Carolina Freight: The Lasting Influence and History

By: Grace Smith – Wise News Network

CHERRYVILLE, NC (WNN) – Over a hundred former Carolina Freight employees reunited, recounting stories and rekindling old friendships at the 13th Annual Carolina Freight Reunion. People gathered in Cherryville from all over– the furthest coming from Australia, to attend this event.

The event kicked off on Saturday, September 23, 2023, with a gathering of former drivers at the Beam Truck Museum before moving over to First Baptist Church Christian Outreach Center for a luncheon. A variety of positions were represented at the lunch.  

Carolina Freight was started by Charles Grier Beam in 1931. Originally it was called Beam Trucking, after the founder. In 1937 the name changed to the well recognized Carolina Freight.

The Cherryville based company was an economic driver to the town, providing jobs to over 11,000 people nationwide and around 2,500 to locals in Cherryville. Carolina Freight closed down in 1995 after being acquired by Arkansas Best Corporation. 

“It’s hard to believe that 1995 was our last year in business, and the first year we ever achieved one billion dollars in revenue,†said John Fraley Junior, a speaker at the event.. 

Though Carolina Freight’s operations ceased, its memory lives on through the former employees. At the reunion, many individuals recounted stories of how working for Carolina Freight gave them life experiences they would not have had without the company.

Carolina Freight offered several positions including drivers, dock workers and office employees who worked in marketing, sales, administration and much more. 

The age range of the former employees varied from mid 60s to early 90s. Steve Wynn worked in the sales department based in Winston Salem, NC. He expressed gratitude for the reunion, a place where the workers can recall such happy times in their lives.

“I just hope to keep doing this until it fizzles out totally, because each and every year these guys are getting older and older and there’s less and less that are able to be able to make it,†said Wynn. 

Wayne Caldwell, who drove for Carolina Freight for almost 30 years, fondly recalled how his job showed him beautiful areas around the country, including where he settled down with his family. 

“I bought a home in Flagler Beach, Florida, and so we live there and [have] been there for 20, 21, 22 years. And I enjoy it, have a good time, and I live close to the Intracoastal Waterway,†said Caldwell. 

He discovered his love for Florida after working for Carolina Freight for several years. Caldwell said the longer someone worked for the company the better their route would be. He worked his way up, gaining seniority, before choosing to drive the southern route. 

Driving for Carolina Freight even allowed some of the drivers to experience historic events. Hillard Wise drove with Carolina Freight for 30 years. During his time with the company he attended the World’s Fair twice. 

Before working for Carolina Freight many of the workers had not left their home state. 

“Before Carolina Freight I’d never been further than Virginia,†said Wise with a chuckle.

Although former truckers made up most of the attendees there were representatives from multiple branches. Wynn provided insight on how Carolina Freight was able to competitively rank higher than other trucking companies in NC. 

Wynn said that Carolina Freight differed from other regional trucking companies because of its marketing tactics. Wynn’s father-in-law, who he called Jimmy, developed a task force of sales representatives who marketed the benefits of working with their company. 

“As a sales guy, marketing is the key to your growth…[we] gave presentations and seminars and that’s what it took Carolina Freight to be different than the other ones and to make it,†said Wynn. 

Wynn, much like many other former employees, sang high praises to their founder Grier Beam. He was a strict businessman in the office, but outside of work he was a great friend. Wynn accredited Beam’s temperament and managing style to the workplace culture of brotherhood and camaraderie. 

During the lunch portion of the reunion many former employees recollected their old jobs. There was a touching segment where Carolina Freight workers were announced for 10 years, then 20 years and then 30 years. As decades were called workers raised their hands according to how long they worked. 

Wayne Hollifield worked for the company the longest and was acknowledged separately for his 45 years of service. He sat at this table, surrounded by old friends. As he stood for recognition the room burst with applause. 

The reunion is not the only place where Carolina Freight lives on. The Beam Truck Museum in Cherryville houses dozens of old Carolina Freight trucks. Pictures of the founders, employees and trucks are scattered on the walls throughout the museum.

The Beam Truck Museum has been open since 1982 and formerly served as the original headquarters for Carolina Freight. Behind some of the display cases, old etchings of where the garage used to be are still visible and the gas pumps from the station are still located outside.

The museum is open from 10 am to 3 pm, Thursday through Saturday. It is one of the biggest truck museums in the US. 

As the Beam Truck Museum and the former Carolina Freight workers showcase the company, they embody living pride in one’s work; even long after the work is finished. 

Article by Grace Smith – Wise News Network

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