Chicago's Safeway Truck Lines

You may have shopped for groceries at Safeway, but here’s another completely unrelated Safeway worth remembering—Safeway Truck Lines, Inc. In a 1996 issue of ATHS Wheels of Time magazine, Hamilton Lord recounted his years driving for this company that began as a bold idea and grew into a major motor carrier.

Founded in 1935 by W.S. Harrington, a former Swift & Co. employee in Chicago, Safeway Truck Lines began as a solution to the inefficiencies and high costs of railroad freight. Harrington’s goal was to provide a reliable, cost-effective way to transport perishable goods, particularly meat. Starting small, the company expanded significantly in the late 1950s with the acquisition of Lee Bros., adding more trucks, terminals, and routes to its growing operation. By this time, Harrington had retired, leaving Safeway in the hands of new leadership that continued to grow the business. H/T>

Safeway Truck Lines Chicago 1935 Vintage Men’s T-Shirt

Safeway’s fleet was known for its hardworking lineup—maybe a little too hardworking at times. Autocars, GMCs, Diamond Ts, Macks, and even a few Hall-Scott-powered rigs made up the roster. According to Lord, some of the equipment was “eye-catching,” while others “looked like they’d been held together with sheer determination.”
The name “Safeway” suggested reliability, but the company’s equipment and operations often fell short of that standard. Drivers hauled meat and frozen vegetables across two-lane highways riddled with sharp curves, rough terrain, and weight scales that they often tried to avoid. Lord described the inspections at Safeway’s Chicago terminal as contentious, with drivers regularly grumbling over the condition of their rigs. One memorable story involved a Pitman arm falling off during an inspection, which led to an enraged driver accusing the inspector of “breaking it.”

Despite these challenges, camaraderie among Safeway drivers stood out. Lord recalled drivers gathering at Welby’s Truck Stop in Boston, swapping stories and enjoying rare moments of downtime before heading back out on the road. “Safeway wasn’t just a company; it was a community,” he said, emphasizing the tight-knit group of owner-operators and company drivers who came from every state east of the Missouri River.

By the late 1980s, Safeway Truck Lines was acquired and eventually closed, leaving behind a history shaped by perseverance and determination.