Overnite Transportation Co. 1935 Pillow

J. Harwood Cochrane founded the Overnite Transportation Company in Richmond, Virginia back in 1935 with an initial fleet consisted of one tractor, one trailer, and one straight truck. Overnite saw steady growth in its early years, fueled by contracts with the region's big tobacco producers. The company went public in 1957 and was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1962. Through the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s Overnite grew through acquisition of smaller carriers or the assets of bankrupt competitors. In 1982, Overnite received authorization to operate in all 48 states of the contiguous US, allowing it to grow outside its home market in Virginia. By the mid-1980s, Overnite operated in 33 states plus Washington, D.C.