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Millis Transfer, Inc. History
Millis Transfer, Inc. ("Millis")
as we know it today originally started after prohibition
with Jake and Ray Millis acquiring the Old Style Distributorship
in Black River Falls, Wisconsin. Beer for the wholesale
business was hauled from La Crosse, Wisconsin, as well
as freight of all kinds to and from La Crosse. In 1944
Bud and Mayo Millis bought out the business from Jake
and Ray.
In 1947, they sold out the freight portion and concentrated
on the wholesale beer business, as well as the Studebaker
dealership, which they had obtained. In 1951, they sold
out the Studebaker franchise after obtaining the Ford
franchise. In 1954, they purchased the land and garage
which they had been renting from Charlie Bunde.
In 1957 the Millis family again entered into the freight
business with the incorporation of Millis Brothers Inc.
In 1962 they decided to dissolve the partnership; with
Mayo taking over the garage and Ford dealership and
Bud continuing with the beer business, trucks, and warehousing.
The year 1962 started the swing into transportation
on a much larger scale with the signing of a contract
between Millis Brothers Inc. and the Joseph Schlitz
Brewing Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Continuing
the family tradition, in 1965 Bud sold 1/3 ownership
to his son, Bill, renaming the company Millis Brothers
Transfer. As the prosperity continued, in 1967 Ruppell
Transfer of Chetek, Wisconsin, was purchased. This gave
Millis Brothers Transfer additional authority to operate
with, as well as more equipment.
 In
1972, Millis Brothers Transfer purchased Beer Transit,
Inc., of Heartland, Wisconsin. This gave Millis Brothers
Transfer Common Carrier authority and additional equipment.
In order to operate under this newly acquired Common
Carrier authority on a much broader scope, the name
was changed to Beer Transit. In 1977 Halama Trucking
of Menomonie, Wisconsin, was purchased, again awarding
additional freight as well as more equipment. Following
a philosophy that service to our customers is of the
utmost importance, all equipment purchased was evaluated
keeping the better tractors and trailers and selling
off the older, less reliable equipment.
In 1978, because of additional operating authorities
and varied products being transported by Beer Transit,
the name was changed to Millis Transfer, Inc., taking
away the stigma that we only hauled beer and beer products.
It was also done to put the Millis name back on the
equipment.
In 1980, Millis suffered a great loss when Bud Millis
passed away, leaving Bill Millis as our sole management
leader. Bill, who served as President from 1972 until
relinquishing this position in 1989 to his son, David
Millis, continues on today as Chief Executive Officer
and majority stockholder of Millis.
In 1983, JWI Trucking was purchased, getting the company
involved in garment transportation, with very specialized
hauling features, such as garments on hangers and consolidation
distribution between Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Chicago,
Illinois; and New York City, New York. In 1984, Higgins
Transportation of Richland Center, Wisconsin, and Ristow
Trucking of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, were purchased. Higgins
Transportation was very much involved as a carrier for
K-Mart Corporation and Ristow was a smaller, short-haul
carrier that got
Millis working as a local cartage carrier in and around
the Milwaukee metropolitan area. In 1985, the purchase
of 2-G Transportation increased the volume of business
between Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin,
with beer being hauled to Minneapolis, Minnesota and
glass back to the brewery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
In 1989 Millis expanded its operation into the southeast
by opening a terminal in Kennesaw, Georgia, and running,
it under the name, MTI Freight Systems Inc. Then in
May, 1991 the companies merged, with Millis Transfer,
Inc. continuing to operate as the sole freight carrier
and MTI Freight Systems, Inc. as the equipment holding
company.
 With
the above acquisitions, but mostly internal growth,
Millis has grown from 20 tractors and 40 trailers in
1982 to over 700 tractors, 2200 trailers and 100 plus
Owner Operators. Millis is proud of the fact they were
able to show considerable growth, and at the same time
have a strong operating ratio. This proves growth has
not had an adverse effect on efficiency.
There is not another company that has the quality of
equipment which Millis operates. While most companies
continue to cut back on the amenities, Millis continues
to add to the tractors to facilitate driver comfort.
Millis realizes that although the company is made up
of a team, it's the driver who is ultimately responsible
for the successful shipper-carrier relationship. The
equipment is inspected to provide the drivers with as
many comforts as there are available.
 Millis has a large customer following, with a variety
of products ranging from glass containers, food products,
paper products, and of course we are still associated
with the Beer Industry.
Millis' operation is run from a central location in
Black River Falls, Wisconsin. Millis has maintenance
facilities in Black River Falls, Wisconsin; Richfield,
Wisconsin; Weedsport, New York; Streeter, IL; Cartersville,
Georgia; and Trenton, Ohio. We also have drop yards
in Ridgeway, VA, Albany, Georgia; Baltimore, MD; Atlanta,
GA; Milwaukee, WI; Ft. Worth, TX; and St. Louis MO.
To support this operation the business is completely
computerized from Customer Service to Dispatch to Payroll
and Billing, along with complete satellite communications
with all equipment and drivers.
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