Crossroads: The Werner Timeline
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1956
C. L. Werner's entrepreneurial spirit guided him from the family farm to Omaha, Neb. Using his car as a down payment, C. L. bought a 1956 Ford truck and began hauling within Nebraska then hauling interstate. C. L.'s first son, Gary, entered the world in 1957 and would become the first of four children to help transform the family business into a billion dollar operation.
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1959
C. L. officially named his company Werner Enterprises in 1959. With the purchase of his first diesel truck, C. L. began to see the future of his company before his eyes. While growing a business, the young businessman was also growing a family. In 1959, C. L. welcomed his second child, son Greg.
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1964
In 1964, C. L. Werner moved his company out of his 900-square-foot home and into a little shop on property costing $25,000 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. With a fleet of a dozen metallic blue trucks, Werner Enterprises became a shining example of hard work paying off. C. L.'s third son, Curt was also born in 1964.
By the late 1960's, C. L.'s two oldest sons, Gary and Greg, were becoming interested in their father's company. C. L. even started a small business for the children, affectionately called Gra-Gar. The small company, which leased out equipment, would later merge with Werner Enterprises further strengthening the family business bonds.
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1971
C. L. made his first big truck purchase of 10 Freightliners in 1971. He also expanded the Company to include the first office employee, Sharon Curry, who started out working in the tire shop. As the Werner Enterprises team began to grow, so did its customer base. Werner Enterprises welcomed Maytag, its first Fortune 500 customer in 1975.
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1978
With 100 trucks on the road and gross sales exceeding $6 million, Werner Enterprises built its new headquarters on five-acres in Omaha without a loan. With daughter Gail working as a receptionist, the family business continued to grow. Werner Enterprises even purchased its first aircraft, a Cessna 414, in 1978.
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1986
In June of 1986, Werner Enterprises went public on NASDAQ. By this time, son Gary Werner was president of the company. As a trusted team, C. L. and Gary worked diligently to prove the company's worth to Wall Street. Werner Enterprises chose Alex Brown & Sons to underwrite the company's public offering. The company's shares climbed to $22 within the first three months. C. L. and his children remained the company's largest private shareholders.
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1992
In an effort to streamline the company's operations and improve communications, Werner Enterprises implemented a satellite-based Qualcomm system for location and messaging capabilities on all of its trucks. This real-time communication system would help the company manage its continuous contact with drivers. Later the company became the first truckload carrier to be authorized by the Federal Highway Administration to implement paperless logs.
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1995
With son Greg Werner leading the Management Information System group and right before the company turned 40 years old, Werner began construction of its Phoenix, Ariz. terminal. In addition, the company opened the Conestoga Building at its Omaha headquarters that features a collection of historical Company equipment along with other informational exhibits.
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1999
With revenues reaching $1 billion, Werner Enterprises completed a 166,500-square-foot addition to its Omaha headquarters. This expansion would allow the Werner Enterprises family of employees to enjoy Drivers' lounges, a 5,000-square-foot computer center, a company store and cafeteria.
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2000
To tap into international market growth, Werner Enterprises launched its Mexico operations in 2000. Having increased freight operations in
Canada as well, international business became a significant part of Werner Enterprises' way of life. Also, in 2001 Werner Enterprises opened an international terminal in Laredo, Texas, and continued plans for a bright future.
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2005
In nearly 50 years, C. L. Werner's company went from one tractor to one of the country's largest carriers. With his family alongside, C. L. was able to achieve the kind of business success that eludes most people. He credits his success to the hard work he learned on the farm as a child.
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2006
C. L. celebrated his company's 50-year anniversary with his team of dedicated, customer-focused and hardworking professionals who respect the drive and motivation of one man's vision. It may have began with one man, but because of the team effort embodied by Werner Enterprises professionals, Werner Enterprises now systematically embraces one globe.
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2007
Werner Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: WERN), one of the nation's largest truckload transportation and logistics companies, proudly appoints Gregory L. Werner to chief executive officer. He will continue to hold the position of president, which he has held since 1997. C.L. remains in great health and looks forward to his son exceeding his expectations.
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2008
Werner Enterprises and Werner Global Logistics are named as the official freight forwarder and logistics provider for the pools used in the 2008 US Swim Trials. The event was a pre-cursor to the record-breaking games held later in Beijing, China.
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2009
Werner Global Logistics continues to grow, crossing two major milestones. As the company provides service to its 100th country, it also opens its first office in Australia, further meeting customer demand in the Pacific Rim.
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2010
Werner Enterprises is named to Fortune Magazine's Most Admired Companies list. In addition, the Company is listed as one of Forbes.com 's Most Trustworthy Companies.
50 Years of Werner…
More than 50 years ago, Clarence L. Werner purchased a Ford gasoline-powered truck and announced to the world he was entering the trucking business. Today, Werner Enterprises has become one of the leading companies in the industry. How the company progressed from a one-man operation to a highly successful publicly traded company is the story of a lifetime.
Werner Enterprises' Chairman C. L. Werner began a humble business in 1956 with one truck. At the age of 19, Werner went to Omaha to work in a factory, but decided he would rather drive a truck. He sold his car to buy a gas-powered Ford F800 truck and started hauling cargo for other trucking companies. He hauled cargo that was exempt from regulatory restrictions, such as grain, watermelon and fence posts. C. L. built the company one truck at a time, hauling in regional areas.
Werner Enterprises completed its initial public offering in April, 1986 with a fleet of 630 trucks. Today, the fleet consists of more than 7,700 tractors, nearly 25,000 trailers and over 13,000 employees and independent contractors.
Beyond dedication and ambition, innovation and technology set the pace to the Werner Enterprises success story. The firm is the only carrier with DOT approval to use the Paperless Logs System.
Among the five largest truckload carriers in the U.S. today, Werner Enterprises exceeds the truckload motor carrier image by crossing borders and traveling overseas. Werner Enterprises is established as a wholly foreign owned entity (WFOE) in Shanghai,China, and more recently the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) awarded Werner Enterprises Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) for its active role in securing its global supply chain from terrorism. In addition, the Company operates throughout the 48 contiguous states and also Canada and Mexico.
Two of C. L.'s four children are actively involved in the business. 
Greg is chief executive officer and vice chairman and Gary is chairman. C. L.'s daughter, Gail Werner-Robertson and Curt Werner have both previously been involved in the company and served on the board of Werner Enterprises. C. L. and his wife live in Omaha.