Ruan is pleased to announce that it has acquired Nationwide Truck Brokers, Inc. (NTB), a dedicated carrier headquartered in Grand Rapids, MI. NTB will continue to operate as a separate, independent member of the Ruan family of companies.
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 Dan’s three sons.
Ruan is one of the largest family-owned transportation and logistics companies in the U.S. with extensive experience serving a variety of industries, and our culture closely aligns with that of NTB, which drove this strategic decision for both parties.
“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 Chief Executive Officer 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. We provide exceptional customer service to long-standing partners, and we support our communities through philanthropic efforts. As we move forward together, our continued success will be enabled by the same grit and determination that our founders and family members have demonstrated to build and grow our companies.”
As an independent entity, NTB will maintain its name and brand, leadership structure, and facility locations. As part of the acquisition, the Koster family will transition from NTB with confidence that the integrity of the business they built will be upheld.
“My father built this great organization from the ground up, and it is our desire to chart a long and prosperous road ahead for the company,” said Rick Koster, one of Dan Koster’s three sons and chairman of the board for NTB. “Sometimes charting the best path to accelerating progress and sustainability requires taking strategic leaps like joining forces with the right parent company. This agreement with Ruan provides a great opportunity for NTB to continue to grow and provide stability for our team members and customers.”
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.
“Refreshing NTB’s fleet is just one of many ways that Ruan and NTB will partner to serve our valued customers and team members,” said Ruan’s Senior Vice President of Operations Bob Elkins. “We are truly excited for the future as we jointly pursue the mission and purpose of our family businesses.”