Longview News-Journal from Longview, Texas • Page 233

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1984, Longview Morning Journal 3- ABF Freight has growth history GREGG AVIATION INC. First Commercial Operation on Gregg County Airport The history of ABF Freight System Inc. has been A 7. Complete Aviation Service Fuel Maintenance Flight Training Storage By 1956 following several major acquisitions the firm gained authority to serve San Antonio, Houston, Fort Worth and Dallas, on to Chicago, Indianapolis and the state of Ohio. IN MAY 1957, the firm's name was changed to Arkansas Best Freight System Inc.

In 1959, the firm's authority expanded into the Kansas and Milwaukee areas, and by 1962, additional route authority provided service from Chicago to New Orleans. Between 1962 and 1968, Arkansas-Best Freight acquired several more route authorities that extended operations into the St. Louis area, giving new service into the quad-city area of Moline, East Moline and Davenport, Iowa. In 1968, service expanded into the Cincinnati area. That same year, Fast Freight Co.

was acquired, connecting Cleveland with Buffalo, Syracuse, Rochester and Albany, N.Y. One year later, Krema Truck Lines was acquired which expanded the Chicago area authority considerably. Youngblood Truck Lines was acquired in 1971, giving authprity into North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. By that year, company revenues were more than $55 million. OTHER ACQUISITIONS SAW the firm move into Oklahoma City, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey and Birmingham, Ala.

The company obtained a portion of the route of Great Lakes Express Co. in' 1977, giving it routes into the major industrial areas of Detroit, and adding another major gateway into and out of Canada. Its New England operations were linked with those in the Southeast by the acquisition of Akers Motor Lines' operating rights along U.S. Highway 1. The Akers.

acquisition also included the Philadelphia and Baltimore markets. The next acquisition, and one of the largest, was in 1979 with the purchase of Navajo Freight Lines. This authority extended ABF's westernmost boundary from Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas to California and lifted the company from 25th to ninth in size among the nation's regulated interstate motor freight carriers. In July 1980, Arkansas-Best's name was changed to ABF Freight System Inc. one of consistent growth, and ABF officials say the growth is expected to continue in 1984.

It was in September 1982 that ABF the largest subsidiary of Arkansas Best Corp. of Fort Smith acquired well-known East Texas Motor Freight Lines. The ETMF acquisition, which included ETMF's operating rights, provided ABF with 44 new terminal cities. It allowed ABF to expand its system to 160 facilities and provided terminal points in a number of states. MARKET PENETRATION WAS substantially increased in California, Illinois, Michigan and North Carolina by the addition of 18 new terminal points in those states.

Also 16 new terminal cities including Long-view and other East Texas municipalities were added in Texas. That gave ABF 26 facilities in one of the country's most rapidly expanding market areas. For a comparison of ABF's growth, the company started with 10 employees in 1935, two tractor-trailer rigs and one straight truck. The payroll that year was $35,000 and revenues were $50,000. They operated only three terminals that year.

By 1982, ABF had become the nation's sixth largest motor freight carrier. Today, 160 terminals in 40 states serve more than 35,000 people according to officials of the Class I motor common general freight carrier, whose operating authority stretches coast-to-coast and border-to-border. THE PRESIDENT OF ABF is Robert A. Young III, and executive vice president is Robert M. Powell.

In addition to its general commodities terminals, ABF also has more than 100 special commodities terminals located throughout the same authority. In addition to sales offices in the U.S., ABF also has offices in Canada. Other subsidiaries of Arkansas Best Corp. include Riverside Furniture ABC Treadco Inc. (the real estate and tire remanufacturing arm of ABC), Data-Tronics Arkansas Underwriters Corp.

and Universal Insurance Co. The company, originally Arkansas Motor Freight, was born under the grandfather clause of the Motor Carrier Act of 1935. This provided authority northward through Fayetteville, Ark. to Kansas City and St. Louis.

Operations were extended from Fort Smith to mi i I "i jim ffSL Royce Barnwell, Owner Bryon Williams Shop Foreman, IA, E.Y.Baine Mechanic, Gregg Aviation is a Fixed Based Operation. Open 7 days a week for your convenience. Gregg County Airport 643-2621 ITexasts Serving TTexasts Fov 1 50 frK iSI Wi Jr. Blake Long Jerry Steward 13 Ray Bozeman Ron Laurel Kent Simpson Cecil Camp Mark Hall El SI 1 Angie Burghart Darlene Young Paula Helms Klaas Maring Marvin Precise Richard Cain Johnnie Phillips Hoi: V- k- Wl TSiT. i-ij' dll: Jl wlu dub J.C.

Crum Jimmy Hollier Allan Rivers Romeo Gonsales James Tennison Juan Merrill Kenneth Reese Hollis Collier Jack(S)long 1302 W. MARSHALL 9 LONGVIEW HWY. 80 WEST Texarkana in 1943, and later on into Shreveport, La. Flight Specialties serves many needs of ETex aviators Tucked away among runways and flight towers at Gregg County Airport, Flight Specialties Inc. is in the right place to do do what they do best paint, repair, rebuild and test airplanes.

"We can inspect an airplane to tell the buyer what may be wrong with it," said owner John M. Longneck-er. Besides Longnecker and his son, the company employees eight full- and part-time mechanics and one full-time counter person. "Due to regulations a private airplane is inspected every 365 days, even though it is advised to inspect it more frequently," Longnecker said. "However, a commercial airplane is inspected after every 100 hours of flight." According to Longnecker, the company provides basic on-ground training of.

pilots through a videotape of questions and answers allowing the student pilot the freedom to choose his time to come to class. To keep up with their students, instructors and pilots, the company uses a computer system, said Craig Longnecker, president of the company. "We use a computer system which can be used actively or inactively," Longnecker said. "It keeps track of which pilots have current licenses and physicals, their addresses and telephone numbers." Longnecker said a year's worth of customized forms and student schedules can be planned through the system. "We can also keep track of the inventory and buy through a computer in Dallas," he said.

To keep operations current, the Longneckers and their mechanics attend schools offered through aircraft manufacturers. "We are constantly upgrading our systems and. education," Craig Longnecker said. "We've been through almost every school available and keep a complete list of maintenance publications on microfiche." Longnecker added the company has information on almost all airplanes manufactured within the last 20 -years. Cherokee Aviation offers mini-class By JUNE FORD Staff Writer Ever thought it'd be great to fly? Cherokee Aviation and Piper Aircrafts are providing a mini-class for people who don't know if they really want to fly or not.

The class offers people a chance to see if they get airsick, enjoy flying or want to learn more about small aircraft, said Cherokee employee Jim Massey. Massey is in charge of sales and promotions for Cherokee Aviation. Know as the "sky sampler" the mini-course provides five hours of dual instruction in an aircraft and four hours of ground instruction, and, if the students decide to pursue flying, all nine hours count toward their pilot's license, he said. "About 96 percent of the people who complete the program continue flying, and, we only have about 3 to 4 percent drop out," Massey said, The aviation company is also providing, charter services for businessmen, he said. "Charter aviation is probably going to lead business because everything is going up, and, it cost businesses lot of money for someone to drive to Dallas or Shreveport and sit and wait for an airplane, then pay a hotel bill or get bumped because the airline is overbooked.

'I "With a chartered plane, we wait for you it's on the businessman's schedule and usually you can charter a small aircraft for. several less money than take a regular airline. "I can't fly one man to Philadelphia as cheaply as an airline, but I can three. "And, there are 12,000 small airports in the United States and only 3,000 are serviced by major charter can get you to small towns like Gladewater without having to drive several hours Massey said. Chekroee Aviation also expanded at Gladewater Airport to add a large hanger faciljty.for maintain-ance and now have a larger cabin class 10-place twin aircraft.

They deal in Piper and Mooney aircraftes and have a full avionics shop at Gladewater, he said. m. -a jm.t a tfa ft mm- fe A I TK'xmm iirr-Miinr irati 7 3l air i GROWING WITH LONGVIEW 1983 was a good year for Southwest Railroad Car Pacts. It brought with it a new plant for us in Jewett, Texas. And that is only the beginning, for we anticipate even further expansion in the future! Southwest Railroad Car Parts scrapping salvaging and repairing railroad cars.

We're proud to be a part of Longview's industrial growth. SOUTHWEST RAILROAD CAR PARTS Camp Siding 751301 Railroad Salvage Operation 759.3412 Car Repair.