J erry Moyes is a self-made American billionaire who built his fortune in the trucking and logistics industry. He is the founder and former CEO of Swift Transportation, which he built from a single truck into one of the largest trucking companies in North America. His is a classic story of entrepreneurial grit and ambition.
He grew Swift Transportation through a highly successful strategy of acquiring smaller trucking companies. He took the company public, then took it private in a leveraged buyout, and then took it public again. In 2017, Swift merged with its rival, Knight Transportation, to form the publicly traded giant, Knight-Swift Transportation. In addition to his core trucking business, he has also had significant interests in other transportation companies and was the former owner of the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes. His career has also been marked by controversy, including an SEC investigation for insider trading.
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Jerry Moyes is an American businessman, the self-made billionaire Founder, former Chairman, and former CEO of Swift Transportation, one of the largest trucking companies in the United States. Born in Plain City, Utah, in 1944, his career is rooted in logistics and transportation. His entrepreneurial journey began in 1966 when he founded his first trucking company, Common Market, with one truck given to him by his father.
Moyes is a graduate of Weber State College, where he attended the John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics. His philosophy centers on aggressive acquisition, operational efficiency, and high-volume logistics to dominate the essential transportation supply chain.
Jerry Moyes's strategic genius was his aggressive consolidation strategy in the trucking industry. He founded Common Market in 1966 after a client suggested he move his business to Phoenix. In 1972, Common Market merged with Swift Transportation, taking the latter's name. Under his leadership, the company rapidly expanded through acquisitions, becoming the largest trucking company in the United States.
His structural contribution is tied to the successful industrialization of the trucking and logistics sector. He briefly owned the Arizona Coyotes (NHL) from 2006 to 2009. He stepped down as CEO in 2016 but remains a major investment figure, controlling SME Steel Contractors Inc. and the LTL freight carrier Central Freight Lines. His wealth is secured by the colossal, long-term, stable profitability of the global logistics and transportation sector.
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Founds his first trucking company, Common Market, with one truck (Founding).
Common Market merges with Swift Transportation (Corporate Consolidation).
Swift Transportation achieves $250 million in revenue (Financial Milestone).
Owns the Arizona Coyotes (NHL) (Sports Diversification).
Stepped down as CEO of Swift Transportation (Executive Transition).
Continues as Founder and controlling owner of Swift Air and SME Steel Contractors (Executive Oversight).
Jerry Moyes's wealth is concentrated in the capital generated from the Swift Transportation sale/merger and his private industrial and aviation assets.
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Jerry Moyes's social impact is structural, stemming from Swift Transportation's role as a massive employer (thousands of employees) and a foundational provider of essential supply chain and logistics services for the U.S. economy. His companies contribute significantly to the stability and efficiency of goods distribution.
His personal philanthropy supports various community and educational initiatives. His career is a testament to the profitability of disciplined logistics consolidation and the successful industrialization of the trucking sector.
Jerry Moyes maintains the professional, pragmatic style of a transportation executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored business suits. His aesthetic reflects stability and immense corporate authority, blending his logistics background with his high-stakes aviation and industrial holdings.
Residing in Phoenix, Arizona, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to logistics management, industrial acquisition, and the long-term stewardship of his transportation empire.
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+3.01% | +$1.05B
-7.85% | -$311.18M
This profile is compiled from verified biographical and financial records:
All information is cross-referenced with public sources for accuracy; some narrative sections are AI-assisted summaries.
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