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3500 BCE
Invention of the Wheel
The wheel was invented, allowing for wagons, and later on, cars. -
1000
The Stage Wagon
The stage wagon was one of the first industrial forms of transportation. -
Invention of the Train
The predecessor to automobiles, trains paved the way for the trucker industry since conducting was very similar. -
Rubber Tires
Back in 1845, John Dunlop patented the first rubber pneumatic tire. -
The Gas Engine
In 1879, the cylinder gas engine was invented by Carl Benz in 1879. -
Semi-Trailers
The first semi-trailer (or 18-wheeler as we say) was made in Ohio in the year 1998 by Alexander Winton. -
UPS
UPS was founded in 1907 by James Casey. Today, it remains as perhaps the largest shipping company around the globe. -
The Model T
The Model T was one of the first widely accessible automobiles. -
Roadway Construction
Throughout the 1910s, the government drastically increased its funding for new roads. Through the decade it would spend more than $100 million on new roads. (That's 1910 money as well.) -
Head Lights
In 1912, the first trucks were equipped with practical headlights. -
World War 1
During The Great War, 230,000 new trucks were produced in America for the war effort. This led to big shipping companies growing drastically. -
Cross Country
In 1916, the Seattle Chamber of Commerce sponsored a trucking trip from Seattle to New York. Due to the poor technology at the time, the trip took 31 days in total. -
American Trucking Association
The American Trucking Association was assembled in 1933. It is an advocacy group for American truckers nationwide. -
Motor Carrier Act
In 1935, the Motor Carrier Act was passed by Congress as a set of regulation for all industrial shipping companies. -
Hours of Service Regulations
In 1938, the first hours of service limit was passed, limiting drivers to 12 hours maximum a day behind the wheel to prevent them from being over worked and incapable of driving the truck. -
Refrigerated Trailers
In the 1950s, refrigerated trailers were introduced to help prolong the life of food products. -
Interstate Highway System
The US government authorized the Interstate Highway System in 1956. This easily connected more highways and interstates and allowed for trucking to boom. -
Department of Transportation
The department of transportation was created in 1967 to provide more guide lines for transportation. -
Energy Crises of the 1970s
In the 1970s, the US experienced fuel shortages and in turn, prices of gas soared. Many truckers went on strike during this event. -
MCA of 1980
A second Motor Carrier Act was passed into law in 1980. It actually put more freedom into the trucking industry.
