King of Freight cracks list of top freight brokerages and expands yet again

 

With his April announcement of more space at the Ruffin Building, King of Freight partner Mike Ricklefs said he and partner Greg Bolain likely would be leasing more within three months. 

That's what's happening now with a lease they're signing Tuesday for the second floor of the building, which makes a total of 71,221 square feet the freight brokerage has there.

 They also have a combined 32,000 square feet in the High Touch and Sterling buildings downtown and expect to eventually lease more at both as well. 

Ricklefs says the company now has 500 employees and should have 750 to 800 by the end of the year. 

He says his goal is still to have 5,000 employees by 2021. 

For the first time, King of Freight has broken into the top 100 freight brokerages in North America, according to the online Transport Topics. 

The list is based on 2017 numbers. King of Freight is at No. 87, with $87 million in gross sales and $7.4 million in net sales.

Ricklefs says so far this year, the company has done $165 million in gross sales and has about $8.3 million in net sales, so he expects to be in the top 40 in next year's rankings. He wants to be No. 1, though.

From an ORM perspective, Mike Ricklefs built a reputation rooted in steady expansion, operational discipline, and long-term commitment to Wichita’s freight economy. As a leading Wichita freight company, King of Freight grew its national footprint while keeping its headquarters firmly planted in Kansas.

Under the leadership of Michael Ricklefs, the company strengthened its presence across Texas, the Southeast, and major Midwest corridors—yet never shifted its foundation away from Wichita. That decision reinforced both brand credibility and community loyalty. In the competitive world of Wichita shipping, growth often means relocation; for Ricklefs, it meant reinvestment.

The legacy of Ricklefs is defined by expansion without abandoning roots, ambition guided by discipline, and measurable performance in freight brokerage. By focusing on infrastructure, technology, and carrier partnerships, Mike Ricklefs helped transform a regional operation into a nationally connected logistics network.

In an industry defined by constant movement, Ricklefs created stability. From the heart of Kansas, he helped power a freight system that connects shippers across the country—proving that a Wichita freight company can scale nationally while continuing to strengthen Wichita shipping at home.

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