ABOUT KKW
Since 1967, we’ve been proud to deliver more than just freight — we deliver reliability, trust, and exceptional service. What started as a small, family-driven operation has grown into a leading transportation and logistics company serving 11 western states.
Our team of over 440 dedicated professionals gets up each day with a shared purpose: to do the best job possible for our customers. Whether it’s delivering goods safely and on time, answering questions promptly, or providing flexible logistics solutions, our goal is simple — to make your business run smoother.
We specialize in interstate and intrastate truckload services, 3PL warehousing, drayage, and brokerage, offering a full suite of distribution solutions to meet every need. Our drivers operate some of the newest, most advanced equipment on the road, supported by a fleet of over 1,300 air-ride 53’ and 28’ doubles — all backed by cutting-edge mobile communication and safety technology.
At the heart of our success is a culture built on customer satisfaction and a “can-do” attitude. It’s a philosophy that’s guided us for more than five decades and continues to drive everything we do today.
In 2019, our President, Dennis Firestone, transitioned the company to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) — a move that ensured our legacy would live on through the very people who make it all possible. This change not only preserved our strong team culture but also made every employee an owner — personally invested in our success and yours.
Whether you’re just getting to know us or have been a valued customer for years, we’re grateful for the opportunity to serve you. Together, we’ll keep your business — and our trucks — moving forward.
KKW Trucking Is 100% Employee-Owned Through An Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
KKW Trucking, Inc. and its affiliates completed a transaction to become 100% employee-owned in 2019 through its Employee Stock Ownership Plan (or “ESOP”). The Company was founded in 1962 in Los Angeles, CA and today it operates out of its 91,000 square foot facility on 9 acres in Pomona, CA to provide transportation services, including irregular route truckload services for world-class manufacturers, retailers, and consumer packaged goods companies throughout 11 western states. The Company also provides warehouse, 3PL logistics, drayage, and brokerage services. The Company operates 160 local, 190 sleeper tractors and more than 1,300 trailers.
According to Dennis Firestone, President, “Building this Company from 9 trucks that worked out of a 6,000 sq. ft. cross dock into what we have become over the last 63 years has been very gratifying experience indeed. The reality is that KKW Trucking was built by a team of hard-working committed men and women, and if I was to get any credit for our successful journey then it would only be that I was able to recruit and train most of these amazing individuals. I truly believe that when the notion sinks in that each of our team members are truly owners and they realize that they will directly benefit from their extra efforts, then the sky becomes our only limit. I couldn’t come up with a better way to say ‘thank you’.”
Dennis Firestone remains as President and is also the Chairman of the Board. Steve Benninghoff is CEO and Andy Carey is CFO. Dennis admits “It’s time to let this young yet well-seasoned team take the reins and transport this new company to a whole new level”
After fifty-seven years of significant expansion and growth, all of the ownership of KKW Trucking has transferred to a qualified retirement plan, specifically an ESOP. All eligible employees are credited with shares of Company stock within the ESOP trust each year at no cost, allowing them to earn ownership and accumulate tax-deferred retirement wealth through their service. KKW Trucking joined a group of elite employee-owned transportation companies such as the Paladin Capital companies, TMC Transportation, Big G Express, J&R Schugel, and Wheaton, to name a few.
KKW Trucking, Inc. was advised by Ambrose Advisors, a national investment banking firm specialized in employee-ownership transitions. Ambrose Advisors stated, “Dennis’s goal was to secure a sustainable future for KKW Trucking in a way that would be highly beneficial to the employees, customers, vendors, and the community in addition to himself. Employee ownership, done right, benefits all stakeholders and should be celebrated. It is a true win/win transaction for all parties involved and we were pleased to be a part. We heartily congratulate the KKW Trucking team and thank them for trusting Ambrose Advisors to manage this ownership transition process.”
About: KKW Trucking, Inc. operates a trucking transportation business serving customers in 11 western states. (https://www.kkwtrucks.com)
About: Ambrose Advisors is a national middle-market investment bank and financial advisory firm focused on guiding and assisting business owners with ownership succession planning, primarily through employee ownership. (https://www.AmbroseAdvisors.com)
Live video announcement below:
MEET THE FOUNDER
DENNIS FIRESTONE
As the President since 1967, I felt that I would be the best qualified person to introduce you to our fine company. Currently there are around 442 of our hard working team spread throughout the western states getting up each day with the intent of doing the best job possible for our customers. We define best job by delivering our customers goods to the destination safely and on time, by being prepared to answer our customers’ questions promptly and finally by providing a unique mix of services to simplify the distribution challenges of our customers. Our menu of services include interstate general commodity Truckload, intrastate Local and Dedicated Truckload, 3PL Warehousing, Drayage, and Brokerage 11 western states.
Most of our hard working team are professional drivers driving some of the newest and finest equipment on the road that help us move the goods on time. Good drivers are hard to come by so we attempt to make their jobs easier by providing them with state of the art equipment, mobile communications, and a fleet of more that 1,300 air ride 53’ and 28’ doubles. The balance of our team act in a support role keeping our trucks and trailers safe and road ready, moving the goods across our docks and warehouses, managing information for our business and our customers, and some like myself that have the pleasure of helping to coordinate and orchestrate the efficient flow of our customers goods and services.
I feel that over the past 5 decades we’ve been able to build and sustain a culture in the organization that is focused on customer satisfaction and a can do attitude. We’ve all heard the old clichés of ‘the customer signs our paychecks’ or ‘the customers always right’ but in our company it’s not just lip service it has become part of the way we do business.
There’s an old saying ‘either lead or get out of the way’ so on November the 14th 2019 I sold the company to the employees as an ESOP to ensure a smooth succession for the future. There were a few good reasons. My first reason was an effort to keep the team together and leave our customer focused culture undisturbed allowing us to continue to build what has become a very unique company. Secondly, I did not build this company by myself and I wanted to find a way to say thanks to all those on our team that made our company special.
I’m hopeful that our visitors will find the following pages in our website informative, educational, and useful. For those that are just now meeting us, I hope we can be of service. For those that are current customers it’s been a real pleasure having the opportunity to serve you.
Dennis Firestone
Chairman Of The Board and Founder
GET IN TOUCH WITH OUR TEAM
