NEWS & UPDATES
The Pete Store, LLC nominated for 2012 ATD 'Truck Dealer of the Year' award
McLean, VA — December 7, 2011
John C. Arscott, president and CEO of The Pete Store, LLC, in Baltimore, Md., was nominated for Truck Dealer of the Year, a national award co-sponsored by the American Truck Dealers (ATD) and Heavy Duty Trucking magazine. The winner will be announced at the 49th annual ATD Convention and Expo in Las Vegas on Feb. 4.
Building the Business
Arscott started his career in truck retailing in 1978, working in sales at Harper – Detroit Diesel in Toronto, Ontario. In 1988, he became regional sales manager at Peterbilt Motors Co. in Toronto, where he remained until establishing Premier Peterbilt in 1992. After selling his interest in that dealership in 2001, Arscott relocated to Richmond, Va., where he purchased Peterbilt of Richmond Inc., now called The Pete Store.
In the 10 years since Arscott established the Pete Store, he and his employees have taken the company from a single location to eight locations, with a ninth in the works. Sales have increased 10-fold, making it the second largest Peterbilt dealership in the country by sales.
Arscott attributes much of the dealership’s success to reinvesting in the business, excellence in fixed operations and creating lasting relationships with some of the largest fleets in the country.
"We passionately believe and trust in the PACCAR product,” says Arscott. “The knowledge and relationships that come with investing in a single line have allowed us to become Peterbilt specialists. We know the Peterbilt product better than anyone else."
Honors, Awards and Service to the Industry
Arscott’s dealership has received a number of industry awards, including 16 Platinum Ovals presented between 2001 and 2011 for operational excellence, the 2005 Dealer of the Year award from Peterbilt, the 2009 TruckCare Dealer of the Year award for highest in customer satisfaction, and the 2011 award for Best in Class, Parts and Service for operational excellence. In 2007, Entrepreneur magazine ranked the dealership among its Fastest Growing Companies in America and in 2008 Inc. magazine ranked it 2,756 of 5000 in its business rankings.
Community Service
Arscott is actively involved in his community. He serves on the board of First Response Team of America and is an ongoing supporter of Big Brothers Big Sisters. Arscott also financially supports charitable organizations selected by his employees, too. Some of the contributions have supported cancer research, autism research and youth sports.
"As a company, we believe in encouraging our employees to get involved in the community," he says. "We've set up a capital fund in which an employee can request up to $250 a year to be donated to the organization of their choice with the stipulation that they must be involved/participate in that organization.”
The award
Nominees for the ATD / Heavy Duty Trucking Truck Dealer of the Year are evaluated on several categories, including dealership performance, civic contributions and industry leadership. The winner and runner-up will be chosen by a panel of professors from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.
About the ATD Convention
The nation’s commercial truck dealers will convene at the ATD convention, which coincides with the National Automobile Dealers Association Convention & Expo, Feb. 3-6, in Las Vegas. In addition to honoring the Truck Dealer of the Year, the winners of ATD Commercial Truck of the Year for new medium- and heavy-duty trucks sold in the United States will be announced Feb. 5 at the convention.
Keynote speakers include ATD Chairman Kyle Treadway, Martin Daum, CEO of Daimler Trucks North America and retired Navy Captain and best-selling author Gerald Coffee. Dealers will also have an opportunity to meet face-to-face with their manufacturer executives at 12 franchise meetings and with suppliers on the expo floor. Nearly a dozen workshop sessions will be offered for dealers and their managers to learn ways to improve their business operations. For a detailed schedule or to register, visit www.ATDconventionandexpo.org.
About ATD
Founded in 1970, the ATD division of the National Automobile Dealers Association is the only national organization representing dealers selling and servicing new medium- and heavy-duty trucks. For more information, visit www.ATD.org.