PGT Trucking, which includes Southern Pines Trucking, is celebrating 40 years of providing quality shipping solutions to businesses across the country.
Southern Pines, a division of PGT founded in 2000, has cryogenic tankers and tank trailers for hauling industrial gasses.
Patrick A. Gallagher founded PGT Trucking in 1981 on the principles of superior flatbed transportation services and personal relationships in the metals and building construction markets. Originally based in Industry PA, the company started with one tractor and two employees.
“From Day 1, PGT has focused on smart and strategic growth,” said Pat Gallagher, founder and CEO. “By networking with our customers and vendors, we quickly expanded to over 30 terminal locations across the United States.”
Over the last 40 years, PGT has grown into a state-of-the art transportation company servicing the steel, building materials, machinery, oil and gas, raw materials, aluminum, and automotive industries in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, while celebrating numerous milestones along the way:
- 1981: In addition to starting the company, Gallagher establishes a relationship with Jack Hill at O.S. Hill & Co., Inc. International in East Liverpool OH. Throughout this 40-year relationship, PGT has purchased thousands of trucks from Hill International.
- 1987: PGT opens Warehouse Distribution of Pittsburgh in Ambridge PA, a full-service warehousing complex, designed to accommodate the steel and industrial goods industries.
- 1990: PGT moves headquarters from Industry PA to Monaca PA, developing a full campus setting for drivers and employees.
- 1991: Pittsburgh Logistics Systems, a third-party provider for international freight transportation, logistics, and technology services was formed, branching off into its own entity in 1993.
- 1995: PGT’s Laredo Terminal is established, opening the gateway to Mexico and expansion of transportation offerings.
- 2000: Southern Pines Trucking, a division of PGT, is founded to focus on cryogenic tanker moves for industrial and medical grade gases, and hazardous materials, later expanding transportation offerings to oversize/overweight specialized commodities.
- 2006: PGT acquires Midwest Logistics in Champaign IL, developing a van, refrigerated and Conestoga division.
- 2013: PGT acquires Liedtka Logistics in Trenton NJ, becoming a dominant flatbed carrier in the Northeast.
- 2014: Expanding its footprint westward, PGT acquires Kelworth Trucking in Poteau OK.
- 2016: PGT moves its headquarters to Hopewell Industrial Park in Aliquippa PA, later acquiring property from Perfetti Trucking, and opening a new driver training facility and Terminal in Blairsville PA.
Today, PGT employs more than 1,030 drivers, mechanics, agents and support staff, and operates in excess of 1,000 power units and more than 1,500 trailers nationwide.
“Part of our success has been PGT’s ability to adapt and prosper in this ever-changing transportation industry,” added Gregg Troian, president, who joined PGT in 1986. “In the last four decades, this sector has seen major changes to its regulations, economic highs and lows, and more recently, the addition of technology. And while many other trucking companies were not able to profit and grow, PGT has stood strong, rooted in our fundamental cornerstones of personal customer relationships, employee development, safety and profitability.”
To celebrate 40 years of success and growth, PGT launched a new webpage to share news, events and highlights at pgttrucking.com/celebrating-40-years.
In May, PGT will host its annual Million Mile and Safe Driver Celebration at The Willows in Industry PA. This year, it will be held in conjunction with additional 40th anniversary festivities.
“I am so blessed to have such a great group of drivers and employees working here at PGT, many of whom started with the company in the 1980s and are still with us today,” Gallagher said. “In an industry that struggles with high turnover rates, I feel that this is a true testament of our principles and our mission.
“We are in the people business, not the trucking business. It is the drivers, the leadership, the support staff and the truck maintenance teams who have all contributed to the success of this organization over the last 40 years.”