A 55-year-old Butler County truckload flatbed carrier is celebrating four decades under the same ownership.

J.P. Transportation Co. Inc. got its start in October 1957 under Jet Porter — giving it the “J.P.” moniker — and was purchased by the Henderson family in February 1972. It’s been under the same management ever since, according to Ken Henderson, the company’s president.

“I did pretty much everything then, from payroll to dispatch to pumping fuel,” Henderson said.

The Hendersons purchased the Middletown business to be a sister company and customer of Henderson Oil Company. Now J.P. delivers primarily east of the Mississippi river with 75 percent of its freight in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana areas.

But the company, which moves steel, building products, landscape products and machinery, wasn’t always so big. When purchased in 1972, it had three trucks and trailers and five employees. Employment increased to 100 people in the mid-1990s, now stands at approximately 35 people.

Any future staffing and growth at the company’s headquarters at 2518 Oxford State Road will hinge on the economy, Henderson said.

“Being a flatbed carrier, we are tied to the steel and construction industry,” he said. “These industries are currently struggling, many operating at only 70 percent of capacity. If they can get favorable legislation and increase sales, our volume and growth will follow theirs.”

Watching technology grow year by year is the most enjoyable part of the business, Henderson said.

“Through the use of satellites, we are now able to communicate with our drivers, see where they are at any given moment and thus know if they are on schedule,” Henderson said. “We can see instant fuel economy, road speed and any engine problems and have the data directed to the correct department, whether it be the safety department, dispatch or maintenance shop. All of this technology leads to safer highways for the motoring public.”

Business has been good to the company so far in 2012, with a 5 percent increase in the total number of loads moved compared to 2011.

But that doesn’t mean the company isn’t facing any challenges. In recent months, it’s had to deal with the volatility in fuel prices.

“Prices fluctuate greatly now and can swing 10 to 20 cents per month,” Henderson said. “Tire prices rose more than 30 percent in the last year alone and new tractors are over $20,000 higher than just a couple of years ago due to EPA mandates on emissions.”

With fuel being one of the company’s biggest expenses, one of its biggest goals right now is to reduce costs, he said.

As a result a driver’s speed, which has the biggest impact on fuel economy, is being carefully monitored, he said. Wide-based and fuel efficient tires are now beginning to be used and the first of battery powered auxiliary cab systems has just been installed.

“That feature allows the driver to shut off the engine when parked and still have heat and air conditioning and will save up to 3,000 gallons of fuel per year for each truck using this technology,” Henderson said.