Ross Moore near the “new” terminal near Spadina and Adelaide in downtown Toronto.

TORONTO — The trucking community lost a pioneer this week with the death of Ross Moore, founder of General Cartage.

Moore passed away on Wednesday, April, 17, at the age of 79.

General Cartage was originally established in 1949 and Moore, barely into his 20s at the time, purchased the company five years later.

He bought Lynch Cartage in 1958, and with that, opened General’s first terminal in downtown Toronto.

In 1971, General moved to its current and much larger facility in south Etobicoke.

From a single-truck operation, the Moore family built General into a fleet of more 35 straight trucks, 45 tractors and more than 150 trailers.

As it grew, the company earned a reputation as a remarkable employer.

Some of the staff have been with the company for almost 40 years and almost all the drivers have been with General for more than a decade. General Cartage is a profit-sharing company.

Ross Moore has also been an active member of the Toronto Trucking Association and served as a director in 1976.

His son David is currently President of Cartage.

Moore is also survived by his wife Lorna, her children Bruce and Tammy Hastings, David and Sharon Hastings as well as by his children: Debbie and her boyfriend Tom, Gail and her husband Craig Hillock, Jerry and his late wife Barbara Ann, and David’s wife Jennifer. Moore also adored his grandchildren Matthew, Amanda, Jonathan, Jason, Daniel, Ryan and great-granddaughter Shannon.

Visitation will be held at the “Mississauga Chapel” of Scott Funeral Homes, 420 Dundas St. E. on Sunday from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Funeral Service will be held at the Scott Funeral Home on Monday, April 22, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. Reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society or Salvation Army would be appreciated.