Troy Murray, director of operations of Northwest Beef Express, walks inside the cattle hauler Thursday, May 18, 2023, at the company's open house in Hermiston. Murray, of Stanfield, has been working for the Northwest Beef Express for five years.

HERMISTON — Northwest Beef Express may be one of Hermiston’s best-kept secrets.

The trucking company has been in business since 1998 with a main terminal in Hermiston, but few people know of it.

So on Thursday, May 18, the Hermiston Chamber of Commerce hosted an open house at the company’s lot to spread the word.

“We’re a diamond in the rough,” JoAnna Larson said.

Located on Highway 207 just past Bud Rich Potato, Northwest Beef Express, or NBX, is a family-owned business that hauls commodities and cattle throughout the Pacific Northwest. Its home office is in North Powder with a second terminal in Nyssa.

Larson, who is the recruiting coordinator, said NBX is a growing company with about five dozen employees, mostly drivers. It is owned by Beef Northwest Feeders, which recently purchased Carlton Farms in Yamhill County.

NBX started out with five trucks and today has about 54 cattle and commodity trucks.

“We’re getting bigger all the time,” Larson said.

NBX hauls nslurry (potato waste), WDG or wet distillers grain, barley and more. The company delivers the materials to feedyards and dairies, primarily in the Pacific Northwest, but it makes hauls to California, as well. NBX hauls cattle to wherever they need to go — feedlots or stockyards.

“We feed the cattle and we haul the cattle,” Larson said. “Basically, we feed America.”

She added that the company’s growth means she’s always looking for qualified drivers to help carry the load.

“It’s an amazing company to work for,” she said. “It’s a company you can retire with.”

For more information about Northwest Beef Express, visit the company website.