Turner`s Transport - Hank`s Truck Pictures

Turner’s Transport
1941 to 1974
Serving Highway 21 from Swalwell, Three Hills, Trochu, Huxley, Elnora, Lousana, Delburne and Ardley
Bill & Joyce Trentham, unknown, Glen Maerz, Edna Turner, Al & Lela Gibson, Bert Lee, Cec Turner
Turner’s Transport was a general freight hauler from Calgary, Alberta to the above communities along
Highway 21. Calgary warehouses would call Turner’s depot in Calgary and tell the dispatcher they had
freight to be picked up for the above communities. Usually that day the drivers would pick up the
freight, and deliver the freight the next day to the communities. This was a Monday to Friday trip to
Calgary and a Tuesday to Saturday delivery to the communities. Mondays and Sundays, if necessary,
were for maintenance and rest if possible, or the special full load jobs.
I am Rick Turner, son of Cecil Turner, grandson of Alfred Turner. I am retired and decided to do a history
of Turner‘s Transport. I wish I had asked the questions when Mom and Dad were alive but like everyone
else it was not a priority. Now I have to guess based on my childhood knowledge. I got some
information from the book “Big Wheels across the Prairie” by Paul Rubak (which by accident I found at
Barbecues Galore) and from Allan Gehring who was the owner of Gehrings Transport Trochu.
Cecil Turner was born in Saskatchewan in 1915, north of Highway 1 and east of Highway 21 near
Beaufield. It is a coincidence that he spent the majority of his working life serving Highway 21 in
Alberta. I am sure Dad spent more than half his life behind the steering wheel of a truck. In the 1930’s,
from the pictures, Dad worked for various companies; Jamman Pacific Freight (by rail), Wilson
Freightways, Canadian Freightways and United Freight Lines. The above picture was taken in Three Hills,
1953, location by A.V. Lee Blacksmith
Jamman Pacific note the truck (1935 Chevrolet) does not have doors
Wilson Freightways Ltd. 1930 Leyland
Canadian Freightways 1936/37 Ford
In 1941, my granddad Alfred Turner, known in the industry as ‘Pop Turner ‘ started Turner Transport
Trucking and Draying in Trochu, Alberta. The office was located on the south part of main street kitty
corner to where the lumber yard was located. In one of the pictures you can see the office from the
yard of Matt Hanna’s house. These are the pictures of Turner Cartage. I believe Dad’s sister’s first
husband Alan Gibson and Pop Turner lived in Trochu. In 1942 Cec and Edna Turner were married and
moved to Delburne, Alberta. Delburne is half way between Calgary and Edmonton on Highway 21. I
believe Dad purchased an existing business from Don Brown of Delburne. Alan Gibson lived in Trochu
until 1950 and then moved to Oyen, Alberta and was trucking there.
Edna and Cec Turner with daughter Donna August 1943
New Truck and Trailer April 1946
1946 Ford
Back of the trailer note the tailgate is built into the van
May 23 1946 near Delburne, Alberta
Bysterveld Tow Truck Delburne
Turners got involved in the ownership of United Freight Lines. Pop Turner was the Vice President. You
can see a copy of a memo to the drivers about health care and insurance. The memo shows United
Freight Lines serviced from Edmonton south in Alberta. I believe there were too many hands in the cash
and that was the demise of United Freight Lines. It is unfortunate that I was unable to get any other
information on United Freight Lines. I do have a pencil that has United Freight Lines on it but that`s all. I
believe the bank repossessed partners’ trucks. Pop Turner lost his trucks and so did Cec. However Cec
was able to get another truck registered in Edna Turner`s name (wife) and was able to carry on the
business because she was not a United Freight Lines partner. Mom did the bookkeeping and the
financial needs of the business. Mom and Dad were a team!
United Freight Lines, February 1948, 1946 Fargo
1949 Cec Turner, Helen and Ned Schmaltz
Back row: Ned Schmaltz, Matt Hanna, Al Gibson Front row: Cec Turner
In the late forties or early fifties Mom and Dad moved from Delburne to Three Hills. This move
shortened the drive time from Calgary considerably. In Three Hills the trucks were stored during the
winter in the Community Center until the fire of 1959, and then they were stored in Three Hills Motors.
You can see pictures of Turners Cartage (I am not sure if this was Dad`s) and Turner Transport which was
Pop Turner`s until 1951. You can also see in the fifties truckers carried as much freight on the roof of the
vans as they did inside the vans. Not all loads made it home safe. Road and weather conditions
contributed to accidents. Who knows maybe beer was a factor as well. In the early 50`s Turner’s trucks
(usually Chevy’s) were body jobs with 16 foot vans built by Les Courville of Three Hills. Les made vans
and trailers for truckers all over southern Alberta. Turner`s logo on the front and the sides of the van
was red flag with the name Turner or Turner`s in yellow. Dad got the idea from the Pilsner Beer logo.
Listed on the van were the names of the towns served.
1952 1946 Chevrolets Drivers Cec Turner, Ned Schmaltz and Don Patton
Cec Turner with son Rick and Ned Schmaltz, Three Hills behind Turner house and Helton’s Sash and Door
Transferring load from one truck to another
Brand new 1952 Chevrolet and van built by Les Courville Three Hills
Depots used in Calgary were Wilson Freightways at 410 Riverside Boulevard NE, Calgary Truck Terminal
at 710 Riverside Boulevard NE, and also Calgary Truck Terminal at 4605 1st street SE. Calgary Truck
Terminal was operated by Art Larsen also owner of Art`s Transport who serviced Banff.
Drivers for Turner`s as I remember them were (I apologize to anyone that I have missed):
Don Patton
Ned Schmaltz Bill Trentham
Glen Maerz
Lavern Fuller
John Dye Mickey Lowry Lefty Gutteridge
Davey Matus Trev Freisen Tom Matus Ross Irvine Merle Umbach
This is the last picture I have of Dad’s trucks, they are 1973 International Loadstars
Cec Turner, Merle Umbach, Bill Trentham and me (Rick Turner)
1941 Chauffeur’s License
Cec Turner
Hat Badge for Trucker’s cap
Invoicing Statement sent to customers
Mom and Dad decided to retire from trucking and sold the business to their long time driver Bill
Trentham in 1974. Mom and Dad worked the summers at a Pine Lake campground and spent a few
winters in Arizona. I always thought Dad would pass away behind a steering wheel that did not happen;
he went to the hospital for a hip replacement and never came home in 1988. Mom passed away in
1996. The headstone below was published in Nancy Millar’s book “Remember Me As You Pass By”.
Burial plot Three Hills Cemetery
For me I have very fond childhood memories. Trucking was my life, I loved being with Dad on the trucks.
I felt the dirtier I got the harder I was working. I got to know a lot of the truckers in Calgary and the
store owners who Turner’s delivered to in the communities. I met a lot of kids in the communities
because the kids wanted to help unload freight when Turner’s came to town. Dad taught me how to
load the van properly, how to tie knots to secure the freight on the roof of the van and or the tailgate. I
learned the mechanical knowledge by watching and doing things for Dad. I felt I did adult things as a kid
with Dad. We watched the Calgary parade from the top of the van parked at Robin Hood Flour Mill yard
on 9th Ave for many years. When I received my learners permit and Dad let me drive the truck, which
was a feather in my cap.
Three Hills parade July 1956
Converted baby buggy to be the van
Memorabilia
United Freight Lines inter company memo
United Freight Lines pencil
1940’s and 1960’s Turner Transport statements
1941 Chauffeurs drivers license
1926-1956 Alberta Chauffeurs badges
Trucker’s cap Badge
Customer appreciation gifts Lighters etc.
Toy replica of the 1946 semitrailer made by Les Courville
Collection of Chauffeur’s License 1926- 1956
Typical example of customer appreciation gifts
Turner Transport, 1943
Notice the AMTA plaque in the center of the van, Alberta Motor Truck Association membership