Big Rigs · Missouri · October 27, 2026

Trucking Hall of Fame Honors Peterbilt's Founder and Two Pioneers Truckers Know

By Big Rig Daily Staff

Truckers who love the history behind the big rigs have three new names to know. Al Peterman, Harold C. Groendyke and Chester Rodney England were inducted into the American Trucking and Industry Leader Hall of Fame at a ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 22, Land Line reported.

The hall of fame was established in 2021 and is housed at the American Truck Historical Society headquarters in Kansas City, Mo.

Al Peterman and Peterbilt

Peterman acquired Fageol Motors in 1939 and established Peterbilt, drawing on his experience modifying trucks for logging operations, according to Land Line.

"It's pretty awesome to think that some of the principles that he (Peterman) founded the company on still remain our focus today," said Bryon Kelling, assistant director of marketing for Peterbilt.

Big Rig Daily recently covered the touchscreen dash coming to today's Peterbilts.

Harold C. Groendyke and a homemade chassis

In 1932, Groendyke hauled his first load of kerosene from Borger, Texas, to Beaver, Okla., using a 3,000-gallon tank mounted on a homemade chassis. That trip was the start of Groendyke Transport, now one of the nation's largest tank truck carriers, Land Line reported.

"You have to have an innate curiosity. That's what makes truckers what they are. You just get the job done," said Greg Hodgen, CEO of Groendyke Transport.

Chester Rodney England

England founded C.R. England in 1920 and built it into a nationally recognized carrier with his two sons.

His grandson, Dan England, chairman of the board for C.R. England, thanked the company's drivers. "When you see what they go through, day in and day out, they're the real champions," he said.

Earlier inductees

The first class, in 2021, included OOIDA, Dave Nemo, the Mack Brothers and Clessie Cummins, according to Land Line.

For more on how the big rig came to be, see the history of the 18-wheeler and classic semi trucks every enthusiast should know. More truck and equipment stories are in Big Rigs.

A question for readers

Who else from trucking's early days belongs on the hall of fame wall?

Save this story for later

Save this to Pinterest