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American Truck Historical Society American Truck Historical Society

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American Truck Historical Society American Truck Historical Society

American Truck Historical Society

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Read More How a small Virgina/North Carolina carrier became a role model for the trucking industry. About the Congdons Earl and Lillian Congdon Home A Whirlwind Romance Read More > Old Dominion Beginnings Earl Congdon and Lillian Herbert met at a church luncheon in Richmond, Virginia in 1927, where Earl made a chance stop on his cross-country motorcycle tour.

Lillian, who had left school at 16 after her father's death, was working as a telephone operator. In less than a year, the two were married.

Earl's family gifted the couple a new Chevrolet, which they traded for their first truck in 1930.
Business Continues Passing the Torch Each image in the exhibit is interactive. Click on them to learn more!
About the Congdons - Reverse Photo Back Earl Congdon and Lillian Herbert met at a church luncheon in Richmond, Virginia in 1927, where Earl made a chance stop on his cross-country motorcycle tour.

Lillian, who had left school at 16 after her father's death, was working as a telephone operator. In less than a year, the two were married.

Earl's family gifted the couple a new Chevrolet, which they traded for their first truck in 1930.
Home A Whirlwind Romance Old Dominion Beginnings Read More > Born into an old Rhode Island family, Earl E. Congdon Sr.'s preferences ran toward working on cars, trucks, and motorcycles. His death left a void skeptics doubted could be filled.

Lillian Herbert Congdon was the proverbial "steel magnolia." She kept Old DOminion going at its darkest hour, and in her time did everything from driving trucks to chairing board meetings.
Passing the Torch Business Continues
About the Congdons Earl and Lillian Congdon Home A Whirlwind Romance Old Dominion Beginnings Earl Congdon Jr (left) and brother Jack perched on the hood of a c. 1936 Mack EH. A combined total of over 125 years in the trucking industry business lay ahead of them. Back Read More > Earl Congdon and Lillian Herbert met at a church luncheon in Richmond, Virginia in 1927, where Earl made a chance stop on his cross-country motorcycle tour.

Lillian, who had left school at 16 after her father's death, was working as a telephone operator. In less than a year, the two were married.

Earl's family gifted the couple a new Chevrolet, which they traded for their first truck in 1930.
Passing the Torch Business Continues
The Beginning of OD Home Old Dominion Beginnings A Whirlwind Romance Old Dominion Freight Line was inaugurated officially in 1934 with Lillian's $1,700 in savings and an Indiana straight truck.

Slightly over a year after Old Dominion was launched, the Motor Carrier Act of 1935 became law.
Read More > Passing the Torch Business Continues
The Beginning of OD - Photo Reverse Home Old Dominion Beginnings A Whirlwind Romance Old Dominion Freight Line was inaugurated officially in 1934 with Lillian's $1,700 in savings and an Indiana straight truck.

Slightly over a year after Old Dominion was launched, the Motor Carrier Act of 1935 became law.
Read More > The first shipment was a load of crated edds hauled from Norfolk to Richmond. Lillian ran the business while Earl ran the road, with occasional help from Lillian as a back-up driver. Back Passing the Torch Business Continues
OD and the Teamsters Home Old Dominion Beginnings A Whirlwind Romance Earl contended that he had been operating from New England to Atlanta and should be grandfathered to run these routes, but he couldn't document this to the Interstate Commerce Commission's satisfaction. As a result, he was awarded a Certificate of Public Necessity and Convenience (CPNC) to operate only between Richmond and Norfolk over US-1 and US-460.

While this obviously was an intrastate run, the Congdons were issued an interstate certificate. This meant that they could only transport freight destined for locations outside of Virginia. The silver lining to this was that they were limited to hauling export goods to the port at Norfolk.
Read More > Passing the Torch Business Continues
Teamsters 2 Home Old Dominion Beginnings A Whirlwind Romance Despite hard times and rigid regulations, Old Dominion managed to grow. In 1939, Old Dominion survived a three-month strike - its first brush with the Teamsters Union - as well as intense scrutiny from the ICC in the company's leasing of six tractors to Manchester Board and Paper Company. An innovative idea at the time, the lease arrangement proved financially rewarding, providing an additional $30,000 of annual income for the next 10 years. Read More > Passing the Torch Business Continues Teamsters 2 - Photo Flip Home Old Dominion Beginnings A Whirlwind Romance Despite hard times and rigid regulations, Old Dominion managed to grow. In 1939, Old Dominion survived a three-month strike - its first brush with the Teamsters Union - as well as intense scrutiny from the ICC in the company's leasing of six tractors to Manchester Board and Paper Company. An innovative idea at the time, the lease arrangement proved financially rewarding, providing an additional $30,000 of annual income for the next 10 years. Read More > Passing the Torch Business Continues Not long before the United State's entry into the war, the Congdons decided to allow the Teamsters Union to organize the Old Dominion drivers. The following five years would be the sole period in the company's history that it operated completely as a unionized carrier.

In the spring of 1946, a Teamsters' strike spelled the beginning of the end of Old Dominion's affiliation with them. After 11 weeks, the drivers offered to come back to work. The work stoppage, however, exacted a heavy toll as Old Dominion was forded to sell its original operating authority over US-1 and US-460.
Back
World War II Home Old Dominion Beginnings A Whirlwind Romance World War II brought significant changes to Old Dominion and the industry at large. For Old Dominion, the only permanent authority gained during the war was a certificate to operate directly between Richmond and Norfold over US-60.

In 1942, Old Dominion converted an old lumber mill in Richmond into a new terminal and office and purchased special permits to buy new equipment. By the war's end in 1945, Old Dominion had grown their fleet significantly, with more than 18 tractors and trailers and 75 employees.
Read More > Passing the Torch Business Continues
World War II - Photo Flip 1 Home Old Dominion Beginnings In 1944, four new Autocar C-50 tractors were purchased, one of the first heavy-duty truck manufacturers assigned by the government to resume production of civilian trucks in large numbers. By 1948, Old Dominion owned 35 trailers and 25 tractors, including Autocar C-50s, International KB-8s, White WB-22s, and a lone Corbitt. A Whirlwind Romance World War II brought significant changes to Old Dominion and the industry at large. For Old Dominion, the only permanent authority gained during the war was a certificate to operate directly between Richmond and Norfold over US-60.

In 1942, Old Dominion converted an old lumber mill in Richmond into a new terminal and office and purchased special permits to buy new equipment. By the war's end in 1945, Old Dominion had grown their fleet significantly, with more than 18 tractors and trailers and 75 employees.
Read More > Passing the Torch Business Continues Back
World War II - Photo Flip 2 Home Old Dominion Beginnings A Whirlwind Romance World War II brought significant changes to Old Dominion and the industry at large. For Old Dominion, the only permanent authority gained during the war was a certificate to operate directly between Richmond and Norfold over US-60.

In 1942, Old Dominion converted an old lumber mill in Richmond into a new terminal and office and purchased special permits to buy new equipment. By the war's end in 1945, Old Dominion had grown their fleet significantly, with more than 18 tractors and trailers and 75 employees.
Read More > Passing the Torch Business Continues Back General Robert E. Lee surveys Old Dominion Freight Line WC-22 White and Dodge Power Wagon on Monument Ave. in Richmond, VA, c. 1949. The Power Wagon, equipped as an emergency roadside repair vehicle, was the brainchild of a youthful Earl Condon Jr., today Old Dominion’s chairman. Unfortunately, it proved uneconomical, but Earl went on to have many better ideas.
Business Continues Home A Whirlwind Romance Read More > Old Dominion Beginnings In early 1950, Earl Congdon unexpectedly passed away. Lillian immediately seized control of Old Dominion as president and appointed Earl Jr. as general manager.

This was the beginning of Earl's nearly 60-year tenure as the company's chief executive officer, in name or in fact. The appointment called for the then 19-year old to drop out of business school and enroll in night classes while he managed the company during the day.

The following year Jack came to work at the company full time, and was put in charge of hiring drivers.
Business Continues Passing the Torch
Business Continues - Photo Flip Home A Whirlwind Romance Read More > Old Dominion Beginnings In early 1950, Earl Congdon unexpectedly passed away. Lillian immediately seized control of Old Dominion as president and appointed Earl Jr. as general manager.

This was the beginning of Earl's nearly 60-year tenure as the company's chief executive officer, in name or in fact. The appointment called for the then 19-year old to drop out of business school and enroll in night classes while he managed the company during the day.

The following year, Jack started work at the company full time and was put in charge of hiring drivers.
Business Continues Passing the Torch Fortunately for Old Dominion, Earl Jr. was as well prepared for the task of running the company as anyone his age could have been.

He had spent four summers driving for Old Dominion and had already had a handing some management decisions. He was enrolled in school and learning accounting.

Above all, he had an intuitive grasp of the trucking business. From day one, Lillian trusted him to run the nuts and bolts operations of Old Dominion.
Back
Business Continues 2 Home A Whirlwind Romance Read More > Old Dominion Beginnings The Korean War, which started 90 days after Earl Sr.'s death, proved beneficial to the company's bottom line. However, just before the war started in 1953, the Teamster's called a strike. That was the end of Old Dominion's affiliation with the Teamsters Union.

By 1956, under the Congdon brothers' leadership, Old Dominion increased annual revenue to $1.2 million and with profits over $100,000. This growth only continued over the decades of leadership from the brothers.
Business Continues Passing the Torch
Passing the Torch Home A Whirlwind Romance Read More > Old Dominion Beginnings A new era began in 1997 when 40-year old David Congdon, Earl Jr.'s only son, was appointed as Old Dominion's president and chief operating officer. David had been involved in the company since he was 14, progressing from dock worker to president.

David has presided over the technological revolution within the company. Among his first actions as president were to initiate significant investments in freight processing systems and launching the new websites.

The list of technological advancements has allowed Old Dominion to taken the lead in a brave new world - one which was far different that Earl and Lillian could have ever envisioned for their small carrier in 1934.
Business Continues Passing the Torch
Passing the Torch - Photo Flip Home A Whirlwind Romance Read More > Old Dominion Beginnings A new era began in 1997 when 40-year old David Congdon, Earl Jr.'s only son, was appointed as Old Dominion's president and chief operating officer. David had been involved in the company since he was 14, progressing from dock worker to president.

David has presided over the technological revolution within the company. Among his first actions as president were to initiate significant investments in freight processing systems and launching the new websites.

The list of technological advancements has allowed Old Dominion to taken the lead in a brave new world - one which was far different that Earl and Lillian could have ever envisioned for their small carrier in 1934.
Business Continues Passing the Torch David Congdon also found time to graduate from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and became an expert private pilot. In 2008 he became Old Dominion's president and CEO while his father, Earl Jr., moved into his role as executive Chairman of the Board. Back
Passing the Torch 2 Home Old Dominion Beginnings A Whirlwind Romance Above all else, Old Dominino has shown a dogged determination to stay in the race and move to the front, and the vision to accomplish it. It was exemplified by Earl Sr.'s refusal to give up when he was thwarted at every turn by the ICC. It was demonstrated again by Lillian's refusal to give up after Earl's death.

Old Dominion celebrated it's 80th anniversary in 2014.
There was little to suggest in 1934 that the company
would reach the heights that it occupies today. Mighty
oaks from tiny acorns grow, it is said. Earl and Lillian
planted wisely when, Depression aside, they staked all
they had on a single truck and a load of eggs.
Passing the Torch Business Continues
Old Dominion: Promises Kept

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1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

ATHS Northern California Chapter Monthly Meeting

January 21 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm PST

ATHS Northern California Chapter Monthly Meeting

ATHS Northern California Chapter Monthly Meeting Lunch at 1:00 pm, Meeting at 2:00 pm at Becca's Cafe, 2083  Balls Ferry Rd., Anderson, CA Contact Bill Irvin at 530-624-0148

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2:00 pm - 5:00 pm

ATHS Nutmeg Chapter Meeting

January 22 @ 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm EST

ATHS Nutmeg Chapter Meeting

ATHS Nutmeg Chapter Meeting January 22, 2023 Foskett Equipment, 151 Peake Brook Rd., Woodstock, CT 06281 Business meeting begins at 2:00 PM Members are invited to bring snacks or a...

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8:00 am - 5:00 pm

ATHS Greater Cincinnati Chapter Truck Show

January 23 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm EST

ATHS Greater Cincinnati Chapter Truck Show

ATHS Greater Cincinnati Chapter Truck Show May 20, 2023 696 Hanthorn Rd, Lima OH 45804 Contact: Mark 419-305-6899 or dmtransport4@gmail.com

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2023-01-25

ATHS Nutmeg Chapter 34th Annual Truck Show, Flea Market & Toy Show

ATHS Nutmeg Chapter 34th Annual Truck Show, Flea Market & Toy Show

January 25

ATHS Nutmeg Chapter 34th Annual Truck Show, Flea Market & Toy Show

ATHS Nutmeg Chapter 34th Annual Truck Show, Flea Market & Toy Show June 25, 2023 Brooklyn Fair Grounds, Rt 169, Brooklyn, CT Contact: John 860-608-5033 or johnaraymond1@sbcglobal.net

9:00 am - 4:00 pm

ATHS Shenandoah Valley Chapter 33rd Annual Antique Truck Show

January 25 @ 9:00 am - 4:00 pm EST

ATHS Shenandoah Valley Chapter 33rd Annual Antique Truck Show

ATHS Shenandoah Valley Chapter 33rd Annual Antique Truck Show May 20, 2023  -  9 am to 4 pm Bridgewater Lawn Party Grounds, Bridgewater, VA (I-81 Exit 240, Rt. 257 West...

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January 21
January 21 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm PST

ATHS Northern California Chapter Monthly Meeting

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January 23 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm EST

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January 25
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ATHS Nutmeg Chapter 34th Annual Truck Show, Flea Market & Toy Show

January 25 @ 9:00 am - 4:00 pm EST

ATHS Shenandoah Valley Chapter 33rd Annual Antique Truck Show

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