Truck Topics

The Hot Zone: Expedite Expo Dealers

Among the main attractions at any trucking show are the truck manufacturers' and dealers' exhibits.  People enjoy sitting in the trucks, kicking the tires and talking about trucks.

Well, you'll find all that and more at Expedite Expo 2005 and these are the newest and latest in EXPEDITING trucks.  As with all Expo's, you'll find the top expediting truck dealers exhibiting their products with their representatives on hand to help with any questions from spec'ing the truck to financing the purchase.

Those dealers include:

Alumi-Bunk Corporation - representatives Sheel Advani, Don Portice, Pavan Agarwal, Greg Feeney
 
The dealer will be displaying a Freightliner M2-106 with an 84" Condo sleeper and 22' cargo box   in the CTX booth.

In Alumi-Bunk's booth, a Freightliner M2-112 with a 450HP Mercedes engine will be exhibited.  This truckfeatures an 84" Condo sleeper and 22' foot box.  This unit was recently purchased by owner Dennis Harrison to add to his fleet of Alumi-Bunk trucks.

The General Manager of the Alumi-Bunk Woodhaven, Michigan location, Sheel Advani says, "Our focus is help turn single truck owner-operators into fleet owners.  We want to help them maximize their profits through multi-unit ownership and we have the experience and knowledge to accomplish that goal."

Sheel says that to spice things up a bit, Alumi-Bunk has a limited number of coupons that they will be offering at the Expo - coupons for a two-night, three-day vacation for two to either Las Vegas or Orlando.  One coupon will be awarded with each truck purchased at the Expo.  Again, offer good as long as supplies last.

Visit Expedite Expo 2005 - Click Here!

Caldwell Dodge, Columbus, Ohio (Sprinter Van) - representatives Mike Walker, Shawn Crace

Caldwell Dodge bills itself as the largest Sprinter Van dealer in the nation and as expediter Robert Finney puts it, "The Sprinter is the nicest van I've ever been in - great safety features, visibility's good, ergonomic features are fine and even with 2500 pounds of cargo, I still get 22 mpg."

Sprinter Sales Manager Mike Walker says that he will display two Sprinters at the Expo.  Both vans will be the popular long wheelbase, high roof version that is made for expediting.  The Sprinter in the booth will be equipped with a Midway Specialties custom sleeper with microwave, TV/DVD and all of the accessories.

The other Sprinter will be exhibited in the parking lot with demo drives available.  This van will be equipped with a Bentz fold-down sleeper and overhead storage bins. 

Freightliner of Knoxville - representatives Jon Mosier, Gary Conleay, Brandi Whitfield

"We're bringing everything!" says expediting specialist Jon Mosier.  "We'll have a Sterling 720 Transport Cruiser in the Con-Way NOW booth - a perfect first truck for the new expediter."

"Also, we'll be using Expedite Expo 2005 to introduce our new line of Class 8 trucks - the "Commander" series."

Jon explains, "In the Freightliner of Knoxville booth, we'll be displaying two trucks.  We'll debut our brand new Sterling 9500 "Command Cruiser" that can be built as a full-blown Class 8 truck with a Mercedes 4000 engine and the new Eaton UltraShift.  This truck will be displayed with a Hercules reefer box."

"We're getting more requests for specialized handling-equipped trucks so these units are equipped with a Carrier Super 844 belly-mount refrigeration unit, liftgate and all of the required "White Glove-type" equipment.

"We'll also be exhibiting our very popular Sterling "960 Express Cruiser" with a 330HP Mercedes engine.  This series was introduced at the Expo just two years ago."

Making her first trip to the Expedite Expo is the newest addition to the Freightliner of Knoxville expediting sales staff, Ms. Brandi Whitfield.  Brandi is a Tennessee native who attended the University of Memphis on a basketball scholarship and who taught elementary school for a year before entering the truck leasing field.

She joined Freightliner of Knoxville in February and says, "I've found expediters to be a family-oriented group of people and I've made some great friends already - word-of-mouth referrals are my best source of business.  Jon Mosier is very knowledgeable about the product and I think he and I compliment each other very well at the dealership."

Brandi also says that expediters know their trucks and you don't really sell them a truck as much as you show them your product:  "They know if it's what they want or don't want.  Fortunately our products sell themselves."

"I'm looking forward to being at my first Expedite Expo and I want to invite everyone to come by and say hello!"

Visit Expedite Expo 2005 - Click Here!

Fyda Freightliner of Columbus - representatives, Bobby Snyder, John LaLonde, Brandon Creek, Tony Apollonio

Expediting Specialist Bobby Snyder says that his dealership will be displaying a Freightliner M2-106 with a AA Sleeper "King Leisure" sleeper in the Fyda Freightliner booth.

"We'll also have a temperature-controlled Class 8 stretched unit in the Panther II booth along with an M2-106 with a 72" Bentz sleeper in the Express-1 booth," says Bobby.

Bobby relates, "Fyda Freightliner of Columbus is celebrating fifty years in the business and we have to thank all of our customers through the years for their support and patronage.  We've done this by providing our customers with service and providing them with the trucks they need.

"This is our second year at the Expo and we're looking forward to seeing everyone again as well as making new friends.  The show offers a relaxed, low-key atmosphere in which the truck buyer can get information about our products and get his questions answered."

Fyda will also have its trucks on display in the Landstar Express America, FedEx Custom Critical and Tri-State Expedited Service booths.

Grieger Motor Sales (Sprinter Vans) - representative, Brad Hallal

Brad Hallal says his company will be displaying a modestly-equipped Sprinter Van "to walk through, touch and examine the Sprinter and to demonstrate it's capability to carry a third pallet with it's 14 feet of cargo area."

He continues, "This van is far from bare bones, though.  It has satellite radio, a roof vent and a
Bentz Transport Products folding bunk with overhead storage compartments.  It's equipped with e-track and it's ready to hit the road."

Brad says that Grieger is continuing to put expediters on the road and that his customers are coming from referrals from different expedited carriers.

"I just got a call from a customer who purchased his Sprinter from us about a year ago.  He says that he's put 130,000 miles on it so far, he's very happy with the van and he's making lots of money with it.  That's the kind of feedback we like to hear!"

Middle Georgia Freightliner-Isuzu - representatives Heath Wood, Lewis Minter, Wes Hearn

Manager Heath Wood says that this mid-South dealership will be exhibiting two Freightliner M2-106 units.  One is set up with the CAT C-9, 335HP engine tied to an Allison automatic.  This truck features a 96" AA "King Leisure" sleeper and 22' cargo box.  

The second truck is also an M2-106 with the same spec's except that it is powered by an Mercedes-Benz engine with 330HP. 

TSI Western Star - representative Bill Moore, Webasto representative Ken Enheiser

Bill Moore says, "We'll be exhibiting a Western Star 4900 Low Max with a Detroit 435HP with a 10-speed UltraShift and tandem drive axles. This truck features the integral 82"  "Stratosphere" sleeper, 22' Supreme refrigerated box with a Carrier 844 unit."

"This is our fourth year exhibiting at the Expedite Expo and it's good to see old friends and make new ones as well." 

"Like the slogan says, 'You can't love a Western Star too much.'  The LowMax series are true Class 8 trucks designed for owner-operators.  It sits almost a foot lower than standard configurations and it's ideal for those expediters looking for a low-profile truck."

Visit Expedite Expo 2005 - Click Here!