Longtime member of the California Association and retired president and chief executive of California Cartage (Cal Cartage) Robert (Bob) Curry Sr. passed away on February 9th at the age of 90. Bob started his carrier in the trucking industry after college, working his way up through the ranks for the family company making his way to executive vice president and taking the helm of California Cartage as president and chief executive officer after his father’s unexpected death in 1965.
Bob was a visionary who transformed a California trucking business specializing in hauling aircraft parts, to an international logistics company that changed the drayage industry in the state and the nation. Following a trip to Japan in the late 1960s, Bob saw the future of containerization and was instrumental in Cal Cartage being awarded a contract as the Container Freight Under Station (CFS) operator for a consortium of Japanese Ocean Carriers. A contract that revolutionized the shipping industry and ultimately spurred the growth of Cal Cartage.
Bob's vision took Cal Cartage from a local business based out of Los Angeles to a national leading logistics provider of warehousing, distribution, transloading, and port drayage trucking. Cal Cartage would go on to open distribution centers, transload facilities and truck terminals in every major US port city including San Diego, Oakland, Seattle, Savannah, Norfolk, Houston, Chicago, Memphis, Charleston, and New Jersey. In addition to growing the business in the U.S., Cal Cartage expanded internationally into Mexico to support the growing trade between the United States and Mexico.
“For being such a giant in the trucking industry, Mr. Curry was a pretty humble guy, always so supportive to the drayage industry as well as CTA,” said Eric Sauer, senior vice president of government affairs for CTA. “Anytime we needed his support on a project that would benefit the industry, there was no hesitation from him to support our efforts. For years, I would address him as Mr. Curry and over time he would tell me to quit calling him that and just call him Bob. I will always appreciate the time I was able to spend with him and the knowledge of the industry that he shared with me.”
During his time as Cal Cartage’s CEO, Bob was honored with many awards for his leadership and influence on the international shipping industry. In 2010, Bob was presented the Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce for his contributions, leadership, and continuing efforts to improve the local strength of the community and economy.
In 2014, Bob was the first transportation executive to receive the Connie Award from the Containerization and Intermodal Institute, a prestigious award that recognizes recipients for their significant contributions and positive influence on the world trade industry of containerization.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Bob left a mark on several members of the trucking community.
“Mr. Curry was beloved by his employees and respected at all levels of the Intermodal Supply Chain,” expressed Robert Loya, CTA member and chief operations officer for T.G.S. Logistics. “It was an honor to have worked for Mr. Curry and his family of companies. He was inspiration to us all, a living legend during his time and pioneer of the drayage and logistics space. His people were his pride and joy, and he showed his appreciation for all their hard work, dedication, and loyalty in many special ways. The industry truly lost a one of kind human being.”
