Almost 50 years ago, Clarence L. Werner purchased a Ford gasoline powered truck and announced to the world he was in the trucking business. Today, Werner Enterprises has become one of the leading companies in the industry. How the company progressed from a one-man operation to a highly successful publicly traded company is the story of a lifetime.

Werner Enterprises, Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer C.L. Werner began a humble business in 1956 with one truck. At the age of 19, Werner went to Omaha to work in a factory, but decided he would rather drive a truck. He sold his car to buy a gas-powered Ford F800 truck and started hauling cargo for other trucking companies. He hauled cargo that was exempt from regulatory restrictions, such as grain, watermelon and fence posts. C.L. built the company one truck at a time, hauling in regional areas.

Werner completed its initial public offering in April, 1986 with a fleet of 630 trucks. Today, the fleet consisted of 8,650 tractors, 23,710 trailers, and over 13,000 employees and independent contractors. Innovation and technology are keys to the Werner success story. The firm is the only carrier with DOT approval to use a Paperless Log System.

Among the five largest truckload carriers in the United States, Werner is a truckload motor carrier of general commodities in both interstate and intrastate commerce. The company operates throughout the 48 contiguous states and also portions of Canada and Mexico.

Two of C.L.'s four children are actively involved in the business. Greg is President and Chief Operating Officer and Gary is Vice Chairman. C.L.'s daughter, Gail Werner-Robertson, and Curt Werner have both previously been involved in the company and served on the board of Werner Enterprises. C.L. and his wife, Linda, live in Omaha.

A timeline of our story...