Garrett Freightlines

Garrett Freightlines began in 1913 in Pocatello, Idaho, as the first motorized luggage transfer service for railroad passengers. Starting with the purchase of a single one-cylinder REO truck, the company expanded rapidly throughout the Intermountain West and became the fifth-largest motor freight carrier in the United States, with routes from the West Coast to the Midwest. The company introduced a number of key innovations to the interstate truck transport industry, including the early adoption of diesel engines and refrigerated trailer units, research to improve vehicle safety and efficiency, and the introduction of triple trailers. The history of Garrett Freightlines is also an account of its people. Images of America: Garrett Freightlines showcases vintage photographs that tell a success story of 20th-century transportation in the western United States and highlight Garrett’s dedicated employees who helped build a family-like culture and formed the economic backbone of their community.