Industry Pioneer Sidney Alterman Dies

March 1, 2001
Sidney Alterman, founder and president of Alterman Transport Lines, died Feb 22, 2001, of a stroke. He was 89. The son of Latvian immigrants, Alterman

Sidney Alterman, founder and president of Alterman Transport Lines, died Feb 22, 2001, of a stroke. He was 89.

The son of Latvian immigrants, Alterman was born in Omaha NE in 1912. The family moved to New Jersey while he was still an infant. In 1936, he moved to Miami FL with his brother, sister, and recently widowed mother. In South Florida, he held numerous jobs, including operating a gas station adjacent to the old produce market in downtown Miami. The gas station put him in the trucking business when he settled a debt with a customer by taking a truck as payment.

Alterman built a career and a business from that one truck. He drove it. He found the loads. Sometimes he even built his own trailers. He was one of those fiercely independent types that came to be called gypsy truckers, picking up loads when they needed to be picked up and delivered when and where shippers desired. Alterman and a few of his competitors such as Bill Watkins, Clarence McBride, and Willis Shaw built a new kind of trucking company - the irregular-route common carrier.

At his death after 63 years in trucking, Alterman had built his company into the second-largest carrier of refrigerated LTL shipments in the nation with 17 terminals and more than 1,400 employees.

He is survived by his wife, Geri; one sister; four sons; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. His son, Richard Alterman, says the business will carry on, because that was his father's wish.

Sponsored Recommendations

Heavy-Duty Maintenance Checklist

A maintenance checklist can help ensure you hit everything necessary during an inspection. Check out our free downloadable checklist to help streamline your repairs.

Five Ways a Little Data Can Save Your Company Millions

While most trucking and logistics companies rely on cellular to keep their work fleet connected, satellite has the ability to connect anywhere and through small data transmission...

Fleet Case Study: 15% YOY Growth for ITDS

Learn how this small trucking company scaled significantly and maintained outstanding customer service without adding additional people. Sylectus TMS can automate operations and...

Unlocking Fleet Safety & Efficiency: The Managed Service Advantage

Want to boost your fleet's safety and efficiency? Tune in now to discover the power of Managed Services in optimizing your safety program, streamlining operations, and making ...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!