Ohio Eastern Express has proudly served the transportation industry for more than six decades, earning a reputation for dependable service, strong relationships, and a commitment to doing things the right way. While our fleet and capabilities have evolved over the years, our core values—and our dedication to our customers—have remained the same.

It All Started Here

Our story began in 1961 as Sandusky Truck and Trailer, founded for the sole purpose of delivering fresh meat to market for its parent company, The Waldock Packing Company. Just one year later, Ohio Eastern Express (OEX) was established, marking the beginning of what would become a trusted name in transportation throughout the Midwest and East Coast.

During our first two decades, OEX specialized in transporting fresh pork for the Selected Meat Company, building a reputation for dependable service and on-time deliveries. We also became one of the first transportation companies capable of hauling bananas "still on the stalk" from East Coast ports using refrigerated meat trailers—a unique capability that demonstrated our commitment to innovation and specialized freight transportation.

More than 60 years later, that commitment remains unchanged. Ohio Eastern Express continues to specialize in the transportation of time- and temperature-sensitive freight between the Midwest and the East Coast, providing reliable logistics solutions that customers can trust.

Growing Beyond Our Roots

In 1982, a major turning point came when The Waldock Packing Company was sold. Rather than relying on a single parent company, Ohio Eastern Express entered the marketplace independently and began building relationships with new customers throughout the food transportation industry.

Leveraging our experience and strong reputation, we focused on serving meat processors and distributors before expanding into additional industries that required dependable transportation services. That steady growth has allowed us to diversify our customer base while maintaining the personalized service that has always defined our company.

Today, Ohio Eastern Express proudly serves more than 300 customers, transporting dry, refrigerated, and frozen products throughout traffic lanes primarily east of the Mississippi River. From manufacturers and food processors to distributors and retailers, businesses rely on OEX to deliver freight safely, efficiently, and on schedule.

Proud to Remain Asset-Based

Throughout our history, the size and configuration of our fleet have adapted to meet changing market conditions, but one thing has remained constant—Ohio Eastern Express has always been an asset-based carrier.

Rather than pursuing rapid expansion, our philosophy has always been to remain a mid-sized transportation company focused on efficiency, reliability, and exceptional customer service. This approach allows us to maintain the family atmosphere that has been part of OEX since the beginning.

We believe our employees are the foundation of our success. By knowing our people personally and creating an environment where everyone has a vested interest in the company's future, we've built a culture that values teamwork, accountability, and long-term relationships.

Ohio Eastern Express proudly offers year-round opportunities for both owner-operators and company drivers, along with an aggressive lease-purchase program designed to help dependable drivers build successful careers while growing with our company.

A new chapter in the Ohio Eastern Express story began in 2018, when longtime employee and former Vice President Gene Hartman purchased the company.

For Gene, the decision wasn't simply a business opportunity—it was a commitment to preserving the company, protecting approximately 60 local jobs, and supporting the families who depended on Ohio Eastern Express. Gene officially completed the purchase in October 2018 and began investing in the company's future.