Camion Transport AG celebrates 100th anniversary

100 years of success story. From its beginnings as a simple warehouse, Camion Transport AG has developed into one of the leading players in the Swiss transport and logistics industry. On April 9, 2025, the family-owned company will celebrate a century full of innovations, challenges, and milestones. A day dedicated to pride and appreciation – for what has been achieved, the dedicated employees, and the shared future.

(Wil) For a hundred years, Camion Transport has been shaping the transport and logistics landscape of Switzerland. Founded in 1925 as Lagerhaus AG Wil, the company initially pursued the establishment and operation of a warehouse, in the interest of trade and industry, according to the commercial register entry from April 9, 1925. The first truck was acquired in 1928, laying the foundation for today’s transport business. Starting with regional trips, the company increasingly began transporting goods between Eastern Switzerland and the Rhine port in Basel. The general cargo traffic quickly gained importance for Lagerhaus AG Wil.

The Jäger era and visions for the future

The year 1948 marks the beginning of the Jäger era when Josef Jäger senior – known to everyone as Sepp – joins the company. Shortly thereafter, he is already responsible for managing the truck repair workshop within the firm and takes over the helm of Lagerhaus AG Wil in 1966. Under his leadership, the company moved to its current headquarters on Hubstrasse in Wil in 1972, which has grown through continuous expansions in the following years. “That was a significant step in our company history and enabled substantial capacity expansions,” says Josef Jäger, his son and current director of Camion Transport. In 1975, the name was changed to Camion Transport, and the first branch office was established in Geneva. Nine years later, the first general cargo transports as a shuttle by rail took place. This marked the birth of the dual transport system and the current core of the transport organization. The father was a visionary and a doer, and he skillfully set the course for today’s successful model, Jäger states.

Camion Transport becomes a family business

1991 is a groundbreaking year. The Jäger family acquires the majority of shares in Camion Transport, marking the end of the previous public company with a widely dispersed shareholder base. One year later, on July 1, 1992, father Sepp Jäger hands over the management as director to his son Josef Jäger. “The handover of the scepter happened almost overnight. And if my father felt I was doing something wrong, he would scold me on Saturday in front of the family, but he let me do my thing in public,” Josef Jäger chuckles. He appreciated that greatly.

Colis Express as an innovation

Another pillar in the company’s history is the establishment of the parcel service “Colis Express” in 1993. With this fast offering for small shipments in the general cargo sector, Camion Transport set another milestone for its time. “We didn’t want to lose these shipments to a parcel service provider, so we launched our own parcel service with twenty vehicles,” explains Franz Meienhofer, deputy director at Camion Transport. In May 1995, the transport volume averaged 2,540 parcels per day, with an average price of 13 francs per parcel – unimaginable today. Soon, new parcel service providers entered the Swiss market, increasing price pressure, and the company sought collaboration with another provider: Colis Express was eventually integrated into Qualipac AG. “However, the development of know-how with our own nationwide IT network was crucial for the later acquisition of Cargo Domizil – we learned a lot in the process,” says Meienhofer.

Acquisition of Cargo Domizil

The most significant decision to date was made in 1996 with the strategic acquisition of Cargo Domizil together with two partners. This expanded the network with important locations in Eastern, Northern, and Western Switzerland – Camion Transport systematically shifted shipments on main distances to rail from then on. Starting in 2000, additional rail-bound branches in the economically significant regions complemented the network. The expansion continued, also through strategic company acquisitions. In 2022, the newest location in Hägendorf was added. Today, Camion Transport transports about two-thirds of its transport volume on the green rail.

Sustainability and awards

The ecological environment has always held a high priority for the logistics specialist. Concrete measures are at the forefront. In 2009, the board of directors decided on a strategic objective: to achieve a leading position in transport ecology in Switzerland. Based on this, the sustainability program “Eco Balance by Camion Transport” was created, which unites environmental protection, economic efficiency, and social engagement. For this, the family business received the prestigious Eco Performance Award in 2012. The milestones towards the goal of “net zero” by 2050 have been set. The vehicle fleet is a focal point. However, the sub-goals also include real estate, operational sites, electricity procurement, and energy generation. Camion Transport also plays a pioneering role as an employer: awarded the “Friendly Work Space” label in 2015, as the first transport and logistics company in Switzerland. In 2022, it received the Swiss Employer Award, recognized as the best employer in the large company category with more than 1,000 employees.

Camion Transport AG in 2025

Looking to the future

With a focus on new technologies, Camion Transport looks forward to the coming decades with optimism. They are convinced that these will help streamline work processes and improve services even further. Ultimately, it is also the customers who influence the company’s success. At the end of the anniversary year, a generational change will take place. Josef Jäger states, “The 100th birthday of our company is not only a significant milestone but also a springboard into the future. I am proud to hand over our successful company to my daughter Michèle Jäger and my nephew Samuel Eder. They bring the necessary skills for co-leadership and will protect and preserve our values.” He will remain on the board of directors after more than three decades as director and will continue to oversee some projects.

Videos about Camion Transport AG and the anniversary

Photos/Graphics: © Camion Transport AG