Company History

Mergenthaler Transfer & Storage was started in 1933 by Arthur Mergenthaler as a 5 cent per stop grocery delivery service. The company prospered doing business as mainly a small package delivery service until the early 1950’s when it acquired a United States Postal contract. This contract propelled the business in a new direction.

The company obtained a permit to conduct local cartage work and began delivering freight for Butte-Helena Motor Freight, Western Express and United Buckingham.

During the late 1960’s the company purchased household goods authority and began offering intrastate and interstate moves.

In 1981 the company acquired contracts with a major telecommunications company to transport telephone installation equipment from Utah to various points in Montana. Today Mergenthaler’s Special Contracts Division serves Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah & Montana.

In April 1986 the company acquired general commodities authority for the forty-eight states and entered into the LTL (Less Than Truckload) freight business by opening a service center in Salt Lake City, UT. On the first day of LTL operations the company transported one shipment paying $29.50.

The LTL division has experienced tremendous growth since its humble beginnings. The Salt Lake service center soon outgrew its 2-door facility and today operates from a 40-door service center providing overnight service to all major cities in Montana & Utah.

In 1991 the company entered into an interline agreement with ABF Freight Systems to deliver LTL freight from Billings to points in Montana. In 1999 an agreement was signed with Viking Freight to deliver their Montana freight. In 2001 an agreement was entered into with Dakota Cartage and the company opened a service center in Dickinson, ND, which serves as a gateway to Montana. Today the company has marketing agreements with approximately 40 LTL carriers.

2004 brought many exciting changes for the LTL division. The name was changed from Mergenthaler Transfer & Storage to MTS Freight, a Mergenthaler Company; the change was made to more accurately reflect freight operations. The company also purchased Fortman Truck Lines, a regional carrier serving the Northwest corner of Montana, and expanded its coverage.

In 2005 MTS Freight purchased Molerway Freight Lines. This purchase helped the LTL division expand even further by opening the Denver, CO market as well as Eastern Montana. MTS now serves more direct points in Montana than any other carrier.

In February of 2006 MTS opened the state of Utah by providing nearly 100% coverage throughout the state. Service centers are located in Salt Lake City, Fillmore, Moab, Price and Saint George.