R+L Carriers

R+L Carriers is a privately owned freight transportation company headquartered in Wilmington, Ohio. The business began in 1965 when Ralph L. "Larry" Roberts I and Ronald Campbell Jr. acquired a single truck to haul furniture. Campbell later left the operation because of concerns about the demands of long-distance trucking and time away from his family, while Roberts continued building the company. The original business operated as R+L Trucking. Its expansion accelerated after the company acquired intrastate and interstate operating authority from Mayflower Moving and Storage and adopted the R+L Carriers name. The deregulation of the American trucking industry following the Motor Carrier Act of 1980 created a more competitive environment and encouraged structural changes within the company. During this period, the business became incorporated and developed a new operating system that led to the creation of R+L Transfer, Inc. R+L initially served Ohio, then expanded into five additional Midwestern and Southern states. Acquisitions became an important part of its regional growth. The purchase of Gator Freightways in May 1989 strengthened the company's position in the South, while the acquisition of Greenwood Motor Lines in April 1992 added further operating capability. In March 1996, R+L purchased Herder Truck Lines, a Texas-based carrier. These transactions were accompanied by the addition of terminals and service coverage across a growing number of states. By the early 2000s, the company was extending its network into the western United States. It added coverage in several western states in 2003 and another state in 2005, began operations in Oregon and Washington in 2006, and completed its initial Northern California expansion in 2007 with service centers in Fresno, Sacramento, and Oakland. Later facilities in Fontana and Los Angeles completed coverage of Southern California and established a nationwide network across the contiguous United States. The company serves all 48 contiguous U.S. states and also supports transportation to Canada, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Dominican Republic. Reference material describes a fleet of approximately 21,000 tractors and trailers and average daily volume of about 45,000 shipments to the western markets covered by its expanded network. Its core business is freight transportation, particularly less-than-truckload service, supported by terminal operations and broader logistics capabilities. Beyond transportation, R+L Carriers has used sports, motorsports, agricultural machinery competitions, and community-oriented sponsorships to increase brand visibility. Its promotional activities have included support for the Lima Company Memorial, sponsorship of professional golf, naming and presenting sponsorship of the New Orleans Bowl, and participation in tractor-pulling and drag-racing programs. These activities complement the company's operational identity as a large American carrier while keeping the brand visible in regional and national events.

R+L Carriers traces its origin to 1965, when Ralph L. "Larry" Roberts I and Ronald Campbell Jr. bought a single truck for furniture hauling. The early company was known as R+L Trucking. Campbell subsequently departed because he was concerned that the work would prevent him from spending sufficient time with his family, leaving Roberts to continue developing the business. The company expanded beyond its original activity after purchasing intrastate and interstate operating authority from Mayflower Moving and Storage. This development supported the transition to the R+L Carriers identity and allowed the business to move from a small local operation toward a broader freight network. The company initially operated within Ohio and then extended service into five other Midwestern and Southern states. The trucking industry's deregulation in the early 1980s, following the Motor Carrier Act of 1980, changed the competitive context for carriers across the United States. R+L responded during this period by incorporating and designing a new operating system associated with the formation of R+L Transfer, Inc. The reorganization helped provide a foundation for subsequent regional and interstate growth. Acquisitions were central to the next stage of expansion. R+L purchased Gator Freightways in May 1989, strengthening its reach in the South. Greenwood Motor Lines followed in April 1992. In March 1996, the company acquired Herder Truck Lines, a Texas carrier. These transactions broadened the company's operating footprint and were followed by the addition of terminals and service in New York City and many other states. During the following years, R+L developed a more complete national network. It achieved full coverage of New York State and formed partnerships supporting service to Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Western expansion proceeded in phases: six additional western states were added in 2003, another state in 2005, Oregon and Washington in 2006, and Northern California in 2007. The Northern California stage included centers in Fresno, Sacramento, and Oakland. Facilities in Fontana and Los Angeles then extended coverage through Southern California and completed the company's coast-to-coast presence in the contiguous United States. R+L Carriers now serves the 48 contiguous states, Canada, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Dominican Republic. Reference material characterizes the company as having grown from one truck to a fleet of about 21,000 tractors and trailers. Its primary identity is that of a freight carrier, with less-than-truckload transportation and an extensive terminal network at the center of its business. The brand has also pursued visibility through sponsorship. It transported and sponsored the Lima Company Memorial, supported professional golf through the Coates Golf Championship, and became associated with the New Orleans Bowl after Hurricane Katrina displaced the event from the Louisiana Superdome in 2006. The company has additionally sponsored tractor-pulling organizations and teams, and reference material identifies sponsorship activity involving Elite Motorsports and Tony Stewart for the 2026 NHRA drag-racing season. These programs broaden the brand's public profile beyond its freight operations.

• 2007

  West Coast network completed

  [1]R+L Carriersen.wikipedia.org

  Expansion into Northern and Southern California, including centers in Fresno, Sacramento, Oakland, Fontana, and Los Angeles, completed the company's West Coast coverage.

• 2006

  New Orleans Bowl sponsorship begins

  [1]R+L Carriersen.wikipedia.org

  R+L Carriers began sponsoring the New Orleans Bowl after Hurricane Katrina moved the event from the Louisiana Superdome.

• 1996

  Herder Truck Lines acquired

  [1]R+L Carriersen.wikipedia.org

  The March 1996 purchase of Texas-based Herder Truck Lines accelerated the carrier's geographic growth.

• 1992

  Greenwood Motor Lines acquired

  [1]R+L Carriersen.wikipedia.org

  R+L purchased Greenwood Motor Lines in April 1992 as part of its continuing network expansion.

• 1989

  Gator Freightways acquired

  [1]R+L Carriersen.wikipedia.org

  The May 1989 acquisition expanded R+L's operating position in the Southern United States.

• 1980

  Deregulation reshapes the operating environment

  [1]R+L Carriersen.wikipedia.org

  The Motor Carrier Act of 1980 deregulated important parts of the U.S. trucking industry, during the period when R+L incorporated and developed the system associated with R+L Transfer.

• 1965

  Company founded with one truck

  [1]R+L Carriersen.wikipedia.org

  Ralph L. "Larry" Roberts I and Ronald Campbell Jr. acquired a single truck and began hauling furniture under the R+L Trucking name.

A privately owned, nationwide American freight carrier positioned around broad network coverage, terminal density, operational scale, and service for commercial shippers.

• Freight transportation

  Less-than-truckload freight transportation

  R+L Carriers' central offering is less-than-truckload freight transportation for shipments that do not require an entire trailer. Freight moves through a network of terminals and linehaul routes serving the contiguous United States, with additional international and offshore coverage. The service is designed for commercial shipments requiring scheduled pickup, transfer, and delivery across a broad carrier network.

• Trucking

  Regional and interstate trucking

  The company operates regional and interstate freight routes linking its terminals and service centers. Its network expanded from Ohio into Midwestern, Southern, Eastern, and Western markets, ultimately providing coverage throughout the 48 contiguous states. The service depends on tractors, trailers, terminal infrastructure, and coordinated linehaul operations.

• International freight

  Cross-border and offshore freight service

  R+L Carriers supports freight service beyond the mainland United States, including Canada, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Dominican Republic. Reference material also describes partnerships for service to Alaska and Hawaii. These offerings extend the company's domestic network into cross-border and offshore markets.

• 2015Coates Golf Championship presenting sponsorship

  United States

  R+L Carriers became the official presenting sponsor of the Coates Golf Championship, an LPGA event held at Golden Ocala in Ocala, Florida.

  Source
• 2006R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl sponsorship

  United States

  The company began sponsoring the New Orleans Bowl after Hurricane Katrina forced the event to move from the Louisiana Superdome to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette campus. The sponsorship was later renewed through 2024.

  Source
• Lima Company Memorial

  United States

  R+L Carriers provided transportation and sponsorship for a traveling memorial consisting of life-size paintings honoring 23 Marines from Lima 3/25 who died in service. The project traveled around the country to raise awareness of the Marines and support their families.

  Source
• Tractor-pulling sponsorships

  United States

  R+L Carriers sponsors the Roberts Pulling Team and provides annual support to the National Tractor Pullers Association, Pro Pulling League, and Ohio State Tractor Pullers Association.

  Source

• 2007

  Complete contiguous-U.S. network expansionStrategy

  Background

  After successive additions across the Midwest, South, Northeast, and West, R+L pursued full coverage of the contiguous United States.

  Action taken

  The company expanded into Northern California and then added facilities in Fontana and Los Angeles, completing its West Coast network.

  Aftermath

  R+L Carriers established service coverage across all 48 contiguous U.S. states.

  Source

1. 1R+L Carriersen.wikipedia.org