TRANSPORTATION AND LOGISTICS THROUGH 50 YEARS IN THE USA

With the beginning of international container transportation in the late 1960’s the possibility to move goods overseas to the US Midwest became reality. Up to this time goods and products were shipped on conventional vessels through the Great Lakes from April to December, when the locks in the St. Lawrence seaway were not frozen. Alternatively, the major East Coast ports were utilized in the winter months causing regularly delays and severe damage to the freight. 

With the help of ‘Loom of Denmark’ and their subsidiary ‘Racine Import Company’, Paul Lehmann International Transport System A/S (now LEMAN A/S) started a consolidated container service from Denmark to Racine, Wisconsin servicing a handful of importers in the US Midwest, also known for being home to the largest Danish community in the USA.

As the service evolved and grew, LEMAN bravely decided to establish a wholly owned US subsidiary and the vision of LEMAN USA was born. Today, 50 years later LEMAN USA is a well-recognized international logistics provider and a market leader in consolidated ocean freight from Denmark and the Nordics to the USA.

The LEMAN USA history

• 1900 The company Paul Lehmann was founded in Copenhagen, Denmark.
• 1971 LEMAN USA was founded. Starting operations from Racine, Wisconsin and became the company’s US Headquarters.
• 1974 A brand new office and warehouse building was constructed in Racine.
• 1980 LEMAN started offering Warehousing services in addition to International Freight Forwarding.
• 1996 Anticipating further growth, land was purchased at Renaissance Business Park in Sturtevant, Wisconsin.
• 1998 LEMAN built a brand new 68’000 sq ft multi-office and warehouse facility at Renaissance Park.
• 1998 LEMAN established an office at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois.
• 2001 A branch in Los Angeles, California was opened.
• 2002 LEMAN started up in Atlanta, Georgia.
• 2002 Opening of LEMAN in Clark, New Jersey (followed by a merger with Windsor Looks in 2004)
• 2015 A LEMAN office in Miami, Florida was established.
• 2016 99’000 sq ft of warehouse space was added to the building at Renaissance Business Park.
• 2018 LEMAN USA’s Contract Logistics Division was formed and Warehousing & Distribution services expanded throughout the country.
• 2020 Express services were added to the company’s diverse service portfolio.

Today LEMAN USA operates in 6 branch offices. The headquarters remains in Sturtevant, Wisconsin with a total number of 120 employees.