More than 50 years ago, Clarence L. Werner purchased a Ford gasoline-powered truck and announced to the world he was entering 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 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 Enterprises completed its initial public offering in April, 1986 with a fleet of 630 trucks. Today, the fleet consists of more than 8,000 tractors, nearly 25,000 trailers and over 13,000 employees and independent contractors.
Beyond dedication and ambition, innovation and technology set the pace to the Werner Enterprises success story. The firm is the only carrier with DOT approval to use the Paperless Logs System.
Among the five largest truckload carriers in the U.S, today, Werner Enterprises exceeds the truckload motor carrier image by crossing borders and traveling overseas. Werner Enterprises is established as a wholly foreign owned entity (WFOE) in Shanghai China and more recently the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) awarded Werner Enterprises Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) for its active role in securing its global supply chain from terrorism. In addition, The Company operates throughout the 48 contiguous states and also Canada and Mexico.
Two of C.L.'s four children are actively involved in the business. 
Greg is chief executive officer and president 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...
