In 1989, Ed Rietman and Jeff Kolean started the business K&R. Ed and Jeff started out buying one wrecked truck at a time to rebuild it and then resell it. In 1991, they bought a building on the corner of Interchange Drive and M40 in Holland, MI. In 1994, Ed and Jeff had different visions so Ed bought out the business but the two remain friends down to this day. Eventually, Ed went on to expand K&R including the purchase of a local wrecker service, a fully automated truck wash and detail shop, a brand-new facility in Holland and a newly expanded service offering to offer rebuilds, service, body shop, paint booth, frame rack, alignment, sales and a new and used parts department. It didn’t stop there because Ed acquired an International Truck dealership in May 2012, which includes 3 locations in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Muskegon, MI doing business as West Michigan International. In October 2018, another acquisition happened and another location was added in Lansing, MI also operating as West Michigan International. Below, the timeline describes the growth over the past 25+ years.
1989
Jeff Kolean and Ed Rietman start K&R buying one wrecked truck at a time to rebuild it and resell it.
1991
K&R buys its first building on the corner of Interchange Drive and M40 in Holland, MI.
1998
Word spreads about the quality service at K&R and K&R buys a local wrecker service.
2004
A brand new 65,000 square foot facility is built in Holland, which includes 14 service bays, 12 body shop bays, paint booth, frame rack and a parts department.
2005
Purchased a fully automated truck wash and detail shop.
2008
More land was purchased to build a new sales lot and a driveway onto M40 and I196.
2011
Another expansion takes place. 9800 sq. ft. parts warehouse, 4 additional rebuild bays, 6 additional used parts bays, 1100 sq. ft. parts showroom and additional square footage for parts and office space.
2012
Ed Rietman acquires West Michigan International in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Muskegon, MI.
2016
Purchased land in Kalamazoo, MI to build a brand-new facility.
2017
Purchased Pro-Fleet Refinishing in Mattawan, MI to add another body shop in our Kalamazoo, MI market.
2018
Acquired the International dealership in Lansing, MI, as well as West Michigan Mobile Mechanic, a mobilee repair facility.
2018
Opened brand new facility in Kalamazoo, MI
2021
Building a brand new tire and trailer facility