Company History

Shelba D. Johnson Trucking, Inc. has roots going back into the early 1970’s when Red Johnson started hauling truckloads of furniture for a few High Point, NC furniture manufacturer/shippers into the northeastern United States. Several customers asked Red if he could begin carrying LTL (Less Than Truckload) to certain stores. Red Johnson and his wife Shelba agreed to try it and Shelba D. Johnson Trucking was born. In 1983, the company was formally incorporated and acquired a company in that industry called Norman Grubb. With about 10 trucks and a few borrowed trailers, the company continued to grow. The company operated from a small terminal location on Fairfield road in High Point, then from a larger facility on Surrett Drive, also in High Point. Red Johnson handled operations and drivers while Shelba Johnson attended to the administration and back office functions of the company.

In 1995, the company acquired Blue Ridge Transport and relocated to Blair Street in Thomasville, NC. The company grew rapidly from that point, expanding its warehouse space two times, continuing to service the Northeastern US and some Midwestern states. In 2000, the company began servicing the Southeastern United States when it took over another company and its terminal facility on Turnpike Road in Archdale, NC. This gave the company approximately 23 state coverage, allowing many shippers one-stop shopping in selecting a furniture carrier.

Joe Wade joined the company as President in September, 2001 following Shelba Johnson’s untimely death in December, 2000. He had previously been a financial consultant to the company. Red Johnson and Joe Wade managed the company as partners with Joe responsible for day to day operations and finances and Red responsible for the driver base. Red Johnson passed away in April, 2002 and in August, 2002, Joe Wade assumed 100% ownership of the company.

The company has continued to expand its service offerings, enhancing its communications and tracking/tracing capabilities. Serving over 400 furniture shippers and over 4,000 retail locations as well as decorators and designers, the company provides exemplary service to all its service territories.

In 2007, the company opened a warehousing facility in High Point, NC to provide container processing and storage, since more and more furniture arrives in the United States from foreign countries. This space rapidly filled up and in early 2008, this operation was relocated to a larger facility in Lexington, NC, essentially doubling processing and storage space available.