Apgar Bros. Bound Brook, NJ

[White3000]

I posted this over in the general forum, but thought I would also post here.  Does anyone have any stories or pictures to share of Apgar Brothers in NJ?  Apgar Bros. was well-known to me as a kid growing up in NJ in the 60's and 70's.  My Dad drove for them for a year or two in the mid-fifties (~1955) before moving on to a career with NJ Bell Telephone.  Since I hung on every word of his, I feel almost qualified to speak for him now (he's now 91, and will still share truck driving stories if I get him started).

They were almost exclusively Mack - Dad primarily drove an LF, after starting on one of two White 3000s that were in the fleet.  Once in a while, he was entrusted with the newer B-61 - he told me recently that he snapped this picture when he was sent to pick up a brand new trailer. 

The White was powered by a gas-engine, with a 5 speed and 2 speed rear.  Both LF and B-61 were 5 speed main + 2 speed aux, Diesels as you know.  He mentioned a pre-war E model Mack used as a "drill tractor" in the yard.  Overall, he said the White was easy driving, with the Macks being a bit more work.  

On Saturdays, a driver could pick up a few bucks washing his tractor - which kept Apgar Bros. trucks looking great!

Honestly, I could go on and on with these stories.  As I said, I hung on every word from this great man.  He may have only spent a year or two at this, but I have run these beautiful rigs for 50 years now - in my imagination!

Jeff

[Jrhaelig]

Hello -

Apgar Brothers was started by my grandfather (and his brothers) in the late 1920's.  He had sold his portion by the late '60's early 70's.

He registered the first tractor trailer combo in NJ.  He went to the Somerville DMV to get it registered and they couldn't get past something called a tractor not coming from John Deere or the like.  He had to drive it to Trenton to get the process figured out.

His brother Irving held a patent on a jack knife prevention hitch plate (you can tell I'm not a driver) 

They started with just one chain-drive Mack.  His father was very critical of such a large purchase by a young man, but it worked out.  A restored chain-drive Mack in Apgar livery is in the Mahan Heritage truck museum in Basking Ridge, NJ.  Thankfully he bought it when Apgar Bros dissolved several years ago.

Bob Haas was the manager for decades, and probably worked with your father.

You're right about the cleanliness of the trucks - it was legendary.  Those green & cream B-61's were all over the place when I was a kid, but that museum piece is the only one left in those colors.

John Haelig          jrhaelig@yahoo.com

[mowerman]

Great story’s fellas missed them both somehow  thanks for sharing.Bob

[tjc transport]

i remember Apgar Bros very well. always spotless trucks. 

the company still lives in the fact they were located on Apgar Drive Somerset NJ.

i have not been down Apgar drive in a while now, but the last time i was the terminal was still there. 

[mowerman]

i went to look at my pops old yard beacon fast freight a few years ago and whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat////// it was gone there was a shopping mall there now...i remember when they built it in 1970....i was thinking there was probably some bottom feeder jippo in there now...lol.bob

[mowerman]

dolly wheels wow...i remember when i started tractor and box driving....i was only 20,,,went to stab the trailer it was a little low and the air ran out of the brakes it must have rolled 15 ft i was shitting my pants ...good thing there was nothing behind it...bob

[Hobo]

My name is Dennis   my cb handle’s Hobo i worked in the Erie terminal from 1977 until  the Erie facility was closed in 1995   i believe Doug still lives in edinboro    most of the crew from erie are gone now    i remember the chain drive Mack , it sat on display , clean and shiny , in front of the office    when i started , the Bound Brook office was in town    there was also a terminal in Tampa Florida    the anti-jackknife fifth wheel that Irv designed was known as the Holland-Apgar trailer master    Bob Haas actually began employment week-ends washing trucks , worked his way up to being operations manager    Apgar Bros had such a good reputation , they sometimes operated test tractors for Mack    I was once asked to test a new tractor for one year    it was testing a 25,000 mile service interval   the tractor had a 54 quart oil pan , after 100 ,000 miles it was torn down and checked for wear   if i think about it , some time i’ll write some more   when the erie terminal closed , i sent Irv a letter thanking him for the years of employment he provided , and how my family benefited   Irv sent me a book , the Pioneers of Trucking   it included a story about Apgar Bros

[Mrs. Crow]

Hobo, I know you knew Crow if you worked out of Eerie. He worked out of NJ but ran Eerie often.

[Rob Roy]

Good thing Mahan bought the A/C and restored it.  It sat outside at the terminal for years rusting away. They had a B61 yard tractor and also a U600. I wonder what happened to them ?

[FRANK HAAS]

My name is Frank Haas no relation to the famous Bobby Haas ! I worked at the Erie Pa terminal / garage as a mechanic and a lot of other things !

loved working for a family owned company, I worked at the Mack dealership on w 12th st Erie Pa for aprox. 2 years then went back to APGAR BROS ! I rebuilt 13 engines for Apgar / i reconditioned the B61 that we had at Erie terminal  ! She was a beauty ! Norm Cooper and I painted alot of the trucks (U Models) I miss all the guys ! Jack Cooper hired me from Mcfeely Trucking as a mechanic Jack was the terminal manager then he went on the road again and Norm Cooper took over as mgr. everyone was great and fun to work with even when there was lots of whining ! I was so sad to hear they closed Erie terminal, FRANK HAAS