Garner Trucking, Inc. is a family-owned and operated business started in 1960 by Vernon E. Garner and Regina R. Garner. Today Garner focuses on transportation, warehousing, logistics management third-party services and equipment repair all operate under the umbrella of Garner Trucking Inc.
Our mission statement “Garner Trucking Inc. is a highly skilled network of professional drivers and staff who have made the commitment to exceed customer expectations.”
The Early Years
During the early years Vern Garner built a solid company foundation with hard work and enthusiasm. His first experience was with agricultural products. As he drove his truck and saw the opportunity for expansion, he began to increase the fleet, his employees, and the company facilities.
Garner Trucking, Inc. continued to grow and expand. The first of the two biggest advancements in the 1990′s was the move to the current corporate office facilities at 9291 County Road 313, Findlay, Ohio.
2000’s
The experience that Vern Garner gained in the transportation industry, along with an understanding of how the politics of the Federal Department of Transportation affected the trucking industry in general, earned him the honor of servicing his peers as the American Transportation Association’s Chairman of the Board in 2002. The demanding schedule required as ATA Chairman of the Board, obligated Vern to be away from Garner’s office and the day to day management of the business for a large portion of the time for the following two years. When Vern was asked how he could be away so much from the business that carried his name, he was often heard stating with confidence, “I surround myself with good people.”
In 2005, Vern was inducted into the Ohio Trucking Association Hall of Honor.
On March 20, 2007 Vern Garner succumbed to a lengthy battle with cancer. Vern fought a valiant fight against one of the most aggressive forms of cancer-
melanoma. It is believed that the cancer metastasized from an area of his body to his brain or it was a tumor that could have been there since birth. We may never know for sure but we do know this, Vern, a man of faith, has eternal life and looks upon us every day! Vern’s legacy continues with these organizations:
- Ohio State University Melanoma Research Foundation
- University of Findlay
- Humane Society of Hancock County
In March 2007, after celebrating the life of Vern Garner, the Garner family continued Vern’s legacy with Jean Garner at the helm. Over the next several years, the company invested in new equipment and management reorganization.
In September 2008, Jean Garner named daughter, Sherri Garner Brumbaugh, as President of the company. Sherri, an eighteen year company veteran, took over the day to day operations.
2020
Garner Trucking Inc., located in Findlay, Ohio, provides transportation, warehousing and logistics services. With Sherri Garner Brumbaugh as President since 2008, Garner continues to be a strong regional player in the commodities market. What has not changed from its humble beginnings of the small family business is the commitment to our customers, our employees and our owner-operators. We are still a family company.
“Home time – it is important to me and my drivers. We work hard to make sure Garner drivers get home safely and when they need to.”
“Garner remains to be a top rated truckload carrier in our region because of our on-time service! We’ve retained business because of our service and getting new business everyday. It is important that we align ourselves with customers that know they couldn’t be successful in their business if it weren’t for their relationship with Garner! These are the customers we know will provide value to our business as well.”
“Garner people make everything happen and the way we approach our work makes a difference.”
Sherri graduated from Liberty-Benton High School; The Ohio State University, where she received a bachelors in education; and then a masters from Bowling Green State University. An Educator by trade, but a trucker by heritage! Sherri began working for the company in junior high school mowing the company lawn; then washing trucks in high school. After college and a brief stint teaching, she returned to the company where she has worked in accounting, operations, and then she oversaw the company’s computer systems. “In a small company, you wear many hats. At Garner, I’ve worn several!” says Sherri.
Sherri is an alumna of the Hancock Leadership program and serves on The Community Foundation Board of Trustees. She is also a member of the Hancock County Revolving Loan Fund county committee. Recently, Sherri was named by the Hancock County Commissioners to serve on the economic development task force and on Oct. 14, 2010, she was the recipient of the “Athena” Small Business Award, sponsored by the Findlay Publishing Co. and the Findlay/Hancock County Chamber of Commerce.+
Sherri has served as ATA Vice Chairman as well as being appointed to serve on the DOT’s Federal Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking. She currently serves on the Boards of the ATA, TCA and OTA. In 2020 Sherri was elected as only the second woman to serve as the Chair of the Board of the American Trucking Associations.