Cannon Express

Uh, Dale Sommers actually died here not too long ago.

 

I remember Cannon Express. Actually considered going to work for them, since they ran alot of trucks through my area. But the up and disappeared. Never did hear why....

 

For one, a huge part of their freight was Walmart. They lost the contract somewhere around 2000', and it hurt them bad. They were also having some legal issues over a large group of guys they contracted over from Austrailia and New Zealand to drive. I remember there being a pretty substantial lawsuit. There were plenty of signs things were going bad long before they pulled the plug. It was fun working there in the late 90's, and having started out there, it was sad to see them go.

 

Very interesting thread Slowlane, I am not here to bash Dean but well maybe a little. Here is a little history on Dean. He got into the trucking industry with the help from Clifford Riggins in 1974.

Clifford had a few trucks leased to Willis Shaw and he sold 2 of the trucks to Dean or should I say his wife and now Dean was in the trucking business. LOL. Dean was what you might want to call a wannabe driver. He tried to drive for Willis but could't cut the mustard.

Back then Willis would not hire the drivers for the lease trucks so Dean had to hire his own drivers which was a joke. He treated his drivers like sh it and every driver in Springdale knew what he was like. He had a hard time keeping drivers DUH.

About a year later Clifford sold the remaining trucks to Dean and now he was a big time trucking company leased to Willis. Guess what, Willis pulled his lease because he could not keep drivers on the trucks.

Dean knew that the only option he had was to start his own company so he took those Willis trucks to International and bought new trucks under Cannon Express. Dean got out of the chicken hauling busines and into dry van. Now he was ready to compete against JB. Ye right. He soon found out that wasn't going to work so he went to Wal-Mart. I am glad he made it at Wal Mart but i always said what goes around comes around.

Yes I worked for Willis from 74 to early 76 and Dean was well knowing in the trucking world in Springdale as a rip of artist.

Well I guess this was a little long winded, but any ways have a great day.

PS I am glad your time with Dean was good.

 

I cant say I ever had a conversation with Dean in the couple years I was there. He would smile and nod as he passed, thats about it. Where did C.R Kidd Produce fit into that story?

 

C R Kidd was not Clifford Riggins. Both men had there own trucks. Kidd had nothing to do with Riggins or Cannon.

 

Oh, ok. There was an old Kidd trailer on their yard that was for storage or something, and someone told me Cannon was started by buying them out.

 

Slowlane this might have happened after 78-79. I still remember seeing CR Kidd trucks on the road at this time. I believe Kidd might have had health problems and sold his equipment early 80's.

Have a good day.

 

History of Cannon Express

http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/cannon-express-inc-history/

 

he has been dead for 3 months