Camion Transport AG Celebrates 100 Years of Success

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 celebrates a century full of innovations, challenges, and milestones. A day that stands entirely in the spirit of 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 piece goods 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 Sr. – known to everyone as Sepp – joins the company. Shortly thereafter, he is already responsible for managing the truck repair workshop within the company 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’s 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 piece goods transports as a shuttle on the rail took place. This marked the birth of the dual transport system, which is now the heart of the transport organization. The father was a visionary and a doer and had set the course for today’s successful model with sharp insight, Jäger recalls.

Camion Transport Becomes a Family Business

1991 is a groundbreaking year. The Jäger family takes over the majority of shares in Camion Transport, marking the end of the previous public company with a widely spread shareholder base. A 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 pull my ears in front of the family on Saturdays, but he let me do my thing in public,” smiles Josef Jäger. He appreciated that highly.

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 piece goods 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 packages per day, with an average price of 13 francs per package – 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 takeover 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 over main distances to the rail from then on. From the year 2000, additional rail-bound branches in the economically significant regions complemented the network. Expansion continued, also through clever company acquisitions. In 2022, Hägendorf became the newest location. 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 value 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 developed, which combines 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 partial 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, the Swiss Employer Award followed, recognizing it 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 optimistically towards the coming decades. 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 is on the horizon. Josef Jäger says: “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 tools 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