Jim Palmer Trucking was based by Jim Palmer in Missoula, Montana in 1964 with one truck. The corporate started as a livestock and lumber hauler with intrastate authority. It was not till after deregulation of the trucking trade in 1980 that the trucking firm started to department out into different commodities. This additionally coincided with a stoop within the timber/lumber trade and the closing of plenty of sawmills throughout Montana.
Deregulation was useful for the trucking trade general. Nonetheless, it negatively impacted many trucking firms within the Nineteen Eighties; they’d a tough time adjusting to the brand new working circumstances. Nevertheless, simply the alternative gave the impression to be the case with Jim Palmer Trucking. The corporate slowly started to develop, and in 1986, established its first out-of-state terminal in Salina, Kansas. That 12 months, the corporate skilled a 50% development price. By 1989, the corporate utilized a fleet of 125 vehicles and employed 160 folks. Jim Palmer Trucking grew to become the most important reefer service within the state of Montana.
The corporate skilled 10 to twenty% annual development every year through the Nineteen Nineties. By 1998, this development led the corporate to determine places in Florida, Kansas and South Dakota along with its Montana dwelling base. The corporate operated a fleet of 350 vehicles in 1998. That 12 months, the corporate introduced an growth of its Missoula facility in addition to an growth of its fleet. The corporate added 10 to fifteen vehicles month-to-month, an funding of roughly $51.5 million month-to-month. These vehicles additionally utilized state-of-the-art satellite tv for pc techniques and on-board electronic message techniques in order that drivers might talk with their households. The corporate deliberate to have a fleet of 500 vehicles by the early 2000s. Sadly, an financial downturn that worsened after the September 11 assaults put the growth of the fleet on an extended schedule.
Jim Palmer Trucking’s monetary scenario was precarious for a number of extra years, and by 2008, had grown dire. Within the first quarter of that 12 months, greater than 900 trucking firms nationwide had declared chapter on account of rising operational prices. In early July, Jim Palmer Trucking laid off six of its workplace employees, claiming they have been consolidating the workforce to offset rising gasoline prices. Nevertheless, just some days later, the corporate and two of its subsidiaries, Jim Palmer Tools and Jim Palmer Tools II, filed for Chapter 11 chapter safety. The corporate had 425 staff on the time.
Jim Palmer Trucking and the 2 subsidiaries have been delinquent on $2 million in debt to gear lenders. The businesses cited rising gasoline and operational prices in addition to an financial recession for his or her delinquent funds. Nevertheless, not like many firms through the 2008-09 recession, Jim Palmer Trucking was capable of emerge from reorganization in a single piece in early 2009. Workers and wages have been reduce, however the firm remained afloat till its buy by two Chicago businessmen in November 2009. The remaining 280 staff have been capable of preserve their jobs.
Jim Palmer Trucking continued below the operation of the 2 Chicago businessmen with Jim Palmer serving as advisor till the corporate was bought by Wil-Trans, a family-owned trucking firm based mostly in Springfield, Missouri.
On the time of the acquisition the corporate’s fleet had shrunk to 185 vehicles. The corporate operated as a subsidiary of Wil-Trans. The household that owns Wil-Trans renamed the corporate and it’s now Wilson Logistics. It’s nonetheless based mostly in Springfield, and one in every of its working places is in Missoula, so the legacy of Jim Palmer Trucking lives on.
For any reader who’s a fan of baseball, the “different” Jim Palmer is James Alvin Palmer, a former Main League Baseball (MLB) pitcher who performed 19 years for the Baltimore Orioles (1965-1967, 1969-1984). Palmer was the winningest MLB pitcher within the Nineteen Seventies, totaling 186 wins. He additionally gained at the least 20 video games in eight completely different seasons and gained three Cy Younger Awards and 4 Gold Gloves through the decade. His 268 profession victories are at present an Orioles document. A six-time American League All-Star, he was additionally one of many uncommon pitchers who by no means allowed a grand slam in any main league contest.