Ruan Transportation Management Systems, which ranks No. 37 on the 2022 FleetOwner 500: For-Hire list, has acquired Nationwide Truck Brokers (NTB), a dedicated carrier headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Founded in 1974 by Dan Koster, NTB’s first truck driver, the family-owned company has grown to operate a fleet of more than 235 trucks with 270 team members hauling for grocery customers in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Ohio, Kentucky, and Wisconsin. Before entering this agreement with Ruan, NTB was owned by Koster’s three sons.
NTB will continue to operate as a separate, independent member of the Ruan family of companies, according to a Ruan press release.
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“Growth through acquisition has been relatively uncommon at Ruan, but we have done so selectively when there’s a true, strategic fit and the opportunity to sustain and strengthen relationships with important customers. We’ve found these positive elements at NTB,” said Ruan’s CEO Ben McLean, a member of the third generation of Ruan family leadership. “Both companies were founded by their first truck drivers, Dan Koster and John Ruan, so the two organizations have shared a foundational focus on safety throughout their histories. In addition, we prioritize family and strive to be a great place to work for our team members.”
As an independent entity, NTB will maintain its name and brand, leadership structure, and facility locations.
Over the next several months, NTB’s entire fleet of trucks will be replaced by late-model Freightliner units as an enhancement for NTB’s driving team members.
