About Smithway

Smithway Motor Xpress Corp. is a premier truckload carrier providing nationwide transportation services concentrating primarily on flatbed truckload. We use our "Smithway Network" of computer-connected field offices and company-owned terminals to offer comprehensive truckload transportation services to shippers throughout the U.S. and Canada. Our expanding customer base includes businesses involved in the building materials, steel, heavy equipment and other commodities industries. We also offer dedicated contract carriage for customers requiring specialized and unique transportation applications. Smithway is committed to providing reliable, responsive and innovative solutions to our customers’ transportation needs and a driver-friendly work environment. Our unwavering commitment to safety and excellence has resulted in Smithway growing, diversifying and prospering … we are the trucking company moving in the right direction™.

Smithway was founded in 1958 by father and son, Harold and William G. Smith as Acme Transportation. In 1972 the company was incorporated as Smithway Motor Xpress, Inc.

Prior to 1984, Smithway specialized in transporting building materials on flatbed trailers. William G. Smith became President of Smithway in 1984 and led the company's effort to diversify its customer and freight base and form the Smithway Network to support the company's growth strategy.

The company’s acquisition strategy commenced in 1995 to take advantage of opportunities offered by industry consolidation. Between June 1995 and March 2001, Smithway acquired the operations of nine trucking companies including East West Motor Express, Inc. of Black Hawk, South Dakota, a regional flatbed and dry van carrier.

In 1996, Smithway became a public company. Stock was traded on the Nasdaq stock exchange until October of 2007 when Smithway became a wholly owned subsidiary of Western Express, Inc. of Nashville, Tennessee.

Smithway’s mission is to develop long-term partnerships with our shippers by providing innovative, responsive, high-quality transportation services, while providing our employees and independent contractors the opportunity to realize the full potential of their careers.

Our corporate values are based on the principle values of our founder William G. Smith who passed away in 2004. The “Smith-Way” means knowing and caring about our colleagues, providing a positive work environment, and offering excellent service to our customers. It is the Smith-Way, a culture of excellence, that has us moving in the right direction™