koesters body and frame shop

What koesters body and frame shop does

Koester's Body and Frame Shop is a family-owned commercial and consumer vehicle repair company headquartered at 6818 Lincoln Hwy E, Fort Wayne, Indiana, operating from a 70,000-square-foot, full-service facility with 35 indoor work bays, a separate 7,200-square-foot detail shop, and a full parts department. Founded by Steve Koester in 1970 when he purchased the OK Garage, the company traces its craft lineage to 1948 and has been continuously operated by the Koester family for over 50 years, growing from seven employees in the 1970s to 50+ full-time employees today after recovering from a 1982 fire that destroyed the original facility.

The company's core offering is collision and frame repair spanning cars, light trucks, RVs, commercial trailers, and semi-trucks, supported by specialized heavy-duty equipment including the Chief 360 frame rack with laser velocity measuring, a Chief 10-post 30-foot semi-frame rack, a Beeline alignment rack for 1-ton-and-up vehicles, two 60-foot paint booths with bake ovens, and a computerized Dupont-certified paint mixing system. Adjacent service lines include mechanical repair and preventative maintenance for medium-to-heavy-duty trucks, DOT inspections, trailer repair, RV bodywork and roof replacement, fleet maintenance programs, transportation and towing (including a 50-foot, 36,000-lb Landoll flatbed trailer with ICC carrier authority across 48 states), full-service detailing, and parts sales including SnowDogg snow plow distribution.

Revenue is generated through professional-services fees per repair job across multiple customer segments — commercial fleet operators and trucking companies, RV owners (supported by preferred-facility relationships with multiple RV manufacturers), individual vehicle owners (channeled through insurance carriers where Koester's is also a preferred facility), and walk-in retail — supplemented by hardware sales through SnowDogg plow distribution and Stoughton authorized parts distribution at dealer pricing. Pricing is quote-based with free estimates; insurance claims paperwork is handled directly. Go-to-market relies on the company website, Facebook, toll-free and local phone lines, and walk-in service at the Fort Wayne facility.

Name

koesters body and frame shop

Legal name

Koester's Body Shop, Inc.

Website

https://koestersales.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Koester's Body and Frame Shop is a family-owned Fort Wayne, Indiana vehicle repair facility offering collision, frame, mechanical, DOT inspection, fleet maintenance, RV repair, and towing services for commercial trucking operators, RV owners, and individual drivers from a 70,000-square-foot facility with 35 indoor bays.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial and Consumer Vehicle Repair Services

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing (336211), Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing (33621), Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing (3363)

SIC

Truck & Bus Bodies (3713), Truck Trailers (3715), Motor Vehicle Parts & Accessories (3714)

akta.pro primary industry

Truck Body & Upfit Manufacturing (Box/Dump/Service/Refuse) (IMACAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Vocational/Work Truck Manufacturing (Dump/Refuse/Mixer/Utility) (IMACABAF), Specialty Vehicle Body Manufacturing (Emergency/Military/Mobile Clinics) (IMACAGAD)

Keywords

• Auto body repair
• Collision repair services
• Heavy duty truck repair
• Fleet maintenance services
• RV repair services

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Wayne

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Auto Body and Collision Repair Services: Collision repair, frame repair, paint services, and body work for all vehicle types including cars, trucks, RVs, and commercial trailers. Revenue generated through service fees per repair job.
2. Mechanical Services: Preventive maintenance, DOT inspections, brakes, diagnostics, transmission replacements, and mechanical repairs for medium to heavy-duty trucks
3. Parts Sales: Full-service parts department carrying new and used auto parts, truck parts, equipment, and Snow Dogg snow plows
4. Transportation and Towing Services: Towing and hauling services including 50' 36,000 lbs. capacity Landoll flatbed trailer and ICC Carrier services across 48 states
5. Detail Services: Full detail services including interior/exterior cleaning, sandblasting, degreasing, acid washes, and vehicle reconditioning

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Koester's Body and Frame Shop is a full-service vehicle repair facility providing collision repair, frame repair, mechanical services, DOT inspections, fleet maintenance, transportation and towing, RV repair, paint services, and detailing for cars, trucks, semi-trucks, commercial trailers, and recreational vehicles. The company operates a 70,000 sq ft facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana, equipped with 35 indoor work bays and specialized heavy-duty equipment including Chief frame racks and Beeline alignment systems.

Product overview

Koester's Body and Frame Shop is a full-service commercial and consumer vehicle repair facility offering a unified portfolio of integrated services. The core offering centers on collision and frame repair (Body Work and Collision Repair, Frame Work), mechanical services, and trailer repair. Supporting services include DOT inspections, fleet maintenance programs, transportation and recovery (towing/hauling), RV repair, full paint services with two paint booths, full-service detailing, and a parts department. Additional offerings include SnowDogg snow plow sales/service and Kenworth day cab modifications. All services are delivered from a single 70,000 ft² facility with 35 indoor work bays, two frame racks, paint booths, and alignment equipment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Body Work and Collision Repair Full collision and frame repair services for vehicles ranging from cars to semi-trucks, including body repairs, paint services, and structural restoration.
• Mechanical Services Mechanical repair and maintenance services for medium to heavy-duty trucks, including preventative maintenance, diagnostics, brake services, and Bee Line alignment.
• Trailer Repair and Service Expert repair and inspection services for trailers of all sizes and types, including major/minor wreck repairs, fabrication, roof replacement, suspension work, alignment, and PM/DOT services.
• Frame Work In-house frame repair services using Chief 360 car and truck frame rack with laser velocity measuring system and Chief 10 post 30-foot semi-frame rack for all types of semi-trucks and heavy-duty vehicles.
• Transportation and Recovery Towing and hauling services with medium to heavy-duty tow truck, 50-foot Landoll flatbed trailer (36,000 lbs capacity), and 2-ton flatbed truck and trailer. ICC carrier in 48 states.
• DOT Inspections Complete DOT inspections for vehicles 1 ton and up, performed by certified team to ensure regulatory compliance.
• SnowDogg Snow Plows Sales and service of SnowDogg snow plows including CM Series, XP Series, VX Series, TE Series, HD/EX Series, VMD Series, and MD Series models.
• Full Service Detail Bays Complete vehicle detailing services in a separate 7,200-square foot facility including interior and exterior cleaning, sandblasting, degreasing, acid washes, and reconditioning.
• Parts Department Full-service parts department carrying new and used auto parts, truck parts, and equipment including motors, transmissions, rear ends, wheels, and tires.
• Fleet Maintenance Services Comprehensive fleet maintenance programs to keep commercial vehicles running smoothly and compliant with DOT regulations.
• RV Repair Services Full-service RV, coach, and fifth wheeler repair including bodywork, roof replacement, and generator services. Preferred repair facility for several RV manufacturers.
• Full Paint Services Complete paint facility with two 60-foot environmentally-safe paint booths with bake ovens, and computerized Dupont certified paint mixing and tinting system.

Quantifiable outcome

• Minimizes vehicle downtime through fast, quality repairs

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• StoughtoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuthorized Stoughton repair facility and parts distributor. Koesters performs Stoughton authorized warranty repair and distributes parts at dealer pricing.
• Indiana Motor Truck AssociationminorOthersProud member of the Indiana Motor Truck Association, supporting the trucking industry in Indiana.
• Indiana Towing and Wrecker AssociationminorOthersProud member of the Indiana Towing and Wrecker Association, supporting the towing and recovery industry.
• Buyers (SnowDogg)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized dealer for SnowDogg Snow Plows. Carries SnowDogg CM Series, XP Series, VX Series, TE Series, HD/EX Series, VMD Series, and MD Series plows. Also offers parts and service.
• Various RV ManufacturerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreferred repair facility for several RV manufacturers. Handles bodywork, roof replacement, generator service, and full-service restoration for RVs, coaches, and fifth wheelers.
• Various Insurance CompaniescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreferred repair facility for several insurance companies. Handles collision repair and claims paperwork directly for insurance providers.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Service King Collision: Service King is a national collision repair chain with hundreds of locations offering auto body and paint services with insurance carrier partnerships. Comparable to Koester's collision repair and insurance preferred-facility business model, though focused primarily on passenger vehicles.
• Premier Truck Group: Premier Truck Group operates a network of commercial truck dealerships and service facilities across the US, offering heavy-duty truck repair, parts, and fleet services. Directly comparable to Koester's in serving commercial trucking customers with full-service mechanical and body capabilities.
• FleetPride: FleetPride is the largest independent distributor and service provider for heavy-duty truck parts and repair in North America, operating service locations across the US. Directly comparable to Koester's in heavy-duty truck mechanical, parts, and collision services serving fleet customers.
• Velocity Vehicle Group: Velocity Vehicle Group operates commercial truck dealerships and service centers across multiple US states, providing heavy-duty truck sales, parts, and full-service repair. Comparable as a multi-location commercial vehicle service platform serving fleet customers with similar service offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Rush Enterprises: Rush Enterprises is the largest Peterbilt dealer network in North America with extensive commercial truck service capabilities including collision repair. While broader in scale (dealership group), its service center operations overlap directly with Koester's heavy-duty truck and trailer repair offerings.
• Boyd Group Services (Assured Auto): Boyd Group operates one of the largest collision repair networks in North America under the Assured Auto and Gerber brands. Comparable to Koester's in collision repair and insurance direct-billing model but at significantly larger scale.
• Maaco Franchising: Maaco is a national franchised auto body and paint chain with hundreds of independently owned locations. Comparable to Koester's paint services and body repair offerings, though Maaco is franchise-modeled and primarily focused on passenger vehicles.
• Caliber Collision: Caliber Collision is the largest collision repair chain in the US with over 1,800 locations and major insurance carrier partnerships. While broader in geographic and operational scale, it directly competes with Koester's collision repair and insurance preferred-facility positioning.

Regional players

• Transwest Truck Trailer RV: Transwest is a regional commercial truck, trailer, and RV dealer and service provider operating across multiple Western and Midwestern US states. Comparable to Koester's in commercial truck and RV service capabilities, with a similar combination of mechanical, body, and warranty repair work.

Emerging players

• TravelCenters of America (TA): TravelCenters of America operates a network of truck stops and service centers providing commercial truck maintenance, repairs, and roadside service across the US highway system. Comparable to Koester's fleet maintenance and commercial truck service offerings, though with a highway-adjacent real estate footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Koesters-Body-Frame-Shop-613532045388229
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/koesters-body-and-frame-shop

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about koesters body and frame shop