The American Truck Historical Society (ATHS) will honor the founders of Peterbilt, C.R. England and Groendyke Transport during its 2026 Hall of Fame induction ceremony on October 22 in Kansas City, Missouri.
Al Peterman, Chester Rodney England and Harold C. Groendyke will be inducted into the American Trucking and Industry Leader Hall of Fame, with representatives from their respective companies accepting the honors.
All three established businesses remain part of the trucking industry today, although their beginnings were quite different.
Chester Rodney England founded C.R. England in 1920, eventually bringing his two sons into the business. What began as a family operation grew into a nationally recognized trucking company, carrying forward his emphasis on safety, integrity, and community.
Twelve years later, Harold C. Groendyke made the delivery that launched his own trucking business. On July 12, 1932, he hauled kerosene from Borger, Texas, to Beaver, Oklahoma, using a two-axle Ford truck with a 3,000-gallon tank mounted on a homemade chassis. Groendyke Transport subsequently expanded into one of the nation’s largest tank truck carriers.
Al Peterman took a different route into the industry. After gaining experience modifying trucks for logging operations, he purchased Fageol Motors in 1939 and established Peterbilt. The manufacturer went on to build heavy-duty, medium-duty, and vocational trucks, with driver feedback continuing to influence its vehicle development.
The induction ceremony will take place at ATHS headquarters, 10380 N. Ambassador Drive in Kansas City. A social gathering begins at 11 a.m., followed by a luncheon at noon and the ceremony at 1 p.m.
Through the Hall of Fame, ATHS recognizes individuals whose contributions shaped commercial transportation and preserves their place in trucking history.
More information about the October 22 event is available through the American Trucking and Industry Leader Hall of Fame.
The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real-world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.
Last Updated: October 26, 2026
Source: The Trucker
Image Source: ATHS
