From The Supply Post Archives: The Story Of Johnston Terminals

Aug 26, 2021 - 4 years ago

Johnston Terminals Limited is this year celebrating its 60th anniversary. From a modest beginning as a cartage company, with a team of horses, it has developed into one of our larger transportation and distribution companies.

Johnston Terminals is a Canadian-owned, B.C.-based company which takes pride in its motto: “A Canadian Company serving the World.”

A significant part of Johnston Terminals is their trucking operations which appear under their own name as well as that of Public Freightways Ltd. Rempel-Trail Transportation Ltd. And Transcon Services Ltd. Pictorially we have attempted to capture some of the changes these and other trucking companies have experienced during this time span.

Besides their involvement in the trucking industry itself, Johnston Terminals have developed a long list of directly associated activities which include the operation of Fraser Surrey Docks (soon to be a container terminal for deep sea ships), air freight, both domestic and international, commercial warehousing, household and office moving, rail freight forwarding, customs brokerage, crane rental, heavy hauling, demolition work, etc., etc.

Johnston Terminals have branches and terminals throughout British Columbia as well as branches in Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto and Montreal. They also have a long list of associates around the world.

Johnston Terminals Supply Post Aug/Sept 1973

Supply Post August September 1973 This article first appeared in Supply Post, August/September 1973

Editor’s Update
Johnston Terminals Limited dissolved in 1989, after struggling through the recession of the 1980s and shortly after its 75th anniversary. Retired vice president William E. (Bill) McKinney, went on to receive the Order of British Columbia in 1997 for his civic legacy. “The Colonel”, as he was known to friends and colleagues, passed away in 2001.