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The Bandstra story began in 1955 with the purchase of a small freight company in Smithers called Capling's Transfer by Andy Beerda and brothers John and Theo Bandstra. Capling's had two single-axle trucks for hauling freight from Prince Rupert to the Smithers area. Within a few years, the name was changed to Smithers Transport while Theo left to work in the automotive business.
 Operating conditions were difficult in the first years. The owner-operators had to carry planks on the road from Smithers to Prince Rupert. Even though the distance was only 220 miles, the trip could take as long as 12 hours. At that time, groceries and other supplies came in by ship from Vancouver.
In 1965 the company became a member of United Van Lines. There was only one single-axle furniture van.
In 1976, John and his younger brother, Dick, bought Andy Beerda's shares in Smithers Transport. By then, the major national and international freight and moving firms were well entrenched in the region. Recognizing that, in order to survive you need to grow more rapidly, the Bandstras made their first expansion and started a small moving company, called Bulkley Moving and Storage, in Houston, 40 miles east of Smithers.
Smithers Transport soon branched out to other northern communities and Vancouver. From their brother Herman, the Bandstra's bought Doc's Cartage and Storage, which had operations in Terrace and Kitimat.
A Vancouver-based division was created in 1984 with the purchase of Gilmaac Trucking, a freight-only operation. Bandstra Moving Systems was established to work alongside the southern end of the freight operations. Both operated out of offices in the Vancouver suburb of Richmond.
In 1988, the companies were operating under four different names so it was decided to consolidate under the name of Bandstra Transportation Systems in Smithers, Terrace, Kitimat, Houston and Vancouver.
Bandstra Transportation Systems next expansion took place soon after, in 1993, with the opening of a Prince George office. The Prince Rupert location, the latest expansion, opened its doors in 2006.
Today, household and office-furniture transport make up about 25% of the company's business. General freight is a mainstay followed by lumber which is shipped to Vancouver as a back haul. Furniture comes next, followed by low-bed charter work such as heavy machinery transport. One big field is supplying the mining industry north to the Yukon border along Highway 37.
Bandstra also benefits from the hard work of a large number of dedicated, long-term employees. The company now boasts a workforce of about 200 people including office staff, maintenance people and drivers who operate over 225 pieces of equipment. Much of Bandstra's success can be attributed to it's being a family-owned and operated business with a "hands-on" management style.
The company now is operated by Dick and his sons Phil, Ron and Rick along with John Jr., Sid and Jack, son of Herman Bandstra.
Bandstra Transportation Systems is a company that never loses sight of its northern-interior roots and continues to provide the best service possible with reasonable rates.
The Bandstras
Back row, from left: Jack, John Jr., Sid, Phil, Ron
Front row, from left: Herman, John Sr., Dick
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