Milky Way celebrates 75 years of dairy trucking

SEATTLE — Milk hauler Milky Way — whose trucks are seen frequently on the roads of parts of Grant and Adams counties — is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2023, according to a press release from Milky Way parent company Lynden.

Founded in 1948, Milky Way is one of the largest milk haulers from dairy farms to dairies in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana, the press release said.

“We are proud to serve the dairy and agricultural communities in the Pacific Northwest, and we are just as proud to celebrate 75 years of success with our employees, customers, partners and vendors,” said Eric Badger, president of Lynden Transfer, Inc., which owns and operates Milky Way.

The press release noted that Badger highlighted the skill of the company’s drivers, which not only haul milk but also test and sample milk for quality before leaving a dairy farm. Badger added that many of the company’s drivers are second- or third-generation employees whose parents or grandparents worked or drove for Milky Way.

“Our drivers are still some of the best in the business, safely and reliably picking up milk and delivering it to processing centers each day with the support of dedicated support teams,” Badger said in the press release.

Milky Way is one of a number of freight and logistics companies owned by Lynden, which has corporate offices in Anchorage, Alaska, and Seattle, according to the press release.