He started driving trucks during summer vacations from high school during the 30’s when he was 16 years old. He hauled live chickens to Chicago and New Orleans.
Feed was mixed and fed to the chickens enroute. He also hauled butter in refrigerated trailers which were cooled with barrels of ice. There were mechanical brakes on the tractors and vacuum brakes on the trailer, which were not too great. He used lanterns to help warm the cab and defrosted the windshields with candles. Since that time he has seen many changes in the transportation industry.
Vince Elliott founded Elliott Truck Line in 1946, after serving 4 1/2 years in the Armed Forces. Starting with a new 1946 International tractor and a new 20 ft. Trailmobile, hauling livestock, himself the only driver. In 1949, Vince slowly started diversifying into the tank transportation business, and transporting liquid and dry products in bulk.
Incorporated in 1957 with his wife Necia serving as secretary and treasurer.
Elliott Truck Line has shot ahead since switching from hauling livestock to liquid and dry commodities in 1973. His philosophy of success in “remain conservative and don’t try to become a real big operation” - a philosophy that has made Elliott Truck Line one of the major transporters of bulk commodities in the Midwest.