1936

 

John J. Pehler started the business as John J. Pehler Trucking, Pine Creek, WI.

 

He hauled cream to the Dodge Creamery in Dodge, WI and can milk to A.G. Coop Creamery, Arcadia, WI.

 

 

1936-1950

 

The business grew as John Pehler was able to buy out different milk routes, now owning five milk trucks.

 

They hauled cattle; picking up cattle from area farmers and delivering them to different markets located in Winona, MN; Galesville, WI; and Arcadia, WI.

 

 

1950-1958

 

The business grew as John bought out Ed Jick, which gave him license to haul general commodities.

 

John formed a corporation with his sons; Aurley, Adrian, and Francis – now called Pehler Trucking.

 

They were now able to haul freight from Trempealeau and Buffalo Counties; Winona, Minnesota; and La Crosse, Wisconsin to Minneapolis, St. Paul, Minnesota.

 

To keep up with A.G. Coop Creamery, Pehler Trucking began hauling bagged feed from Minneapolis, Minnesota to local broiler farmers.

 

They hauled bagged fertilizer from Minneapolis, MN; Prairie du Chien, WI; Dubuque IA; and Winona, MN to Arcadia, WI.

 

Hauling cattle to South St. Paul, MN became a regular movement.  On the return trip, they picked up freight and/or feed to bring back to the Arcadia area.

 

 

1958

 

Pehler Trucking bought out Willard Thomas, increasing employment to ten and increasing the cattle hauling business with twelve to fifteen semi-loads going to Dubuque, IA per week.

 

At this time Pehler Trucking also provided a corn shelling service to farmers bringing their corn sheller to the farmers’ yard; shelling it; then hauling it to local markets.

 

As farmers were changing milking habits from can milk to bulk milk, Pehler Trucking purchased their first bulk milk truck.

 

 

1960

 

Again, keeping up with the times, Pehler Trucking added to their fleet ; hauling powdered milk from A.G. Creamery, Arcadia, WI and A.M.P.I., Blaire WI to Minneapolis, MN and Milwaukee, WI.

 

With continued expansion, they began hauling beer for local distributors in Independence, WI; Alma, WI; and Arcadia, WI from such places as Minneapolis, MN; Sheboygan, WI; and La Crosse, WI.

 

Early 1970’s Pehler Trucking hauled their first load of furniture for Arcadia Industries, now known as Ashley Furniture, traveling through WI, MN, IA, and SD. 

 

 

1999

 

Pehler Trucking’s new 15,200 sq. ft. facility was built housing a 4-bay service garage 3,200 sq. ft. of office space.

 

The Bulk Milk division was sold.

 

 

2011

 

The Cattle Hauling division was sold.

 

 

2012

 

The end of an era was marked by the sale of the Grain division trucks and trailers.

 

Present Involvement with Ashley Furniture has grown over the years with 115 loads per week  now being hauled, covering a 48-state region.

 

 

July 2015 - Current

 

Officers of Pehler & Sons Trucking, Inc. as of  July 2015 are Brad & Onya Pehler.

 

Employment has reached 85 employees and current inventory consists of 75 tractors and 200 trailers.  

 

Pehler Trucking Inc. continues to strive to provide the best service to all local manufacturing companies in Arcadia and the surrounding area.  It has been their pleasure to serve the Arcadia area over the past 65 years.