For 40 years, Midwest Carriers has grown through the people, relationships, and values that have shaped who we are. Take a look back at the moments that moved us forward and the people who continue to drive us today.
This year, Midwest Carriers celebrates 40 years in business.
From our early trucks and first customers to new facilities, new companies, and generations of people who have moved us forward, much has changed over four decades, shaping who we are today. Dave VanHandel bought his first truck in 1976. Ten years later, he founded Midwest Carriers and established the values we still believe in today.
The early years of Midwest Carriers weren’t about building a big company. They were about doing good work. One truck became more. The first employees joined the team. Drivers took a chance on a growing company. Customers trusted us with their freight. By 1990, one relationship at a time, Midwest began to grow and so did the vision for what it could become.
In the early 2000s, industry recognition began reflecting something our team already knew: Midwest was becoming known for doing things differently and doing them well. From performance recognition to milestones like EPA SmartWay High Performer for fuel efficiency, the goal was never to win an award, but to do the work in a way worthy of one.
In 2017, Eric stepped into the role of President of Midwest Carriers, carrying forward the company his parents had built and marking the start of a new chapter. For Dave, stepping back from the role didn’t mean stepping away from the company. The driver who bought his first truck in 1976 can still be found walking through the office, staying involved in the day-to-day, and still getting behind the wheel to run loads.
In the years following, as our customers’ needs evolved, we evolved with them. New partnerships, expanded logistics capabilities, and the additions of Osborn & Son Trucking and Three-D Logistics in 2021 have helped us solve more complex transportation challenges and serve our customers in more ways.
As we celebrate 40 years, we’re looking back at some of the moments, milestones, and people that helped shape Midwest Carriers along the way.
As we celebrate the anniversary and the accomplishments achieved these past forty years, it’s important to understand that an anniversary isn’t really about the past. It’s about understanding what’s worth carrying forward.
The relationships.
The standards.
The willingness to invest.
The belief that how you treat people matters.
The pride that comes from doing a job exceptionally well.
Forty years ago, no one could have known exactly what Midwest Carriers would become. We still don’t know exactly what the next forty years will bring, but we know how we want to get there.
Together. With high standards. With intention. And always Driven by the People We Serve.
Thank you to every driver, employee, customer, partner, family member, and friend who has been part of these first forty years. We’re just getting started.