The Bekins Company was founded as Bekins Van Lines in 1891 by Martin and John Bekins in Omaha, Nebraska. The company soon established branches on the west coast and the Chicago, Illinois area. It claims to have developed containerization in 1920, and to have conducted the first transcontinental move by motor van in 1928. The company was acquired by GeoLogistics Corporation in 1995 and became an agent-owned company in 2002, making it a form of cooperative. The Bekins Company is based in Hillside, Illinois.