25 Years Later, American Backhaulers Reunite

It’s been 25 years since American Backhaulers (ABH) was acquired by C.H. Robinson, a landmark moment that reshaped modern freight brokerage. But as founder Paul Loeb reminded his former team and peers this month, the impact of ABH goes far beyond any one deal.

“It’s been 45 years since I started the business and 25 years since the sale,” Loeb wrote. “American Backhaulers is still talked about and considered the gold standard for freight brokerage.”

The reunion of ABH alumni brought together many of the individuals who helped pioneer a new approach to logistics, one that prioritized culture, autonomy, and ambition in a way the industry hadn’t seen before.

“What We Had Was Unique”

Loeb’s reflection emphasized the unconventional culture that made ABH thrive.

“Who would have thought that with a sorority/fraternity atmosphere, no dress code, beer at 5pm, limited hierarchy, and unlimited earning potential, it would create such a cohesive culture?”

That culture was the backbone of a company that grew into one of the largest and most respected brokerages in North America before its 1999 sale.

Loeb gave credit to the entire team for building something enduring:

“I might get all the credit, but you all deserve it.”

A Catalyst for an Industry

The 1999 sale to C.H. Robinson was more than a transaction. The acquisition boosted Robinson’s brokerage model, giving it talent, systems, and scale it hadn’t yet developed on its own.

“For the record,” Loeb wrote, “Sid Verdoorn and John Wiehoff acknowledge that the acquisition of American Backhaulers catalyzed their unprecedented success.”

Today, the freight brokerage sector counts more than 27,000 brokers generating $135 billion in revenue, a testament to the groundwork laid by early companies like ABH.

A Thank You, and a Promise

As the industry evolves through automation, AI, and consolidation, the values that made ABH successful, trust, drive, and creativity, still resonate.

“I don’t want to ramble… other than to say THANK YOU,” Loeb wrote. “And I promise I’ll be there for the 50-year reunion.”

And as ever, Loeb’s final message was simple but timeless:

“Treat every load like it’s your first load. Have fun and be safe.”

The legacy of American Backhaulers lives on not just in memories, but in the thousands of companies, careers, and customers shaped by what it started.