Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Schneider Celebrates 90 Years in Trucking

From a single truck in 1935, Schneider National has grown to become one the largest trucking fleets in the U.S.

Al Schneider, founder of Schneider Nation.

Al Schneider, the fleet's founder, with a 1960s vintage International Transtar CEO. 

Photo: Schneider National

3 min to read


It all began with a single truck in 1935. From those humble beginnings, Schneider National rose to become a leading multimodal provider of transportation, logistics and intermodal services in North America.

And on June 12, Schneider National celebrated 90 years of evolution, resilience and service.

Ad Loading...

History, Innovation and Adaptability 

The company marked this milestone with a special event at its Green Bay headquarters honoring its rich history, the people who have driven its success, and its promising future.

Founded by Al Schneider with a vision to build something extraordinary, the company has grown into a multimodal powerhouse with 19,400 associates and 12,500 trucks, logging over 9 million freight miles daily — the equivalent of circling the globe 370 times.

1930 Schneider truck.

Schneider began as a single-truck Wisconsin fleet in 1935. 

Photo: Schneider National

“Reaching 90 years is a remarkable achievement and a testament to the dedication of our current and former associates,” said Schneider president and CEO Mark Rourke

“From Al Schneider’s first delivery to our nearly 14,000 company drivers today, our story is one of innovation, adaptability, and a steadfast commitment to providing safe and reliable service to our customers.”

A Legacy of Firsts

Schneider has repeatedly reshaped the supply chain through industry-defining advancements:

Ad Loading...
  • 1958: Schneider secured its first interstate authority, expanding beyond Wisconsin and laying the groundwork for a national footprint.

  • 1980: Schneider successfully navigates deregulation after the Motor Carrier Act is passed.

  • 1982: Schneider Communications is formed to provide drivers long-distance telephone service.

  • 1986: The company revolutionized trucking by becoming the first to equip its fleet with two-way in-cab satellite communication, eliminating the need for drivers to stop and use pay phones for assignments.

  • 1991: Recognizing the growing need for diversified transportation services, Schneider launched its intermodal operations.

  • 1992: Mexico City office opens to serve cross-border customers.

  • 1993: Building on its commitment to providing end-to-end supply chain solutions, Schneider founded Schneider Logistics.

  • 2001: Schneider Brokerage started.

  • 2017: Schneider goes public, unlocking new opportunities for innovation and growth.

  • 2020: Schneider FreightPower portal for shippers, carriers and owner-operators launches.

  • 2022: Schneider acquires Midwest Logistics Systems.

  • 2023: Schneider becomes the first major carrier to fully operationalize a battery-electric fleet in California; The Grove Innovation Center opens in Green Bay; M&M Transport Services is acquired.

  • 2024: Schneider acquires Cowan Systems, significantly expanding Dedicated services to nearly 8,600 trucks. The company establishes a preferred rail partnership with recently formed CPKC.

  • 2025: Schneider celebrates its 90th anniversary.

Honoring Excellence

The celebration event included the induction of 30 new drivers to Schneider’s Haul of Fame. This is a special recognition program for drivers who have achieved at least 3 million safe driving miles or 20 consecutive years without a preventable accident.

Greg Swift, five-million safe mile Schneider National driver.

Schneider National drier Greg Swift has logged an incredible five million accident-free miles. 

Photo: Schneider National

For the first time in company history, five company drivers will receive their 4 million safe mile awards in the same year, and one driver, Greg Swift, achieved 5 million safe miles. 

There are only 435 drivers who have earned a plaque on the Haul of Fame wall, which underscores what a rare achievement it is and how important it is in Schneider’s deep-rooted culture of safety.

Driving the Future

As Schneider looks ahead, company said it will continue to invest in strategic growth areas, including intermodal and cross-border services, particularly in Mexico, as well as further organic and acquisitive growth in Dedicated services.

Ad Loading...

The company remains focused on delivering innovative, customer-centric solutions that meet the evolving demands of the global supply chain.

“We’re not just celebrating our past — we’re accelerating into the future,” said Rourke. “Our strong foundation in service, safety and operational excellence, paired with our associates and an openness to change anything but our values, ensures we’ll continue to set the standard for decades to come.”

More Fleet Management

Illustration with question mark and graph illustrating uncertainty
Fleet Managementby StaffFebruary 12, 2026

After Three Years of Pressure, Motor Carriers and Brokers See Early Signs of a Turn

Survey data show carriers and brokers expect improving demand in 2026, even as rates lag and capital investment remains on hold.

Read More →
Photo of GO Focus Pro dashcam
Fleet Managementby News/Media ReleaseFebruary 11, 2026

Geotab Launches AI-Powered GO Focus Pro Dash Cam With 360-Degree Visibility

Geotab launches GO Focus Pro, an AI-powered 360-degree dash cam designed to reduce collisions, prevent fraud, and protect fleets from nuclear verdict risk.

Read More →
Knowledge Hub fleet intelligence system.
Fleet Managementby News/Media ReleaseFebruary 10, 2026

Augment Launches Freight-Native Knowledge Hub to Preserve Operational Know-How

Knowledge Hub is designed to turn scattered tribal knowledge into execution-ready intelligence and help logistics teams make faster, more consistent decisions.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Avery Vise, FTR vice president of trucking.
Fleet Managementby News/Media ReleaseFebruary 10, 2026

FTR: Trucking Conditions Hit Four-Year High as Rates and Capacity Tighten

Improving freight rates and tighter capacity push FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index to its highest level in nearly four years.

Read More →
Quester fleet maintenance dashboard.
Fleet Managementby News/Media ReleaseFebruary 10, 2026

Questar Predictive Fleet Health Platform Now Available Through Geotab Marketplace

Quester’s AI-driven maintenance insights aim to help fleets reduce unplanned downtime, improve repair planning, and better understand the true cost of maintenance decisions.

Read More →
Photo of Jim Mullen
Fleet Managementby News/Media ReleaseFebruary 9, 2026

Truckload Carriers Association Names Jim Mullen President

Mullen has trucking experience with government, associations, trucking companies and suppliers.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Illustration of football stadium with bar graph and freight on dock
Fleet Managementby StaffFebruary 5, 2026

How The Big Game Impacted Freight Volumes

Super Bowl LX drove a spike in trucking freight volumes into San Jose. New data shows which equipment types benefited most.

Read More →
Cyberstop column header depicting images related to threats, AI, and a locked cargo container
Fleet Managementby Ben WilkensFebruary 4, 2026

How Cybercrime Is Reshaping Cargo Theft and Fleet Risk in 2026

Artificial intelligence is changing how cybercriminals and cargo thieves target trucking fleets—and how fleets defend themselves. As phishing, impersonation, and cargo theft converge, cybersecurity is becoming a core part of fleet safety and operations.

Read More →
Fleetworthy Toll360 toll management system.
Fleet Managementby News/Media ReleaseFebruary 4, 2026

Fleetworthy's AI-powered Toll360 Gives Fleets Real-Time Toll Visibility and Automated Dispute Handling

Fleetworthy's new Bestpass Toll360 add-on uses route data and AI to predict toll charges, reconcile invoices, and automatically file eligible disputes—helping fleets cut manual work and recover overpayments.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
2026 Mack Anthem rolls off the assembly line
Fleet Managementby News/Media ReleaseFebruary 3, 2026

Mack Financial Services Launches Physical Damage Insurance For All Makes

Mack Financial Services has introduced the Rolling Asset Program, offering physical damage insurance for all makes and models within a customer's fleet.

Read More →