Trucking news and briefs for Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024:
ATA relaunches Women in Motion as council
The American Trucking Associations on Wednesday relaunched its Women in Motion program an ATA Council.
ATA said the move will allow “for women across the trucking and transportation industry to join a dynamic and growing community focused on professional development and mentorship.”
“Since its inception, Women in Motion has been focused on promoting the role of women in the trucking industry,” said ATA COO Sarah Rajtik, co-chair of Women in Motion. “With this transition, we are hoping to capitalize on the work we’ve already done to reach a much larger group – creating more opportunities for women to connect and empower one another in order to make this great industry better for everyone.”
Members of WIM are eligible to receive a number of exclusive benefits, including:
- Access to the WIM electronic yearbook
- Quarterly newsletters with special articles written by WIM members, upcoming events and ways to get involved
- Action alerts with legislative updates
- Member pricing on products, courses, events and more
- Priority placement when WIM Speakers’ Bureau speaker requests are submitted
- Access to WIM networking events at ATA meetings
- WIM ribbon at ATA events
- Eligible for any WIM awards
- Corporate members are listed on WIM website with link to company webpage
- Corporate members received a special logo that they can use to identify themselves as affiliates
“By re-launching WIM as an ATA Council, we hope to create a community of like-minded women in this industry,” said Iowa Motor Truck Association President and CEO Brenda Neville, co-chair of Women in Motion. “I encourage any woman in this industry – from drivers to technicians and dispatchers to the C-suite – to come join us as we work to shape the future of this industry – breaking down barriers and paving the way for a new era of inclusivity and leadership in trucking.”
Pitt Ohio expands next-day service to New England
Pitt Ohio (CCJ Top 250, No. 51) this week announced it now offers next-day shipping lanes to New England from three of its terminals.
Previously, standard shipping to New England from Cumberland and Baltimore, Maryland and the Greater Philadelphia Area could take up to three days, the company said. With these new next-day lanes, customers in New England can now expect their freight to arrive in just 24 hours, significantly reducing wait times and exceeding expectations.
"We're constantly looking for ways to improve the customer experience, and faster delivery is a top priority," said Geoff Muessig, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Pitt Ohio. "This expansion of next-day shipping lanes to New England for our customers in the Maryland and southeastern PA markets delivers on our commitment to providing customers with the most convenient and efficient shipping options possible.”
The company previously announced next-day lanes to and from New England from the following terminals: Harrisburg, Hazleton, and Allentown, Pennsylvania; East Windsor and Cherry Hill, New Jersey; and Albany, Buffalo, Watertown, and Utica, New York.
Volvo dealer Vanguard Truck Centers expands with acquisition
Volvo Trucks dealer Vanguard Truck Centers has acquired Nacarato Truck Centers to become one of Volvo Trucks’ largest dealer groups in North America. Pictured, left to right, are: Will Blue, CFO, Vanguard Truck Centers; Lloyd Baldridge, CFO, Nacarato Truck Centers; Mike Nacarato, CEO, Nacarato Truck Centers; Tom Ewing, president and CEO, Vanguard Truck Centers; and Pat Daily, COO, Nacarato Truck Centers.
Volvo Trucks North America announced Wednesday that its independent authorized dealer Vanguard Truck Centers has acquired Nacarato Truck Centers to become one of Volvo Trucks’ largest dealer groups in North America.
The acquisition expands Vanguard’s presence to 28 Volvo full-service and parts-and-service-only locations across 11 states – Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Vanguard assumed full ownership of the Nacarato locations, including all existing stock and parts.
“This acquisition is not just about numbers – it's about joining two exemplary dealer groups to implement best practices, bolster synergies and continue growing customer satisfaction, expanding customer access to the seamless support and services they have come to expect from both dealer groups,” said Peter Voorhoeve, president, Volvo Trucks North America.
Founded in 1976 in Nashville, Tennessee, Nacarato Truck Centers established itself as a key player in the commercial truck industry with a network of nine Volvo Trucks dealerships and service centers throughout Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, and Virginia.
The Nacarato and Vanguard teams will work closely to ensure a smooth ownership transition, Volvo said. Vanguard plans to retain all existing Nacarato employees, with CEO Mike Nacarato continuing to lead Nacarato Truck Centers under its existing brand.
"Over time, the groups will look for ways to leverage the combined scale of our network and strength of our teams to achieve more together for our customers and employees,” said Tom Ewing, president and CEO of Vanguard Truck Centers.. "For now, our primary goal is to support the Nacarato team as they continue to grow while providing excellent customer service.”
With the completion of the acquisition of Nacarato Truck Centers on Jan. 8, Vanguard now has more than 1,200 employees. All 28 Volvo Trucks dealership locations are also Certified Uptime Dealers, providing customers with access to almost 500 service bays.
