In 2010, Josh McGuire met Don Queeney and learned about wreaths enroute to cemeteries, intended for placement on veterans’ graves across the country. As the owner of a trucking company, McGuire was looking for an opportunity to do good within the industry. “We didn’t have a cause to hang our hat on,” McGuire said. Now, McGuire’s company hauls an impressive amount of wreaths to a local cemetery. 

This week on Trucking Tributes, host Queeney welcomes Josh McGuire, the fourth generation to own McGuire Moving & Storage. 

McGuire grew up in the trucking business. His family owned the company and employed him on weekends and in the summer, but he planned to go to school to become a doctor. McGuire realized he loved seeing his name on the side of a truck and providing excellent customer service, so he pivoted to become the next owner of McGuire Moving & Storage.

McGuire and his company are based in St. Louis, Missouri, home to one of the oldest national cemeteries, Jefferson Barracks. His company sends about 25 trucks to Maine to retrieve wreaths for the 237,000 graves in St. Louis. McGuire estimates 150,000 to 200,000 wreaths were delivered last year. His tireless work for Wreaths Across America is made more special because he has family buried at the cemetery. He said that after visiting family at Jefferson Barracks for years, it was a special experience to place a wreath on their graves. 

His volunteer work does not end with Wreaths Across America. McGuire Moving & Storage donates to many veteran-focused causes. “Our industry is tied in pretty tightly with the military folks,” McGuire said. “It feels right to do stuff that makes a difference for them.” 

Tune in to Trucking Tributes on Wreaths Across America Radio’s Trucking Tuesday at 10 a.m. and again at 4 p.m. EST to learn more about McGuire’s vast experience in the trucking industry and his work with Wreaths Across America. You can also listen on demand on SoundCloud here.