JLM Transportation has been in business since 2003, but entrepreneur Bryan Stout purchased it a year and a half ago.
“We knew the previous owners and we have a water softener business and an excavating businesses, so it seemed like a good thing to add,” Stout said.
They offer 15-passenger vans and do not supply a driver. Think of it like a car rental company but with only 15-passenger Chevy Express vehicles available.
It’s a service that’s hard to find in the Shipshewana area.
Stout said most car rental companies don’t offer 15-passenger vans anymore, unless you pick one up from Indianapolis or Chicago. Chevy even stopped making the vans between 2020 and 2023, now only manufacturing them for government contracts.
There are 15-passenger vans made by other manufacturers, but Stout feels the Express is the best option.
Regardless of the lack of accessibility, JLM Transportation has you covered.
“Our Amish use them a lot and probably account for the majority of business,” Stout said. “Many of our Amish have their own vans, and they use us if their van breaks down and is in the shop. If they have to get to a funeral, we’ll get an emergency call in the middle of the night – they need to go now.”
LaGrange and Elkhart counties are home to an Amish population of more than 15,000, making it the third-largest Amish community in the United States.
It’s not just the Amish population, however.
“Maybe you don’t want to drive three vehicles to Florida and it’s easier to rent one large van for the trip,” Stout said. “We’ll have a group of ladies that want to go shopping and they’ll rent one for the day so they can travel together, and we often pick up people from mission trips from the Chicago airport.”
They also rent enclosed trailers and luggage boxes, which can be rented separately if needed.
Daily rates or by-the-mile rates apply, based on the distance renters plan to travel.
“We charge a little more if you’re pulling a trailer or want to pull a boat,” Stout said. “We’ll also charge a little more if you want us to pull out the rows and move furniture in a heated or air-conditioned vehicle instead of a box truck.”
JLM moved from Shipshewana to Millersburg just a few months ago, sharing space with another of Stout’s businesses. They’re also working to expand and improve upon their services.
“We have bought three newer 15-passenger vans in the last year,” Stout said. “I can’t buy new ones at the moment, so I’m looking for low mileage and decent shape. They can be difficult to find but we’re going to continue to grow the fleet when possible.”
They also maintain the current fleet with cleaning and detailing after every use.
“I think the most important thing is to get the word out there, because I feel like so many don’t even know we exist,” Stout said.
Follow JLM Transportation Inc. on Facebook for more details.
