About the NHMTA

NHMTA was born in the depths of the Great Depression. The trucking industry had proven itself during World War I, and the years following. Trucks were beginning to run between cities rather than only locally for the railroads. The rails were becoming understandably upset with their new competition and began to flex their muscles, especially in the legislature, where they had plenty of friends. Competition between the young trucking companies was also fierce, with rate-cutting rampant.

There were no tariffs, as we know them and no system of classification. The carriers charged what the traffic would bear, usually patterned after – and just under – rail rates. The highway system was woefully inadequate for intercity travel, and in Northern New Hampshire was usually closed to truck traffic in the winter and spring.

To join together to solve some of the problems facing them a few farsighted individuals met one day in 1931 to solve some of the problems facing them. A constitution and by-laws were adopted, which gave the association the following objectives.

• To promote and maintain an organization of all persons and firms who own and operate motor trucks.
• To cooperate in securing rational legislation for the advancement, promotion and protection of the interests of the motor truck industry, to protect owners and users of motor trucks against unjust or unreasonable legislation and to secure the enactment of proper ordinances and regulations governing the use of motor trucks.
• To promote and encourage the construction of good roads and maintenance of the same and to encourage the development of a spirit of cooperation and courtesy among users of the highways.

There were 12 directors elected at that first annual meeting.

• Louis Vogel – Vogel & Hadley, Manchester
• Albert J. Precourt – Manchester Coal and Oil Co., Manchester
• Fred N. Putnam – Nashua Gummed and Coated Paper, Nashua
• Harry Ingham – Law & Ingham Transportation Co., Nashua
• Arthur J. Boutwell – Boutwell Lumber Company, Concord
• Harold L. Barnard – Barnard’s Express, Concord
• Seth E. Rand – S E Rand Transportation Company, Portsmouth
• George E. Dearborn – Dearborn’s Motor Express, Exeter
• Herbert L. Capron, Holbrook Grocery Company, Keene
• Arthur H. Todd – Todd’s Express, Wilton
• Ed Robie – Logger, Ashland
• Richard Shelly – Palmer Simpson Company, Laconia

Interestingly, of the 12 members elected to the Board in 1931, six were private carriers. This may indicate the private carriers had just as much interest as the for-hire carriers – then as now – in the legislature and good highways.