Southland International Trucks, a Birmingham, Ala.-based International Trucks dealership, has received the International Circle of Excellence Award, which honors company dealerships that achieve the highest level of performance in terms of operating and financial standards, market representation and customer satisfaction. This is the 10th time Southland International has received the award.
“This award is the highest honor an International dealer principal can achieve from the company,” says Aida Tanaka, Navistar’s vice president of dealer operations. Tanaka says Southland International is one of 28 International dealerships worldwide in 2009 to earn the award, which also recognizes the effort and dedication of the dealership’s employees. “A highly skilled, professional staff is a critical success factor for any commercial truck dealership,” he says.
Tanaka praised Southland International Dealer Principal Drew Linn’s commitment to growing his business and being recognized by customers as the dealership of choice in their market. “I congratulate everyone at Southland International for their commitment to outstanding customer service, operational excellence and representation of the International brand,” Tanaka says.
Linn says the award is an honor for everyone at Southland because it recognizes the hard work and professionalism the dealership offers customers throughout Alabama. “Our customers rely on us to keep their businesses growing, and our International products and support are even more important to customers during these tough economic times,” he says. “For more than 24 years, our customers have been returning to Southland because they know we deliver quality International products and services that help drive profits to their bottom line.”
Other Circle of Excellence recipients include:
Lyle Bassett — Riverview International Trucks, California
David Kenney — Westrux International Inc., California
Scott McCandless — McCandless Trucks Center, Colorado
John Maudlin — Maudlin International Trucks, Florida
Richard Rechtien — Rechtien International Trucks, Florida
Mike Waters — Waters Truck and Tractor, Mississippi
James Carello — Regional International, New York
Alan Steinberg –Truck King International, New York
Timothy Reilly — Miami Valley International Trucks, Ohio
Blair Roberts — Roberts Truck Center, Oklahoma
Richard Ryan — Carolina International Trucks, South Carolina
Terry Minor — Cumberland International Trucks, Tennessee
Richard Sweebe — Diamond International, Tennessee
Duane Kyrish — Longhorn International Trucks, Texas
Blaine Roberts — Roberts Truck Center, Texas
G. Russ Trimble — Trimble Southwest International Trucks, Texas
Ed Kyrish — Texas Truck Centers of Houston, Texas
Thomas Thayer — International Truck Sales of Richmond, Va.
Ed Pace — Lake City Trucks, Utah
William Reilley Sr. — Lakeside International, Wisconsin
Brad Glover — Glover International Trucks, Canada
Gerald Tallman — Kemptville Truck Centre, Canada
Francisco Margozzini — Maco International, SA Chile
Humberto Duque — Comercial Internacional, Colombia
Alberto Ponce — Agencias Mercantiles, Mexico
Roberto Swaine — Camiiones Especiales, Mexico (International Truck Dealer of the Year)
Jorge Martinez — Tracto Camiones USA, Peru
