![]() ![]() Duncan credits Peter and his team with being instrumental in the company's growth. His flair for business development served the company well. In 1990, Duncan's son Peter joined Bison. The unfettered market caused great turmoil among many Canadian fleets, but Duncan viewed deregulation as an exceptional opportunity for growth. Deregulation also opened the door to market access on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border. "Deregulation meant that everyone had to compete with everybody else," said Duncan. ![]() Overhauling the industry in the '80s & '90sīig changes hit the trucking industry in the late 1980s with deregulation of the Canadian trucking industry. Letter Lassie later began operating under the name Bison Courier. Letter Lassie's all-female team of drivers delivered courier packages throughout Winnipeg. The timing was perfect and appealed to women who were entering the business world in earnest. Duncan's sister-in-law Audrey Fogg, ran the company that was recognized for its innovation. By the time Eaton's shut down their catalogue operations in 1976, Bison had become an expert in this area and took up the gauntlet when Sears came calling.Īlso, it was during this period that Bison expanded into the courier market by opening a subsidiary named Letter Lassie. This opened the door to a contract with Abitibi Consolidated paper mill in Pine Falls, Man.ĭuring the same period Bison inked a deal with Eaton's and got into transporting merchandise from their catalogue orders. Owen Transport, the largest hauler of paper for newsprint. In 1970, Bison made a major strategic move into the general freight business by purchasing R.C. Through the '70s - Keep on Truckin' Indeed The hardy bison which was also symbolic to Manitoba's heritage seemed the perfect fit. Symbolizing pioneering spirit, the bison is also a very social animal, is extremely resourceful and is determined in pursuit of its goals. When it came time to choose a name for the company, Duncan's brother Bill suggested Bison. After graduating from the University of Manitoba, Duncan followed his own entrepreneurial spirit by starting a transport company of his own in 1969 initially focusing on the hauling of construction-related products. It truly was a family operation and Duncan quickly became familiar with the industry. His father (Peter) ran a local cartage and warehouse operation in Winnipeg that became Jessiman Brothers Cartage Limited. Shortly thereafter, they began a new life in the new world, settling in Winnipeg where they raised a family of six. The Scottish immigrant parents of Duncan met onboard a ship on the way to Canada. The family and the family businesses began with a shipboard romance. ![]()
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