Welcome to Rihm Family Companies, where a rich history and a commitment to providing expert solutions for the transportation industry converge. For over 92 years, we have been dedicated to serving our customers with unparalleled service and quality, becoming a cornerstone in the trucking industry.
Partnering for Success: Providing Expert Solutions to the Transportation Industry
Rihm Family Companies, Inc. (RFC) is a fourth-generation, family-owned business that has been a leader in the trucking industry since its inception. Employing more than 350 people across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and South Dakota, our company encompasses several key businesses:
- Rihm Kenworth: The second oldest Kenworth truck dealership group in the world.
- RMC Truck Parts: Our private label parts sales company.
- Rihm Leasing: Specializing in truck leasing, rental, and maintenance.
- Rihm Global Sales: Exporting trucks and spare parts to over 60 countries worldwide.
Rihm's Core Values
At Rihm, our values are the foundation of our business. We operate on the principles of the four "Es of Doing Business":
- Effective – Doing the right things.
- Efficient – Doing things right as we approach all tasks.
- Equity – Providing fair treatment and opportunity for everyone to be successful.
- Expansion – Exploring opportunities to grow, improve and/or expand our business and team members.
Paving the Way for Women in Trucking
In 2010, Kari Rihm became the owner of Rihm Kenworth, making her the only 100% woman-owned Kenworth dealer in the U.S. Under her leadership, the business has flourished, and in 2022, we proudly celebrated our 90th anniversary. As a National Women’s Business Enterprise Certified (WBNEC) company since 2011, we are committed to creating pathways for women in the trucking industry.
History
1932 - Rihm Motor Company Established
John B. Rihm established Rihm Motor Company as a full service heavy equipment and truck dealership on University Avenue in the Midway Neighborhood of St. Paul. "J.B." Rihm was already distinguished as a leader in the auto industry, known as a founding member of the Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association (MADA) and partner in the both Owen's Ford and Northwest Motor Equipment in the 20s and early 30s.
History
1940-Focus Shifts to Commercial Trucks
J.B. and son Walter embraced the emerging commercial truck market, adding Federal, Diamond T, and Divco trucks to augment the dealership's Galion Grader, LinkBelt Shovel and Marmon-Herrington Truck lines. As the Twin Cities grew and the Country opened up to more opportunity following WWII, so did the demand for heavy trucks. J.B. Rihm served as President of MADA in 1946.
History
1949 - Kenworth Came Calling
Bob O' Brien from Kenworth Truck Company approached J.B. to determine his interest in becoming the first Kenworth Dealer east of the Mississipi. Mr. O' Brien left four heavy trucks with J.B. and he sold them right away to a local petroleum hauler who described the trucks as being "3 lbs. lighter than the Queen Mary!" Kenworth shook hands with Rihm, and the Rihm Family became the fourth Kenworth Dealership in the network. J.B. built a new service garage west on University Avenue to accommodate the new line.
History
1951 Under One Roof
Declaring itself to be the "finest and most modern sales and service garage in the northwest", a new and modern headquarter facility, bringing offices, showroom and shops together was built on the corner of the University and Cleveland Avenues. Centrally located in the Twin Cities Midway, J.B. presided there until his death in 1962. The buildings are still in use today.
History
1962 A New Era
Walter F. Rihm succeded J.B., serving as President from 1962 - 1993. His son, John joined the company in 1966. During his tenure, Walter dropped the other lines and became a single line dealer for Kenworth, and increased the footprint of the dealership by adding a trailer storage lot across University Avenue. Walter ended his career as Chairman of the Board in 2002 and died in 2004.
History
1993 3rd Generation Lead growth and Expansion
John. W. Rihm became president, focused on implementing new technologies that changed and improved the way we do business. There were many awards winning years under John's leadership. In 1995, Rihm Motor Company was the largest volume single store dealership in the network selling 745 trucks that year. The company was re-branded as Rihm Kenworth in 1997. The following year John established a brand location in Superior, WI to support our customer base in that area. 1998 marked the acquisition of more land adjacent to the headquarter building to serve as a truck storage and staging lot for the shop. In 2007, he opened a second branch operation in Albert Lea, MN. He led the company through three more challenging years.
History
2010 - 2012 Milestone Years
Kari J. Rihm became President and Dealer Principal when John lost his life to brain cancer in 2010. His son, also J.B. Rihm, joined the company in 2011, representing the 4th generation of Rihm's at the dealership. Under Kari's direction, Rihm Kenworth expanded, by adding a full-service location in Sauk Centre, MN in 2011 and planning improved branch facilities. Rihm Kenworth was recognized by Kenworth in 2012 with a Silver Award for Dealer Excellence, as Medium Duty Dealer of the Year for 2011, for having the Top Sales Manager, Top Medium Duty Sales Rep, Top MX Sales Rep, and as PACCAR Parts Engine Parts & Service Dealer of The Year for 2012.
History
2023 - Celebrating 90 Years, Substantial Growth & Being Woman-Owned
In 2017, Rihm purchased a leasing company and established Rihm Leasing, a PacLease and NationaLease franchise. Rihm Leasing operates 359 power units, 120 trailers and 274 rental units in eight stand-alone and six Rihm Kenworth dealership locations. Then in 2018, Rihm Kenworth moved from its 27,000 square foot building in St. Paul, expanding to a total of 140,000 square feet in the Twin Cities metro with new facilities built in Coon Rapids and South St. Paul (its new headquarters), MN. Also in 2018, Rihm converted a Rihm Leasing location to include a dealership in the southeast part of the state (Winona, MN) and built a new facility in the southwest (Mankato, MN) in November 2019. In 2021, it relocated its Albert Lea, MN, facility to a remodeled/expanded building. And in 2023 it broke ground to begin a remodel/expansion of its Superior, WI, facility. 2022 marked a milestone year for Rihm Family Companies as it celebrated 90 years in business – maintaining its status as the second longest-operating Kenworth dealership in the world.
❮ 1932 1940 1949 1951 1962 1993 2010 2023 ❯
Why Purchase from Your Local Dealer?
- Convenience: Your local dealer offers extensive product knowledge and on-site inventory for easy tours and test drives.
- Relationships: Build a lasting relationship with your dealer representative for reliable service and support.
- Service After Sale: Local dealers prioritize purchasing customers for service, ensuring top-notch after-sales support.
- Local Economy: Supporting local businesses helps keep tax dollars and jobs within the community
We Run on EOS
Rihm Family Companies utilizes the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) to streamline our operations and achieve our vision. Using Traction Tools, we manage projects, document processes, and conduct meetings effectively. Our success is built on six key components:
- Vision: Aligning everyone in the organization with our goals and strategies.
- People: Building a team of exceptional individuals to achieve our vision.
- Data: Focusing on objective metrics to monitor our performance.
- Issues: Expertly solving problems to eliminate them permanently.
- Process: Systematizing our business operations for consistency and scalability.
- Traction: Implementing discipline and accountability to execute our vision.
Join Us in Our Journey
With a legacy of excellence and a forward-thinking approach, Rihm Family Companies is dedicated to providing top-tier solutions for the transportation industry. We invite you to learn more about our history, values, and the many ways we can support your trucking needs.
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