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In 1938, Willis D. Shaw entered the trucking industry as an individual hauler. During the following years, Mr. Shaw pioneered the transportation of live poultry out of the northwest Arkansas production area into the markets of Illinois, Georgia, Texas and California.

Between the years of 1939 and 1948, the corporation was known as Willis Shaw Produce. During this decade, the company hauled an estimated 37 million chickens to market. With the introduction of the new field of frozen food transportation in 1948, the firm truly began to recognize its potential. Initially, frozen poultry formed the basis for all its operation.

By 1954, with the acquisition of new authority and operating rights, fresh and frozen commodities were being transported in mixed shipments to and from every state in the nation. Interstate authority from the ICC was granted to Willis Shaw to operate as a contract carrier for frozen foods in 1957. The following year the permit was changed to a common carrier certificate.

This authority held by the company was transferred to Willis Shaw Frozen Express, Inc. when the company incorporated on May 27, 1958. The same year, the National Transportation Act brought the transportation of frozen fruits, berries, and vegetables under economic regulation. In response, the company applied for grandfather authority and, after going to the U.S. Supreme Court, eventually won authority to transport these commodities between points in 35 states.

To provide quality customer service, a division office was soon opened in Boise, ID. Additionally, operating rights have been acquired through purchases of portions of the operating rights of Refrigerated Transport in 1962, Pelham Transportation Co, in 1963, Idaho Trucking Company in 1965, Monsen Trucking Company in 1967, H.R. Cook Truck Lines in 1967, and Bonney Motor Lines in 1970.

In 1968 negotiations began between the Willis Shaw Frozen Express and Del Monte Corp. Subsequently, WSE was acquired by Del Monte in late 1970, becoming part of Distribution Systems, Inc. Later, however, Del Monte Corp. was acquired by R.J. Reynolds, Inc. Distribution Systems was disbanded and Willis Shaw Frozen Express was reacquired by its management team on October 1, 1983.