Trucking legend Bruce R. Smith remembered
SIMCOE, Ont. — Bruce R. Smith (1925-2007) was a veritable pioneer in Canadian trucking.
He passed away earlier this month at Norfolk General Hospital in Simcoe but not before leaving his community and the entire trucking industry with a fine legacy. And Canadians everywhere should be reminded of that legacy every time they drive past one of his distinctive green, yellow and white tractor-trailers, with his name proudly emblazoned on the side.
Bruce Smith started hauling dairy products out of the tiny southwestern Ontario village of Walsh, back in 1947, and grew it to the point where it’s now number 20 on the Today’s Trucking Top 100 list of Canada’s largest for-hire carriers with about 430 power units, 1502 tractors and 600 employees.
His company’s customers and workers will all remember him for his steadfast loyalty and commitment to excellence.
John H. Smith, Bruce’s son, took over management of the company in the mid-’70s.
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Bruce was predeceased by his first wife Bernice in 1972 and his second wife Marjorie in 2005. He is survived by his son John H. (Marlene) and his grandchildren Nathan and Courtney of Simcoe. He also had three sisters and three brothers.
An active member of the Simcoe business community as well as the Ontario Trucking Association, Mr. Smith will be remembered fondly for his work ethic and strong leadership.
A funeral for Mr. Smith was conducted at Simcoe’s First Baptist Church and the family said that they would appreciate donations to the Norfolk General Hospital Foundation.
For more on Mr. Smith’s contribution to this industry, see the May issue of Today’s Trucking.
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