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COMPLIMENTARY ADVOCATE VOL. 6, NO. 3 THEREARVIEWMIRROR EDUCATE CALEDONIA, ONTARIO www.therearviewmirror.ca ALEX MACKINNON M acKinnon Transport began its trucking journey 82 years ago in Caledon, ON, on June 4, 1929, when my greatgrandparents purchased a 1928 Chevrolet Straight truck. In the beginning Les MacKinnon, my great-grandfather, hauled livestock to the Toronto Stockyards for the local farmers and on his return trips he brought back coal, fertilizer, and other farm supplies. During these early days, LesÊs expenses ran $2 per day which covered both fuel and meals on the road. In 1943, after graduating from grade 8, my grandpa, Bill MacKinnon, obtained his driverÊs license and the business expanded when a second truck was quickly purchased. At this time MacKinnon Transport serviced roughly 125 customers, all built on strong hand shakes. It was in October of 1946 when A look in the Mirror 8 Recruiter Profile: Ren Peers, Rapid Delivery Inc. Portraits of Honour Backing Up: Bruce Outridge 18 22 MacKinnon T ransport hauled its first load for Armco Canada Ltd. This relationship flourished based on the reliability of Les and Bill, and Armco soon became MacKinnonÊs largest customer . ArmcoÊs products included large culverts that were used for new roads in very isolated areas. Directions often included instructions such as „turn left at the red barn, and deliver the culvert just past the second elm tree. There should be a small creek there. If you run into a railway crossing youÊve gone too far.‰ Obviously a great deal of patience was required to make these deliveries. During this time, with the growth of MacKinnon TransportÊs customer base, additional drivers were added to the fleet. RECRUIT SUMMER 2011 MacKinnon Transport Inc. Over 80 years of the golden rule During the first 17 years of con- ducting business with Armco, Les and Bill operated without ever submitting an invoice. Leslie used to say, „If you put the customerÊs goods where they want them, when they want them, you donÊt have much trouble agreeing on the price.‰ MacKinnonÊs first „head office‰ was located in the family house until the mid-1950s. During those early years the business operated in the kitchen. Bacon and eggs were served to the drivers each Saturday morning. Over breakfast and coffee, each driver explained what he had done during the week and what loads he had hauled. Based on the amount of work performed, Leslie would pay them in cash. In 1959, Les and Bill purchased the first terminal in the south end of Guelph. The city of Guelph was chosen largely in part to offer a better service to Armco who was also located in Guelph. continued on page 4