NJIT Reflects on the Smithsonian Recognition of Martin Tuchman’s Legacy in Innovation, Entrepreneurship

As the nation gears up for its 250th birthday, New Jersey Institute of Technology recalls that Martin Tuchman ‘62 — the namesake of NJIT’s Martin Tuchman School of Management — is among the select Americans whose success stories have been preserved at the Smithsonian Institution, America's keeper of history.

Tuchman received a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Newark College of Engineering and in 1968 formed a logistics company, Interpool, now called TRAC Intermodal. The company’s container-and-trailer system was based on twist-lock technology, an outside invention that Tuchman helped turn into an industry standard through his volunteer work with the American National Standards Institute.

The standardization effort earned Tuchman a place among Computerworld Smithsonian Laureates in 2000, for its transformative impact on global commerce and technology. His work was selected as an exemplar of how technology-driven entrepreneurship can reshape industries and enable worldwide economic connectivity.

“Milestone moments, such as the Smithsonian’s 250th anniversary, invite us to reflect upon individuals whose contributions continue to shape our institutions and our society,” said NJIT President Teik C. Lim. “Martin Tuchman’s career embodies the spirit of innovation, entrepreneurship, and impact that defines NJIT. His legacy is defined not only through his professional accomplishments but also by the school that proudly bears his name.”

The Martin Tuchman School of Management at NJIT focuses on entrepreneurship, innovation and technology-driven business education reflects the principles that guided Tuchman’s career. Today, MTSM’s entrepreneurship programs are ranked No. 1 in New Jersey and among the Top 50 nationally by The Princeton Review for the sixth consecutive year — an outcome that underscores the enduring relevance of Tuchman’s vision.

Tuchman’s influence remains present in NJIT’s mission, its students and its approach to preparing future entrepreneurs to lead in technology-intensive industries. He funds many scholarships and continues to educate and mentor students on entrepreneurship.

With his deep experience in shipping and logistics, Tuchman enabled the development of mobile testing stations during the COVID pandemic, including one that was repurposed into a testing facility on NJIT’s campus. That in turn yielded a second recognition by the federal government, this time in the Congressional record.

As NJIT looks ahead, it does so while honoring the individuals whose innovation, leadership and generosity helped shape its trajectory. Martin Tuchman’s Smithsonian recognition remains a powerful reminder of how one alumnus’s ideas can leave a lasting imprint on an institution and on the world.