Usher Transport Inc

Usher Transport, Inc
Since 1946
Usher Transport has been a family company for 4 generations. To understand why it has lasted I would like to talk about how it started, who was responsible, and what those men valued.

In 1946 Harlan L Usher went into business with a man by the name of Boyd. He bought 6 trucks from Mr. Putnam on a handshake and Boyd & Usher Transport was started. They hauled gasoline around the Mayfield, KY area. In 1960 Harlan and his son Bill Usher Sr bought out Mr. Boyd to form Usher Transport.

In Bill Usher Sr’s words:

“My father was a very principled man with integrity, and a lot of pride. Only three things upset him. Disrespect, lying, and stealing – in that order. He reacted very quick and his response was not always verbal. He liked trucks and equipment. Taught me to drive a car at age 10, and truck at 14. He eventually bought a tanker truck in 1943, and in spite of poor hearing, in WWII he was an ambulance driver in France and Belgium in 1944. He learned to fly at 50. Good pilot, but no weather experience.”

Those core principles of integrity, respect, fairness, and pride have been passed down through the generations and are at the core of our business. We see them daily. By 1959 Bill Usher Sr was a Major in the United States Airforce, flying fighters, and living in France with his wife (Polly) and sons Alan, and Bill Jr.

Again, in the words of Bill Sr:

“My parents came to Europe on a visit in the summer of ‘59. Probably to see their two grandsons. Dad asked me in the past if I would like to partner with him in the trucking business. My response was a weak yes, depending on grant or transfer of KY authority. After my parents returned to KY my father called on me to say there was a possible purchase of a small tank truck company for sale. My response was, “I would like to take a look before committing”. The group commander, later General, arranged for transportation as a courier to New Jersey, followed by 10 days leave in KY, and then return to Europe as a courier. On return I went to the Colonel’s office and reported my trip. By this time, he had received his promotion to General and was to be assigned to Turkey. After leaving my report his only comment was “you won’t like being a civilian, don’t rush into a decision”. The General was right. I had trouble adjusting. But with my father’s prepping, and experience in the Air Force, it taught me more than I realized in leadership and motivation. “

Usher Transport, Inc
Trucking Division
We specialize in short and midrange loads that are time sensitive and usually within a 500-mile radius of one of our terminals. We do however, make routine deliveries to the West Coast, Canada and run dedicated equipment for customers who require it. Usher Transport’s customers range from Fortune 500 Chemical and Oil Companies to a number of smaller distributors and jobbers.

Liquid Bulk Transport:
Chemicals
Aviation Fuels
Oil
Hazardous Waste
Petroleum

Rail Services
Usher Transport, Inc
Rail Services Division
The Usher Transport Rail Services Division was established in the Summer of 1996 to serve the Railroad Industry. It specializes in Direct Truck to Locomotive (DTL) Refueling, currently operating sites located in Cleveland, OH, Shire Oaks, PA, Conway, PA, Bellevue, OH, Danville, KY, Binghamton, NY, Knoxville, TN, Pittsburg, PA, and Bensenville, IL. These sites service locomotives for Class 1 Railroads, Norfolk Southern and Canadian Pacific/Soo. The newest component of the Rail Division is MARTTS or Mid America Rail Truck Transfer Systems. They currently operate a multi product bulk transfer facility in Louisville, KY.

Future plans of the division are additional refueling sites with other railroads, expansion into Fleet Refueling services and growth in it’s bulk transfer facilities.