GIRARD, Ohio – It started in 1906 with a horse and buggy hauling meat and luggage from the railyards. Nearly 120 years later, Aim Transportation Solutions is one of the largest, privately held truck leasing companies in North America.
J.V. McNicholas, grandfather of CEO Tom Fleming, started the business and grew the horse and buggy operation into a lucrative hauling business.
After deregulation in 1980, McNicholas Transportation branched into leasing trucks.
Fleming managed this division, known then as Aim NationaLease, and its 25 trucks. In 1982, Fleming purchased Aim NationaLease and moved the company to 1500 Trumbull Ave. in Girard, where Aim’s headquarters remain.
Three Fleming family members join Tom Fleming in the family businesses: President Scott Fleming, Senior Vice President of Sales Operations Dan Fleming and Kevin Fleming, progress developer.
“Aim Transportation Solutions grew from a small, family-owned company into a national leader in full-service truck leasing, maintenance and logistics by staying focused on personalized customer service and flexible solutions,” the company’s submission to The Business Journal reads.
By listening to customer needs and adapting services to meet those demands, Aim expanded its client base and geographic reach across the United States.
“Strategic investments in technology, facilities and talent fueled organic growth, while key partnerships and long-term customer relationships helped drive steady revenue and reputation gains,” the submission continues.
And the company has overcome myriad challenges, including regulatory pressures and economic downturns.
“Rather than scaling back, Aim leaned into these challenges – investing in itself and its employees through training and retention programs, embracing technology to improve operational efficiency and staying agile to meet changing customer and regulatory demands,” the company writes.
The company has evolved from primarily offering truck leasing into a comprehensive transportation solutions provider, offering dedicated contract carriage, a full menu of maintenance programs, 3PL services, fueling and more.
Pictured at top: Tom Fleming, Aim Transportation Solutions founder, chairman and CEO, and Scott Fleming, president.