Trucking Companies BC: About Us

“To strive to maintain a unified staff whose goal is to create an efficient and profitable customer service based business”

Established in 1954, Berry and Smith Trucking Ltd. is a third-generation family owned and operated transportation company based out of Penticton, BC. Our Industry leading customer service, wide array of service offerings, reliable on-time deliveries and proven safety record are unparalleled in the transport industry.

With our combination of over 100 late model tractors (a mix of company owned and owner operated trucks), over 200 trailers, plus our ability to deliver North America wide, we can handle your freight! We perform dry van, flat deck and intermodal services from our two offices (Penticton and Delta BC) and multiple trailer yards. Out of our Penticton location we operate a B.C. MOT approved inspection and repair facility, keeping our modern fleet well maintained.

We also operate an office and yard in Delta BC, specializing in intermodal transport, dry van service and cross-border bonded loads. This terminal primarily moves freight out of West coast ports and rail yards delivering throughout BC and AB.

In addition, we operate Penticton Transit Service Ltd. out of our Penticton office. We have run the Penticton conventional transit service since 1977. We also operate the Naramata, Summerland and Osoyoos paratransit service in addition to custom transit service for Penticton. Further to our transit operations, we have provided school bus services for multiple school districts in the Penticton area since 1964.

History

Berry and Smith Trucking originated in 1954 with Stu Berry and Ted Smith. Stu had purchased trucks to haul fruit, and Ted was always interested in trucking. Ted bought a fruit truck and a school bus for the Naramata students. In 1958 Stu and Ted combined their resources and incorporated Berry & Smith Trucking Ltd. Stu and Ted remained great friends for their entire lives. They treated each other with respect and from the beginning Berry & Smith has treated their employees and business partners with compassion and respect as well.

The Company started with medium-duty trucks delivering fruit and coal regionally. After ten years of incorporation Berry & Smith purchased Carter Brothers, a Penticton company that had operated trucks and school buses for the District.

In the early 1970’s, Berry & Smith purchased its first tractor trailer, enabling the Company to transport freight around the Okanagan Valley, later expanding to larger markets like Vancouver. In 1989 the Vancouver office was opened in Burnaby. In 1994 Berry & Smith purchased a commercial yard and a small office in Delta due to an ever expanding intermodal market. The Delta office still operates as Berry & Smith’s main intermodal transportation hub.

Berry and Smith has grown steadily to a North American wide truckload carrier with offices in Penticton and Delta.

Berry & Smith began transporting people with its first school bus contract in 1962 (an operation that has continued uninterrupted to present) and branched into the delivery of public transit in Penticton in 1977. It was one of the earliest transit systems in the Municipal Systems Program. In 1995 Penticton Transit Service Ltd. took over operation of the Okanagan Similkameen system (Naramata and Okanagan Falls) and has operated this system to this day. Penticton Transit Service Ltd. has expanded over the years and in 2018 won a new transit contract for added municipalities including handyDART service in various districts in the Okanagan.

From the beginning Berry & Smith has prided itself on treating its employees like family. The Berry kids grew up working in the business and were driving commercially at a young age. Stu retired in 1997 and the Company has since been run by a management team, led by sons, Matt (President) and Mark (former Vice President). Grandsons, Parker, Kaolin and Warryn, work for the Company as well.

Although many changes have taken place at Berry & Smith over the years, our excellent service and reputation have remained. The Berry family has always recognized the importance of the employees working together within the Company and many of Berry & Smith’s employees have worked entire careers (30+ years) with the Company before retiring. Stu put in a place a profit-sharing system which provides a year-end profit-sharing cheque to all employees and lease operators in any year in which the Company has sufficient profit. Having employees share in the success of the Company is a cornerstone value that has continued.