History
Bonnie Speed Logistics is a full-service transportation and logistics company founded in 1959 by M. C. Younge. After several years in military logistics, Mr. Younge settled in Cleveland and discovered a void in small package delivery services in Northeast Ohio. At that time, business owners relied on the mail carrier or even taxi cabs to expedite packages across town. Mr. Younge observed that taxi cabs moved people quicker than packages, so he set up shop as Bonnie Speed.
Mr. Younge originally named the company “Bunny” Speed and even had a logo of a rabbit racing along with a package tucked under its arm. When Mr. Younge ordered company signs and letterhead from his Scottish printer, Bunny Speed was interpreted as Bonnie Speed. Mr. Younge decided to keep the name rather than reorder, and it has been Bonnie Speed ever since.
In 1990, Bonnie Speed was acquired from Mr. Younge by Kenneth Hardy, who has an MBA Degree in corporate finance, and Mr. Darryl Stovall, who earned degrees in marketing and operations, in addition to having experience in the transportation industry. Together, their goal was to expand Bonnie Speed into a more diversified, full range transportation company. Within two years, Mr. Hardy and Mr. Stovall had built a new 10,000 square foot facility at St. Clair Avenue in Cleveland and dedicated their energies to becoming one of the most successful businesses in Northeast Ohio.
Over the last 19 years, since the acquisition, sales at the 24-7 delivery company have more than tripled. In addition to offering businesses and individuals supreme delivery service, Bonnie Speed couriers also provide charitable deliveries to such places as the Catholic Charities and also to the Cleveland Food Bank.
In 2009, Bonnie Speed Logistics will be celebrating their 50th Anniversary. According to Mr. Hardy, “This delivery business will not be slowing down anytime soon.”