With growth in the automotive and farming industries lifting the economies of the Great Lakes Region and Nebraska, the PacLease network of 450 locations in the United States and Canada is adding seven new franchise locations.
Premier PacLease is opening the seven franchises, located in Escanaba, Gaylord, and Grand Rapids, MI; in Columbus, Kearney and York, NE; and in LaCrosse, WI.
Jim Moeller, president of Premier PacLease, said Premier PacLease is growing its leasing business because more private fleets are turning to full-service leasing in order to acquire new trucks.
"A resurgence in the automotive industry has driven growth in the economies of the Great Lakes Region, particularly in Michigan, where the economy grew at 2.3 percent in 2011, a top-10 pace," he said. "As more cars are manufactured and sold, employment is growing and as more people go back to work they're buying more durable and non-durable goods. That means private fleets need more trucks to move those goods.
"Our customers see full-service leasing as a viable alternative to buying and replacing aging equipment," Moeller said. "They're increasingly turning to new truck technology to help them reduce fuel costs as well as their greenhouse gas emissions. And full-service leasing can help them accomplish those goals by taking the spec'ing and maintenance guesswork out of the equation."
PACCAR Leasing (PacLease) President Neil Vonnahme, said PacLease's growth in the Great Lakes Region, Nebraska and across the United States is also driven by the need for private fleets to meet maintenance requirements under CSA as well as dealing with new federal regulations involving hours of service. With new federal regulations requiring engines with lower emissions, stricter hours of service for drivers, and new maintenance requirements for the trucks, fleets are concerned about adding all that new equipment, choosing the proper specifications and managing the maintenance.
"By having PacLease handle the maintenance, companies can be assured that all maintenance issues are addressed quickly and efficiently to meet CSA requirements," Vonnahme added. "Also, PacLease can help fleets choose truck specifications that will help drivers remain productive while getting the rest they need during mandatory breaks."
PacLease franchises also find that customers are increasingly looking at full-service leasing as a way to acquire popular Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks with comfortable driver features to attract and keep good drivers, Vonnahme said.
PacLease announces new franchise locations at the following locations:
• Premier PacLease, 179 Expressway Court, Gaylord, Mich. 49735, 989-731-1499;
• Premier PacLease, 7393 Expressway Court S.W., Grand Rapids, Mich. 49548, 616-281-8610;
• Premier PacLease, 2717 Danforth Road, Escanaba, Mich. 49829, 608-576-2231;
• Premier PacLease, 3090 Berlin Dr., LaCrosse, Wis. 54601, 608-781-5360;
• Premier PacLease, 3130 E. 23rd St., Columbus, Neb. 68601, 608-241-5616 Ext. 121;
• Premier PacLease, 2206 E. 25th St.., Kearney, Neb. 68847, 308-234-2511;
• Premier PacLease, 2737 South Lincoln Ave., York, Neb. 68467, 402-362-6645.
