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Alaska Shipping History
Read below about Continental's Rich Alaska History or Continue to Alaska Shipping Methods
A true pioneer in the transportation industry, Continental Van Lines began in 1951 as an 
outgrowth of Seattle-based Alaska Freight Lines, Inc. Alaska was still a U.S. Territory when the Freight Lines began moving fresh and frozen meats and perishables for the U.S. Military stations in Alaska. At the government’s request, Eugene (Gene) Hundley, an Executive with the Freight Lines, was asked to develop a specialized service for Alaska household goods. Learning that Alaska Freight Lines wanted nothing to do with household goods, Hundley resigned his position and created Continental Van Lines which handled the first military household goods shipments into what eventually became the 49th State. In 1954, Continental was incorporated in Washington State as incorporation was not an option in a U.S. Territory. Alaska statehood became official two years later, in 1956.
outgrowth of Seattle-based Alaska Freight Lines, Inc. Alaska was still a U.S. Territory when the Freight Lines began moving fresh and frozen meats and perishables for the U.S. Military stations in Alaska. At the government’s request, Eugene (Gene) Hundley, an Executive with the Freight Lines, was asked to develop a specialized service for Alaska household goods. Learning that Alaska Freight Lines wanted nothing to do with household goods, Hundley resigned his position and created Continental Van Lines which handled the first military household goods shipments into what eventually became the 49th State. In 1954, Continental was incorporated in Washington State as incorporation was not an option in a U.S. Territory. Alaska statehood became official two years later, in 1956. Continental’s first Alaska household goods shipments moved via barges and cargo ships from Seattle via the Port of Haines, then via the Ports of Seward and Wittier and, finally, to the amazement of many, directly into the Port of Anchorage. Until the late 1950s, Anchorage was
assumed to be unsafe for vessel navigation in the winter due to heavy accumulations of ice in Cook Inlet. However, through a series of navigational tests in which Hundley participated, it was discovered that the Port’s extreme tidal action sufficiently broke up the ice making it navigable for cargo ships year-round.
assumed to be unsafe for vessel navigation in the winter due to heavy accumulations of ice in Cook Inlet. However, through a series of navigational tests in which Hundley participated, it was discovered that the Port’s extreme tidal action sufficiently broke up the ice making it navigable for cargo ships year-round.During the 1960s, Continental entered into an agency agreement with Allied Van Lines for Alaska and, in the early 1970s, the Company’s Seattle location was added as an Allied agent. While the Alaska marked remained a major focus, the Company began expanding into interstate and local moving within the lower 48 states.
By the 1980s, the Company had experienced significant growth in each of its locations and a second generation had begun working in the Company. An international division was added in 1980 and the next two decades were times of change for Continental. When Gene Hundley passed away in 1987, his wife and long-time business partner, Katherine Blaine-Hundley, succeeded him as Chairman and her children became Company officers--John G. (Greg) Blaine, President and, Virginia M. (Ginnie) Blaine, Vice President. Eleven years later, in 1996, the Company transitioned to the next generation of ownership as the Blaine siblings became co-owners following the passing of their mother. That same year, Continental opened a new office and warehouse facility in Tacoma.
In 2008, with the future of the Company, its employees and customers in mind, Continental’s 
owners took Continental in a new direction. The Company terminated its long-standing Allied agency relationships in order to join the world’s largest household goods mover, UniGroup, parent-owner of Mayflower Transit and United Van Lines. As UniGroup is an agent-owned Company, Continental became a UniGroup shareholder giving it an important voice in the operations of the carriers it represents.
owners took Continental in a new direction. The Company terminated its long-standing Allied agency relationships in order to join the world’s largest household goods mover, UniGroup, parent-owner of Mayflower Transit and United Van Lines. As UniGroup is an agent-owned Company, Continental became a UniGroup shareholder giving it an important voice in the operations of the carriers it represents. Continental also introduced its own newly designed brand identity in ’08:
Today, Continental represents the Mayflower Transit brand in Seattle and Tacoma and the United Van Lines brand in Alaska.
Still under the same family ownership and management, Continental’s third generation has begun working in Company operations. Company owners and managers remain highly involved in industry affairs locally, nationally and internationally keeping Continental top of mind as an industry leader and a Company committed to a high standard of service and professionalism.
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