BEST TRUCKING COMPANY

Ruan Transportation Management Systems Inc.

Ruan Transportation Management Systems Inc. has changed drastically since John Ruan founded the company in 1932 with a few trucks. Today, Ruan is one of the largest privately held logistics companies in the country, with a fleet of more than 5,400 semitrailers and a workforce of more than 3,200 drivers.

Acquisitions have been a major part of Ruan’s growth strategy, with a focus on the retail sector. Last year, Ruan acquired Arbor Freight Services, which produced additional revenues for the company, and this year, it bought Kings County Truck Lines Inc., a California-based bulk milk carrier. According to company reports, Ruan¡¦s annual revenues are approximately $600 million.

Ruan offers a full range of supply-chain solutions, including contract carriage, logistics management, bulk carriage, warehouse management and certified brokerage services. According to Mike Kandris, Ruan¡¦s president and chief operating officer, his company¡¦s strength continues to be its focus on supply-chain solutions that are efficient and cost-effective for its customers. A few of Ruan¡¦s clients include Target Corp., ConAgra Foods Inc. and HNI Corp.

RUNNERS-UP: Barr-Nunn Transportation Inc.; TMC Transportation Inc.

BEST PRO-BUSINESS BANK

Wells Fargo Bank Iowa

Small businesses are big business to Wells Fargo, the nation’s No. 1 small-business lender. Wells Fargo¡¦s business banking team in Des Moines works one-on-one with customers to meet their needs.

The breadth of its product line and the strength of its commercial lending services are two reasons Wells Fargo rates highly as a pro-business bank, according to H. Lynn Horak, chairman and CEO of Wells Fargo Bank Iowa.

Besides the personal attention businesses receive at local branches, companies can also access the bank¡¦s services electronically.

The Wells Fargo Business Spending Report, a Web-based financial management tool for small businesses launched in January, gives businesses an automatic consolidated overview of their spending, updated each business day, allowing them to monitor and track expenditures from any location, at any time. And with Wells Fargo Business Online, business customers can manage their funds ¡ review account activity, pay bills, apply for loans, transfer money, handle payroll 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

RUNNERS-UP: West Bank, Bankers Trust Co.

BEST LOCAL DELIVERY SERVICE

King Delivery Service Inc.

Though King Delivery Service Inc. has moved to the East Village at 101 E. Fifth St., it still offers the same service that has kept the family-owned business going for the past 84 years.

The company has been named best delivery service for the fifth consecutive year by Des Moines Business Record readers.

“Our goal is to always get a little better at what we do,” said Jerry King, a third-generation owner. “Keeping up the appearance of our fleet and being visible to our customers is important.”

King Delivery’s 28 employees, who include a number of third- and fourth-generation family members, combine attention to detail and technology to provide quality service to the company’s more than 500 clients, which include banks, pharmacies and other local businesses.

It’s those employees who “are out there every day busting their butts for you” that make the business what it is, King said.

King Delivery moved nine months ago from 1406 Grand Ave. after the city condemned its building for construction of Gateway West. King said once some renovation is completed at the new location, the company will begin offering short-term warehousing services for businesses.

RUNNERS-UP: Huston Delivery Service; Priority Express Inc.

BEST COMMERCIAL PRINTER

Colorfx

Colorfx’s business has more than quadrupled since 1979, the year John DeVries bought an existing business and started Colorfx. DeVries credits his company’s dedicated employees and wide range of services as major forces behind the growth.

Today, Colorfx employs 245 people at three locations; two in Des Moines and one in Waverly. About 200 of the employees are based in Des Moines. Iowa companies account for about 65 percent of Colorfx’s customers, but DeVries said out-of-state sales are growing quickly.

Although printing still dominates Colorfx’s business, the company has expanded its range of services over the years through several acquisitions. DeVries said customers like the fact that they can count on Colorfx to handle everything from product design through distribution.

Business Record readers aren’t the only ones who have recognized Colorfx this year. Printing Impressions magazine included the company on its list of the top 400 printing companies in the United States and Canada. The company moved up 10 spots this year to No. 177; not bad, DeVries said, considering there are more than 44,000 commercial printers in the country.

RUNNERS-UP: Acme Printing Co. Inc.; Action Print

BEST PLACE TO PARK YOUR MONEY

Wells Fargo & Co.

Wells Fargo has become a company that offers a full spectrum of financial services: investments, insurance, mortgages, home equity lending, student lending, small business banking and wholesale banking. It delivers its products when, where and how its clients want them. Customers can walk into an office and make investments, manage their small business finances, take care of their insurance needs, get a mortgage and a home equity loan all under one roof.

“At Wells Fargo, our vision is to satisfy all of our customers, financial services needs and help them succeed financially,” said Richele Messick, a spokeswoman. “This means we get to know our customers and understand their financial hopes and dreams. Then we help make those dreams a reality.”

Wells Fargo is also devoted to community involvement, both through charitable giving and volunteer efforts. In 2005, Wells Fargo gave more than $4 million to Iowa organizations. Additionally, Wells Fargo team members contributed another $1.5 million to United Way of Central Iowa and other non-profit organizations. Team members also logged 36,000 volunteer hours in 2005.

RUNNERS-UP: Bankers Trust Co.; West Bank

BEST CHARTER AIR SERVICE

Elliott Aviation Inc.

Once people discover how safe, convenient and affordable it can be to travel with Elliott Aviation Inc., they come back again and again, according to Charlie Stockton, the company¡¦s flight department manager.

Elliott Aviation has operated out of Des Moines International Airport since it opened its Des Moines branch in 1957. The company, which has a fleet of 12 aircraft, also has operations in Moline, Minneapolis and Omaha.

Stockton said Elliott Aviation has a strong clientele of business travelers, about 25 of whom use the company’s charter air service monthly. He said these customers are people whose time is valuable, and they cannot afford to waste a whole day traveling on a commercial airline.

Although Elliott’s fares can be comparable to what you¡¦d pay through a commercial airline, the company has competitors who charge a little less. But Stockton said his company believes it is more important to have a proven record for safety rather than the cheapest rates. Over the past 20 years and 35,000 flight-hours, Elliott’s flights have been incident-free, Stockton said.

RUNNERS-UP: Signature Flight Support Inc.; Allegiant Air

BEST TRAVEL AGENCY

International Travel Associates

Planning a business trip with a tight itinerary and multiple destinations can cause any reaction but a smile. Since 1963, International Travel Associates has prided itself on having consultants available to handle travel details, and more recently, an online program that also can help customers.

Although consumer confidence in traveling has risen since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, airline prices are increasing rapidly this year, said ITA manager Lynn Ewing, causing consultants to work harder to find the best airfares and schedules for their clients.

“I think probably our biggest accomplishment (this past year),” said Mary Phillips, supervisor of ITA, “is 100 percent customer retention. In the travel industry, that’s a challenge because things are ever changing. For us to be able to get our clients through those changes and do it to our satisfaction and know everyone is pleased with what we’re doing is an accomplishment to us.”

Ewing and Phillips also attributes ITA’s perennial top finish in this category to the leadership of their CEO, Steve Chapman, who recently celebrated his 30th anniversary with the company, along with several other longtime employees.

“Our employees are very dedicated and work hard for our customers,” Ewing said. “That kind of combination, it’s a perfect scenario.”

RUNNERS-UP: Travel and Transport Vacations; Travel World