Historic Erb Transport pickup keeps memory of founder Vernon Erb alive

One of the early pickup trucks driven under the Erb Transport name is pictured at a recent classic car and vintage truck show in Stratford. The 1954 truck still bears the company logo and lettering advertising refrigerated service on the driver’s door. Gary West photo

By Gary West

A piece of Wellesley Township and Canadian trucking history was on display recently at a classic car and vintage truck show in Stratford.

Among the vehicles was one of the early pickup trucks connected to Vernon Erb, founder of Erb Transport. The truck still bears the company’s well-known red-and-white Erb Transport insignia on its doors.

Milverton resident Murray Stewart, formerly of Brunner, purchased the pickup years ago, and his family plans to keep it in the family as a reminder of Erb and the business he built.

Family members say the truck also serves as a reminder of Erb himself, who received his early education on the Third Line of Wellesley Township and was known for treating his employees like family.

Erb Transport became an early leader in refrigerated transportation, operating temperature-controlled vans and trucks at a time when that type of service was far less common.

More than 65 years after the company was founded, Erb Transport has grown to employ more than 1,500 people and operate a fleet that includes roughly 2,100 trucks and trailers.

It is an impressive legacy for a business founded by a young man with deep roots in Wellesley Township.