Seven generations. More than 175 years.
The longest-standing family-owned 3PL in America.
Taylor was built by people who care deeply about the work they do and the customers they serve. We exist for our people first — because great people are what make great partnerships possible.
“We care for our customers’ inventory like it is our own.”
Built by people who care about the work.
One hundred seventy-five years doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when a company puts its people first and treats every customer’s inventory like its own — generation after generation.
Our people, first
We exist for our people — because we know great people are what make great partnerships possible. Take care of the team, and the team takes care of the customer.
Why we existInventory like our own
That same care extends to every shipment, every pallet, and every product entrusted to us. We treat your inventory like it is our own — because to us, it is.
Our promiseService first to the customer
The creed John Taylor founded the company on in 1850 was published as our standard 135 years later. It still guides every decision we make today.
Since 1850One family, by name
Long-standing relationships and trusted partnerships, built by people who care deeply about the work. Family- and woman-owned through every stage of growth.
Family owned
A horse, a wagon, and one steady idea.
In 1850, John Rex Taylor III left Bath, England and travelled by ship to New Orleans, then up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers to Cincinnati. With his son Edward, a horse, and a carriage, he founded the Taylor Drayage Company.
The work was simple and essential: move paper supplies from the steamships to a Cincinnati book factory, and carry the finished books back to the river. An original logistics network — the forebear of the modern e-commerce supply chain — built on one idea that still holds: service first to the customer.
Seven generations, one steady creed.
From a horse and wagon on the Cincinnati riverfront to a modern dedicated-fleet carrier and full-service 3PL — the same family, the same standard, every step of the way.
Cincinnati Riverfront · c. 1850
Taylor Drayage Company is founded
John Rex Taylor III sails from Bath, England to New Orleans, makes his way up to Cincinnati, and founds Taylor Drayage with his son Edward. A horse, a wagon, and a contract with the American Book Company — moving paper from the steamships and books back to the river.
Cincinnati Railyards · Early 20th Century
Surviving the technological turn
The Miami & Erie Canal — the lifeline of the drayage business — is in decline. Motor trucks are arriving. Rail is rising. Taylor relocates closer to Cincinnati’s railroads and prepares for the rebrand.
Taylor Trucking · Cincinnati · 1925
Taylor Trucking Company
The horse-and-wagon era ends. Taylor Drayage becomes Taylor Trucking — running motor trucks between Cincinnati’s rail terminals, river docks, and the city’s growing manufacturing base. The fleet trades hooves for diesel.
Taylor Warehouse · Cincinnati · 1965
From trucking to warehousing
Taylor opens its first dedicated warehouse on the outskirts of downtown Cincinnati. Trucks haul goods in and out of Taylor-owned space — the company becomes a full warehousing-and-distribution operation, not just a carrier.
“Taylor-Made” Service · Brochure, c. 1985
“Taylor-Made” Service
Three brothers run the business. The “Taylor-Made Service” campaign is born — a custom approach for every customer, geared to their unique needs. “Service first to the customer” becomes the published creed, 135 years after John founded it.
Taylor Today · West Chester, OH
Seven generations. One family.
Taylor is now in its seventh generation of family ownership — a modern dedicated-fleet carrier, drayage and transload provider, and full-service 3PL. Still family led, still focused on doing right by customers, employees, and partners.
One family, still at the wheel.
Founded in 1850, Taylor is now in its seventh generation of family ownership — built on long-standing relationships, trusted partnerships, and people who care deeply about the work they do.
For 175 years, Taylor has remained family led and focused on doing right by customers, employees, and partners through every stage of growth. The names on the door are the names on the road.
Cincinnati, since 1850.
Seven generations of Taylors have grown up here — learned to ride bikes on these streets, walked these riverbanks, raised children who’d one day raise their own. We were founded on the cobblestones of this river town in 1850, and our headquarters is still just a few miles from where it all began.
As our family has grown beyond Cincinnati, every new city we’ve called home has welcomed us like one of their own — and we’ve done our best to show up the same way in return.
About Taylor.
The questions people ask most about our history and our company. Want to talk? Call us.
Work with Taylor, or just say hello.
New business, partnership ideas, media and press requests, or a question about our 175-year history — send it our way and the right person will be in touch.
West Chester, OH 45069
Put seven generations to work for you.
From dedicated fleet and drayage to transloading and full-service 3PL, Taylor brings 175 years of know-how to your supply chain. Let’s see if we’re a good fit.