Dennis Doehl took his first entrepreneurial step in 1964, with the creation of a locally owned family trucking proprietorship. Jay’s Moving & Storage Ltd. began with a handful of employees, a small fleet of trucks and one merchandise authority in the Watrous area. Originally, the financing was provided by a local credit union, with his father co-signing the bank loan. All of the family assets were at risk for this immature business in a high risk environment. Today, Jay’s has grown from its humble beginnings to be the largest locally owned multi-branch moving and storage firm in the prairie provinces with a freight division that services over 300 Saskatchewan communities. Annual sales have grown from $10,000 in 1964 to an expected $28,000,000 in 2007. Employment levels increased from a staff of 4 in 1964 to over 400 this year. Today, the Jay’s fleet of over 600 trucks & trailers can be seen across North America.
Chronology
The following years are benchmarks of our growth and success.
1964
Dennis Doehl purchased the assets of Jay’s and formed the company Jay’s Moving & Storage in Regina, Saskatchewan.
Began hauling freight from Regina to Watrous and the towns along the way.
1965
Purchased freight operation servicing area from Regina and Moose Jaw to Central Butte and Riverhurst.
1968
Purchased a half-ton truck and two-wheel trailer to expand the service to include moving services both locally and provincially.
Regina-based service grew to include the western provinces of Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia.
1970
Became agent for Atlas Van Lines which provided the company with a network of agents across North America and greatly enhanced service capabilities.
Leased a 3,000 square foot building to provide warehousing facilities in Regina.
1972
Leased 1500 square foot building to provide warehousing facilities in Saskatoon.
1974
Jay's 10th Anniversary.
1975
Jay’s Moving & Storage Ltd. incorporated in Saskatchewan.
1977
Bought Guardian Moving & Storage from Atlas Van Lines and set up offices in Regina, Saskatoon and Moose Jaw.
Purchased property and built 4500 square foot warehouse facility in Moose Jaw.
1978
Purchased Guardian Cartage and Storage in Winnipeg, Manitoba from Atlas Van Lines including 9000 square foot warehouse.
Expanded Regina operation into 10,000 square foot facility.
Dennis Doehl and family moved to Saskatoon to focus on expansion in that area.
Purchased general merchandise freight operation servicing 4 towns in the Saskatoon area.
1979
Established overnight general freight line service between Saskatoon and Regina, the first service of this kind.
1980
Purchased one acre of land together with a 4500 square foot facility in Saskatoon to house the freight division in that city.
Leased 3500 square foot warehouse in Brandon, Manitoba and expanded Guardian Cartage and Storage into that location.
1981
Purchased property at 1240 1st Avenue in Regina.
1983
Implemented computerized accounting system.
1984
Jay's 20th Anniversary.
1985
Major renovations and addition to location at 1240 1st Avenue, Regina to accommodate the newly established Head Office.
1986
Purchased all of the assets of Dyck Moving & Storage Ltd. in Swift Current.
Purchased Melville Cartage & Storage Ltd., including their household goods business and general freight transportation business.
1987
Diversified by purchasing Century 21 Broad Realty in Moose Jaw.
Purchased heritage property in Moose Jaw and renovated to allow for leasing of office space.
Opened new branch in Lloydminster, Alberta and leased 5000 square foot warehouse.
Purchased a building in Battleford.
1988
Purchased operating authorities and equipment from Stebner Transport in Yorkton.
1989
Jay’s was one of the original investors in the Atlas Van Lines container program with the purchase of 38 containers, a program that continues today.
Purchased all of the assets of Eppen’s Transport Ltd. in North Battleford.
Jay’s celebrated it’s 25th Anniversary.
Purchased Regina Cartage & Storage which expanded commercial warehousing capabilities.
1990
Purchased the assets of Moose Jaw Cartage( 1990) Ltd.
Upgraded computerized accounting system.
1991
Purchased all of the assets of Sherwood Moving & Storage Ltd. in Edmonton, Alberta.
Began freight operation in Moose Jaw.
Established courier service and rates in Saskatchewan.
1992
Purchased S & M Transport, a freight operation from Prince Albert to Cudworth, Humboldt and St. Louis.
Purchased Economy Moving & Storage (1974) Ltd. and opened new office in Calgary, Alberta.
Held the First Annual Telemiracle Golf Tournament in Saskatchewan and raised $4100 for the Kinsmen Telemiracle Foundation.
1993
Purchased McKean’s Moving in Red Deer, Alberta.
Participated in the MS Bike Tour in Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon and Edmonton.
Became one of the first recipients of the Atlas Van Lines "Quality in Motion" Award.
Purchased Northway Moving & Freighting Ltd. which provided operating authorities to transport general merchandise between Prince Albert and La Ronge.
Purchased the assets of Paddockwood Transport which included operating authorities between Prince Albert and Paddockwood.
Purchased property in Prince Albert.
1994
Purchased Henry’s Transport with general merchandise operating authorities from Saskatoon to North Battleford.
Started freight operation in Swift Current.
Purchased and renovated the former Motorways building at 1109 Ominica Street in Moose Jaw.
Celebrated 30th Anniversary.
Purchased and completely renovated the 1730 Alberta Avenue location in Saskatoon which provided 25,000 square feet of new office and warehouse space.
1996
Set up accounting system for Broker Managers.
Training programs developed for drivers, office and sales people at Jay's training center in Elbow, Saskatchewan.
Acquired L’Heureux Transport, opened Weyburn and Estevan branch locations and provided freight service to surrounding areas.
Closed Red Deer and Brandon locations.
Acquired operating authorities of Bagnall Transport and began service to the Unity/Wilkie area.
Acquired operating authorities of Moreside Transport and began servicing Nokomis/Strasbourg and Lumsden/Craven areas.
1997
Closed Winnipeg, Manitoba operation to focus on expansion in Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Purchased building and yard at 555 Park Street in Regina and began major renovation.
1998
After complete renovation, moved Head Office and Regina Moving to the 555 Park Street location in Regina.
Opened up freight operation in Meadow Lake.
1999
Purchase and installation of entirely new computerized system in preparation for Y2K.
Dennis Doehl celebrated his 60th birthday and 35 years in business.
Dennis Doehl won the "Trailmobile Service to Industry Award".
Purchased land and built 17,000 square foot facility in Calgary.
Purchased new office and warehouse facility in Estevan.
Began service to 6 new towns in the Spiritwood area in Northern Saskatchewan.
Expanded yard space at 1240 1st Avenue location in Regina with the purchase of 695 Toronto Street.
2000
Jay’s Moving & Storage launched its Website on the World Wide Web.
Grand opening of new facility in Calgary, Alberta with dignitaries from Atlas Van Lines, Oakville, ON, associates from Vancouver, BC, local government officials and many other special guests in attendance.
Renovated Moose Jaw location and expanded warehouse to 5400 square feet.
2001
Purchased Donald Moving & Storage and John Mus Transfer in Weyburn.
2003
Terry Simonson promoted to General Manager of the Freight Division.
Regina Moving location is renovated.
Purchased Redline Transport, Schulhauser Transport & F&L Trucking.
Renovated and expanded dock space in the Regina and Saskatoon freight locations.
Purchased 24,000 square foot building in Regina and opened repair and maintenance shop for internal and external customers.
2004
Jay's celebrated 40th Anniversary and Dennis Doehl's 65th birthday.
Freight expansion continues with the purchase of Country Trucking.
Introduced scholarship program, available annually to children & grandchildren of employees.
2005
Created new Information Systems Co-ordinator position in IT Department.
Introduced new on-line services, giving branches & customers access to documents on-line.
Expanded dock space in Regina & Saskatoon freight locations.
2006
Terry Simonson appointed President & COO of Jay's Group of Companies.
Senior Management Team appointed.
Freight Division began service to Melfort, Tisdale, Carrot River, Nipawin & surrounding area.
Purchased Edward's Transport LTL Division to service #11 Highway, Davidson, Outlook and area.
Saskatoon Freight and Saskatoon Moving switched locations to better utilize building and storage yard space.
Created new Sales & Marketing Administrator position at Head Office.
Created new Safety & Compliance position at Head Office.
Closed Edmonton Branch.
2007
Aquired Lamarre & Sons Truck Service and began to service Gravelbourg area.
Announced new service to Assiniboia, Mossbank and Kinistino.
Jay's raised $64,706.02 at their 2007 Telemiracle Golf Classic - a new record, bringing the sixteen year total to $419,128.44 for the Kinsmen Telemiracle Foundation.
Dennis Doehl took his first entrepreneurial step in 1964, with the creation of a locally owned family trucking proprietorship. Jay’s Moving & Storage Ltd. began with a handful of employees, a small fleet of trucks and one merchandise authority in the Watrous area. Originally, the financing was provided by a local credit union, with his father co-signing the bank loan. All of the family assets were at risk for this immature business in a high risk environment. Today, Jay’s has grown from its humble beginnings to be the largest locally owned multi-branch
moving and storage firm in the prairie provinces with a freight division that services over 300 Saskatchewan communities. Annual sales have grown from $10,000 in 1964 to an expected $28,000,000 in 2007. Employment levels increased from a staff of 4 in 1964 to over 400 this year. Today, the Jay’s fleet of over 600 trucks & trailers can be seen across North America.
