Early Life
Jerry Moyes was born in 1944. His father ran a small freight company, and Jerry was involved in the day-to-day operations from a young age. In 1966, Jerry Moyes founded Common Market with one truck, later becoming Swift Transportation.
Rise to Success
Moyes's leadership transformed Swift into one of the largest trucking companies in the United States. Swift went public in 1990, and the company expanded through acquisitions. Under his leadership, Swift became a billion-dollar company. In 2017, Swift merged with Knight Transportation to form Knight-Swift, with Moyes retaining a significant ownership stake. He stepped down as chairman of Swift in 2016 after 50 years in the business.
Key Business Strategies
Moyes focused on building scale in transportation and logistics services. He went public to access capital for expansion and acquisitions, and emphasized operational efficiency and cost management.
Philanthropy
Jerry and Vickie Moyes have supported philanthropic efforts, including major donations to Phoenix Children's Hospital for pediatric facilities in the West Valley, and a $5 million gift to Weber State University for a supply chain management program.