Landstar System, Inc.
Company History
Landstar History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 1968 in Jacksonville, Florida
When was Landstar founded?
Landstar was founded in 1968 in Jacksonville, Florida by Jeffrey C. Crowe, making it 58 years old.
- Founded
- 1968
- Founding place
- Jacksonville, Florida
- Founders
- Jeffrey C. Crowe
- Headquarters today
- Jacksonville, Florida, United States
- Milestones documented
- 9 (1968–2026)
- Current CEO
- Frank A. Lonegro
- Acquisitions
- 3
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1968 | Predecessor Operations Begin |
| 1993 | NASDAQ IPO |
| 2004 | Henry Gerkens Becomes CEO |
| 2014 | Jim Gattoni Becomes CEO |
| 2017 | Acquired Fletes Avella, S.A. de C.V. |
| 2024 | Frank A. Lonegro Becomes CEO |
| 2025 | Landstar Metro Strategic Review |
| 2025 | FY2025 Revenue of $4.744B |
| 2026 | Q2 2026 Revenue Up 18% |
- Where was Landstar founded?
- Landstar was founded in Jacksonville, Florida in 1968.
- Who founded Landstar?
- Landstar was founded by Jeffrey C. Crowe.
- When did Landstar start?
- Landstar was founded in 1968.
- How old is Landstar?
- Landstar is 58 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
Landstar's roots are trucking operations owned by conglomerate IU International. In 1988, a management-led leveraged buyout took several of those carriers private and formed Landstar System. Instead of running a large company-driver fleet, the new company leaned into independent agents and owner-operators, a model that kept fixed costs low. Landstar went public on NASDAQ in 1993.
Founders
Jeffrey C. Crowe
Jeffrey C. Crowe was a longtime Landstar chief executive and chairman who helped lead the company after its 1988 formation and through its 1993 NASDAQ listing. He is closely associated with building Landstar's independent agent and owner-operator model. (Exact birth year remains publicly undisclosed).
Key Milestones
Predecessor Operations Begin
Landstar traces predecessor transportation operations to the late 1960s.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgJim Gattoni Becomes CEO
Jim Gattoni became chief executive of Landstar in December 2014.
Source: jaxdailyrecord.comAcquired Fletes Avella, S.A. de C.V.
Landstar System acquired Fletes Avella, S.A. de C.V..
Source: sec.govFrank A. Lonegro Becomes CEO
Frank A. Lonegro becomes Landstar's president and CEO in February 2024.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgLandstar Metro Strategic Review
Landstar begins actively marketing Landstar Metro and evaluating alternatives for the Mexican subsidiary.
Source: sec.govFY2025 Revenue of $4.744B
Landstar reports $4.744 billion in revenue, $115.0 million in net income, 1,450 employees, and about 960 independent agents.
Source: sec.govQ2 2026 Revenue Up 18%
Landstar reports Q2 2026 revenue of $1.432 billion and EPS of $1.44, and names Bill Clement Chief Commercial Officer.
Source: ttnews.comMajor Acquisitions
National Logistics Management (NLM)
2009Landstar acquired NLM to add web-based transportation management and expedited freight capabilities.
Fletes Avella, S.A. de C.V.
2017Landstar acquired Fletes Avella, a Mexican transportation company, to build domestic Mexico and cross-border capacity.
Premier Logistics, Inc. & A3 Integration, LLC
2009Enhance SaaS and freight management capabilities (later sold in 2013).
Keep researching Landstar
Landstar Company History FAQ
When were the predecessor trucking operations of Landstar established?
Landstar traces its predecessor trucking operations to 1968, when they were part of conglomerate IU International.
When was Landstar System, Inc. officially formed via management buyout?
Landstar System was formed in 1988 through a management-led buyout of trucking operations from IU International.
When did Landstar achieve record financial performance during the post-pandemic freight surge?
Landstar's revenue climbed to $6.54 billion in 2021 and a record $7.44 billion in 2022, with 2022 net income of $430.9 million.
How did Landstar execute its executive leadership transition in 2024?
In February 2024, veteran transportation executive Frank A. Lonegro assumed leadership as President and CEO, steering Landstar through freight cycle normalization and accelerating digital automation.
What is Landstar's market position and scale in American transportation today?
Landstar works with about 960 independent agents and tens of thousands of third-party capacity providers, generated $4.744 billion in FY2025 revenue, and grew Q2 2026 revenue 18% to $1.432 billion.
How did Landstar start?
The modern Landstar System was officially incorporated in 1991, but its roots trace back to 1968. It was originally a highly disjointed collection of trucking companies owned by a conglomerate called IU International. In 1988, an incredibly massive, highly strategic management buyout (backed by private equity) rolled these struggling carriers into a single, unified corporate entity, successfully taking it public on the NASDAQ in 1993.
Related Strategic History
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