Italian Blood. American Dreams.
A legacy shaped by dirt-road ambition, family heartbreak, and the relentless grind of four generations of Carranos, who believed that honor in business isn’t a value—it’s the value.
-1.png?width=1417&height=2000&name=1960s_trucks_0008_b-(1)-1.png "1960s_trucks_0008_b-(1)-1")
The First Mile: Where It All Began
The Carrano story begins not in a boardroom, but on the worn leather seat of a truck. It was the 1950s, and Jimmy Carrano—named Vincent but called Jimmy because Italian families had a way of making life complicated—saw opportunity where others saw struggle. Returning from the war, he and his brother took a chance on their own trucking venture, hauling loads out of Seamless Rubber Company, their first account.
They weren’t millionaires. They weren’t polished businessmen. They were two brothers with grease under their nails, working long hours, putting everything on the line for their families. Back then, survival wasn’t guaranteed—it was earned, one mile at a time.
But fate wasn’t kind. One night in 1958, Jimmy went to bed and never woke up. His son Frank was only 16. With no choice but to grow up overnight, Frank quit school, got behind the wheel, and kept the trucks rolling.
Roots in Italy. Heart in America.
Long before Fenichey ever existed, before Jimmy Carrano hauled his first load of rubber, the Carranos came to America from a small town in Italy. They didn’t arrive with wealth or connections—they came with nothing but calloused hands and an unbreakable work ethic.
In 1900, Vin’s great-great-grandfather stepped off a crowded ship onto the docks of Ellis Island, where he was listed as a tailor. He wasn’t really a tailor—just a man willing to do any job that would put food on the table. The Carranos, like so many Italian immigrants of their era, found a way to survive in an unfamiliar land. They became stonemasons, truck drivers, warehousemen—builders of the American dream.
“Italian blood is about pride in your work,” Vin says. “You don’t cut corners. You do what you say you’re going to do. And you show up every day, no matter what.”
Fenichey’s story is more than a business history—it’s a continuation of that immigrant spirit. It’s a story about a family that started with nothing, endured countless hardships, and refused to quit. It’s about taking the values of hard work, honesty, and loyalty and turning them into a business that people trust. That’s what makes Fenichey a Great American Success Story.
The Stubborn Refusal to Quit
By the time Vin Carrano came of age, the family trucking business was a staple in New Haven. It was Vin’s birthright, but it wasn’t handed to him. He swept floors, painted docks, and did every thankless job the Teamsters would allow. He knew trucking wasn’t just what the Carranos did—it was who they were.
But every family business has its breaking point, and when Vin’s uncle ruled the yard with an iron fist, Vin had enough. He left, determined to carve out his own path. And that’s when the real education began. Vin learned the art of the sale while hustling typewriters and fax machines from the trunk of a Chevy Cavalier.
Vin returned to the family trade, determined to build something better. He took over the warehousing business, poured his heart into it, and gave it everything he had. But life had another curveball in store. After years of grinding, the business collapsed. Vin was left with empty warehouses, unpaid bills, and a heart heavy with failure.
“I was lying under a truck at 3 AM with a torch in one hand and a hammer in the other, pounding on frozen brakes,” Vin recalls. “I was cold, tired, and beat down. And in that moment, I thought, What am I doing? This isn’t working.”
That moment of reckoning led to a bold decision: shut it all down and start fresh. No trucks. No warehouses. Just the one thing that was working—freight brokerage. Fenichey was born that night. Named after the Italian word for phoenix—fenice—Fenichey became more than a company. It became a symbol of rebirth, resilience, and the stubborn refusal to quit.
A Family Business with Fire in Their Eyes
Vin didn’t build Fenichey alone. He built it with people he trusted. Angela, his first hire, was more than an employee—she was family in every sense of the word.
And now, Vin’s sons, James and Steve, are carrying the torch forward, ensuring that the Carrano name remains stamped on every mile Fenichey delivers.
“This isn’t just a family business because our last name is on the sign. It’s a family business because we treat everyone—our agents, our shippers, our carriers—like family,” says Vin. “That’s our ironclad promise. No surprises. Just trust.”
Our Iron-Clad Italian 🇮🇹 Craftsmanship Guarantee
At Fenichey, we bring the heart of Italian craftsmanship and family values to every shipment. Here’s our guarantee:
- No Billing Surprises: Like an Italian recipe, our pricing is simple and honest—you’ll always know what you’re paying for.
- Personalized Service: You’re not just a number; you’re famiglia. We treat your shipments with the same care and attention you would.
- After-Hours Support: Just like nonna’s kitchen, we’re here when you need us—day or night.
.png?width=200&height=75&name=logo%20(1).png "logo (1)")
This Is Fenichey. A Great American Success Story.
You’ve read enough. You know the drill. Stop wasting time with brokers who don’t have your back and start working with the team that does.
If you're a manufacturer tired of shipping headaches, give us a try. Let us show you some of that Italian work ethic for your next load!
Backed by our 🇮🇹 Italian Craftsmanship Guarantee!
"The BEST customer service anywhere!
Extremely professional."