The COX Companies were founded in 1982 as a direct result of the implementation of the Motor Carrier Act of 1980, which deregulated the trucking industry. COX Truck Brokerage, Inc. began operations as a logistics services provider to assist shippers and receivers in managing the carrier selection process in order to take full advantage of the changing market conditions that the new deregulated environment produced. Shortly thereafter, COX Transportation Services, Inc. opened its doors as a new common and contract carrier primarily offering "just in time" motor carrier services in truckload quantities between the east and west coasts.