In 1969, Tony Rousslang Sr. and his wife Fran started as freight agents for Raymond Motors, Hart Motors, Midwest Motor Express (MME), and Twin City Freight (TCF) all based out of the Minneapolis/Saint Paul Minnesota area. These companies would drop their partial freight off in Wadena, and the freight would be delivered within a 40-mile radius of Wadena, Minnesota.
Tony and Fran operated in this fashion until 1981 when Tony Rousslang Sr. bought out Hammes Transfer and over the road trucking began. Tony’s sons Joe Rousslang and Dave Rousslang who worked for Tony’s Transfer delivering freight, took on the over the road trucking within a five-state radius.
In 1986 Fran passed away and three years later in 1989 Tony Rousslang Sr. passed away. The company continued operating and in 1991 the brothers Joe and Dave Rousslang purchased the company and began a partnership Tony’s Transfer LLC. As a 48-state carrier, the brothers fully embraced long distance trucking and grew the business from only a handful of trucks, to a fleet of trucks and a staff of owner operators. After a few years the company incorporated to Tony’s Transfer Inc.
In 2016 Tony’s Transfer Inc. moved from its original location to the Wadena Industrial Park on the outskirts of Wadena and combined all their facilities onto one location. The new location includes an office building, maintenance shop, and ample space for all truck and trailer parking. The office building houses the location of Tony’s Transfer Inc. office, and an area with kitchen, bathroom, and bedrooms facilities for drivers to use during their off hours.
In 2018 with the sudden death of Joe Rousslang, Joe’s wife Dianne stepped in to help the business and became a part-owner of Tony’s Transfer with Joe’s brother Dave Rousslang.
During the 50 years (1969-2019) this family owned business built a legacy of a professional over-the road trucking company through the company’s commitment to growth, safety with well-maintained quality equipment, superior service, customer satisfaction and the dedication of drivers and staff that remains the backbone of the company today.
