Company History

In 1919 young Peter A. Lobraico bought O'Keefe Express from his brother Bill.

Truck No. 2

This consisted of one red Ford truck for the grand sum of $556.00. Peter abbreviated the name of the Company to O.K. Express. That red O.K. Express truck was seen all over the city at any hour of the day or night, taking jobs ranging from carrying orchestra harps up the outside fire escape of the CBC for $1 apiece to salting city streets.

Peter and his sons performed all the maintenance on the vehicles. Constant vigilance in vehicle maintenance became a way of life for the Company and remains one of our strongest policies today.

By 1955 O.K. Express had their own property in East York. Business had boomed, with the

50 Years!

fleet of trucks now numbering 20, tractor-trailer equipment included.

It was during the mid '70's that O.K. Express expanded with the acquisition of Taylor Bros. Transport (Markham) Limited, Janton Trucklease Limited, and Bestway Warehousing Limited, offering the shipping public a full complement of transportation service: full loads throughout Ontario, local cartage, contract vehicles, equipment leasing, and warehousing and distribution facilities. To reflect this new approach, the company name was changed to OK Transportation Limited.

OK Transportation Limited heralded its Diamond Jubilee year in 1979 and in 1985 achieved the long planned goal of consolidating its operations. Continuing in Scarborough, Ontario where it all began, OK Transportation Limited presently operates at 91 Melford Drive (Finch & Markham Road area, just north of Highway 401).

OK Transportation Limited continues to grow with a fleet of over 430 units and over 275 employees. In 1999, under the direction of third generation President, Peter A. Lobraico, the company celebrated its 80th year of service to the industry and community. The community has always been a strong calling to the family. In 1997, the grandsons honoured their grandfather, the founder, by dedicating the Lobraico Cardiac Rehabilitation Centre in his name at Centenary Health Centre in Scarborough, Ontario.

The company offers a full compliment of services such as general cartage to points in Central Canada and Eastern U.S. and third party logistics (EasyFleet). Peter and his brothers John and Michael have a clear vision of the future and build upon a strong foundation that was started some 80 years ago.