Industry Watch March 2014
Transcription
Industry Watch March 2014
1.877.GETS.UTA • www.uta.org Used Truck Association Chartered May 16, 1988 Published by the Used Truck Association 325 Country Club Drive, Suite A Stockbridge, GA 30281 Table of Contents Board News and Views........................2 Quips & Quotes.....................................2 New Members....................................3,5 Face to Face with Amy Shahan............4 Does the Driver Shortage Mean the Roads are Less Safe?........5 The Brooks Group Sales Tip of the Month.......................5 Industry Events Calendar....................6 Eight Things Your Neighbor May Not Know About Professional Drivers .........................7 NADA Update: ............................... 8-11 Medium Duty Corner............................ 11 Industry News Briefs..................... 12-15 2013 UTA Convention Photos....... 16-17 From Where We Sit............................ 18 The UTA… Members Supporting Members! SHARE YOUR NEWS with the UTA Industry Watch. Send submissions, ideas and comments to: UTA Industry Watch Editors Brad and Deb Schepp c/o Grace Management 325 Country Club Drive, Suite A Stockbridge, GA 30281 Phone: 877-GETS-UTA (877-438-7882) Fax: 770-454-0029 [email protected] Volume 16 • Issue 3 • March 2014 I Feel a Little Springtime in the Air! T his year is really flying by! It’s hard to believe we are already talking about our annual UTA Jerome Nerman Family Foundation Kansas City Golf Outing. This is my first year as Chairman of our Scholarship Committee. This year we have requested Grace Management’s help in this worthy cause. David Grace and Misty Rivers play such an important role in what goes on behind the scenes at all of our UTA events. I’m not sure how we did it without them. I appreciate everything they do; especially helping me with this huge and extremely important event. This year again, we will hand out TEN $5,000 scholarships to worthy candidates at our annual convention. And again, we have asked Johnson County Community College to choose our scholarship recipients. Their representatives will be at our June Golf Outing. Please take time to say “thank you” to them. Their task is not easy! I wouldn’t want that job! I’m sure glad they accepted the challenge. The UTA Jerome Nerman Scholarship Fund has awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships to dozens of deserving students. The fund’s financial strength continues to grow, thanks to your continued generosity when asked to help. It is that time of year again. The Scholarship Committee will contact everyone over the next couple of months. The Committee will challenge us to rise to the occasion by sponsoring and participating in the Kansas City Golf Outing, to be held on Wednesday and Thursday, June 25th and 26th. By sponsoring and participating in the Golf Outing, UTA members can continue to make these young peoples’ dreams come true well into the future. We will return to last year’s venue, holding the Wednesday (25th) evening reception, 6:00 p.m. CST, at the Adams Pointe Conference Center at the Courtyard Kansas City East/Blue Springs. There will be beverages and light appetizers at 6:00 p.m., and a buffet dinner at 7:00 p.m. The Thursday (26th) morning golf at the Adams Pointe Golf Club, located right behind the hotel, will start with breakfast in the clubhouse at 7:00 a.m., with an 8:00 a.m. tee time. Please mark your calendars and plan to join us at this fundraising event. There is a live link on the UTA website (www.uta.org) to enable you to help sponsor, register to attend, and reserve your hotel room at the Courtyard. If you have any questions or comments, or would like to reserve a sponsorship, please e-mail Misty Rivers at [email protected] or myself, at [email protected], and we will help set you up. This is a fantastic opportunity to network with your fellow UTA members while helping a great cause. Speaking of the Scholarship Fund, the 2014 application is also on the UTA website. If you know of a deserving young person who would appreciate the help of a scholarship, now is the time to reach out to them. It’s never too early to fill out and submit an application! Be sure to read the qualification criteria and follow all directions as outlined in the application. We will notify the winners in early October, and announce them to the membership at our annual convention in Scottsdale this November. We have helped so many kids take steps to fulfill their dreams by achieving their educational goals. My goal as Committee Chairman is to build the financial strength of the scholarship fund for long-term sustainability. By supporting this June’s Kansas City Golf Outing through your sponsorship and participation, we can achieve these goals. I look forward to seeing each of you in June! Let’s make this year’s event the best one yet. Who knows, if we keep having such a great response, we may grow to FIFTEEN or even TWENTY scholarships! Jay Burgess UTA Jerome Nerman Family Foundation Committee Chairman [email protected] • 478-319-8574 UTA Industry Watch 2014 BOARD OF DIRECTORS http://www.uta.org/directory GOVERNING BOARD: President...................... Rick Clark Vice President..............Ken Kosic Treasurer................... Tom Pfeiler Secretary................Sheri Aaberg President Emeritus ........................... Marty Crawford COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS: Affiliates & Benefits.... Bryan Boyd Convention..................Hal Dickson, Sheri Aaberg Dealer Group.......... Mike Thurston, Bobby Williams Elections................ George Barnett Finance.......................... Tom Pfeiler Marketing........................ Rick Clark Medium Duty..............Amy Shahan Membership........... John Cosgrove, Kenny Doonan Training............................Ken Kosic, Brock Frederick UTA Jerome Nerman Family Foundation Scholarship ..................................... Jay Burgess, Brock Frederick UTA.org Website......Bobby Williams Wreaths Across America ....................................Bobby Williams Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving. ~Albert Einstein 2 March 2014 Board News and Views I t’s been a long, hard, and cold winter. Too many times in recent months we’ve experienced sub-zero temperatures explained by unfamiliar terms like arctic blasts or polar vortexes. And to add to the extreme cold, we’ve had much more snow than usual, at least here in the Northeast. But now, finally, March is here. Yeah we may still get more cold days and snow, but there will also be nice days mixed in. Spring training in baseball, Saint Patrick’s Day, and the official start of spring all occur in this transitional month. In the trucking industry the big event in March is the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, KY. But my favorite part of March is the NCAA college basketball tournament, better known as March Madness. It’s time to fill out your brackets, root for your alma mater, and let the chips fall where they may. One of the things that makes the tournament so exciting is when a big underdog knocks off a heavy favorite. It happens every year but you never know when lightning will strike. So how do teams with inferior talent, size, and athletic ability pull off these upsets? There are many reasons but most of these upsets include a strong leader, strategic game plan, good execution, and maybe most importantly, the right atmosphere to allow players to perform at their highest levels. A coach that the team respects and believes in is critical for any team. A good coach will develop a specific game plan for the team they are playing, and get his players to buy into his strategy. Then it’s up to the players to execute the game plan. In the tournament the players may have a great deal of passion and grit, but they also have to play smart to win. Finally, a good coach will create an atmosphere where players are not afraid to lose and play to win. This is one advantage an underdog has--since they are expected to lose they don’t have as much pressure on them. All of these things are usually part of big upsets. In the used truck industry it seems like most companies have been underdogs over the last few years as everyone scrambles to get their hands on scarce inventory. Just like a college basketball team, a successful company will have strong leaders who develop realistic strategic plans that employees will buy into and execute. But again, as in basketball, the most important element may be the company culture that its leaders create. Does the company value its customers and employees? This seems obvious, but you’d be surprised by how many companies try to sell their customers what they have instead of finding what the customer actually needs and wants, and tailoring their product or service to that. And with unemployment still very high many companies get away with treating their employees poorly. This is counter-productive and creates a negative atmosphere that will eventually hurt any organization. A company cannot exist without employees and customers. Organizations that take care of their customers and employees will have a much better chance of succeeding in these tough times. The Used Truck Association offers management training, networking opportunities, the Dealer Group, the Annual Convention and much more to our members. As always, please let any Board Member know if there’s anything else we could do to help the membership. Spring is almost here, summer is just around the corner, and after this winter the warm weather can’t come soon enough. And let’s hope we don’t hear about any more arctic blasts or polar vortexes for a long, long time. George Barnett Chair Election Committee [email protected] www.UTA.org UTA Industry Watch New Members Nathan Becker MHC Truck 2003 Industrial Parkway McDonough, GA 30253 (678) 432-3460 (w) [email protected] Scott Brady, Sales Manager Strategic Accounts Eaton 13100 East Michigan Ave Galesburg, MI 49053 www.Roadranger.com (269) 746-6338 (w) (269) 720-1381 (c) [email protected] Scott’s been a member of our industry since 1988. He began his career working for Eaton’s remanufacturing division rebuilding transmissions. “In the beginning, I wondered what in the world did I get myself into,” he told us. “But it all worked out and it was the beginning of a successful career.” Scott worked his way through several positions in the plant, and then moved on to Eaton’s headquarters in 1990. Scott has some clear objectives as a new UTA member. Short term, he’s focused on “bringing awareness to Eaton’s products, specifically improving the image of our automated products.” He feels “significant progress” has been made with proven reliability, extended warranty programs for used trucks, and benefits “that will help the second or third owner.” Scott’s goal is selling trucks and he wants to provide the tools necessary to help with that process. It’s always a treat to welcome new members to the Used Truck Association. Each month we profile our new members in this newsletter. New members have the opportunity to complete a bio and send a photo so our current members can learn more about you. We hope to learn not just how to reach you, but what you enjoy about the work you do, why you joined the UTA, and what gets your gears going as a person. So please return your questionnaire so your fellow UTA members can get to know you! If you’d like a copy of the new member brochure handed out at the convention, please contact David Grace at [email protected], or 770-389-6528 ext. 404. to help individuals meet their goals and objectives,” he said. “In my 25 years with the company, I have met many wonderful people, and have long-lasting relationships because of the trucking industry. I’ve been blessed to have had many wonderful jobs with Eaton, and look forward to this new opportunity with the Used Truck Association.” Richard Keller If he wasn’t in the truck business Scott would still be involved with vehicles—in this case motorcycles. “I grew up riding on trails, racing motocross, and spending many weekends camping with my family,” Scott said. “My passion involves the motorcycle industry. My son now races, and we travel great distances to compete in the amateur nationals. It’s a sport that builds strong work ethics and dedication. If I was to change paths today, I would definitely get involved in the OEM side of that business.” Mike Landwehr, Used Truck Sales Manager Scott’s a handy guy around the house, and keeps busy fixing things when not traveling. He says he also likes to help others by volunteering his time and support to the Make-A-Wish foundation to help fulfill the dreams of needy children. James Golmon Delta Fuel Company 27797 Hwy. 15 P.O. Box 1810 Ferriday, LA 71334 (318) 757-7610 (w) [email protected] Edward Hockenberry, Used Truck Manager Paccar 311 Shallowford Drive Boiling Springs, SC 29316 (864) 582-3660 (w) [email protected] Hunter Truck Sales 100 Hunter’s Way Smithfield, PA 15478 (724) 564-4292 (w) [email protected] VoMac Truck Sales & Service, Inc. 12242 Declaration Dr. New Haven, IN 46774 www.trucksalesgroup.com (800) 824-9354 (w) [email protected] Back in 1987, Mike got his start in the truck business washing trucks while attending college. He’s joined UTA hoping to build new relationships, and further his knowledge of the industry. Mike’s favorite part of his job are the people and the variety it offers. “It’s exciting to work with our sales staff and customers,” he said. “It’s never dull. I look forward to coming to work and the variety of what we deal with in our industry.” Mike loves the outdoors and that’s probably where you’d find him if he wasn’t in the truck business. “I like to go to new places, hike, bike, and spend lots of time outdoors,” he told us. Mike’s passion for sports is something he shares with his family. “My daughter runs cross country, and we have started running 5k races together,” he said. “It has been a great way to spend time with her and compete together,” he added. Nowadays, many people don’t stay with the same company for more than a few years. As a 25-year Eaton vet, however, Scott has some strong feelings about his work and the company. “I love meeting new people, building relationships, and providing tools New Members continued on page 5 www.UTA.org March 2014 3 UTA Industry Watch Amy Shahan A my has been in the trucking industry for 10 years. She started working for Bayshore Ford Truck Sales, Inc. doing clerical work, specifically doing the titles for others’ sales. Although she was quick to say that there are plenty of women who work in the trucking industry, for example in the finance end of the business, she started her life selling trucks as something of a standout. For her first few UTA conventions, others greeted her by asking her husband where he worked! Since then, she’s made her presence known by heading the UTA’s Medium Duty Committee while serving on the Board. Today, Amy is the Buyer/Seller of commercial trucks at Bayshore, a dealership in New Castle, DE. She wholesales used trucks to other dealers. She’s done so well in the industry that her husband and best friend, Will, is the stay-at-home parent, caring for the couple’s four children. So, how did Amy go from an office job to a successful salesperson? “I’m not one to make myself fail,” she said. She admits that starting in sales was a little intimidating, but she knew she had her employer’s backing. If sales didn’t work out for her, there would still be a job for her at Bayshore. She credits her success to her own determination and the support of both her employer and her fellow salespeople. “The guys make it easy,” she said. She’ll admit at that first some males in the sales 4 March 2014 part of the industry were willing to just blow her off and not take her too seriously. “You have to know about trucks,” she said. But she worked hard and learned quickly while showing an attitude and personality that helped her succeed. “It’s all about how you present yourself,” she said. “Smile a lot. It makes you feel good and others as well.” This attitude folds right into her advice for younger people just starting out. “Be positive,” she advises. “Truck sales has its ups and down. Stay positive and work hard. It will come together.” Amy still remembers with pride her first truck sale. “The adrenalin was pumping!” she recalled. “I sold three trucks to a dealer, and it just grew from there.” She knows how to talk to people. “It’s not all about selling trucks,” she explained. “I feel I have a bond with those I deal with.” Although she never quite imagined herself selling used trucks, Amy wasn’t surprised by her ability to make a sale. Even at yard sales, she’s always the one with the most money at the end of the day. Once again, attitude and personality make the difference. When she’s not at work, Amy and Will spend most of their time with their family. “It’s very busy,” she said. The family includes Allysa 19, Alexis and Felicia 14, and Will 9. All of the kids play sports, so the family goes from one game to the other, almost always having something in season. “From softball, baseball, soccer, basketball, and volleyball,” Amy said. She is also a huge football fan, “Go Eagles!” and the whole family loves NASCAR. When we asked if any of her kids are planning to follow her into used truck sales, she said no. Her older daughter is studying nursing, and her son is planning to be a professional baseball player. Amy still stands out these days, but that’s because she’s so successful, and well known for all she does for the UTA. Thanks Amy! n www.UTA.org UTA Industry Watch Does the Driver Shortage Mean Roads Are Less Safe? W e all know that the industry is facing a serious shortage of truck drivers. One unique option for reducing that shortage is driverless trucks. But that technology will not be mainstream for quite a while. And despite more and more training programs for truck drivers, we’re still left with a serious driver shortage. What are the consequences of this shortage? There are the obvious ones (delays in shipments), but also some that are not so obvious. To learn more we spoke with Chandler Magann, President of Next Exit Logistics, a logistics and freight management company. Magann had some interesting perspectives to share. First off, “the trucking industry is in good shape at the moment,” Magann said. “The industry is growing. Intermodal transportation is expected to increase over five percent each year through 2022. Therefore, we can expect a lot more shipments and business.” But this good news can potentially also be a cause of concern in Magann’s view. While business is on the rise, trucking companies are desperately trying to find new drivers for their fleets Magann said. “Some companies are hiring trainees before they are certified,” he said. “I believe this can be both good news and bad news. Now keep in mind that the trucking industry has done well to keep the amount of accidents down consistently throughout the past 20 years. The possible bad news is that with all the new, inexperienced drivers who are being put to work, there may be more accidents. We need to make sure we continue this trend [of working to keep accidents down] and keep the roads as safe as possible.” Fortunately, Magann didn’t just raise potential areas of concern, he offered some possible solutions. “One of the most common ways truckers get into accidents is when the weather conditions become less than desirable,” he said. “Just last month there was a big ice storm that came through Dallas and driving in those conditions was very dangerous. We never want to put our drivers in those kinds of situations, so whenever schools are closed due to bad weather, we tell our drivers to take the day off as well.” Magann also had some perhaps controversial thoughts on the use of speed limiters. “On the subject of safety, speed limiters are also an area of concern,” he noted. “Often times you’ll find truckers holding up a line of traffic on two-lane highways as they struggle to pass one another. Meanwhile, drivers are getting frustrated because there is no opportunity to pass. In order to combat this problem, I think speed limiters should be able to be overridden for 10 minutes every hour. This gives truckers the opportunity to pass slower truckers and alleviate the potential traffic jams. Not only that, but sometimes you find yourself in a dangerous situation where the best option is to speed up a little. Unfortunately, trucks with speed limiters do not have this option.” We can expect these issues to remain on the front burner as the industry continues to grapple with driver shortages. n New Members continued on from page 3 Kim Misenar, Highway Truck Sales Carolina Tractor & Equipment Company 9000 Statesville Road Charlotte, NC 28269 (704) 596-6700 (w) [email protected] We spoke with industry vet (40 years!) Kim Meisner on a very welcome warm February day, coming after what seemingly was an endless series of snowstorms in our parts! Kim spent a good part of his career with Kenworth. At Carolina Tractor, he especially enjoys “helping people, doing a quality job, and working for a company that’s respected in the area.” Outside of work Kim enjoys many outdoor activities including mountain climbing, fishing, skiing, and kayaking. If that wasn’t enough to keep him busy, he also has three sons. He’s been married for 35 years now. Mike Reeves, Director of Originations Freedom Truck Finance 2911 Turtle Creek Blvd, Ste. 1280 Dallas, TX 75218 (214) 263-1954 (w) [email protected] Roberto Rosas Rotex Group 11802 Sara Road Laredo, TX 78045 (956) 722-1250 (w) [email protected] Successful people envision themselves being even more successful. Unsuccessful ones envision the opposite. www.UTA.org March 2014 5 UTA Industry Watch Industry Events Calendar MARCH JUNE continued 27-29 • Mid-America Trucking Show 2014 Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center 28 • East Coast Large Cars Truck Show 2014 Louisville, KY www.truckingshow.com 37 Plains Road Augusta , NJ eclcannualtruckshow.com/ 24-25 • UTA Sponsored Training Seminar Selling for Success Tampa Marriott Westshore Tampa, FL www.uta.org JULY 10-12 • Walcott Trucker’s Jamboree Iowa 80 Truckstop APRIL Walcott, IA http://iowa80truckstop.com/trucker-jamboree/ 8-11 • NAFA Institute & Expo Minneapolis Convention Center 21-22 • UTA Sponsored Training Seminar Selling for Success Dallas, TX Minneapolis, MN www.nafainstitute.org www.uta.org 10-12 • Truck World 2014 International Centre AUGUST Toronto, Canada www.truckworld.ca 1-3 • Carlisle Truck Nationals Carlisle Expo Center Carlisle Fairgrounds MAY 8-10 • East Coast Truckers Jamboree Kenly 95 Truckstop • Kenly, NC http://kenly95.com/east-coast-truckers-jamboree/ 19-20 • UTA Sponsored Training Seminar Selling for Success Courtyard by Marriott, Downtown Baltimore, MD www.uta.org 29-31 • ATHS National Show & Convention Ozark Empire Fairgrounds Carlisle, PA www.carlisleevents.com/carlisle-events/carlisle-truck-nationals/ 8-9 • Waupun Truck-N-Show Waupun Community Center Spring Street, Waupun, WI http://waupuntrucknshow.com 15-17 • Eau Claire Big Rig Truck Show Chippewa Valley Technical College Eau Claire, WI www.eauclairebigrigtruckshow.com 3001 N Grant Avenue, Springfield, MO www.aths.org/convention 20-21 • Commercial Vehicle Outlook Conference Dallas Convention Center JUNE Dallas, TX www.cvoconline.com 20-22 • Great Lakes Truck Show Cabela’s • Dundee, MI SEPTEMBER http://greatlakestruckshow.org/ 5-6 • Big Iron Classic Mantorville, MN www.bigironclassic.com 25-26 • 9th Annual UTA Kansas City Golf Outing Adams Pointe Golf Club Blue Springs, MO 64014 www.UTA.org 22-23 • UTA Sponsored Training Seminar Selling for Success Phoenix, AZ June 17 & 18th, 2010 6 March 2014 www.uta.org www.UTA.org UTA Industry Watch Eight Things Your Neighbor May Not Know About Professional Drivers By Ellen Voie CAE, President/CEO, Women In Trucking, Inc. T he public perception of professional drivers has often been based on misunderstandings due to the media and movie industry’s portrayal of these hard-working men and women. Although there are numerous image campaigns in the trucking industry, most of them focus on the importance of the industry itself instead of trying to change the image of the person behind the wheel. Your neighbor might not understand what your life is like as a professional driver and more importantly, how your job affects their lifestyle. Here are eight things your neighbor probably doesn’t know about you, but should. This list isn’t comprehensive and I’m sure you can think of many more things you’d like your friends to know about your career, but this is a start. 1 Driving a truck for a living is not an easy job. You can’t just hop into a tractor-trailer and take it out on the highway without extensive training. It’s not an unskilled job that just anyone can do. It takes time and effort to learn how to shift, how to turn corners, and how to back into a dock. It’s not easy! 2 Being a professional driver isn’t just a job, it’s a lifestyle. When your neighbor goes to work each morning and returns home at night, his or her kids might not even know if their mom or dad changes jobs or careers because it doesn’t affect them in the same way it will affect the child of a professional driver. 3 Just because you are away from home a lot doesn’t mean you are unfaithful or that your marriage is in trouble. Your neighbor will judge your family situation based on their own. So, if they think you stay away because you’re unhappy, it’s their perception. Many folks still assume that you’re unfaithful because you travel often and have the opportunity to cheat on your spouse. Remind them that cheating relates to values, not time apart. 4 You can’t just make plans for a week from Thursday because you don’t know if you’ll be home or not. This was always one of the most difficult aspects of the trucking lifestyle to explain. No, I cannot RSVP to your daughter’s wedding set for next June, so it’s easier to decline the invitation. People just don’t understand how unpredictable your job can be when you’re delivering loads around the country. 5 Remember who is the professional! If I had the choice of driving alongside a family in an SUV in a snowstorm, or running alongside an eighteen-wheeler, I would choose the big rig. I just don’t trust non-commercial drivers as much as I do those professionals who are well trained and more observant. When people complain about big trucks sharing the highway, I remind them that the professional is the one who is more capable and trustworthy on the road than those drivers with less training. 6 Yes, trucks do own the road! Without trucks paying for the taxes that fund road projects, the highways wouldn’t be the same. From fuel taxes to IRS taxes, to tolls to mileage taxes, the trucking industry pays for the roads and their upkeep. Those four wheelers just don’t realize how little they pay, and don’t even think about how little they are paying for our roads. 7 If your neighbor only understood that your job keeps his kitchen stocked, his car’s tank filled, and his children clothed. He doesn’t always understand the supply chain and how you and your truck allows him to enjoy the products he uses every day. Maybe he needs a lesson in the importance of the trucking industry and its effect on the economy. 8 You’re not driving a truck until you find something better. For some, being a professional driver is the job of last resort, but for most of you, it’s your career. Sure, there are people who are always looking for something that pays better and allows you to have a different lifestyle, but not all drivers are seeking a way out. Feel free to show this article to your neighbor the next time you feel misunderstood. You just might change his or her opinion of you, one neighbor at a time. n www.UTA.org March 2014 7 UTA Industry Watch NADA Update Chris Visser, Senior Analyst and Product Manager, Commercial Trucks Summary Increased numbers of newer trucks continue to enter the retail and wholesale channels, providing buyers with better access to the low-mileage iron they demand. Severe weather likely kept many buyers away from the auctions in January, resulting in anomalous results in medium duty and sleeper segments. Used truck pricing could be impacted by upcoming rounds of fuel economy mandates, as a special study explores. Continued volatility in sales volume is expected to subside in the second quarter as winter draws to a close. Sleeper Tractors – Retail Month-over-month, January was $2292 (or 4.1 percent) higher on price and 7284 (or 1.4 percent) lower on mileage. Year-over-year, January 2014 was $7770 (or 13.8 percent) higher than January 2013 on price, and 21,840 (or 4.0 percent) lower on mileage. See the “Average Retail Price and Mileage” graph for detail. Average Retail Price and Mileage -‐ All Sleeper Tractors Under 1M Miles $60,000 580000 560000 $55,000 540000 $50,000 520000 500000 $45,000 480000 $40,000 460000 Source: ATD/NADA Price Mileage 440000 420000 Ju l Se p No v Ja n-‐ 13 M ar M ay Ju l Se p No v Ja n-‐ 14 M ar M n-‐ 12 ay 400000 $30,000 Ja $100,000 2007 $90,000 2008 $80,000 2009 $70,000 2010 $60,000 2011 $50,000 2012 $40,000 $30,000 $20,000 $10,000 $0 Source: ATD/NADA Jan-‐12 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan-‐13 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan-‐14 January’s universal average set yet another record, coming in at $56,488. This is the highest figure we’ve recorded since our current data analysis processes were introduced in mid-2007. Low mileage was a factor – at 520,764 – but this figure was less than 1 percent lower than other recent low months. Age was identical to December, at 77 months. $35,000 Average Retail Price by Model Year -‐ All Sleeper Tractors Under 1M Miles Adjusted for Mileage to pricing. The bottom line is dealers can be confident in the value of their late-model inventory in the upcoming months. Sleeper Tractors – Wholesale Auctions appear to have been impacted by January’s severe weather, with buyers snapping up mainly the most desirable iron and leaving the rest in the cold. Trucks sold through wholesale channels in January were much younger and lower-mileage than in earlier months. Specifically, the average sleeper tractor sold in January was 72 months old, had 623,844 miles, and brought $38,549. This average truck was a notable 11 months younger than its December counterpart, and a whopping 28 months younger than January 2013. In terms of mileage, January’s average was 19,781 (or 3.1 percent) lower than December, and a substantial 91,502 (or 12.8 percent) lower than January 2013. This much newer and lower-mileage mix caused January’s pricing to come in $7771 (or 20.2 percent) higher than December’s, and $14,751 (or 38.3 percent) higher than January 2013. See “Average Wholesale Price and Mileage” graph for detail. Average Wholesale Price and Mileage: All Sleeper Tractors Under 1M Miles $45,000 750000 $40,000 We see little change in these trends over the next two quarters. 2012s could place very mild downward pricing pressure on late-model trucks as they enter the market in greater numbers, but it is also possible demand will remain strong enough to absorb this supply with no impact 8 March 2014 700000 $35,000 650000 $30,000 $25,000 600000 $20,000 550000 $15,000 500000 $10,000 $5,000 2 per. Mov. Avg.(Price) Source: NADA and Auc/onNet 450000 2 per. Mov. Avg.(Mileage) 400000 $0 Jan-‐14 Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan-‐13 Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan-‐12 The bulk of the retail sleeper market is represented by model years 2007-2011. 2007s remain popular as the last of the pre-DPF trucks, and units with attractive mileage will continue to hold their value for as long as they remain available. The first of the DPF trucks – 2008s – have depreciated the most of recent model years, but even their roughly $415 or 1 percent/month depreciation is low by historical standards. 2009s have seen essentially no depreciation over the past year. 2010s—the first trucks to feature SCR—hit a low point in May of 2013, then started to appreciate, and are currently selling for the same prices they were last summer. 2011s are the major factor in the retail market at present, outselling other model years for the second month in a row. With average mileage for 2011s just below 400,000, demand remains strong, and supply is still inadequate despite the increased volume. As for the newest trucks, 2012s continue to enter the market in greater numbers, and are selling for more than their 2011 counterparts did this time last year. 2013s are still too rare to be a notable factor at present. See “Average Retail Price by Model Year” graph for detail. January was the first month since February 2012 in which less than half of trucks sold had over 600,000 miles. The wholesale market typically has an appetite for trucks with up to around 700,000 miles, but January was an exception. The main factor behind this shift was an unusually high proportion of trucks with 400-500,000 miles, largely of the 2011 model year (see “Average Wholesale Price and Number of Trucks Sold” graph for detail). Along with this low mileage was the aforementioned average age, which was actually 5 months younger than trucks sold retail – an inversion the market hasn’t seen since February 2012. See the “Average Age (Months) of Sleeper Tractors Sold” graph for detail. www.UTA.org UTA Industry Watch Average Wholesale Price and Number of Trucks Sold by Mileage Range Sleeper Tractors, YTD2014 $80,000 50 Sources: ATD/NADA and Auc2onNet $70,000 $60,000 $50,000 45 Price 40 Count 35 30 $40,000 25 $30,000 20 15 $20,000 10 9K 9K 0-‐ 99 90 0-‐ 89 9K 80 9K 0-‐ 79 70 0-‐ 69 9K 60 9K 0-‐ 59 50 0-‐ 49 40 0-‐ 39 30 0-‐ 29 20 0-‐ 19 10 9K 0 9K 5 $0 9K $10,000 Average Age (Months) of Sleeper Tractors Sold Wholesale vs. Retail 120 100 80 60 40 20 Sources: ATD/NADA and Auc2onNet Retail Wholesale Jan-‐12 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan-‐13 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan-‐14 0 We view the auction channel as a good indicator of what dealers forecast the retail channel demanding in upcoming months. To this end, January’s results – while extreme – reinforced the trend towards decreased marketplace tolerance for trucks with over 600,000 miles. At the same time, once severe winter weather subsides, we expect averages to return closer to the recent trend. Model vs. Model Competitive Comparison The January time period is traditionally when we switch to the next-newer model year to represent four-year-old trucks. As such, we now consider model-year 2011 trucks four years old. The big story, then, is how much more money four-year-old trucks are bringing now than they did at this time in 2013 and 2012 (as well as earlier years not included in the graph). A very favorable supply/demand relationship for low-mileage trucks is the primary factor at work here. See the “Average Retail Price by Model Year” graph for detail. In terms of competitive positioning, there was essentially no change – all models brought solid pricing in January. The T2000 will no longer be included in future updates because the 2010 model year should have been the last for that model. We say “should have been” because Kenworth did not build any SCR-equipped T2000s, but we nonetheless received a small number of T2000 sales labeled as 2011s. As these sales did not include VINs with which to verify model year, we believe they were actually 2010s. Next month, we will include the T700. Medium Duty – Class 3-4 Cabovers As mentioned, severe weather likely put a damper on auction activity in January. This factor manifested itself in an unusually low number of Class 3-4 cabovers reported sold. The few that sold had much higher than average mileage, resulting in lower average pricing. We consider this month an outlier, and will refrain from assigning much meaning to its results. Nonetheless, here are the stats for January: Average wholesale price came in at $8450, $3092 (or 26.8 percent) lower than December, and $6767 (or 44.5 percent) lower than January 2013. Mileage, at 160,466, was 46,509 (or 29.0 percent) higher than December, and 59,641 (or 37.2 percent) higher than January 2013. See associated graph for detail. We expect a return to more typical figures as we exit the 1st quarter. Sources: ATD/NADA and Auc2onNet Sources: ATD/NADA and Auc2onNet NADA continued on page 10 www.UTA.org March 2014 9 UTA Industry Watch NADA continued from page 9 Medium Duty – Class 4 Conventionals Unlike cabovers and heavier GVW conventionals, lighter GVW conventionals sold in normal numbers in January. Class 4s are more heavily exposed to the consumer/end-user market than their heavier GVW counterparts, so it is possible that the superior performance of this segment indicates stronger demand. Supporting this observation was a nice month-over-month uptick in pricing. Specifically, the average wholesale selling price of a 4-7 year-old Class 4 conventional in January was $15,618 - $2884 (or 18.5 percent) higher than December, and $114 (or 0.7 percent) higher than January 2013. Average mileage, at 102,391, was 771 (or 0.8 percent) higher than December, and 10,726 (or 10.5 percent) higher than January 2013. See associated graph for detail. Average Wholesale Price and Mileage: 4-‐7 Year-‐Old Class 4 Conven:onals Again, January’s results were not indicative of a shifting market. Previous months suggest mildly higher demand for trucks with mileage in the low to mid 100s, and we will stick with that observation for now. Sales Volume Unusual month-over-month swings in volume of trucks retailed continued in January, heading back down after December’s increase. Dealers sold 5.3 trucks per rooftop in January, down 1.0 trucks (or 15.9 percent) from December, and also down 1.0 trucks from January 2013 (see “Average Number of Used Trucks Retailed” graph for detail). Two of the major factors likely contributing to volatility in late 2013 – political budgetary dysfunction and uncertainty regarding tax Average Number of Used Trucks Retailed per Roo9op 8.0 7.0 6.0 5.0 4.0 3.0 2.0 1.0 There is still no shortage of supply of trucks with over 100,000 miles in this segment. In addition, end users confident in their job or business outlook are largely shopping for new trucks. At the same time, used trucks with mileage in the low-6 figures still have plenty of remaining life, and are at an attractive price point. It is likely that future performance of this segment will reflect the slow but steady growth of the economy overall. Medium Duty – Class 6 Conventionals Like cabovers, heavier-GVW conventionals saw a steep decline in volume in January. Unlike cabovers, trucks that did sell had lower-than-average mileage. This performance is logical, as only the most desirable trucks would be expected to sell in a low-volume month. As with cabovers, we consider January’s result an anomaly, so we do not read too much into the results. With this in mind, the average 4-6 year-old Class 6 conventional sold wholesale in January brought $23,473, which is $5602 (or 23.9 percent) higher than December, and $8591 (36.6 percent) higher than January 2013. Mileage, at 123,022, was 39,015 (or 24.1 percent) lower than December, and 61,170 (or 33.2 percent) lower than January 2013. See associated graph for detail. 0.0 Source: ATD/NADA Jan-‐12 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan-‐13 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan-‐14 Sources: ATD/NADA and Auc2onNet benefits – are no longer primary factors. However, severe weather is every bit the factor it has been in recent months, and will continue to be into the 2nd quarter. As such, we expect monthly swings in volume to continue into spring. In the wholesale channel, January’s volume was moderately better than December’s, but still well off the calendar-year 2013 average (see “Total Wholesale Sales Reported to NADA” graph for detail). As in the retail channel, we place primary blame on the weather, with similar improvements forecast as we exit the 1st quarter. Total Wholesale Sales Reported to NADA 6000 2010 Total: 42,320 2011 Total: 29,282 2012 Total: 34,275 2013 Total: 39,179 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 Sources: ATD/NADA and Auc2onNet 0 Jan-‐14 Nov Jul Sep May Mar Jan-‐13 Nov Jul Sep May Mar Jan-‐12 Nov Jul Sep May Mar Jan-‐11 Nov Jul Sep May Mar Jan-‐10 Average Wholesale Price and Mileage: 4-‐7 Year-‐Old Class 6 Conven;onals Special Study: How will Upcoming Emissions Mandates Impact the Used Truck Market? Sources: ATD/NADA and Auc2onNet 10 March 2014 By now you’re well aware of President Obama’s announcement that he will direct the EPA and DOT to set the next (post-2018) round of medium and heavy truck fuel economy and emissions standards. The first round of standards was finalized in September 2011, and trucks meeting those standards are just now going into production. This study examines the impact of 2002-2014 standards on selling price, and provides a look at how the used truck market could perform post 2014. www.UTA.org UTA Industry Watch If you keep up with market updates and/or used truck values, you know that used Class 8 pricing is currently at historically high levels. A major reason for this market dynamic is the high price of new trucks. In 2002, truck buyers learned the phrase, “emissions escalator.” An emissions escalator is simply a surcharge buyers pay for engines that meet current standards. According to a recent NADA/ATD Report (available free at http://www.nadafrontpage.com), the cumulative effect of the 2004-2010 emissions mandates on the price of a new truck was over $20,000. In other words, a new truck sold in 2012 cost over $20,000 more than it did before the requirements were in place (in real dollars). And pricing has increased further since the report was published. These price increases have pushed many buyers to late-model, low-mileage used trucks as a substitute for new. At roughly $56,000, the average sleeper tractor with mileage in the low-500,000s is about one-third the MSRP of a new truck. Granted, most buyers pay substantially less than MSRP. But even at half the price of new, the difference is compelling. On the supply side, thanks to the Great Recession and the 2007 pre-buy, a historically low number of new trucks were built for model years 2008-2011. This dynamic resulted in a tight supply of iron entering the secondary market as trade-ins. With buyers looking for late-model trucks to substitute for expensive new iron, pricing for low- to average-mileage trucks surpassed pre-recession levels in mid-2011, and has continued accelerating through the present time. The current average retail price of roughly $56,000 is 14 percent higher than the pre-recession peak in mid-2008. And this average truck now has mileage in the low-500,000s, as opposed to the mid-400,000s of 2008. So buyers are paying more for trucks with higher mileage. Marketplace acceptance of new technologies will determine whether these conditions continue. Historically, each new generation of emissions control technology has been met with trepidation. The new truck pre-buy in 2002 advance of the introduction of Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) technology was a major market development, as was the pre-buy of 2006 in advance of the introduction of Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF). On the other hand, pre-buy activity was mild to nonexistent in advance of the most recent Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology, due mainly to sluggish market conditions, increased comfort level with this technology, and promised fuel mileage improvements. Pre-buys didn’t just artificially and temporarily increase demand for new trucks – they also increased demand for late-model used trucks to use as a “bridge” until each new technology had been on the market long enough to work out any bugs. Fortunately, reliability concerns seem to have been largely alleviated with the SCR generation. Also, thanks to much better advance notice of upcoming standards, truckmakers will have more time to develop and test new technologies. These factors, combined with the increased fuel economy of each upcoming step, suggest a pre-buy on the level of 2002 or 2006 is unlikely going forward. On the supply side, thanks to the more typical build rate of 2012-2014 model year trucks – along with a return to 3-5 year trade cycles - we expect a moderately increased number of late-model trucks entering the secondary market in upcoming years. However, this increased supply should be balanced by the likely ongoing increases in new truck pricing, which will keep many buyers in the used market. For fleets and successful operators who can afford it, a new truck will provide real fuel economy benefits. For other buyers, late-model used trucks will remain a popular substitute, helping to absorb any increased supply. Conclusion Expect continued volatility in volume along with anomalous results in pricing for the remainder of the winter, due mainly to extreme weather conditions keeping buyers home. The exception will be for sleeper tractors with under 600,000 miles, which remain a sure bet regardless of external factors. n Reprinted with permission from the ATD/ NADA Official Commercial Truck Guide® www.nada.com/b2b “Tips You Can Count On” Be careful when looking at a unit that you know has had a lot of idle time. Although the unit’s mileage may be low, one hour of idling time is equal to 25 to 30 miles of driving. ~ The Medium Duty Counselor www.UTA.org March 2014 11 UTA Industry Watch Industry News Briefs It’s not often that the trucking industry makes the front page of newspapers and online news feeds, but that’s exactly what happened in mid February. That’s when president Obama announced a second phase of fuel standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks. Obama directed the EPA and the DOE’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to develop and issue this next set of standards for fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas by March 2016. The goal of the new standards is to bolster energy security, cut carbon pollution, and spur manufacturing innovation, according to a White House factsheet. Back in August 2011, Obama announced the first round of standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, which covered model years 2014 through 2018. The White House explained then that in 2010, heavy-duty vehicles accounted for four percent of registered vehicles, but almost 25 percent of on-road fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions. Those standards became effective January 1st of this year, and are projected to save 530 million barrels of oil and reduce greenhouse gas by about 270 million metric tons, reducing fuel costs by $50 billion over the lifetimes of the vehicles. Average miles per gallon achieved rose from about 6.5 miles per gallon to about 9.75 miles per gallon. Stephen Crowley/New York Times Obama Announces New Fuel Standards DOE is working with Cummins, Volvo, Navistar, and Daimler Truck North America to achieve the fuel savings and greenhouse gas reductions. DOE and EPA will assess technologies such as: ■■ Engine and powertrain efficiency improvements nAerodynamics ■■ Weight reduction n Improved tire rolling resistance ■■ Hybridization n Automatic engine shutdown ■■ Accessory improvements (water pumps, fans, auxiliary power units, air conditioning, etc.) After the announcement, manufacturers issued releases of their own vowing to support the new initiative. Volvo Group North America., for example, said it remain committed to “producing products that reduce our carbon footprint and offer increased fuel efficiency benefits to our customers.” Adding: “The Volvo Group wants to ensure that Phase II of the national program establishes a complete vehicle standard to optimize fuel efficiency in a cost-effective manner that offers the most benefit to customers and the environment.” n Happy New Year! ACT Reports New Orders Up 51 Percent January’s Class 8 net orders jumped nine percent over Decembers figures, and 51 percent over January 2013’s tally. Classes 5-7 also started the new year on a high note with orders up 14 percent over December, and 33 percent over the same month last year. ACT’s analysis of the numbers found that while orders were surprisingly strong, “one has to read between the lines to appreciate Class 8 retail sales for the month.” ACT noted that year-end tax and sales incentives led to big drop in Class 8 retail sales from December, although that’s what happens every year. “However, applying seasonal adjustment gives a better picture: Adjusted Class 8 sales rose nine percent m/m to a 22-month high. Strong orders pushed backlogs to a 22-month high and the backlog/build ratio jumped to 4.9 months,” said ACT’s Kenny Vieth, the market watcher’s president and senior analyst. FTR Also Upbeat on January’s Numbers FTR’s preliminary data pegged January’s Class 8 truck net orders at 34,403, the second straight month orders were above 30,000. In addition, this was the first time back-to-back months exceeded the 30,000 mark since 2006. FTR said combined order activity for December-January should allow OEM’s to hit Q1 targets with possible increases in production in Q2. “Orders were way beyond expectations,” said FTR’s Don Ake. He characterized January as another great order month to kick-start 2014. FTR found order strength was broad-based across manufactures and countries, which it called a very positive signal for the industry. “The strong orders are consistent with the tightening of capacity in the marketplace. Fleets and dealers continue to display confidence in the freight market,” Ake added. n “For medium duty, all of January’s sequential order strength and most of the y/y improvement came from the heavier end of the market, Classes 6-7. Broken down by vehicle type, these trucks accounted for virtually all of the sequential order increase,” Vieth added. n 12 March 2014 www.UTA.org UTA Industry Watch FTR “Mildly Optimistic” for 2014 Overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth and stronger freight pricing should make 2014 a “good year for trucking,” forecast firm FTR said in a recent webinar. “But the growth in freight volume is not likely to match what the industry saw in 2013,” FTR cautioned. And should the economy beat forecasts, the industry’s capacity to handle freight demand would be strained. “We are mildly optimistic about 2014,” said FTR’s Noel Perry. “We are less optimistic about 2015 and 2016.” FTR’s concerns include a history of slowing growth during recoveries and what it characterized as softer economies in China and elsewhere in Asia, and lingering threats from sovereign debt in Europe. “I think this is a 2015-2016 exposure,” Perry added. “I don’t think it’s a big deal for 2014.” When times are good, truck and intermodal growth typically outpaces GDP growth, FTR noted. The firm sees this growth at just under three percent for 2014, compared to 2013’s tally of under two percent. FTR said this “freight multiplier” has been declining, and its 2014 forecast for truck freight volume is about three percent compared to about five percent for 2013. While FTR is forecasting a slower multiplier this year, it added that “there is an upside opportunity if indeed truck and intermodal resume their typical multipliers on GDP.” ATD Names its Commercial Trucks of the Year American Truck Dealers (ATD) named the winners of its 2014 Commercial Truck of the Year, which recognizes the top trucks in the heavy- and medium-duty categories. It announced the winners at its Convention & Expo in New Orleans. International won both categories. Its ProStar with Cummins ISX15 received the heavy-duty (Class 8) award; its TerraStar 4x4 won the medium-duty (Classes 3-7) award. Other nominees for the heavy-duty category were the Kenworth T880 Vocational Truck with PACCAR MX-13 engine, and Peterbilt Model 579. Nominees for the medium-duty award were the Hino 195h-DC, Kenworth Class 6 K370 Cabover, and Peterbilt Model 220. A panel of journalists selected the winners. Judging categories included innovation, design, safety and driver satisfaction. n Freight rates also have an upside potential according to FTR. It’s forecasting a modest truck freight pricing increase of about four percent although “the gains could be double that if trucking’s capacity crunch is worse than forecast,” Perry said. He added that 2014’s driver shortage compares to 2004’s shortage, and that “regulatory drag on capacity is becoming the big long-term issue.” The question, he said, is whether the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration “does everything it says it plans to do regarding regulations that tighten the supply of drivers.” n Hino Trucks Delivers 10,000th Truck to Penske Truck Leasing Hino Trucks recently commemorated delivery of the 10,000th Hino truck to Penske Truck Leasing (PTL). To mark the occasion it held a ceremony at Hino’s plant in Williamstown, WV. Hino said Truck number 10,000 was a 2015 model 268A, which is one of Hino’s line-up of conventional trucks. The company said that its Class 6 and 7 truck line up is “specifically well suited for the lease and rental market segment,” and that it’s captured 10 percent of that market. The 10,000th truck will be part of PTL’s commercial rental fleet. “This major milestone began in 2004 when PTL received its first Hino 268 truck. We are proud of our longstanding partnership with PTL and the delivery of our 10,000th Hino truck, a significant accomplishment for both companies. We are excited to mark this achievement and look forward to continuing to provide PTL with best in class trucks,” said Yoshinori Noguchi, Hino’s president & CEO. More information is available at http://www.hino.com. n Members of Hino Trucks, including President and CEO Yoshinori Noguchi were on hand as former Hino Motors Ltd chairman Mr. Jagawa presents the key to the 10,000th truck to Roger Penske. Brian Hard, Art Vallely, Jim Molinaro and Paul Rosa also attended from Penske Truck Leasing Industry News Briefs continued on page 14 www.UTA.org March 2014 13 UTA Industry Watch Industry News Briefs continued from page 13 Treadway Named ATD’s Truck Dealer of the Year Late winter and spring are the awards season for the movies, and apparently for the truck industry as well. In late January, American Truck Dealers (ATD) named R. Kyle Treadway, ATD’s former chairman, its 2014 Truck Dealer of the Year. ATD made the announcement at its annual convention, held in New Orleans. Treadway, president, dealer principal, and legal counsel of Kenworth Sales Company in West Valley, UT, was among six dealers nominated from across the U.S. “I am stunned,” Treadway said, before quoting English physicist and mathematician Sir Isaac Newton. “If I have seen a little further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” ATD Chairman Dick Witcher said Treadway was an ideal candidate for Dealer of the Year because of his dealership’s performance and his civic and industry contributions. Since 2005, Treadway has served in various leadership positions for both ATD and NADA. In accepting the award, Treadway noted the achievements of the other nominees, including runner-up William K. Reilley, Sr., CEO of Lakeside International Trucks, in Milwaukee, WI. Other contenders for the Truck Dealer of the Year were: ■■ Timothy J. Fyda, president and CEO, Fyda Freightliner in Ohio and Pennsylvania ■■ William Don Larson, CEO and owner, Allstate Peterbilt Group, Wayzata, MN ■■ Michael P. McMahon, CEO, McMahon Truck Center, Charlotte, NC ■■ Donald L. Sherwood, dealer principal of Sherwood Freightliner, Sterling and Western Star, in Dunmore, PA. Mack Selects its Top Dealers Mack Trucks named East Texas Mack Sales, LLC, Longview, TX its 2013 North American Distributor of the Year. The award recognizes top-performing Mack dealers based on sales, facilities, service, general management, customer satisfaction, parts, personnel and community service. In announcing the award, Mack said East Texas Mack “demonstrated a tremendous commitment to satisfying its customers, as reflected by its 100 percent customer satisfaction score.” Also, East Texas Mack added four new heavy-duty parts delivery vehicles in 2013, and began building new shop bays for servicing natural gas-powered vehicles. Mack also named 2013 winners for each of its U.S. regional sales divisions: ■■ Northeast Region: Beam Mack Sales & Service, Inc., Rochester, NY. ■■ Southeast Region: Mack Truck Sales of Charlotte, NC. ■■ Central Region: Quincy Mack Sales & Service, Inc., Quincy, IL. ■■ Southwest Region: East Texas Mack Sales, LLC, Longview, TX ■■ Western Region: Vanguard Truck Center of Phoenix, AZ ■■ Canada Region: MacKay’s Truck Center, Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada Mack also named Vanguard Truck Center of Houston the North American Used Truck Distributor of the Year. And it awarded M&K Truck Leasing, LLC, of Byron Center, MI, its Mack Leasing System North American Distributor of the Year. n State, metro, and national association leaders selected nominees for the award. They were evaluated on dealership performance, industry leadership, and civic contributions. Professors from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business chose the winner and runner-up. n Mack Trucks named East Texas Mack Sales, LLC, Longview, TX, its 2013 North American Distributor of the Year. Pictured from left to right are Drew Bankston, East Texas Mack finance manager, David Carroum, East Texas Mack sales manager, Mike Maddox, Mack Trucks southwest region vice president, Bill Bankston, East Texas Mack president, Stephen Roy, Mack Trucks president of North American Sales & Marketing and Joseph Kennedy, East Texas Mack vice president and chief financial officer. 14 March 2014 www.UTA.org UTA Industry Watch Volvo Trucks Selects its North American Dealer of the Year And last but not least, Nacarato Volvo of Nashville, TN won Volvo Trucks’ 2013 North American Dealer of the Year award. The award recognizes Nacarato Volvo’s “organization and employees for overall accomplishment and performance,” Volvo said. Award criteria included outstanding performance in new truck sales, market share, parts sales and parts sales growth, customer satisfaction, dealer operating standards, and investment in facilities. Founded in 1976 by Mike Nacarato, Sr., the family-owned business is managed today by Mike Nacarato, president of Nacarato Volvo, and Joe Nacarato, vice president. In 2012, Nacarato Volvo opened a new full-service dealership outside of Nashville. The 80,000 square-foot facility houses 28 service bays, and features a dedicated body shop with 18 bays and a two-bay paint booth that provides same-day turnaround. Designed with energy conservation in mind, Nacarato Volvo uses a heating system that runs on waste oil. The dealership also uses solar energy for the service and body shops. n June 17 & 18th, 2010 The 9th Annual UTA Jerome Nerman Family Foundation Golf Open Fundraiser Wednesday, June 25 6 – 9 p.m. Welcome Reception at the Adams Pointe Conference Center, Marriott Courtyard KC East 1400 NE Coronado Dr. Blue Springs, MO 64014 Nacarato Volvo vice president Joe Nacarato (center) receives the 2013 Volvo Trucks North American Dealer of the Year Award. From (left) Terry Billings, Volvo Trucks vice president – business development and (right) Göran Nyberg, president, Volvo Trucks North American Sales & Marketing. Thursday, June 26 Golf Outing at the Adams Pointe Golf Club 816-220-3673 • 1601 R.D. Mize Road http://www.adamspointegolfclub.com Breakfast will be served at the course from 7–7:30am. Tee Time is at 8:00am. Show Your Support and Sponsor this Charitable Event! WWW.UTA.ORG www.UTA.org March 2014 15 UTA Industry Watch 16 March 2014 www.UTA.org UTA Industry Watch www.UTA.org March 2014 17 UTA Industry Watch From Where We Sit In case you’ve spend most of this winter in a cave like the grizzlies do, I’m here to tell you this winter has been a relentless one here in the Mid-Atlantic. Although today is sunny and the thermometer has bumped up just above freezing, the last few months have brought us the “pleasure” of multiple storms nearly every week. It’s been nothing but snow, ice, freezing rain, downed trees, and power outages. Old Man Winter you win! We give up. Our relatives in Florida are thrilled, anticipating increased property values as anyone in their right mind, who doesn’t have to live like this, heads south to the tropics. Well, we’re not moving, but we’re also not amused anymore. It seems like every day when driving is possible we’ve headed up the street to the local Safeway. The only thing worse than getting snowed in is to be trapped without supplies. Just a few days ago, I (Deb) darted into the store for a quick few things. Among them was a big stuffed bulldog that was just the perfect Valentine’s present for a friend. Essential? No, not really, but humans can’t live by food and toilet paper alone, and this dog just screamed out my friend’s name. There’s nothing wrong with spreading some cheer amid the dismal dark winter. I had just a few things in my cart so I hopped right into the express checkout. I really was pressed for time that day, and I was within my rights to be where I was. As I waited for the folks ahead of me, I saw the line growing behind me. I turned around, and there was a very old man standing with his cart. He was hunched with age. His face was lined, no doubt from years of farm work. His hands were bent and scarred from having worked with them all his life. He could easily have been in his 90s. I really did need to get going, but good manners and respect for my elders kicked in, and I asked the man if he’d like to go ahead of me. He just shook his head without a word. Then I felt him nudge me with his shopping cart a couple of times, and when I turned around, he smiled. “I thought stuffed dogs were only for little girls,” he flirted. I told him they can also be for big girls who never really quite grew up. It was a pleasant little exchange. As I left the store, thinking about this encounter, I remembered a story about my own elderly father. Daddy came from the bank one day hopping mad. “Those girls at the bank said I was cute,” he announced. I chuckled and said, “Well, you are, Daddy. You’re actually adorable.” His sky blue eyes flashed as he replied, “Sweetheart, 40 years ago not a woman on Earth would have used the word ‘cute’ to describe me. I fear they think the tiger has lost his teeth.” Sure, Daddy, well into his 80s was mostly kidding, but not entirely. It must have still surprised him that the world looked at him and saw an old man. I’m old enough now to know that in our hearts we never see that change. Did I insult the old man in the food store? I don’t know, but I’m glad he still had it in him to flirt a little bit with a younger woman. I’ll still ask older people behind me if they’d like to go first, but I will drop the “sir’ or “ma’am” that might sting in ways I never intended. At least that how it seems from Where We Sit. Deb and Brad Schepp [email protected] 18 March 2014 www.UTA.org