Dutch Maid started with three rented tractors from Heisler’s for the summer months for a total of $25,000 per season. We eventually cancelled the Rollins Truck Leasing and ordered tractors from International Harvester for $25,000 each. Our logic was that if we bought three tractors and they lasted at least three years, we would be even. It sounded like a good idea so we bought four. We purchased two 1972 used Trailmobile 42’6” reefers that first winter and started working for hire to and from Florida. Basically, we started the Company to optimize our previously non-productive assets. Norma and Randy Cok, Big John Dials and John Coffman were the first employees working alongside Jim Wiers to haul produce.

We incorporated as Dutch Maid Produce in order to isolate our business for the sake of tracking profitability. Initially an effort was made to operate only as a private exempt carrier, but it did not take long to realize we would need full Interstate Commerce Commission authority to add diversity to the operation.

Sam Burrer joined the Dutch Maid team as one of eight truck drivers at the time. Sam spent three years on the road before he moved into the office as a dispatcher.

We received our first operating authority for hauling paint to Chicago for the Glidden Paint – SCM company. A short time later, we were supported by United Coatings for a paint haul back to Detroit. Bill Roberts from Accu-Rate in Toledo helped us with our first authority.

We moved our office from inside the farm facility to a building in Celeryville which was previously the local grocery store. This office location was known as the “Old Store Farm Office.”

During the summer of 1984, we built the maintenance shop on property located on US Route 224 just east of Willard. The shop was built on 80 acres that was purchased from the Buckingham family.

Sam Burrer attended our first refrigerated carrier’s conference in Sun Valley, Idaho. At this conference, Sam met Gary Johnson the head of transportation for Nestle in Solon, Ohio. Gary was a speaker at the conference. Dutch Maid started doing business with Nestle one month after the conference.

We changed our name to Dutch Maid Logistics in order to more accurately reflect the operations of our Company. In doing so, the company was recognized not only as a produce carrier but also as a general carrier of refrigerated product, as well as, dry commodities. By this time, produce was a smaller percentage of our overall business.

Our “Old Store Farm Office” location moved to the US Route 224 location. The office was added on to a shop that was previously built. Many of the Wiers partners worked with Don Eckstein in building the new office. The shop and office were located in such a way that the shop could be expanded and someday warehouses could be built on the property.

We are thankful for many quality business relationships that began in the early 2000’s including Dannon, Marzetti, Giant Eagle and Pepperidge Farms. Each of these customers continue to be valued customers for Dutch Maid.

Dutch Maid spotting and shuttles service started. We began assisting our customer by moving trailers in and out of dock doors and product from their manufacturing facility to the distribution center. Our fleet now included specialized tractors to provide these services.

We expanded our facility in order to handle the size of our fleet and number of employees. Four bays and a pit were added to the maintenance building. The shop office moved to the south side of the building. The office area was enlarged. A new conference room, training area, drivers lounge, and kitchen were built in the previous maintenance office and parts room section. We also expanded the parking area for company equipment and personal vehicles.

Dutch Maid Logistics is a family-oriented truckload carrier that takes care of its employees and customer’s needs. We are an Irregular Route Common Carrier with General Commodity Authority for 48 states. In addition, we have a number of contract authorities and broker authority. Currently, our fleet consists of approximately 150 over the road tractors, 14 shuttle and spotting tractors and 275 trailers.