul powerhouse inside just two decades. By the mid-eighties, American was operating close to 200 terminals from coast to coast with a fleet of 1,600 tractors and 5,200 trailers, making them the fourth-largest trucking company in the United States at the time. Unfortunately, the company sold themselves to an investment group in 1988 that promptly stripped the company for a quick profit, leaving American Freight System as a footnote in the history books.

Founded in Joplin, Missouri in 1950 as Monkem Company Incorporated, MCI Transporters started out as a small regional carrier serving the Midwest. By the ’70s, MCI had a large fleet of cab-over tractors and were running nationally with a mix of van and flatbed trailers.

The roots of Certified Freight Logistics (CFL) can be traced back to 1928 when Arroyo Grande Truck Co. (AGTC) was founded in Arroyo Grande, California. With a fleet of ten trucks, AGTC specialized in getting fresh produce to market. In 1952, AGTC was purchased by Edwin Nelson, an owner operator, and his brother-in-law Edwin Taylor, an Arroyo Grande farmer. The two Edwins grew AGTC by purchasing other trucking companies, and in 1963, merged with Fitzgerald Truck Service, becoming Certified Freight Lines. 20 years later, CFL had grown to 30 trucks and five yards, all while specializing in refrigerated transportation throughout California and the West Coast. As of 2008, CFL had grown to over 150 trucks, and became Certified Freight Logistics.

Headquartered in Grand Prairie, Texas, Arnold Transportation Services was a full service truckload carrier that billed themselves as 'the original regional carrier.' Arnold’s foundation in regional service was established in 1932, and would go on to provide irregular route truckload service, dedicated solutions and logistics support. With operations strategically concentrated in the South Central and Midwest states, the company consistently created capacity for its customers in and around major markets. After 92 years in business, Arnold Transportation Services had 341 truck drivers and 402 power units when they suddenly shut down in 2024.

1976 Kenworth W900A truck

In 1922, two friends formed a partnership to haul sand and gravel during the early Los Angeles boom. They started on credit, buying 15 dump trucks, but soon, the fleet grew to 26 units. In 1929, C&T added tankers to move petroleum. In 1936, they purchased Western which allowed them to move into dry freight, and then in 1956, purchasing Gillette Motor Freight had them changing names to Western Gillette Motor Freight and reaching Chicago and serving 1,400 cities in between. By the ’70s, the company had over 2,000 employees operating out of 52 company terminals in 15 States and a fleet of over 1,000 trucks. In 1976 the company was sold to Roadway, marking the end of Western Gillette, and C&T, as well as their signature 'sunshine service.'

A wonderful conventional cab truck from the 70s

America Truck - Yeah USA

1976 Kenworth W900A truck moving on

Only real man will recognize this light.

This is for you

This is for you

This is for you

Associated Transport was formed during World War II when seven trucking companies joined forces despite the objections of the DOJ, who believed the merger to be anti-competitive. The merger saw Associated operating 3,500 power units over 24,000 miles of unduplicated routes from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, with 117 terminals, making them the largest trucking company in the world between 1943 and 1976. In 1976, Associated purchased Eastern Freightways in order to gain access to its equipment and routes, but also had taken on its debt. This turned out to be a bad decision, as Associated Transport couldn't manage Eastern's debt, sending the company into bankruptcy, ending a legacy of the world's largest trucking company.

Marmons were first designed and built in Indianapolis, Indiana from 1960 to 1963 by Marmon-Herrington, the successor to the Marmon Motor Car Company. When Marmon-Herrington ceased production some time in 1963, a new company, Marmon Motor Company, purchased and revived the Marmon brand to build and sell premium truck designs that Marmon-Herrington had been planning. Just eight trucks were built that first year and the failing Marmon Motor Company was then sold to Space Corporation out of Denton, Texas and manufacturing was relocated to Garland, Texas, a long way from the old Duesenberg assembly plant in Indiana.

Marmons were first designed and built in Indianapolis, Indiana from 1960 to 1963 by Marmon-Herrington, the successor to the Marmon Motor Car Company. When Marmon-Herrington ceased production some time in 1963, a new company, Marmon Motor Company, purchased and revived the Marmon brand to build and sell premium truck designs that Marmon-Herrington had been planning. Just eight trucks were built that first year and the failing Marmon Motor Company was then sold to Space Corporation out of Denton, Texas and manufacturing was relocated to Garland, Texas, a long way from the old Duesenberg assembly plant in Indiana.

Tony's Express Inc. was founded in 1954 by Tony Raluy in Fontana, California. The company was family-owned for almost 70 years, but was sold in 2023. At the time they were sold, Tony's had 200 employees, 87 drivers, and a dozen owner-operator line haul drivers. The following year, the fortunes of Tony's Express took a turn as they suddenly found themselves insolvent, ultimately resulting in the troubled firm shutting down for good.

Artistic illustration of a watercolor painting I did of a cool International Semi Tractor that we saw while in Jerome Arizona

1976 Kenworth W900A truck moving on

This is for you

This is for you

Maximum Overdrive Happy Toyz Truck Clown featured on the rear door. Here comes another load of joy!

Founded in Middletown, Connecticut in 1920, Bailey's Express got their start hauling loads of 40-quart milk canisters to New Haven. They eventually stopped delivering milk and would later diversify, building up a varied customer list with regional businesses of all sizes from a myriad of industries and providing them with a suite of comprehensive freight forwarding services. Bailey's picked up freight in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island and brought it back to their Middletown terminal where goods were repackaged nightly into larger loads and shipped out to their final destination via over-the-road line haul trucking companies. The Middletown terminal operated 20 hours per day and handled 500 loads every night.

A collection of designs in the groovy style of the 70s, specially created for strong women capable of mastering 18 wheels, with a floral design but also a sarcastic and funny saying, you will immediately stand out, if you want a design with your own text, do not hesitate to you contact me

This "Every Mile Is A Victory" design celebrates the victories in every mile of life's journey, finding joy and achievement in the smallest and farthest stretches.

This is for you

Truck Driver Design that reads: "Still Plays With Trucks". That's just right for a Trucker who drives an 18 Wheeler for a living.

Hussmann & Roper Freight Lines was founded in St. Louis, Missouri in 1927 as a general trucking interest. They were one of the first trucking companies to offer regular overnight service, eventually advertising themselves as 'the overnight, every night line.' Initially serving all of Missouri, and eventually all of the Midwest, by the time Hussmann & Roper was sold to a larger trucking company in 1963, they were operating multiple terminals and nationwide routes.

Retro trucking design

Founded in 1987 by a former owner-operator, Florilli Transportation was a family-owned trucking company with contract hauling business of dry, refrigerated and frozen food industry leaders. Based out of Iowa, Florilli provided service out of Midwestern states including Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and eastern Nebraska with primary traffic lanes to eastern Pennsylvania, Georgia, northern Texas and California.

No Load Too Heavy No Road Too Rough Neon Mix Design, is the perfect gift for anyone who loves neon and trucking, or just someone looking for a unique gift or cool design.

Holland

Before the proliferation of large truck stop chains made them a ubiquitous sight along the interstates, one-off mom-and-pop truck stops found on the two-lane highways were the norm, and the Tiki Oasis Truck Stop is one such example. Located at the junction of I-80 and US-51 in the LaSalle-Peru area of Illinois, Tiki Oasis decided to run with the tiki/exotica craze and theme their truck stop as such. From the decor of the motel rooms to signage throughout the facility, the Tiki Oasis was a little slice of Polynesian paradise right in the heart of the Midwest.

C.B. McHaul 1977

Reimer Express Lines was founded in 1952 when 19-year-old Donald S. Reimer of Steinbach, Manitoba convinced his father and brothers to join him in starting a trucking company. Their original route was between Winnipeg and Windsor, Ontario, with Winnipeg as the head office. By December, Reimer added Windsor to Vancouver, and had extended to Toronto by 1956. In 1968 Reimer was acquired by Canadian conglomerate Neonex, but in 1971, the Reimer family bought the company back. Reimer continued to grow and expand through before ultimately being sold again in 1997 to Roadway, who themselves would be bought just six years later by Yellow. Yellow operated Reimer as an independent line until 2019, at which point the Reimer name was retired.

Vintage C.B. McHaul 1977