The History of the Hess Toy Truck

Dec. 19, 2014

Back in 1933, Leon Hess, then aged just 19, formed Hess Inc. and purchased a 1926 second-hand 615-gallon oil delivery truck and begins residential delivery, seven days a week, near his home in Asbury Park, NJ. Over the next two decades, with experience gleaned as a petroleum supply officer in the U.S. Army, Hess made his company into a major oil refinery and distribution powerhouse. In 1960, though, when Hess opened his first gasoline filling station, it was common practice to give customers a gift with their fuel purchase. Gifts at the time included mugs, glassware, but usually a die-cast toy truck. Hess decided to take that practice a step further by offering what he considered a "quality toy" at his filling stations and thus began a half-century tradition.

About the Author

Sean Kilcarr | Editor in Chief

Sean Kilcarr is a former longtime FleetOwner senior editor who wrote for the publication from 2000 to 2018. He served as editor-in-chief from 2017 to 2018.

 

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