New Vanguard Truck Center Facility Opens Outside Austin

Wed October 07, 2009
Aggregate Equipment Guide

Vanguard Truck Center of Austin, a member of the Vanguard Truck Centers dealer group, marked the opening of a $4.5 million truck center facility in Buda, Texas on Oct. 2.

The group, which distributes Mack Trucks, Inc. and Volvo Trucks North America products, also owns facilities in Atlanta, Houston, Tucson, and Phoenix. The new location outside of Austin will operate as a full service truck center, represent the Mack and Volvo product lines, and serve as a parts and service center for Norwood Equipment of Houston. Vanguard has a commitment to diagnosing customer service problems within 2 hours, and the new facility is designed for such quick response, with a strong emphasis on driver comfort and convenience.

“We’re appealing to over-the-road drivers, and whether they’re here for preventative maintenance, elective repairs, or necessary service, we offer a quick turn-around time on their trucks,” said Tom Ewing, president of Vanguard Truck Centers. “We know they need to get back on the road quickly, but while they’re waiting, we’ll make them as comfortable as possible — they can do laundry, take a shower, or just relax in the lounge.”

“This state-of-the-art facility is another example of the kind of investment in world-class service that’s been going on in our distribution network over the past several years,” said Scott Kress, Volvo senior vice president of sales. “Volvo customers expect support where and when they need it across the U.S. and Canada, and that’s exactly what we’re providing through partnerships with dealers like the Vanguard group.”

“The fact that this facility is opening now, in such a difficult economy and truck market, speaks volumes about the commitment of everyone in the Mack family,” said Kevin Flaherty, Mack senior vice president, sales. “Rather than folding up our tents until the storm passes, we’re out there doing what it takes to take care of our customers.”

In addition to satisfying the needs of the trucking industry, the strategic placement of the new facility takes into account needs of the Austin community.

“We chose this site because of its convenient access to the toll road, and the fact that it is located directly south of the toll road access, allowing truck drivers to take an alternate route around Austin instead of using the already heavily congested I-35 downtown corridor,” said Vanguard’s Ewing.

An Open House event held at the facility Oct. 2 included food from a local favorite – Salt Lick BBQ — as well as raffle prizes and tours. On display were two heavy-duty trucks — one a Mack and the other a Volvo — both meeting the new EPA emissions standards going into effect next year.

“These trucks are the cleanest in the world,” said David McKenna, Mack director of powertrain sales and marketing, who spoke at today’s event. “They have near-zero emissions. In fact, in some parts of the country, the air coming out of the truck will be cleaner than the air going in.”

During the event, McKenna placed a white handkerchief over the exhaust stack on one of the trucks. Even with the engine at high rev, the “white hanky” remained both clean and odorless.

“Clearly — and no pun intended there — the days of any black smoke coming out the stack of a new heavy-duty truck are over,” McKenna said.

For customers, these “clean diesel” trucks also mean better fuel economy and a lower cost of operation. And they do not require the use of emissions credits to satisfy the EPA 2010 regulations.

Mack and Volvo are preserving jobs and promoting economic growth by assembling the trucks in the United States.

“Through our state-of-the-art new facility strategically located to alleviate downtown congestion, and our environmentally-friendly Mack and Volvo product lines, Vanguard is proud to have a positive influence on the Austin community,” Ewing said.

Vanguard Truck Centers owns and operates full service commercial truck centers in the United States, representing truck and bus manufacturers such as Mack Trucks Inc., Volvo Trucks North America, Isuzu, GMC and Prevost.

For more information, visit www.VanguardTrucks.com and www.NorwoodEquipment.com.

This story also appears on Truck and Trailer Guide.