Tucker Company is a third generation, family run company founded in 1961 by Jacob A. Tucker, as J. A. Tucker & Company, after purchasing one of the few broker authorities in existence. Tucker served as a contact for shippers of large, capital goods, such as Sun Oil, Campbell Soup, General Electric, Rolls Royce and RCA who were looking to ship oversized and overweight loads. Performance is critical in moving this kind of freight, due to expensive cranes and crews at origin and destination.
From 1961 to 1971, under Jake Tucker's leadership, the company specialized in arranging the precise movement of plants, equipment and machinery, some of which involved the heavy industry that was leaving the Northeast, and moving South and West. He spent a career working as a shipper, and a carrier salesman before going into business for himself. With a solid reputation, a loyal following of customers and great carrier partners, Jake "Tucker the Trucker" unexpectedly died in late 1971. His wife Ruth and son Bill set out to sell the business.
Bill Tucker received his B.A. from Temple University in 1962, and immediately signed up for President Kennedy's Peace Corps, serving in the Philippines until May, 1964. When he returned home he decided to enter the business world selling. A few years later he married Barbara K. Tucker and entered the systems programming field working for UNIVAC (now UNISYS), RCA Service Co. and a consulting firm in NYC. By 1971 he received his MBA in Information Science from Temple University.
By early 1972, Bill contracted to buy Tucker's remaining brokerage firm from his mother Ruth, armed with personal determination, the experience of the small, professional staff and the reputation his father had built. Each year but one since then the firm has had increased commissions earned year on year.
Bill is a Founding Member of Transportation Brokers Conference of America (TBCA), now Transportation Intermediaries Association, served on the Board for the first 10 years and later another 4 years helping found and grow the Certification system from which hundreds of Certified Transportation Brokers have emanated. During his career, Bill was a busy writer of articles on brokerage, the freight and trucking systems of the country, relationships in the industry, the sales and marketing world of freight from the 1960's, 70's and through deregulation in 1980 to today's highly efficient, productive and responsive North American freight world. Today probably more freight moves with intermediary arrangement than not.
Bill helped navigate Tucker Company, and the blossoming freight brokerage and third party logistics industry through the deregulated 1980s. During those years, Tucker Company began arranging for the movement of not only flatbed and heavy haul shipments, but dry van freight, temperature control, large and small LTL freight, and some air freight and international shipments. Bill retired from Tucker Company in December 2003 but continues to stay close to the industry and current events.
January 2004, the third generation of Tuckers, Jeffrey and Jim succeeded their father after serving the company for 13 and 11 years, respectively. Both Jeff and Jim served in various positions in operations and inside and outside sales and in 1999 started the firm's new logistics services group which accounted for more than 35 percent of total company wide sales by year end 2005.
Jeff graduated with a B.A. from University of Delaware in 1991, and received an M.B.A. in Physical Distribution from Temple University in 1997. Jeff became a Certified Transportation Broker (CTB) in 1992, and was in national account sales from 1992 through 2000. In 2001 he was named Executive Vice President, in charge of outside and inside sales people, marketing, and development of contract freight management programs, where Tucker controls all or a significant portion of a shipper's freight. Jeff has been a guest instructor at Villanova University, Penn State University, Rutgers University, and Temple University on the topic of third party logistics. In 2004 Jeff was named CEO of Tucker Company. He and wife Heather Gallagher Tucker along with their two children Jacob and Suzanne live in South Jersey.
Jim graduated with a B.A. in Economics from University of Delaware in 1993, and completed his M.B.A. in Finance from Temple University in 2002. Jim became a CTB in 1994. He worked for two years in Tucker's operations, coordinating flatbed and heavy haul shipments. From 1995 to 2000 Jim was a national account sales representative. In 2001 Jim was named Executive Vice President, in charge of finance, accounting and administration. In 2004 Jim was named President and COO of Tucker Company. Jim and his wife Joan live with their two children Anna and James in South Jersey.
Today, Tucker Company is a strong, highly focused freight company, with a solid reputation for service, professionalism and reliability. We believe in supporting our team members, developing long term, decades long relationships with our customers, and working closely with our carriers to provide a unique, customer focused, shipping experience.
 Tucker Company is an active member of the Transportation Intermediaries Association, National Industrial Transportation League, Truckload Carrier's Association, Council of Supply Chain Logistics Management Professionals, Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association, Health and Personal Care Logistics Conference Supporter, Nasstrac, National Association of Chain Drug Stores, United States Sign Council, National Defense Transportation Association, and many more.
Learn more about today's Tucker Company here
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