CSTK
CSTK is a Thermo King dealer network and diversified transportation solutions provider operating 12 locations across the US Midwest and East Coast. It sells, services, and rents refrigerated transport equipment, truck upfitting, trailers, HVAC, and construction/agricultural equipment to fleet operators, owner-operators, and construction businesses.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersOverland Park, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What CSTK does
CSTK, Inc. is a privately held Thermo King dealer network and diversified transportation solutions provider founded in 1979 and headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas. The company operates 12 physical locations across the U.S. Midwest and East Coast, including a 56,000 sq. ft. flagship facility in St. Louis with 16 service bays and a 150-trailer drop lot, plus locations in Wichita, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Bethlehem, Philadelphia, Scranton, and Vineland. CSTK's core business is the distribution, installation, service, and parts supply for Thermo King transport refrigeration equipment, including trailer units, truck/van units, and auxiliary power units (APUs), augmented by the Thermo King ConnectedSuite telematics platform.
The company generates revenue across four streams: one-time equipment sales (Thermo King, JCB, TYM/Branson tractors, trailers, truck upfitting), parts and accessories sales, professional service and repair (including 24/7 mobile service), and usage-based refrigerated rentals under the Kool Ride brand. Additional offerings include portable refrigeration (Coldtainer, ColdCube), HVAC systems (Red Dot, Eberspaecher/Espar), aerodynamic trailer skirts (Strehl TrailerBlade), fire suppression (AFEX), and custom truck upfitting under subsidiary Kahn Truck Equipment. CSTK serves four primary customer segments: fleet operators and transportation companies (primary), independent owner-operators, construction and agricultural businesses, and horse/livestock trailer buyers.
The go-to-market approach is enterprise field sales executed through direct sales representatives at each branch, supported by mobile service teams performing on-site repairs and maintenance. Customer concentration appears low, with no named anchor accounts disclosed and a quote-based pricing model across product categories. CSTK positions itself on factory-trained technical staff, 24/7 availability, multi-brand authorized dealer status, and over 45 years of operational history, with documented Thermo King recognition including the 2018 Eastern Region Dealer of the Year Award.
CSTK firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CSTK
- Legal name
- CSTK, Inc.
- Website
- https://cstk.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- CSTK is a Thermo King dealer network and diversified transportation solutions provider operating 12 locations across the US Midwest and East Coast. It sells, services, and rents refrigerated transport equipment, truck upfitting, trailers, HVAC, and construction/agricultural equipment to fleet operators, owner-operators, and construction businesses.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CSTK industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Vehicle Equipment Dealer and Transportation Solutions
- NAICS
- Refrigeration Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423740), Automotive Equipment Rental and Leasing (5321), Refrigeration Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (42374)
- SIC
- Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery (3580), Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Refrigeration & Cold-Chain Equipment Service (IMAIABAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cold Chain & Temperature-Controlled Storage Equipment (IMAHAKAJ), Refrigerated Vehicles (Reefer Trucks/Vans) Leasing & Rental (TLABAEAA)
Keywords
Where CSTK is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Overland Park
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices9 records
Markets served
CSTK business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Equipment Sales: Sales of new transportation equipment including Thermo King refrigeration units, trailers, truck equipment, tractors, and construction equipment from various manufacturers.
- Parts and Accessories Sales: Sales of genuine OEM and aftermarket parts for refrigeration units, trailers, trucks, and equipment. Large in-stock inventories maintained at all locations with online access to complete product lines.
- Service and Repair: Service, repair, installation, and maintenance for transportation equipment including 24/7 mobile service, DOT inspections, custom welding, and trailer repair.
- Refrigerated Rentals: Rental of Kool Ride refrigerated trailers and vans for daily, weekly, or monthly periods. Also includes Coldtainer portable refrigeration units.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Quote-based pricing for all products and services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
CSTK product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CSTK is an authorized Thermo King dealer network providing transport refrigeration equipment (trailer units, truck/van units, APUs), OEM and aftermarket parts, installation, repair, and maintenance services. The company also offers custom truck upfitting, horse/livestock trailers, HVAC systems, construction and agricultural equipment, refrigerated rentals (Kool Ride, Coldtainer), and 24/7 mobile service across 12 locations in the Midwest and East Coast.
Product overview
CSTK is a diversified transportation solutions provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of temperature-controlled transportation equipment and services. The company's primary offerings center on Thermo King transport refrigeration products including trailer units, truck/van units, auxiliary power units (APUs), and the ConnectedSuite telematics platform for fleet monitoring. CSTK extends its portfolio through truck equipment upfitting (dump trucks, crane trucks, service trucks, flatbeds), horse/stock trailers, refrigerated rentals (Kool Ride brand), portable Coldtainer and ColdCube refrigeration units, HVAC solutions (Red Dot, Espar), TYM tractors, snow removal equipment, and trailer repair services. The company operates as an authorized Thermo King dealer network with 12 locations across the Midwest and East Coast, providing sales, installation, parts, and 24/7 mobile repair services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Kahn Truck Equipment: Custom mechanic and service truck provider, operating as a subsidiary of CSTK at the St. Louis facility.
Products and services
- Thermo King Transport Refrigeration Complete line of transport temperature control equipment including trailer units, truck/van units, and auxiliary power units (APUs) sold, installed, serviced, and supported through CSTK's authorized Thermo King dealer network. Targeted at commercial fleet operators and transportation companies requiring refrigerated cargo solutions.
- Kool Ride Refrigerated Rentals Walk-in cooler trailers and transit vans available for daily, weekly, or monthly rentals for events, equipment breakdowns, or additional storage needs. Targeted at fleet operators, event organizers, and businesses needing temporary refrigerated transport or storage capacity.
- Coldtainer Portable Refrigeration Revolutionary portable temperature-controlled product transport and storage containers with flexible configurations fitting in virtually any vehicle, featuring precise temperature control and low energy consumption. Targeted at catering, pharmaceutical, and fresh food delivery applications.
- Truck Equipment & Upfitting Custom truck bodies including dump trucks, crane trucks, flatbed trucks, service trucks, and specialty vehicles from brands like Reading, Brandon, IMT, CM Truck Beds, AutoCrane, and Switch-N-Go. Targeted at construction, utility, and commercial fleet operators needing specialized work vehicles.
- Horse/Stock Trailers Complete line of trailers including cargo, horse, livestock, and living quarters trailers from brands like 4 Star, Hart, and Outlaw Conversions. Targeted at individual buyers, equestrian operations, and small livestock/agricultural businesses.
- HVAC Solutions (Red Dot & Espar) Aftermarket heating and air conditioning solutions for vehicles and heavy equipment from Red Dot and Espar (Eberspaecher), serving construction, agriculture, trucking, military, mining, and emergency services vehicles. Targeted at operators of heavy-duty vehicles and off-road equipment.
- TYM Tractors (Compact Tractors) Full line of compact tractors including the Branson brand with attachments and accessories, available at select CSTK locations in the Midwest. Targeted at small farms, landscaping operations, and property owners.
- Trailer Repair Services Trailer repair services including DOT inspections, custom welding and fabrication, lift gate repair and installation, trailer skirt services, onboard trailer scales, and 24/7 mobile service availability. Targeted at commercial fleet operators and trailer owners requiring maintenance and regulatory compliance.
- JCB Construction Equipment JCB construction equipment sales, rentals, parts and service including skid steer loaders, excavators, backhoe loaders, compact track loaders, and telescopic handlers. Targeted at construction contractors and agricultural operations in the Midwest.
- Strehl TrailerBlade Aerodynamic Side Skirts Aerodynamic trailer side skirts claiming up to 7.15% fuel savings in SAE J1321 EPA-verified tests, with four-way adjustable mounting and 10-year life cycle. Targeted at fleet operators seeking fuel efficiency improvements.
- Vehicle Graphics Custom fleet graphics including car decals and full vehicle wraps designed to help fleets stand out. Targeted at commercial fleet operators needing vehicle branding and identification.
- Fire Suppression Systems (AFEX) AFEX pre-engineered fire suppression systems with spot thermal, linear, or infrared detection options. Targeted at fleet operators and equipment owners requiring fire safety compliance for heavy-duty vehicles and equipment.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 7.15% fuel savings with Strehl TrailerBlade side skirts (SAE J1321 EPA-verified test)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use CSTK
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
CSTK technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
CSTK partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.
- Green Street St. LouismajorFull service real estate development, brokerage and management company engaged to design and build new 56,000 sq. ft. facility in St. Louis, Missouri. Green Street utilizes sustainable real estate practices.
- Thermo KingcoreCSTK is a proud member of the Thermo King dealer network, providing expert factory-trained service, complete line of genuine and competitive parts, installation, and repairs for Thermo King transport refrigeration equipment including trailer units, truck/van units, APUs, and telematics solutions.
- TYM TractorscoreCSTK is an Authorized Dealer for TYM Tractors at their Wichita, KS location. Offers full line including attachments and accessories, as well as service, repair, and parts.
- Branson TractorscoreCSTK is an Authorized Dealer for Branson Tractors (owned by Kukje Machinery, established 1968) at their Wichita, KS location. Offers full line including attachments and accessories, as well as service, repair, and parts.
- Aurora Parts & AccessoriesmajorLeading provider of Aftermarket service solutions for heavy duty trailering equipment in North America. Aurora's FleetPerform program has over 1.5 million trailers enrolled (25% of U.S. trailer fleet). Supported by three Product Distribution Centers and dedicated delivery vehicles.
- ColdtainermajorRevolutionary portable temperature-controlled product transport and storage. Easy-to-use, highly-reliable, and cost effective solution for catering, pharma, and fresh food delivery. Flexible enough for any industry.
- Red DotcoreCSTK is a Red Dot distributor and installer, offering Red Dot HVAC units, parts, A/C parts, installation, repair and service for heavy-duty vehicles and equipment including construction equipment, farm machinery, military vehicles, commercial trucks, mining equipment, and emergency services vehicles.
- Eberspaecher (Espar)majorCSTK offers Eberspaecher/Espar diesel-fired heating systems providing cab and sleeper heat in trucks, eliminating need to idle engine for heat. Also supplies independent coolant systems for quick engine pre-heating.
- Kahn Truck EquipmentcoreCSTK subsidiary Kahn Truck Equipment provides custom mechanic and service trucks. Housed within CSTK St. Louis facility, eliminating need for additional off-site parking and warehouse space.
- JCBmajorCSTK JCB serves construction and agricultural industries with JCB equipment sales, rentals, parts and service. Located in Kansas City, Kansas. Features include skid steer loaders, excavators, backhoe loaders, compact track loaders, and telescopic handlers.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CSTK competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Velocity Vehicle Group: Daimler Trucks' largest dealer network in North America, operating multi-location commercial vehicle dealerships with diversified services across new/used truck sales, parts, service, and financing — directly comparable to CSTK's multi-location, multi-brand dealer model.
- Rush Enterprises: The largest Peterbilt and International truck dealer network in North America with 100+ locations offering new/used trucks, parts, service, and Rush Truck Leasing — closely comparable scale and multi-site dealer operating model to CSTK.
- Premier Truck Group: Multi-location Freightliner dealer with full-line truck sales, parts, service, and leasing across multiple U.S. regions; structural and operational similarity to CSTK's diversified multi-brand equipment dealer model.
- Bergey's Truck Centers: Family-owned, multi-location commercial truck dealer offering sales, parts, service, and collision repair across the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest — comparable regional dealer profile to CSTK's Midwest/Northeast operating geography.
- Vanguard Truck Centers: Multi-brand commercial truck dealer group operating across the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast with full-line truck sales, parts, and service — similar diversified dealer footprint and service-driven revenue mix to CSTK.
- TEC Equipment: Volvo and Mack heavy-duty truck dealer group with full-line parts, service, and leasing across the West Coast and Midwest — comparable multi-location, service-heavy commercial vehicle dealer profile to CSTK.
- MHC Truck Leasing: Kenworth dealer network with truck sales, leasing, parts, and service across multiple U.S. regions; structural similarity to CSTK as a multi-location commercial truck/equipment dealer with leasing component.
- Transwest: Multi-brand commercial vehicle and trailer dealer group with locations across the Western and Midwestern U.S.; comparable mix of new equipment sales, parts, service, and commercial rentals to CSTK's business model.
Broad incumbents
- Ryder System: Public fleet management, dedicated transportation, and supply chain solutions provider with refrigerated trailer rental/leasing capabilities; broader scope than CSTK but overlaps on rental fleet, fleet maintenance services, and reefer equipment.
- TruckPro: Large national aftermarket commercial truck parts and service chain with hundreds of locations; overlaps with CSTK's parts distribution and service operations but does not focus on the transport refrigeration niche.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CSTK social profiles
Digital presenceCSTK financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CSTK leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
CSTK subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
CSTK funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CSTK M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CSTK
What does CSTK do?
CSTK is an authorized Thermo King dealer network providing transport refrigeration equipment (trailer units, truck/van units, APUs), OEM and aftermarket parts, installation, repair, and maintenance services. The company also offers custom truck upfitting, horse/livestock trailers, HVAC systems, construction and agricultural equipment, refrigerated rentals (Kool Ride, Coldtainer), and 24/7 mobile service across 12 locations in the Midwest and East Coast.
Is CSTK a public or private company?
CSTK is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was CSTK founded?
CSTK was founded in 1979. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is CSTK based?
CSTK is headquartered in Overland Park, United States, in the North America region.
How does CSTK make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Equipment Sales are the primary driver. The others are parts and Accessories Sales, service and Repair and refrigerated Rentals.
Who are CSTK's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Velocity Vehicle Group, Rush Enterprises, Premier Truck Group, Bergey's Truck Centers, Vanguard Truck Centers, TEC Equipment, MHC Truck Leasing and Transwest. Broad incumbents are Ryder System and TruckPro.
Does CSTK have an API?
No public API is recorded for CSTK.
What industry is CSTK in?
CSTK's product category is Commercial Vehicle Equipment Dealer and Transportation Solutions. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAIABAE, Refrigeration & Cold-Chain Equipment Service, with a secondary code of IMAHAKAJ, Cold Chain & Temperature-Controlled Storage Equipment. Its NAICS code is 423740 and its SIC code is 3580.