2022
Rand McNally acquires Australia-based Fleetsu and its innovative, flexible connected vehicle platform. TELEO Capital purchased Fleetsu, combining the company with Rand McNally’s Fleet organization, creating a global enterprise to bring innovative solutions to vehicle fleets worldwide.
2020
Rand McNally comes under new ownership with its acquisition by TELEO Capital Management. New owner TELEO Capital announces that the firm is committed to investing in and growing Rand McNally’s position in the commercial and industrial transportation technology market.
2018
ClearDryve™ 200 is named a CES Innovation Award Honoree for 2019 in the Headphones category. ClearDryve™ is a highly-versatile and customer-centric configurable tool that provides drivers with a hard-working headset for making and receiving calls while on the road and an ultra-high-fidelity pair of headphones for relaxing after the day’s drive.
2018
Rand McNally launches an asset tracking solution that intergrates seamlessly with the company's fleet management platform.
2018
In late September 2018, Rand McNally moved its headquarters back to Chicago. After more than 60 years in suburban Skokie, Ill., the company returned to Chicago, setting up shop on West Bryn Mawr Avenue.
2018
Engineered for professional drivers, Rand McNally launches ClearDryve™ 200 - the market’s first 2-in-1 wireless stereo headphones and noise-cancelling mono headset. It offers high-resolution audio playback, superior noise-cancellation, and switchable all-day over-the-ear comfort.
2018
Rand McNally's iconic Road Atlas celebrates 95 years.
2017
Rand McNally launches OverDryve™ 8 Pro, an all-in-one dashboard device built specifically for professional drivers. It combines robust truck navigation, an on-board SiriusXM radio, voice assistance, a built-in dash cam, and hands-free calling and texting. As part of the OverDryve™ OS Connected Vehicle platform, it is also E-Log ready.
2016
OverDryve™ named one of Best Buy’s Top Tech Gifts of 2016.
2016
Two low-cost, easy-to-install, E-Log devices are announced. Both ELDs leverage users existing smart phone or tablet, and when paired create a secure compliance solution that meets federal requirements.
2016
Rand McNally reveals OverDryve™, a revolutionary connected-car device that brings advanced luxury-car features to mainstream vehicles. This dashboard tablet provides a combination of hands-free calling and texting, entertainment, information, navigation, and safety features.
2016
Rand McNally celebrates its 160th birthday. It also celebrates its 80th year as a player in the commercial transportation market.
2015
In-cab fleet management solutions now enabled with Multiple Operating Authority (MOA) tracking, which tracks drivers’ and trucks’ Hours of Service separately. It was designed with input from experts in the Moving and Storage industry.
2015
Rand McNally releases the TND™ Tablet, the first-ever tablet designed for use in the truck, business, and life. It marries advanced truck navigation with an Android tablet pre-loaded with trucking applications and access to the Android marketplace.
2014
TND™ 730 and HD 100 device pair is named a CES Innovation Award Honoree for 2015 in the In-Vehicle Accessories/Control/Navigation category. When paired, the devices create a full-featured transportation management solution ready to meet the upcoming Electronic Hours of Service mandate.
2014
TripMaker®, an all-new trip planning tool is launched on the website. In addition to just giving turn-by-turn driving directions, it allows users to build and manage full itineraries, find interesting places along the way, and print, email and export your trips to any Rand McNally GPS device.
2014
The company’s mobile fleet management solutions now include E-Logs compliant with the Hours of Service regulations specific to the passenger-carrier market.
2013
In anticipation of the coming Electronic Logging Device mandate for professional drivers, Rand McNally launches a small, low-priced HD 100 device that pairs with Rand McNally’s TND™ 720 to create an electronic logging solution.
2013
In partnership with Good Sam, the largest organization of RV owners, Rand McNally launches a branded RV GPS, printed Road Atlas, and online Trip Planner to the RVing market. Also, for the outdoor market, the Foris™ 850 handheld GPS device is launched for hikers, bikers and geocachers.
2013
As the revered print Road Atlas celebrates its 90th edition, Rand McNally launches iPad app and eBook versions.
2012
The second Best of the Road® competition is featured in a Travel Channel special.
2011
In partnership with USA Today, Rand McNally launches the Best of the Road® competition in search of the best small towns across the country.
2011
Leveraging its TruckPC technology, Rand McNally revolutionizes mobile fleet management by releasing the TND™ 760, the first single box, single cable in-cab device priced below $800. With the launch, Rand McNally immediately becomes a top-tier player in the market.
2011
Rand McNally becomes the first company to launch a GPS device designed specifically for RVers.
2010
Rand McNally enters the mobile fleet management segment of the commercial transportation market with the launch of TruckPC.
2009
IntelliRoute® TND™ 500, the first GPS device built from the ground up for truckers with integrated business tools, launches using proprietary truck data. It becomes the market leader and standard for truck-attributed devices.
2009
Rand McNally launches MileMaker® Global software for the commercial transportation market, taking the industry standard worldwide.
2007
Rand McNally launches Rand McNally Classroom, an interactive subscription service for schools.
2006
Rand McNally celebrates its 150th birthday.
2003
Time® magazine names randmcnally.com as one of its "50 Best Websites."
2003
The company releases Mobile Travel Tools®, a full-color, richly rendered maps-and-directions application for wireless phones.
2002
Rand McNally launches a new site: trucking.randmcnally.com, a repository of i nformation for the commercial transportation market.
2000
Rand McNally launches a Road Atlas on an expansion card, making the Road Atlas available on Palm® OS handhelds.
2000
The randmcnally.com website is revamped with personalized trip planning and an enhanced online Travel Store with more than 4,500 products.
1999
Rand McNally acquires Thomas Bros. Maps®, the mapping standard in California and the west coast
1999
Rand McNally introduces a new software program for commercial trucking called IntelliRoute® and featuring the most advanced trucking database in North America
1997
The Rand McNally Travel Store, the world's most comprehensive online travel store, is launched on the company website
1997
The company's website, randmcnally.com is launched, offering up-to-date information on road construction and weather, online reservations, shopping, and other services
1996
Building on the success of TripMaker®, the company introduces StreetFinder® street navigation software
1995
The company develops and patents EasyFinder® laminated maps that are easy to unfold and refold
1994
Rand McNally introduces TripMaker® software for travel planning on personal computers. It becomes a market leader and wins a host of awards
1993
Rand McNally acquires Allmaps Canada Limited, a leading producer of consumer and business-to-business maps and atlases
1993
The Road Atlas becomes the first Rand McNally product created using an all-digital method
1984
Rand McNally acquires the assets of Denoyer-Geppert Company, a leading school map and globe publisher.
1980
Rand McNally acquires a small company called Transportation Data Management (TDM). TDM marries Rand McNally's enormous map database to an electronic system for delivery of routing and mileage information to the trucking industries.
1980
Thomas Bros. Maps relocates to Irvine, California.
1974
Andrew McNally IV succeeds his father as president.
1969
The first edition of The New International Atlas is published by a historic cooperative project of an international group of mapmaking firms led by Rand McNally; the atlas includes maps utilizing the Robinson Projection, created for Rand McNally by renowned cartography professor Arthur H. Robinson.
1969
Rand McNally's Book Manufacturing Division automates the process by which thumb indexes are cut and labeled for dictionaries and encyclopedias.
1960
The first full-color Rand McNally Road Atlas premieres.
1958
Rand McNally revolutionizes the industry by becoming the first commercial mapmaker to adopt the scribing process to make maps. The ticket division produces the first pressure-sensitive railroad and airline tickets, which eliminate messy carbon copies.
1952
Having outgrown its Chicago offices, the company moves its corporate headquarters to Skokie, Illinois.
1948
Andrew McNally III becomes company president.
1947
Rand McNally takes a chance on a little known, maverick Norwegian scientist named Thor Heyerdahl and publishes his book Kon-Tiki; it becomes a best-seller around the world.
1945
Rand McNally creates a new carbonized ticket book that eliminates the bulky accordion-fold airline and train tickets.
1939
Within 24 hours of Germany's invasion of Poland in 1939, stores across the United States sell out of Rand McNally's map of Europe.
1937
Rand McNally opens its first Map & Travel Store in New York City.
1933
Andrew McNally II becomes company president.
1927
Noted aviator Charles Lindbergh uses Rand McNally railroad maps for navigation over land during his historic flight across the Atlantic Ocean.
1924
On April 15, the Rand McNally Auto Chum is published; it is the first edition of what will become the best-selling Rand McNally Road Atlas.
1923
Rand McNally publishes the first edition of Goode's World Atlas (named after its first editor, Dr. J. Paul Goode); it becomes the standard geography text for high schools and colleges and continues today.
1917
On a map of Peoria, Illinois, the company debuts a new highway numbering system that will become the model for the system used across the United States today.
1917
The Real Mother Goose, which became one of the all-time best-selling children's books in the United States, is published.
1915
Thomas Bros. Maps is founded in Oakland, California. Their distinctive page-and-grid system will help to make Thomas Guides® the "bible" for drivers on the West Coast.
1907
Rand McNally assumes publication from G.S. Chapin of the Photo-Auto Guides, which combine maps and photos with overlaid arrows to indicate correct turns; Andrew McNally II (grandson of the original Andrew McNally) personally takes the pictures for the Chicago-to-Milwaukee edition while on his honeymoon!
1904
Rand McNally's first automobile road map, New Automobile Road Map of New York City & Vicinity, is published.
1899
William Rand leaves the company to pursue other interests; Andrew McNally becomes President and his family runs the business for the next century.
1880
The company ventures into educational publishing, offering a line of globes, maps, and geography textbooks.
1873
Rand McNally is incorporated with William Rand as president and Andrew McNally as vice president.
1872
The first-ever Rand McNally map appears in the December 1872 issue of the Railway Guide; Rand McNally uses a new wax engraving method, which significantly reduces the cost of printing maps.
1871
As the Great Chicago Fire races through the city, Rand and McNally rescue two ticket printing machines by burying them in the sand! Three days later, the machines are up and running in rented space.
1870
Rand McNally expands from printing into publishing with the introduction of business directories, railroad guides, and an illustrated newspaper.
1869
The first railroad guide, the Western Railway Guide, is published.
1868
Andrew McNally and William Rand begin their partnership and establish Rand McNally & Company; they take over the Chicago Tribune's printing shop and agree to print tickets and timetables to serve Chicago's booming railroads, which are the nation's premier railroad hub.
1858
Irish immigrant Andrew McNally takes a job in Rand's printing shop for $9 a week.
1856
William Rand opens a small printing shop in Chicago's Loop, forming the precursor of Rand McNally.
