Penn Central Transportation Company. Office of Vice President - Mail and TrailVan Services.

The Mail, Express and Highway Services Department was created with the Penn Central merger of February 1, 1968. William F. Kirk, who had been Assistant Vice President - Flexi-Van Services on the New York Central, became Vice President - Mail, Express and Highway Services.

Perlman had no intention of placing his brain-child, the Flexi-Van container system, under the control of the former PRR officials, David E. Smucker at Executive Vice President - Operations or Henry W. Large at Executive Vice President - Traffic, both of whom he regarded as dim-witted traditionalists and eventually forced into retirement. Hence, Flexi-Van Services were placed in their own department, which reported to Senior Vice President Robert W. Minor, whose main area of responsibility was public and governmental affairs. Minor in turn reported to Perlman, assuring full "Green Team" (i.e., New York Central) control of this important service.

In 1970, Penn Central adopted the trademark "TrailVan" to designate its container services, combining the old PRR "TrucTrain" and NYC "Super Van." Kirk's title was changed to Vice President - Mail and TrailVan Services on January 6. In the meantime, Perlman had forced Smucker out of the top operating post on February 26, 1969, which had the effect of establishing "Green Team" dominance in the Operating Department, now headed by Perlman's chief protǧ ̌Robert G. Flannery. In a reorganization of March 1, 1970, Kirk was placed under Vice President - Staff James A. McDonald, who in turn reported to Flannery.

After Perlman's forced departure and the bankruptcy later in 1970, Penn Central began to reduce its top-heavy executive ranks. On October 1, 1970, Kirk's title was downgraded to Assistant Vice President - Mail and TrailVan Services, reporting to Flannery within the Operating Department. Flannery left the company to follow his mentor Perlman to the Western Pacific on January 1, 1971, and was replaced by J. Bruce Addington of the Southern Railway.

William F. Kirk retired on March 16, 1972, and was replaced by Fred W. Shafer, formerly of the old PRR trucking subsidiary, Pennsylvania Truck Lines, Inc. Shafer served until June 1974, at which time the office was abolished, and responsibility for TrailVan service was assumed by other officers in the Operating Department.

From the description of Intermodal transportation records, 1963-1974. (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 123466713