Founded in 1974
by Dan Koster, NTB is a regional carrier which operates in
the Midwest. Exceptional Customer Service and an on time percentage
of over 90 percent have resulted in rapid growth for NTB.
As a result, NTB has domiciles in Grand Rapids, Michigan;
Lansing, Michigan; Carleton, Michigan; Tipp City, Ohio; Columbus,
Ohio; Indianapolis, Indiana; South Bend, Indiana; and Alexandria,
Kentucky. NTB is a company that takes exceptional care of
its employees. Drivers are guaranteed home every 3 days. In
addition, each driver has the same day off each week. This
is your day! Feel free to browse through this web page. We
are confident that you will be pleased with what you see,
and you will want to be part of the NTB family.
History
Dan Koster founded Nationwide Truck Brokers, Inc., in 1974. His
father hauled produce from Ohio and West Virginia for VanderBunte
Brothers. Dan gained a love for trucks and began driving at
the age of sixteen. He attended Hudsonville High School and
served in the U.S. Army's Second Infantry in Fairbanks, Alaska.
After an honorable discharge, he returned home where he met
Ardith Flagel. They were married on October 17, 1958.
Dan drove for Bob Meeuusen Trucking for two years. Then he became an owner-operator for
Superior Brand Produce and hauled produce from Florida to
Michigan for fourteen years. Through the years, Dan gained
experience with truckers, shippers, and receivers. At the
age of thirty-seven, Dan decided that it was important to
spend more time with his wife and three sons, and felt he
could stay closer to home while brokering loads nationwide.
So he gained backing from Roger VerLee, who owned Berghorst
Poultry, and a partnership was formed. This was the beginning
of Nationwide Truck Brokers.
In 1984, Dan Koster and his sons acquired sole ownership of the corporation, buying
Roger VerLee's stock in NTB. Dan attributed the company's
successful beginning to Roger being a very good partner.
As a brokerage, dependable trucking companies were hard to find, so Dan began
buying his own tractors and trailers. Due to customer needs,
NTB transitioned from a long-haul carrier to a regional carrier.
This transition provided greater lane density which allowed
for improved customer service. One of the intended ends that
was in view as NTB made these changes was to develop a pattern
of business that was more family friendly.
The company flourished, and offices have been established in Lansing, Michigan; Carleton,
Michigan; and most recently, Tipp City, Ohio; with the headquarters
still in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Dan enjoyed seeing the business
grow to what it is today with the numerous tractors and trailers
that travel the highways and byways of Michigan, Indiana,
Illinois, Iowa, Ohio, Kentucky, and Wisconsin.
Much to the sadness of his employees, Dan Koster passed away September 16, 1996,
at the age of fifty-nine. His three sons, Rick, Greg, and
Kurt, who worked by their father's side for many years, have
become the owners of NTB. They named Henry Schwarz, formerly
Senior Vice President of NTB, as their new President.
Dan lived a full life and sought to glorify God in all he did. He once stated,
"I have to give all the glory for this success to the Lord,
Jesus Christ, because everything I have belongs to Him. He
is just allowing me to use it while I am here on this earth.
I would also like to give credit to the many faithful, dependable
employees I have had over the years."
The future of NTB shines brightly, and the new leaders will continue to carry
on Dan's legacy in the same faithful manner.
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[From the President]
[Mission Statement]
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