Fuso Comes to Norcross
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Peach State Emergency Vehicles
PSTC News
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"Spartan manufactures the kind of safe, durable, highly engineered solutions our fire departments are asking for."
Spartan Emergency Response, a business unit of Charlotte’s Spartan Motors Inc., announced the addition of Georgia’s Peach State Emergency Vehicles, a division of Peach State Truck Centers, and its sister company, Alabama Emergency Vehicles, to its Spartan-authorized dealerships. Peach State Emergency Vehicles is authorized to sell and service the full portfolio of Spartan Emergency Response fire apparatus. “Signing Peach State Emergency Vehicles enables us to expand our reach and re-establish Spartan’s presence in fire houses in the southeast,” says Todd Fierro, president of Spartan Emergency Response. “We look forward to working alongside this established and highly successful dealership group. Like us, they are committed to customer satisfaction and first responder safety.” Peach State also provides customers with new Spartan fire apparatus vehicles, Spartan parts, and factory authorized repair services from three locations throughout central Georgia and Alabama. “Spartan manufactures the kind of safe, durable, highly engineered solutions our fire departments are asking for,” says Jeff Cook, director of new truck sales at Peach State. “… This represents a major expansion of available emergency vehicle offerings, and we look forward to providing our customers with the industry’s best in both product and aftermarket support.” Spartan Emergency Response builds vehicles from the ground up, working with individual fire departments to translate the specs of each truck. Spartan Motors employs about 2,300 people and reported sales of $816 million in 2018.
Peach State Emergency Vehicles established to offer Spartan brand firetrucks
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DTNA's 'A Day in the Life' Program Visits Norcross
On Tuesday, August 13, a group of Daimler employees from the Extended Warranty Operations team came to Norcross for a site visit and tour. During the visit the group got to see up close how each department, service and warranty, new and used truck sales, parts sales and inventory, at the dealership does their job each and every day. The visit was a part of a new Daimler initiative called A Day in the Life that allows corporate employees the chance to see how their partners at the dealership level operate. The goal of the experience is to strengthen the customer experience. Part of becoming a true customer advocate is experiencing the world from the customers’ perspective and that can’t happen sitting in an office chair. The Day in the Life program provides a variety of opportunities for DTNA employees to get out in the world and witness customer touchpoints first-hand. Conversely, Peach State President Rick Reynolds, along with an executive from Saia LTL Freight will get the Day in the Life Treatment at DTNA corporate headquarters in South Carolina later in the year. The Day in the Life Program is a part of the newly created Customer Experience (CX) organization within DTNA. Another CX event involving Peach State was used truck sales event in Charlotte that Used Truck Sales Director Gary Conleay attended. In all, the CX team and events are focused on building a stronger relationship between Daimler’s corporate teams and the day-to-day operations of dealerships like Peach State.
The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) announced today its second annual list of Top Women to Watch in Transportation. The editorial staff of WIT’s Redefining the Road magazine selected these individuals for their significant career accomplishments in the past 12 to 18 months as well as their efforts to promote gender diversity. “This year, we’ve identified 53 women who stand out as top performers in a field of highly qualified nominees,” said Brian Everett, Group Editorial Director and Publisher of Redefining the Road magazine. “They represent a diverse range of company types and a variety of roles and responsibilities, showcasing the many career opportunities for women in the transportation industry.” The 2019 Top Women to Watch in Transportation work for motor carriers, third-party logistics companies, equipment manufacturers, retailer truck dealers, professional services companies, technology innovators, and private fleets. Their job functions include corporate management (23 percent), operations/safety (21 percent), sales/marketing (18 percent), human resources/talent management (13 percent), customer service (6 percent), engineering/product development (2 percent), and professional drivers (9 percent). Courtnay Beckham, a sales specialist at SelecTrucks of Atlanta, was named on the recent list of Women to Watch in Transportation. “It is exciting to see so many remarkable women not only pushing the envelope in their own careers, but also supporting women around them,” said Ellen Voie, WIT President and CEO. “Celebrating the accomplishments of women in our industry is central to the mission of Women In Trucking, so we’re especially pleased to recognize these industry leaders.”
In July, Birmingham Freightliner passed its re-certification for Elite Support status by Daimler Trucks of North America. The ultimate goal of the Elite Support Network is maximizing vehicle uptime. Every Elite Support dealership must be recertified annually to ensure that the customer experiences a consistent, higher standard with every visit across the Elite Support network. This promotes continuous improvement, so that each year the Elite Support dealer is running at the top of its game. THANK YOU to all that those who contributed towards our passing the inspection today," said Birmingham GM Chris Bisanz. "Especially we'd like to show appreciation to those that drive this culture in your everyday efforts." Peach State Truck Centers locations are certified in Forest Park, Austell, Norcross, Jefferson, McDonough in addition to Birmingham Freightliner. Peach State recently hired on a new corporate Continuous Improvement Director in Roger Bence to drive the Elite Support philosophy across the company.
Birmingham Freightliner is Re-certified Elite Support
Courtnay Beckham Included in Women in Trucking's Top Women to Watch in Transportation
In July, Lee Dunlap (Byron) received a call from Barbara Kitching (Jefferson) that a Pike Electric truck was down in Swainsboro, Georgia under power lines in an emergency situation. Timmy Woodard, our South Georgia Thomas Bus technician, was called from a job in Pierce County to go look at it. He arrived at 1:30 PM and discovered a lower radiator issue with the Pike truck. This particular truck was crucial for allowing Pike to take care of the power issue they were working on for Georgia Power in the area. The parts needed were found at Savannah Freightliner. Timmy drove the three hours to Savannah and back to get the part to repair the truck so it could get back on the road as soon as possible. In the end, the Pike truck was repaired and was able to get the job done for Georgia Power. Timmy did not get back to his house until midnight after starting early that morning. “Anyone that knows Timmy, know this is him,” said Peach State Service Director Bryan Leskosky. “Timmy is very dedicated, along with Lee, to make sure our road call needs are taken care of at any time with Pike. We want them to be recognized for this.” Chad Whitehead from Pike Electric was also impressed with the dedication shown by the Peach State team. “This was a truck that needed to be up and running to perform this job for our customer. I am so thankful for the steadfast commitment and hard work that Timmy and the others at Peach State showed to help us perform our mission.”
Road Tech Goes Above and Beyond for Pike Electric
Success Stories
Congratulations to our very own Mark Maddox for becoming a fully certified Freightliner and Detroit Trainer! This has been a three year project for Mark, and we're very proud of the work he's done for us as an in-house trainer for our techs. Completing both of these groups of training is similar to a four year term in college. Mark helps us in a huge way achieve our vision of being the dealer of choice and employer of choice in the markets we serve. Thank you, Mark!
Mark Maddox Becomes Certified Detroit Trainer
Hear about the big wins happening at our locations
Jose Sandoval (left) pictured with Peach State Ford General Manager Arthur Banks (right) receiving the Ford Motor Company Senior Masters Program Award.
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Peach State Ford Tech Receives Award from Ford
Jose Sandoval, a service technician at our Peach State Ford car dealership in Cedartown, Georgia recently received his Ford Motor Company Senior Masters Program Award. Among technicians in the Atlanta area, there are only 212 who have received this same award. As vehicle technology progresses, it requires increased levels of knowledge and skill for technicians to effectively complete advanced diagnostic and repair operations. Jose made the following achievements in the 2019 Ford Masters Program: Senior Master Retention, Chassis Master Retention, Drivetrain Master Retention and Engine Master Retention. This accomplishment by Jose demonstrates Peach State's commitment to highly trained personnel. "Jose's commitment fulfills our customers' expectations that their vehicles are repaired by highly-skilled, factory-trained technicians," said Peach State Ford GM Arthur Banks. "But we aren’t surprised…he’s always been number one with us."
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Daimler Trucks North America Marks the Production of 750,000th Vehicle at Cleveland, N.C. Manufacturing Facility
"We applaud the efforts made by thousands of employees across UPS, DTNA, and Peach State Trucks Centers to bring this milestone to fruition."
Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) today commemorated the production of the 750,000th vehicle built at its Cleveland, North Carolina truck manufacturing plant. Keys to the milestone vehicle – a Freightliner new Cascadia – were presented to representatives from United Parcel Service (UPS) during a ceremony at the facility. “Over the past 30 years, our Cleveland plant has served as the foundation for our North American manufacturing operations and has been an integral part of our growth, innovation and leadership,” said Roger Nielsen, president and CEO, Daimler Trucks North America. “This production landmark demonstrates both customer acceptance of our solutions and the strength of our team. As we continue to evolve our product offerings and technologies, the Cleveland facility will remain a critical part of our strategy and success.” “UPS celebrates this landmark achievement alongside DTNA as we accept the 750,000th truck produced by the Cleveland truck manufacturing plant,” says Carlton Rose, president of global fleet maintenance and engineering at UPS. “We applaud the efforts made by thousands of employees across UPS, DTNA, and Peach State Trucks Centers to bring this milestone to fruition. This accomplishment signifies our companies’ continued success as collaboration transforms technology and service defines the customer experience.” Freightliner Trucks acquired the plant in 1989 and started producing the Freightliner Medium Conventional, a day cab truck model based on a Mercedes-Benz cabin mounted on an American chassis. Over the years, the product line-up at Cleveland has evolved as DTNA’s newest innovations entered the marketplace. Today, in addition to the marketing-leading Class 8 new Cascadia, the Cleveland plant also produces the Western Star 4700, 4900 and 5700XE truck models, and the Freightliner Coronado and Columbia for the right-hand drive Australian and New Zealand markets.
Since the first truck rolled off the line in Cleveland, DTNA has invested more than $350 million in the facility, including a recent $27 million investment to add a new logistics center with state-of-the-art technologies to support the company’s lean supply chain practices. More than 2,200 people are employed at the Cleveland facility, DTNA’s largest manufacturing plant in the U.S.
PORTLAND, Ore. – July 11, 2019 – Freightliner Trucks has expanded Team Run Smart to include a deeper focus on career opportunities available in professional truck driving, while providing valuable resources on how to succeed in the career. Team Run Smart has also added a lineup of drivers to represent five distinct categories in the profession to serve as industry resources to the Team Run Smart community. The new Team Run Smart Pros include: · Clark Reed, Nussbaum Transportation (company driver) · David Morreau, Holland Transportation (pioneer/lease purchase) · Linda and Bob Caffee, Landstar (hired gun/own truck and drive with a fleet) · Henry Albert, Albert Transportation (trailblazer/own truck and drive under own authority) · Jimmy Nevarez, Angus Transportation (trailblazer/owns and operates multiple trucks) “Our goal is to leverage our Team Run Smart platform to address the issues related to truck driving, educate those who are considering a career in driving, and help those who are already drivers to be successful,” said Mike McHorse, director of channel marketing for Freightliner Trucks. “It’s essential to communicate all the different opportunities the industry offers to help recruit and retain professionals in trucking.” Team Run Smart was launched in 2012 to provide owner-operators with a platform to share information and resources. Since its inception, it has grown to 60,000 members from all categories of the trucking industry. TeamRunSmart.com already has a wealth of detailed information including TruckSmart, providing information on efficient, safe and profitable truck operations; BusinessSmart, which delivers valuable information and resources on the business of trucking; LiveSmart, with advice on healthy lifestyle options while on the road or at home. The new CareerSmart section will focus on the different career paths for drivers. “Team Run Smart has truly evolved into a place where community members can share best practices with each other, as well as discuss their stories, challenges and successes,” said McHorse. “The new enhancements serve to deepen and broaden those conversations.” “We appreciate Freightliner’s willingness to leverage its Team Run Smart program to shed a light on the career opportunities for professional truck drivers,” said Brent Nussbaum, CEO, Nussbaum Transportation. “We’re pleased that Clark Reed is joining the program as a Team Run Smart Pro, and that he’ll be able to share his vast knowledge and experiences as a professional driver by connecting with other drivers and those considering a career in trucking on the community platform.” The Team Run Smart Pros will be on hand at the 40th Annual Walcott Truckers Jamboree (July 11-13, 2019) at the Iowa 80 Truckstop, in Walcott, Iowa. Team Run Smart Pros and representatives will also attend other industry meetings and trade shows to meet with community members and discuss their experiences. Noted McHorse: “Drivers are the backbone of the trucking industry. If you bought it, they brought it. We look forward to seeing the impact of the Team Run Smart resources and Pros on the challenges the industry is facing.” For more information on Team Run Smart, the upcoming appearance at the Walcott Truckers Jamboree, and for a list of events where Team Run Smart Pros will appear, go to www.TeamRunSmart.com, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Freightliner’s Team Run Smart Deepens Focus on Careers in Professional Truck Driving
PI Training Session
Register for the Peach State Team Today!
On May 21, Peach State managers met in Duluth, Georgia for a training session on the Predictive Index behavioral assessment. The PI is a tool that Peach State has used for years to help match job candidates with the right position that fits well with their personality and drives. The session lasted all day and showed the managers how they can use the PI to better understand their employees and their working style. Sid and Aaron Strickland provided instruction and were thoroughly knowledgeable of the PI and all that it can do for a business like Peach State.
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On June 26, Birmingham Freightliner employees received a training session for Allison transmissions. Six technicians attended, three road service techs and two shop techs from Birmingham and one road service tech from Alabama Freightliner in Tuscaloosa. The training was put on by WELLER truck parts, which is an aftermarket remanufacturing company that sells reman Allison transmissions and rear ends. They also provide technical support. “My techs said it was one of the most informative and best training they have been through, all in just 4 hours,” said Birmingham Freightliner Service Manager J.D. Humphries. “I was surprised how in depth it was. I am confident in the relationship we have that we can support Weller’s customers and gain more customers for our business, which is the ultimate goal.” The plan is to roll this training program out to the entire Alabama road service team in the coming months. Birmingham Freightliner will purchase the Allison programs for service tech laptops and order the pin kits for diagnostics. On top of that the company’s outside service sales rep David Gurley will be calling on customers to further push this service. “I want to take this time to thank everyone for the opportunity to speak with the Birmingham and Alabama Freightliner team yesterday,” said Curt Lello from Weller Truck Parts. “We are convinced that we have the best Allison Support team covering the Birmingham & Tuscaloosa areas. I know when call on customers I have somewhere that can install and service our products.”
“We can now pride ourselves on having Daimler brands representing each class of commercial truck business.”
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Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America recently added a second location for its Peach State Truck Center dealership in Norcross GA. The new location will provide sales, service and parts for Fuso trucks, and the secondary location in Forest Park GA will remain a service point for Fuso trucks, the company said. Peach State Truck Centers, with more than 40 years of sales and service experience, boasts multiple locations throughout central Georgia and Alabama. The dealership has been selling Fuso trucks from its specialty vehicles location in Forest Park, but, because of location and customer convenience, the dealership will shift Fuso sales activities to the Peach State Norcross Freightliner location. This move will better support Fuso truck owners operating in the Atlanta metro area, Fuso said. This location is one of the largest of the Peach State dealerships, is the headquarters and is recognized as an elite support location by Freightliner trucks, a sister brand of Mitsubishi Fuso. “Atlanta is a very important market for Fuso, and we are proud to partner with an outstanding dealership location in Norcross,” said Justin Palmer, president and CEO of Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America. “The Peach State Truck family already is successful with the Fuso product in Forest Park, and we are pleased with their decision to move sales operations closer into Atlanta, a win-win for our customers.” Peach State Truck Centers Norcross will offer all makes and models of Fuso products, including its newest gasoline-powered truck, Fuso said. This expansion of product will complement Class 6 and 7 Freightliner vocational trucks and Freightliner Sprinter vans already sold at the location. Fuso offers a complete lineup of Class 3 to 5 medium-duty trucks in diesel and gasoline powertrains. These trucks can handle payloads up to 12,490 pounds in the Class 5 diesel-powertrain model. “Fuso trucks, especially the all-new FE GAS models, have done well at our Forest Park location, and we know that more Fuso customers operate closer into the city which is why we are expanding our Fuso operations into our main Norcross location,” said Rick Reynolds, president and owner principal at Peach State Truck Centers. “We can now pride ourselves on having Daimler brands representing each class of commercial truck business.”
Allison Training Session in Birmingham
TRW Training
In September, David Pugh and Jon Dalton from ZF came out to Forest Park to put on a training class for their TRW steering system. It was a very informative session for our employees. They covered the whole system, including the pump and steering gear. There was classroom training with slides and actual cut-away components to show the internal workings. After the classroom training, there was a "hands on" session in the shop where they went through some diagnostics procedures with their test equipment. Overall it was a great session. They held one in the morning and one in the afternoon. There was good participation from all Georgia locations. They recently had some sessions in Birmingham, as well.
www.peachstatetrucks.com
Peach State Truck Centers
Since 1974, Peach State Truck Centers has grown into one of the largest commercial truck dealership groups in America. With locations throughout Georgia and Alabama, Peach State serves customers with its highly trained team of new and used heavy and medium-duty truck sales specialists, $14 million local parts inventory, Elite Support Certified service and support locations and truck collision facilities. Along with Freightliner and Ford, Peach State offers other top truck brands: Western Star, Thomas Built Buses, Sprinter Van and Fuso.
6535 Crescent Drive Norcross, GA 30071
