FreightWaves Classics

ZIP codes are a big reason our postal system works today, but it took years and a cartoon for the system to actually be adopted. Where did the coding system come from and why was it introduced?

In 1872 the British brigantine Mary Celeste was discovered adrift in the Atlantic Ocean without any damage but missing its crew. Author Valerie Martin discusses some of the theories behind what happened and her research into “The Ghost of the Mary Celeste,” a nonfiction book about the case, on this episode of Tracks Through Time.

Two ships in 1975 traveled between Mediterranean and U.S. ports on a fixed 14-day schedule. But they also caught attention because they were able to carry different types of cargo, including containers as well as liquids.

One shipment of grapefruit to Japan threatened the future of the Florida citrus industry after Caribbean fruit fly larvae were discovered. Japan enacted an embargo on all Florida citrus to protect its own citrus groves in the southern islands. The embargo was lifted after Florida’s sector worked tirelessly to eradicate the larvae.

In 1933, 75 U.S. Navy members died when the airship USS Akron crashed and sank into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of New Jersey. Naval History and Heritage Command’s Caroline Johnson tells the story.

In 1975, the shipping industry was grappling with the growth of rebating, an illegal strategy that could upend fair competition. Ultimately, one carrier created newspaper ads saying the practice had become the norm and another faced a lawsuit.

The history of trucking in the U.S. is filled with great stories, interesting facts and fascinating inventions. But do you know the most important facts of trucking history? Test your knowledge here.

In 1975, a dredge capsized in the Miami Harbor with 3,600 barrels of oil onboard. But the fast-acting employees of the port allowed it to reopen within 11 hours and prevent what could have been an ecological disaster.

For truckers and 1970s country, the C.W. McCall hit “Convoy” shares a fun look into CB radio terminology.

Growing interest in containerization drove speed and optimization in the transport industry and overtook previous methods of shipping over time. In 1975, United States Lines resumed containerized cargo service, reducing transit time between Savannah, Georgia, and Northern Europe to just eight days.

An ambitious train robbery goes off virtually without a hitch. But one little mistake leads to the downfall of this daring gang.

The Pacific Railway Act of 1862 brought about the first transcontinental railroad. Check out the photographs and illustrations that depict what it was like to work on the railroad at the time.

Merchant mariners during WWII were an integral part of war efforts, despite being lesser known. They saw the most casualties and were responsible for transporting all of the supplies throughout the war, a crucial part of the Allies’ success.

Rail has been featured in movies, television, radio and all forms of entertainment since the beginning of trains. We collaborated to narrow down a list of some of our favorite movies that are related to trains.

LASH carriers were the predecessors to today’s container ships. In 1974, soon after they hit the scene, a record number of the ships were built.

Black women in the U.S. Army during WWII made up the 6888 battalion, whose sole job was to handle the mail for American soldiers. Their story has been largely ignored for decades – until now. Hear their story and learn about their impossible feats from a historian close to the project.

The second part of this account of Revolutionary War naval hero John Paul Jones includes a dramatic battle on the seas and how Catherine the Great and Benjamin Franklin fit into the story.

The Wright Brothers are two of the most influential people in history, changing not only transportation but the entire world with their flying machine. Take a look at some of the glass plate negatives of photographs of their work and personal lives taken between 1898 and 1911.

In light of Gordon Lightfoot’s passing, FreightWaves Classics looks at the Edmund Fitzgerald tragedy, as well as whether Lightfoot’s song about the incident is historically accurate

Naval officer John Paul Jones’ story sounds like a scene from “Pirates of the Caribbean,” but the true story of the “Father of the American Navy” includes its share of amusing twists and turns.

The history of the semi truck can be traced back to the Mack brothers.

While the Panama Canal has played a crucial role in maritime shipping, its construction was fraught with problems. This episode of Tracks Through Time takes a look back on the 119th anniversary of the start of construction.

In 1975, two identical ore/bulk/oil (O/B/O) ships underwent efficiency experiments. During one of these experiments, a new propeller concept broke midjourney, but the ship continued its duty with no changes in performance and the crew had no idea until it reached its destination.

A collision on the seas involving an American shipping company sparked a heated letter exchange about who was responsible. This fight surprisingly led to the mending of U.S. and China maritime trade.

The endless stories that make up the history of transportation and freight are chronicled in some of the most riveting nonfiction books, but they almost read like novels. Here are the five favorites for the FreightWaves Classics team.

American Shipper in May 1974 took a look at charges for the handling of freight, which were largely unrecorded if they existed at all before the Civil War.

The Silver Bridge collapse has a unique folklore, but it also completely changed how we look at safety regulations for bridges. Hear about the collapse and the stories surrounding it. Then get an inside look with West Virginia DOT’s Tracy W. Brown, a state bridge engineer.

A page from American Shipper’s archives exhibits how shippers felt in 1978 through an eye-catching speech.

FedEx celebrates its golden anniversary of operations with its most intense few years in decades ahead of it.

Today, automation can mean launching a fleet of autonomous robots that can unload shipping containers without human intervention. In 1974, a remote-controlled “bow boat” was considered a major launch.

The latest episode of Tracks Through Time looks at the disappearance of a giant British merchant ship and the long investigation.

In 1977, news of the looming threat of a strike by a union of dockworkers was prevalent in the pages of American Shipper magazine. The publisher at the time ended the April issue that year with an opinion piece discussing the threat.

In 1975, American Shipper originally covered the launch of the “catamaran-tug,” which completed its maiden voyage to Port Everglades with a 42,000-ton cargo of gasoline for Shell Oil Co.

American shipping magnate believed in efficiency and economies of scale in operating the world’s largest ships.

In 1990, Martin Scorsese directed acclaimed gangster flick “Goodfellas,” captivating audiences with the story of a famous heist. The movie was loosely based on the 1978 heist of a Lufthansa airplane’s cargo, and the true story is even more unbelievable than the script.

The legend of Casey Jones remains alive today in music and pop culture. But the real story is about a serious crash and an act of heroism.

View a collection of photos throughout the history of Love’s Travel Stops and the family to celebrate Tom Love’s life.

The first woman to command an American merchant ship did so when her husband was too sick to captain in 1856. She was 19 and four months pregnant.

Daylight saving time was enacted on Feb. 9, 1942. Some believe the reasoning behind it is no longer relevant and the practice should be discontinued, but how did it start in the first place?

Early U.S. railroad history can thank B&O Railroad for many of its strides forward.

As Black History Month comes to a close, FreightWaves celebrates some of the most important African American figures in the transportation industry.

As the United States focuses on the disaster unfolding in Ohio after the Norfolk Southern train derailment, here is a look back at some of the worst train disasters in history. The incidents highlight the importance of safety and infrastructure.

The Pony Express lasted only one year and was a financial failure. So why are we still talking about it today?

2004: The capsizing of two vessels rocks the project cargo industry.

Debuting in 1936, the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile was created as a marketing device and to transport the company spokesman. The unique transportation method went on to symbolize the meat brand and 21st century Americana.

1994: Those involved in response to the 600,000-gallon spill reflect on their efforts.

Imagine drowning in a flood of molasses that entombed you as it hardened. That’s what 21 people suffered in 1919 when the storage of molasses in Boston went awry.

NASA hauls the longest heavy cargo delivery; Reefers run food to the Bahamas; Submarine cables connect the Virgin Islands.

1971: Londoners are able to buy American melons for the first time after test shipments to the U.K. proved successful.

From tragedy to unprecedented feats, the Golden Gate Bridge is an important part of American history in freight, transportation and architecture.

We take a look back at the state-of-the-art technology that streamlined trucking in 1961.

1992: 2-D bar codes provide an almost infinite variety of codes, which could prove especially useful in international shipping.

As cars gained popularity, ships were converted and built specifically for transporting vehicles overseas.

So much of the history of the United States can be traced back to Route 66, including major growth in the trucking industry.

This year, FreightWaves Classics took a look back at some of history’s most interesting stories in freight, logistics and supply chains. These are the articles that readers found most engaging.

The U.K.’s largest sunken merchant ship met a dramatic end. But no one knew what actually happened until 20 years after the disaster, thanks to the families of the crew who fought hard for answers.

2000: World container port throughput increased 7.8% last year to about 201 million TEUs — the first time volume exceeded 200 million TEUs.

1974: They may be the last hurdles in the way of renewed trade between the
United States and Cuba. An embargo failed to work and indirect business
has begun.

By the start of the 1900s, about 40 U.S.-flag ships were operated by the country’s lumber titans, proving to the industry at the time that marine transport was more efficient than rail.

Dec. 17 marked 119 years since the Wright brothers first successfully flew a man-powered airplane, paving the way for continuous innovation in the flying world.

A fatal flaw in West Virginia’s Silver Bridge caused the death of 46 people. Fifty-five years later, many lives have been saved thanks to greater safety procedures put in place following the tragedy.

In 1912, Teamsters completed a 91-day journey across the United States to deliver a shipment of soap, marking the first transcontinental delivery by truck.

Nuclear verdicts against the trucking industry are becoming more frequent, with freight brokers now being sued after accidents.

Twelve people died and 42 were injured in 1990 after a sudden fog enveloped a section of Interstate 75 in Tennessee.

The shipper container was one of the biggest game changers for the ocean freight industry, and its origins come from a true inventor.

1991: The new system allows automobiles to move in regular intermodal containers instead of the multilevel railcards that now are the industry standard.

It has been 109 years since the assembly line debuted on the Ford factory floor. The system became the basis for an innovative way of manufacturing in the United States.

Three laid-up Mission tankers were enlisted to help get a man on the moon.

What’s it like to ride a historic locomotive? Go behind-the-scenes during FreightWaves’ ride on the No. 4014.

1999: eBay ushers in e-commerce’s most dramatic distribution channel disruption in decades.

Nike has remained a popular shoe brand for decades (Photo: AP File/Matt Rourke)

A potential rail strike in the coming weeks has echoes of the infamous railroad strike of 1877, but with hopefully much less dire consequences. (Photo: AP/Gene J. Puskar)

FreightWaves Classics examines storied ocean carrier U.S. Lines, which was persistent in its desire to operate a successful cargo ship named the American Shipper.

In 1952, a C-124 flew straight into a remote Alaskan mountaintop, killing all aboard. Here’s the story of what it’s taking to bring them home.

Egypt’s Suez Canal was built 153 years ago this week, and its storied history is so much more than last year’s drama.

As far as aircraft go, the Douglas C-124 Cargomaster II was a vital waymarker for the U.S. Air Force in the years following the Berlin Airlift, when U.S. and British air forces began airlifting food and fuel to a blockaded West Germany after World War II.

Cargo misdeclaration may save a shipper money on freight rates, but this underhanded act threatens the lives of those who provide the transportation.

During the past century, hundreds of ships in the U.S. merchant marine have been named after colleges and their football teams.

A massive eight-day backup of barge traffic at Locks and Dam 26 on the Mississippi River in 1976 resulted in shipping losses estimated as high as $500,000 a day.

Tuesday marks the 75th anniversary of the one and only flight of the Hughes Flying Boat, the so-called Spruce Goose.

FreightWaves Classics profiles a steamboat that helped open the Oregon Territory.

FreightWaves Classics profiles the National League for Good Roads, one of the first organizations to push for better roads in the United States.

FreightWaves Classics profiles Walter Wellman, who led expeditions to the Arctic and sought to cross the Atlantic.

FreightWaves Classics profiles the USS Repose, a hospital ship that served the nation’s wounded in three wars.

FreightWaves Classics profiles IMC Companies, the nation’s largest marine drayage company.

FreightWaves Classics profiles Joseph R. Toahty, a Native American hero of World War II.

FreightWaves Classics profiles Commodore Robert Lopez and Mare Island Naval Shipyard.

FreightWaves Classics profiles the Discovery Bridge.

FreightWaves Classics profiles Interstate 44 and its history.

FreightWaves Classics profiles Maria Garcia Roach, who served her nation as both a nurse and pilot during World War II.

FreightWaves Classics profiles the Virginian Railway, which hauled tons of coal during a 50-year lifespan.

FreightWaves Classics profiles the two Guggenheim family funds that helped promote aviation safety and rocketry.

FreightWaves Classics profiles CB radios on National CB Radio Day.

FreightWaves Classics profiles the USCGC Saranac, which served both the United States and the United Kingdom.

FreightWaves Classics profiles retired Captain Mery-Angela Sanbria Katson as part of FreightWaves’ salute to National Hispanic Heritage Month.

FreightWaves Classics profiles Rafael Celestino Benítez, a Hispanic-American leader in the U.S. Navy and in international law.

FreightWaves Classics profiles Irene Rico, who spent 35+ years at the Federal Highway Administration.

FreightWaves Classics profiles Dean C. Smith, an aviation pioneer.

FreightWaves Classics profiles I-805, which is a main artery in San Diego County, California.

FreightWaves Classics profiles Frederick Army Airfield, one of many airfields across the country where training took place during World War II.