Werner Enterprises
Company History
Werner Enterprises History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 1956 in Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States
When was Werner Enterprises founded?
Werner Enterprises was founded in 1956 in Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States by Clarence L. Werner, making it 70 years old.
- Founded
- 1956
- Founding place
- Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States
- Founders
- Clarence L. Werner
- Headquarters today
- Omaha, Nebraska, United States
- Milestones documented
- 9 (1956–2026)
- Current CEO
- Derek J. Leathers
- Acquisitions
- 5
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1956 | Founded with one truck |
| 1986 | Nasdaq listing |
| 1987 | Dividend record begins |
| 2016 | Derek Leathers becomes CEO |
| 2021 | ECM Transport Group acquisition |
| 2021 | Acquired NEHDS Logistics |
| 2022 | Acquired Baylor Trucking |
| 2022 | Acquired ReedTMS Logistics |
| 2026 | FirstFleet acquisition |
- Where was Werner Enterprises founded?
- Werner Enterprises was founded in Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States in 1956.
- Who founded Werner Enterprises?
- Werner Enterprises was founded by Clarence L. Werner.
- When did Werner Enterprises start?
- Werner Enterprises was founded in 1956.
- How old is Werner Enterprises?
- Werner Enterprises is 70 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
Clarence L. "C.L." Werner started the business in 1956 at age 19 with one truck. The company grew into a national truckload carrier based in Omaha, Nebraska, and went public on Nasdaq in 1986. It has paid a quarterly cash dividend every quarter since July 1987. Derek J. Leathers, who joined Werner in 1999, became CEO in 2016.
Founders
Clarence L. Werner
Clarence L. "C.L." Werner founded Werner Enterprises in 1956 with one truck and built it into one of the largest US truckload carriers. He led the company through its 1986 Nasdaq listing and handed the CEO role to Derek J. Leathers in 2016. Clarence L. Werner was born in 1932.
Key Milestones
Founded with one truck
Clarence L. Werner, 19, starts hauling freight with a single truck.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgNasdaq listing
Werner Enterprises goes public on Nasdaq under the ticker WERN.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgDividend record begins
Werner starts paying a quarterly cash dividend and has paid one every quarter since July 1987.
Source: investor.werner.comDerek Leathers becomes CEO
Derek J. Leathers, who joined Werner in 1999, takes over as chief executive.
Source: investor.werner.comECM Transport Group acquisition
Werner acquired ECM Transport Group, adding regional and dedicated truckload capacity in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgFirstFleet acquisition
On January 27, 2026, Werner closes its purchase of dedicated carrier FirstFleet for $245 million, plus $37.8 million for related real estate.
Source: investor.werner.comMajor Acquisitions
ECM Transport Group
2021Added regional and dedicated truckload capacity in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
NEHDS Logistics
2021Expanded Werner's final-mile home delivery business.
Baylor Trucking
2022Added expedited and dedicated truckload capacity; the contingent consideration arrangement was settled in 2025.
ReedTMS Logistics
2022Expanded Werner Logistics brokerage and freight-management capacity.
FirstFleet (First Enterprises, Inc.)
2026Expand Dedicated scale. Werner paid $245 million for the operating company and $37.8 million for related real estate.
Keep researching Werner Enterprises
Werner Enterprises Company History FAQ
When, where, and how was Werner Enterprises founded?
Werner Enterprises was founded in 1956 in Council Bluffs, Iowa, when 19-year-old Clarence L. 'C.L.' Werner purchased a single gasoline-powered Ford truck to haul regional cargo.
When did Werner Enterprises relocate its headquarters to Omaha, Nebraska?
In 1977, due to adverse state tax law changes in Iowa, Werner relocated its corporate headquarters across the Missouri River to Omaha, Nebraska, where it remains today.
When did Werner Enterprises go public?
Werner Enterprises completed its initial public offering (IPO) on the Nasdaq in 1986 under the ticker symbol WERN, expanding its fleet to over 600 tractors.
How did Werner pioneer electronic logs and satellite tracking?
In the early 1990s, Werner partnered with Qualcomm to pioneer electronic paperless driver logs and satellite mobile communication decades before the federal government mandated electronic logging devices (ELDs).
When did Derek J. Leathers become CEO of Werner Enterprises?
Derek J. Leathers, who joined Werner in 1999 and served as President and COO, was appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2016, succeeding founder C.L. Werner.
What strategic acquisitions did Werner complete in 2021–2022?
Werner acquired ECM Transport Group (regional truckload) and NEHDS Logistics (final-mile) in 2021, followed by Baylor Trucking and ReedTMS Logistics in 2022 to expand dedicated capacity.
What was the landmark acquisition of FirstFleet in January 2026?
On January 27, 2026, Werner acquired FirstFleet (First Enterprises) for $282.8 million ($245 million operating plus $37.8 million real estate), adding 2,400 tractors and over $615 million in revenue.
What is Werner's dividend track record?
Werner Enterprises has paid a continuous quarterly cash dividend to shareholders every quarter since July 1987, maintaining more than 38 consecutive years of uninterrupted distributions.
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