Star Transport
Encyclopedia
Star Transport, Inc. is an irregular route truckload carrier
headquartered in Morton, Illinois
, which owns over 900 Peterbilt
386 and 387 model tractors
.
The company also utilizes a satellite tracking system known as Qualcomm
to efficiently dispatch its drivers on loads.
as a freight and household carrier and an agent for North American Van Lines
. The initial customer (which would become their major one) was the International Harvester
plant in Canton. Through networking
with the IH plant, the company began hauling farm equipment
for other businesses in the agricultural field.
After the IH plant closed, Glenn A. Werry, Jr. began focusing company efforts on other transportation needs. One change made in the 1980s to phase out the company's flatbed
trailers in favor of dry vans
led to the headquarters moving to Morton, which would form the foundation of what would become a long relationship with Caterpillar
and Maytag
.
Truckload carrier
Truckload shipping is the movement of large amounts of homogeneous cargo, generally the amount necessary to fill an entire semi-trailer or intermodal container. A truckload carrier is a trucking company that generally contracts an entire trailer-load to a single customer...
headquartered in Morton, Illinois
Morton, Illinois
Morton is a village in Tazewell County, Illinois, USA, known for its pumpkins and annual Pumpkin Festival. The population was 15,198 at the 2000 census. Morton, the home of a Caterpillar distribution facility and a Libby's pumpkin plant, is part of the Peoria, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical...
, which owns over 900 Peterbilt
Peterbilt
Peterbilt Motors Company is an American manufacturer of medium- and heavy-duty Class 5 through Class 8 trucks headquartered in Denton, Texas. Founded in 1939 Peterbilt operates manufacturing facilities in Denton, Texas , and Sainte-Thérèse, Quebec...
386 and 387 model tractors
Tractor unit
A tractor unit, prime mover , road tractor, or traction unit is a heavy-duty commercial vehicle within the large goods vehicle category, usually with a large displacement diesel engine, and several axles. The tractor unit serves as a method of moving trailers...
.
The company also utilizes a satellite tracking system known as Qualcomm
Qualcomm
Qualcomm is an American global telecommunication corporation that designs, manufactures and markets digital wireless telecommunications products and services based on its code division multiple access technology and other technologies. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, USA...
to efficiently dispatch its drivers on loads.
History
The company was founded in the 1940s by Glenn A. Werry, Sr. in Canton, IllinoisCanton, Illinois
Canton is the largest city in Fulton County, Illinois in the United States. The population was 18,288 as of the 2000 Census. The Canton Micropolitan Statistical Area covers all of Fulton County; it is in turn part of the wider Peoria-Canton, IL Combined Statistical Area .-Geography:Canton is...
as a freight and household carrier and an agent for North American Van Lines
North American Van Lines
North American Van Lines, or NAVL, is a large, United States based trucking company originally formed in Cleveland, Ohio and later based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, which specializes in home and office relocations.-History:...
. The initial customer (which would become their major one) was the International Harvester
International Harvester
International Harvester Company was a United States agricultural machinery, construction equipment, vehicle, commercial truck, and household and commercial products manufacturer. In 1902, J.P...
plant in Canton. Through networking
Social network
A social network is a social structure made up of individuals called "nodes", which are tied by one or more specific types of interdependency, such as friendship, kinship, common interest, financial exchange, dislike, sexual relationships, or relationships of beliefs, knowledge or prestige.Social...
with the IH plant, the company began hauling farm equipment
Farm equipment
Agricultural machinery is any kind of machinery used on a farm to help with farming. The best-known example of this kind is the tractor.-Soil cultivation:*Cultivator*Cultipacker*Chisel plow*Mulch tiller*Harrow**Spike harrow**Drag harrow...
for other businesses in the agricultural field.
After the IH plant closed, Glenn A. Werry, Jr. began focusing company efforts on other transportation needs. One change made in the 1980s to phase out the company's flatbed
Flatbed
Flatbed may refer to:* Flatbed digital printer, the reproduction of digital images on physical surfaces* Flatbed editor, a type of machine used for the editing of a motion picture film...
trailers in favor of dry vans
Semi-trailer
A semi-trailer is a trailer without a front axle. A large proportion of its weight is supported by a road tractor, a detachable front axle assembly known as a dolly, or the tail of another trailer...
led to the headquarters moving to Morton, which would form the foundation of what would become a long relationship with Caterpillar
Caterpillar Inc.
Caterpillar Inc. , also known as "CAT", designs, manufactures, markets and sells machinery and engines and sells financial products and insurance to customers via a worldwide dealer network. Caterpillar is the world's largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas...
and Maytag
Maytag
Maytag Corporation is an American home and commercial appliance company, headquartered in Newton, Iowa, that is a division of the Whirlpool Corporation.-Company history:...
.