Corporate History

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Purolator Corporate History

A fully Canadian-owned and operated company, Purolator prides itself on its heritage.

2000s

2009

• Purolator received its Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) re-certification membership approval (courier operations); helping secure Canada-U.S. borders.
• Purolator customers calling 1 888 SHIP-123 are introduced to a new dial-in experience with Purolator’s upgraded Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system; a highly integrated and intuitive system that guides customers through self-serve channels.
• Purolator is selected by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation and Ontario Trucking Association as one of 50 companies to test long combination vehicles (LCV). LCVs consist of one tractor pulling two 53-foot trailers.
• Purolator launches its new advertising campaign promoting a network unlike any other as well as highlighting its role as the Official Courier for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
• Purolator unveiled its new drop box; sporting a new look and structural design while further elevating the Purolator brand on the street.
• Purolator launches MyPurolator - a personalized online portal available via www.purolator.com; making it easier and faster for customers to do business with Purolator.
• Purolator's expanded 211,000-square-foot Richmond hub becomes fully operational; featuring new conveyors and chutes, a state-of-the-art sortation system and new control room.
• Purolator’s fourth annual Purolator Tackle Hunger Week raised more than 137,000 pounds of food for local food banks across Canada.
• Purolator USA opened a new full-service processing facility in Farmingdale, N.Y.
• Purolator launched Purolator E-Ship™ Web Services market-wide; providing web services complimenting customers’ e-business solutions. 
• Purolator International expanded its guaranteed, time-definite products to include Purolator US Express™ 9AM, Purolator US Express™ 10:30AM, Purolator International Express™ 9AM, Purolator International Express™ 10:30AM.
• Purolator Ground 9AM and Purolator Ground 10:30AM services launched.
• Purolator Global Supply Chain Services (GSC) opened its Martin Grove facility supporting GSC facilities in Richmond, B.C. and Montreal, Que.
• For the second consecutive year, Purolator is recognized in Security Magazine’s 2008 Security 500 report - ranked second in North America. Purolator is among only 12 Canadian organizations recognized in the 2008 results.
• Purolator Freight introduces a ‘protect from freezing’ heated less-than-truckload solution to customers.

2008

• For the second consecutive year Purolator is recognized as one of Canada’s 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures™ according to the 2008 Corporate Culture Study™ conducted by Waterstone Human Capital Ltd. and the National Post.
• The Purolator Tackle Hunger program achieved a milestone accomplishment raising two million pounds of food for food banks across Canada since the program’s inception in 2003; the equivalent of over 665 truckloads of food.
• Purolator is re-certified with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) into the modernized Partners in Protection (PIP) program.
• Purolator’s new online business centre is launched, a comprehensive online resource tool for customers.
• Two DC 1030 wide-body jets are added to Purolator’s air fleet – increasing the size of its air fleet to 25
• Purolator introduced an Interactive Voice Recognition (IVR) solution for tracking shipments across Canada. Upon accessing the IVR system, users are greeted by the automated attendant and prompted to verbally provide a bill of lading number to obtain the status of their shipment.
• Purolator selected to participate in a pilot test for new hydraulic hybrid courier delivery trucks; part of a U.S. government-corporate partnership project.
• Purolator recognized with an Excellence in Practice Citation in the Organizational Learning category for its TOP GUN training program by the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD).
• Purolator USA continued to expand its presence in the U.S. and opened full-service freight processing facilities in Philadelphia, P.A.; Raleigh-Durham, N.C.; and Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas as well as branch offices in Buffalo, N.Y. and Los Angeles, Calif.
• Purolator and the Canada Council of Teamsters ratify a new four-year collective agreement.
• Purolator and Hill & Knowlton Canada received the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) Best Use of Media Relations award for the Purolator Tackle Hunger campaign
• The Purolator Tackle Hunger program is presented with an Award of Distinction in the Sustained Success category at the 2008 Sponsorship Marketing Awards
• Purolink – Purolator’s original online shipping software -- launched over 12 years ago –officially retired, replaced by Purolator E-Ship™ Online.
• Purolator’s new E-Ship Server (ESS) is launched. ESS is a user-friendly, Windows-based stand alone operating system designed for large customers with multiple facilities and numerous users.
• Purolator’s 76,000 square-foot Port Kells terminal officially opened its doors – the new facility includes an on-site retail centre.
• Purolator announces that it has been added to the Official Supplier category for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.  As the exclusive courier for the 2010 Winter Games, Purolator will be responsible for the pick up and delivery of all documentation and packages going into and out of the various venues up to and during the Games.
• Purolator recognized as one of Canada’s 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures™ according to the 2007 Corporate Culture Study™ conducted by Waterstone Human Capital Ltd.

2007

• Security Magazine and BMP Media ranked Purolator 97 out of the top 500 companies in all of North America for its leadership role in the area of security.
• Purolator launched its new online shipping system - Purolator E-Ship™ Online.
• Through its partnership with the Canadian Football League, the Purolator Tackle Hunger program raised the equivalent of 422,922 pounds of food for the Canadian Association of Food Banks (CAFB).
• Purolator awarded three Service Quality Excellence Awards by the Service Quality Measurement Group (SQM). Moncton’s contact centre received the World Class Customer Satisfaction and Call Centre World Class Certification awards while the Montreal location was awarded the Highest Customer Satisfaction for the Union Industry award.
• Purolator officially launched global supply chain services (GSC) with the opening of a new facility in Richmond, B.C. The GSC business offering includes direct to store logistics and inventory reduction.
• Purolator introduced the Quicksider – a battery-operated delivery vehicle and the first of its kind to be used within the courier industry in Canada. The zero emissions vehicle is manufactured by Toronto-based Unicell Limited in partnership with ArvinMeritor.
• Purolator opened a state-of-the-art facility in St. Laurent, Que. The 160,000 square foot hub is the most efficient and technologically advanced facility in Canada with the ability to process up to 24,000 pieces of freight per hour.
• Purolator launched its International Cargo Service making it a full service provider for customers. In addition, Purolator became the exclusive Canadian member of the World Freight Alliance (WFA), a global network of large, well-known freight shipping companies that work together, each within their respective country.
• Purolator Freight opened a 23,000 square foot facility in Winnipeg, Man., and a 12,800 square foot facility in Calgary, Alta. Both facilities service existing Purolator less-than-truckload (LTL) customers and support LTL business growth in the Prairies.
• Purolator announced the addition of 30 new hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) to its fleet and expanded the Greening the Fleet program to Montreal, Ottawa and Vancouver.
• Purolator was awarded the first-ever Employer of Choice Marketing Award (ECMA) in recognition for the Purolator Tackle Hunger program, its activity in the community and good corporate citizenship. The ECMA’s are the only awards in Canada to recognize the very best in branding by employers working to build an image that will help them connect with potential employees, current employees and the general public.
• Purolator entered into the Memorandum of Understanding with the Canadian Human Rights Commission, furthering its commitment to human rights and ensuring that its employees continue to work in an environment that is free from harassment and discrimination.

2006

• Purolator unveiled plans for a state-of-the-art facility in St-Laurent, Québec. The new hub will be the most efficient and technologically advanced Purolator facility in Canada.
• Purolator won the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Pollution Prevention Award 2006 for the large business category. The award recognizes Purolator’s commitment to reducing its environmental footprint through the Greening the Fleet initiative.
• Purolator and Hill & Knowlton Canada received the National Award of Merit in Community Relations from the Canadian Public Relations Society in recognition of outstanding communications work conducted for the Purolator Tackle Hunger program in 2005.

2005

• Purolator won the prestigious 2005 Canada Awards for Excellence bronze quality award from the National Quality Institute (NQI). Purolator was the first Canadian courier company to be honoured by the NQI for workplace excellence based on quality systems and healthy workplace criteria.
• Purolator signed an order for 115 new hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) for its curb-side delivery fleet from Azure Dynamics Inc. After analyzing the environmental impacts of its operations and services, Purolator identified fleet fuel usage and vehicle air emissions as the best way to reduce its environmental footprint. The commitment to order 115 HEVs came just four months after introducing HEVs to Purolator’s fleet through a controlled rollout of the diesel series hybrid delivery vans into daily service.
• Purolator introduced 10 hybrid electric vehicles and one hydrogen fuel-cell hybrid electric vehicle to its Toronto curb-side delivery fleet. Purolator was the first Canadian courier company to start the transition to hybrid electric vehicles and introduce a fuel cell hybrid electric vehicle to its fleet.

2004

• Purolator introduced Purolator Freight, a premium less-than-truckload (LTL) service, in a pilot test for a select group of customers. Expansion into the LTL market enabled Purolator to increase its service offering and customer base.
• Purolator opened a new 149,000 square foot facility in Metro Toronto functioning as a pick up and delivery and hub operation, dispatch for all of Ontario and a Retail Centre. The facility is Purolator’s third largest following the Ontario Hub and Calgary terminal.
• Purolator announced the signing of an agreement with Hydrogenics Corporation for the development and demonstration of a zero-emission fuel cell hybrid electric vehicle and on-site hydrogen production, storage and refueling/dispensing station at its Metro West facility.

2003

• Purolator received Partners in Protection (PIP), Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and Free and Secure Trade (FAST) approval. Purolator was one of a very select few companies in Canada that achieved all three levels of voluntary trans-border security programs from agencies on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border. The announcement came at a time of substantial dialogue regarding security at the border.
• Purolator announced the signing of an agreement with Azure Dynamics Inc. for up to 2,000 Canadian-made hybrid electric vehicles. The agreement marked the first step towards replacing the vast majority of Purolator’s 3,700 urban delivery vehicles and made Purolator the first courier company in Canada to begin the transition to hybrid electric vehicles.
• Bob Johnson, Purolator CEO and President sent a letter of support and congratulations to John Furlong, President Vancouver 2010 Bid Corporation as Vancouver announced that it had won the bid for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
• Purolator received ISO 9001:2000 registration which enabled it to clearly define its quality focus, and align it intimately with its efforts to deliver superior customer care. This important initiative laid the groundwork for proactive and measured continuous improvement that benefits both Purolator and its customers.
• Purolator and Food Banks Canada announced a long-term relationship to support Canada's National Food Sharing System and revolutionize the distribution and delivery of food across Canada to help take more food, more efficiently to more local community destinations.
• Purolator and the Canadian Football League announced the Purolator Tackle Hunger program, a food drive campaign designed to directly address the issue of hunger in Canada and to benefit Food Banks Canada. Purolator manages food drives in select CFL cities where games are played and asks fans to drop off non-perishable food items for a photo with the Grey Cup. In addition to the Tackle Hunger food drives, every time a CFL quarterback gets sacked throughout the regular season, Purolator donates the quarterback's weight in food to a CFL hometown region food bank.
• Purolator became the national shipping sponsor of the thINK FOOD/Phones-For-Food program. The innovative fundraising program administered by Food Banks Canada recycles used cell phones to generate new funds for food banks. Purolator picks up and delivers the recycling bins located in its Retail Centres across Canada.
• Purolator joined the team supporting Vancouver's bid to secure the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games; delivered the bid books to the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne, Switzerland.

2002

• Purolator introduced a new and improved U.S. Deferred Service offering ground transport shipping from all points in Canada to all points in the U.S. The enhanced service provided Purolator's customers with more choices than ever before when shipping packages to the U.S., ensuring seamless transport of goods southbound from Canada for less money.
• Purolator selected Rogers AT&T Wireless to provide a customized end-to-end wireless data solution that enabled access to quick and reliable shipping information for Purolator customers across Canada. The agreement marked the first and largest wireless data solution implemented in Canada. As a result of the agreement, Purolator customers benefit from an improved tracking system that enables monitoring of packages from the time they are picked-up to the moment they are delivered, all in real time.

2001

• Purolator’s Ontario Hub received ISO 9001:2000 registration from the Quality Management Institute. The standards drive improvements in efficiency, ultimately to the benefit of the customer.
• Purolator opened a new terminal in Calgary, one of 11 new facilities in which the company invested in an expansion program of $82 million. The facility was a vital component of the western portion of Purolator’s network.
• Purolator announced Robert C. Johnson as its new president and chief executive officer.

2000

• Purolator entered a new era with the launch of Online Shipping, its new electronic commerce initiative. This new feature provided customers access to shipping online at www.purolator.com.

1990s

1999

• Purolator began offering third-party logistics services. Through strategic alliances, this offering provided a full spectrum of integrated and customized supply chain solutions.
• Canada Post Corporation purchased an additional interest in Purolator from Onex, increasing its ownership in Purolator to 95.81 per cent.
• Purolator employees were given the opportunity to invest in the company through an Employee Share Ownership Plan.
• Purolator announced its plans to embark on an ambitious $82 million expansion project for the opening of 11 new facilities.

1998

• Purolator formed a strategic alliance with DHL Worldwide Express, the world's largest and most experienced international air express carrier. This alliance was established in order to provide customers with superior delivery to international points outside the U.S. in addition to global logistics and distribution solutions.
• Purolator introduced 24-hour bilingual customer service to its toll free number, 1 888 SHIP-123; available from anywhere in North America, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
• Purolator's air operations celebrated the milestone of moving more than 100 million pounds of freight by air in a single year.

1997

• Purolator became the first Canadian courier company to offer courier pick up requests on the Internet. Customers could also track packages, check rates and transit times, download Purolator's automated shipping software (Purolink), and find a host of other useful information in either French or English online.
• To meet the growing needs of businesses shipping urgent items after normal business hours, Purolator began offering around-the-clock pick up and delivery service seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year*. This service allowed customers to request a pick up any time, on any day, anywhere across Canada simply by calling 1 888 SHIP-123*.
• Less than one year after the launch of Purolink, Purolator processed the one-millionth shipment requested using the software.
• Purolator began construction on a 123,000-sq. ft. facility at the Vancouver, British Columbia airport.

1996

• Purolator leapt to the forefront of technical innovation, becoming the first Canadian courier company to introduce its own state-of-the-art automated shipping software, known as Purolink. With a Windows-based personal computer, a modem and a laser printer, Purolink made it easy to create mailing lists, prepare bills of lading, price shipments, order supplies, track packages and request pick ups automatically.
• Purolator formed an alliance with Dynamex Inc. giving customers of both companies access to a full range of same day and overnight courier services.
• To keep pace with growing demand, Purolator built a series of combined air and ground facilities across Canada. Purolator broke ground for a 69,000-sq. ft. facility at the Moncton, New Brunswick airport and a 92,000-sq. ft. facility was announced for the Winnipeg, Manitoba airport.
• Purolator regained the rights to use the name Purolator Courier Ltd. in the U.S. Prior to regaining this right, Purolator operated a well respected northbound service in the U.S. known as Canadian Distribution Services (now Purolator USA).

1995

• Purolator launched its presence on the Internet at www.purolator.com.

1994

• Purolator chartered a dedicated fleet of aircraft from Kelowna Flightcraft Air Charter Ltd. (Kelowna).
• Purolator's new aircraft displayed a bold new blue and red logo, created to provide a more energetic and appealing graphic image.

1993

• Canada Post Corporation purchased a 75 per cent interest in Purolator.

1992

• Purolator unveiled a three-year plan to establish one of Canada's largest voice and data communications networks for pick up requests, package tracking, supply orders and general inquiries.

1980s

1989

• Purolator acquired Gelco Express Limited. This acquisition greatly improved Purolator's operations in British Columbia, continuing its strong growth and presence in Western Canada.
• Purolator developed a unique, automated shipping system for high volume customers consisting of a computer, scale, and printer. The Purolator Shipping System was given to customers at no charge and facilitated the process of preparing high volumes of packages for shipment by automating the task of completing bills of lading. It also provided customers with online tracking capabilities through a direct modem link to Purolator.

1987

• Onex Corporation and others purchased Purolator's Canadian operations. As a result of acquisition, Purolator became a fully Canadian-owned corporation.
• Purolator launched a strategic alliance with Airborne Express (now DHL), the fastest growing air-express delivery carrier in the U.S. Airborne Express was the only U.S. carrier that owned and operated a private airport – the largest in the U.S. This alliance enabled Purolator to offer its customers total distribution solutions by providing time sensitive delivery of packages to virtually every U.S. zip code.
• Purolator introduced an innovative retail concept in the Canadian courier industry with the opening of its first Retail Centre (the first of its kind in Canada) at Toronto's Yonge/Sheppard Centre.

1970s-1960s

1973

• The company name was changed to Purolator Courier Ltd.

1967

• Purolator Filter of the United States acquired control of both companies.

1960

• Purolator began on Dec. 5, 1960, as Trans Canadian Couriers, Ltd., a subsidiary of American Courier Corp. With a staff of two, the company spent its infancy in the heart of Eastern Canada, with restricted operating licenses for the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.