Ongoing investments by Volvo Trucks' dealer network have increased the work capacity at Volvo Trucks locations in the Western region of the U.S. by nearly 15 percent since January 2010. The expansion includes the addition of nearly 80 truck service bays, 135 Volvo-certified technicians and a nearly 22 percent increase in parts inventory.
"The Volvo ownership experience is about a lot more than just a great truck, so we're proud to see our dealer network continuing to step up and expand their support capabilities for customers from coast to coast," said Terry Billings, Volvo Trucks vice president, sales – U.S.
Leading the charge in the West is Portland, OR-based TEC Equipment, which supports Volvo Trucks with 24 facilities in 18 markets. TEC Equipment president and CEO David A. Thompson said his dealerships are dedicated to their customers along the I-5 corridor, so they continue to add technicians and master technicians, grow their parts inventory, increase available service bays and expand location hours.
"Our capital and real property investments will approach $94 million upon completion of this next growth stage," Thompson said. "We have made and will continue to make investments in technicians, equipment and facilities, which enhance our ability to take care of our growing customer base, offering seamless service along the I-5 corridor – stretching from Washington into Oregon, through most of California and all of Nevada."
The recently constructed La Mirada location is TEC of California's premiere full-service dealership. Built on more than five acres in southern Los Angeles, TEC La Mirada offers 45 service bays staffed by 37 technicians, five of which are Volvo master technicians. The 53,000 square-foot facility includes a 14,000 square-foot warehouse featuring more than $5 million in parts inventory. TEC's former facility, located a few blocks from La Mirada, is now a dedicated truck body and paint shop.
TEC's latest investments include a newly constructed parts facility in Sylmar, CA, housing nearly half-a-million in inventory, and several projects that are underway or nearing completion. The projects include two 19,000 square-foot locations in Fontana, CA, which will house body shop, leasing and repair facilities. The Fontana dealership is also in the process of constructing a new 64,000 square-foot full-service facility adjacent to the existing store, adding 38 additional bays and retail parts and sales capacity. In Battle Mountain, NV, a new 13,000 square-foot parts and service center located next to the Flying J travel plaza on I-80, is about 50 percent complete. A new 16,000 square-foot body shop at the Columbia Boulevard location in Portland will open in December 2012. TEC will also open a new 54,000 square-foot auto carrier sales and service center and all-make parts center in Portland during the second half of 2013.
