Werner Enterprises - History

History

Beginning: 1956-1970: Werner Enterprises' Chairman Emeritus C. L. Werner began a humble business in 1956 with one truck. At the age of 19, Werner went to Omaha to work in a factory, but decided he would rather drive a truck. He sold his car to buy a gas-powered Ford F800 truck and started hauling cargo for other trucking companies. He hauled cargo that was exempt from regulatory restrictions, such as grain, watermelon and fence posts. C. L.'s first son, Gary, entered the world in 1957 and would become the first of four children to help transform the family business into a billion dollar operation.

C. L. built the company one truck at a time, hauling in regional areas. He officially named his company Werner Enterprises in 1959. With the purchase of his first diesel truck, C. L. began to see the future of his company before his eyes. While growing a business, the young businessman was also growing a family. In 1959, C. L. welcomed his second child, son Greg. In 1964, C. L. Werner moved his company out of his 900-square-foot home and into a little shop on property costing $25,000 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. With a fleet of a dozen metallic blue trucks, Werner Enterprises became a shining example of hard work paying off. C. L.'s third son, Curt was also born in 1964. By the late 1960's, C. L.'s two oldest sons, Gary and Greg, were becoming interested in their father's company. C. L. even started a small business for the children, affectionately called Gra-Gar. The small company, which leased out equipment, would later merge with Werner Enterprises further strengthening the family business bonds.

Continued Growth: 1971-1978: C. L. made his first big truck purchase of 10 Freightliners in 1971. He also expanded the Company to include the first office employee, Sharon Curry, who started out working in the tire shop. As the Werner Enterprises team began to grow, so did its customer base. Werner Enterprises welcomed Maytag, its first Fortune 500 customer in 1975. With 100 trucks on the road and gross sales exceeding $6 million, Werner Enterprises built its new headquarters on five-acres in Omaha without a loan. With daughter Gail working as a receptionist, the family business continued to grow. Werner Enterprises even purchased its first aircraft, a Cessna 414, in 1978.

Public Offering and Paperless Logs: 1979-1994: Werner Enterprises went public on NASDAQ in 1986 with a fleet of 630 trucks. By this time, son Gary Werner was president of the company. As a trusted team, C. L. and Gary worked diligently to prove the company's worth to Wall Street. Werner Enterprises chose Alex Brown & Sons to underwrite the company's public offering. The company's shares climbed to $22 within the first three months. C. L. and his children remained the company's largest private shareholders.

In an effort to streamline the company's operations and improve communications, Werner Enterprises implemented a satellite-based Qualcomm system for location and messaging capabilities on all of its trucks. This real-time communication system would help the company manage its continuous contact with drivers. Later the company became the first truckload carrier to be authorized by the Federal Highway Administration to implement paperless logs.

On-site Expansions: 1995-1999: In 1995, son Greg Werner led the Management Information System group. Just before the company turned 40 years old, Werner began construction of its Phoenix, Ariz. terminal. In addition, the company opened the Conestoga Building at its Omaha headquarters that features a collection of historical Company equipment along with other informational exhibits. With revenues reaching $1 billion, Werner Enterprises completed a 166,500-square-foot addition to its Omaha headquarters in 1999. This expansion would allow the Werner Enterprises family of employees to enjoy Drivers' lounges, a 5,000-square-foot computer center, a company store and cafeteria.

International Operations: 2000–Present: To tap into international market growth, Werner Enterprises launched its Mexico operations in 2000. Having increased freight operations in Canada as well, international business became a significant part of Werner Enterprises' way of life. Also, in 2001 Werner Enterprises opened an international terminal in Laredo, Texas, and continued plans for a bright future.

In nearly 50 years, C. L. Werner's company went from one tractor to one of the country's largest carriers. With his family alongside, C. L. was able to achieve the kind of business success that eludes most people. Crediting his success to the hard work he learned on the farm as a child, C. L. celebrated his company's 50-year anniversary with his team of dedicated, customer-focused and hardworking professionals.

In 2007, Werner Enterprises appointed Gregory L. Werner to chief executive officer in addition to the position of president. Werner Enterprises and Werner Global Logistics are named as the official freight forwarder and logistics provider for the pools used in the 2008 US Swim Trials. The event was a pre-cursor to the record-breaking games held later in Beijing, China. Werner Global Logistics continued to grow, crossing two major milestones. As the company provided service to its 100th country, it also opened its first office in Australia, further meeting customer demand in the Pacific Rim. Werner Enterprises was named to Fortune Magazine's Most Admired Companies list in 2010. In addition, the Company was listed as one of Forbes.com 's Most Trustworthy Companies. Derek Leathers was named president of Werner Enterprises in 2011 in addition to his duties as chief operating officer, a position he held as of 2008.