New Year 2016

2015 was a memorable year in trucking. Many of you reported increased freight and continued low cost fuel, a win-win situation. We were given the opportunity by many of you to supply new and used trucks and to continue servicing the rest of your fleets, big and small. I believe 2016 will offer most of what we all enjoyed in 2015 and I thank you for choosing Truck Center Companies to support your businesses. 

Daimler Trucks North America rode 2015 to the highest market share amongst truck OEMs.  Their investment in new products continue to outpace all other manufacturers and drive their truck sales growth. If you haven’t experienced these new products, let me recap them for you, and please stop by to let us demo for you as well.

 

Detroit Virtual Technician is an innovative telematics package for Freightliner and Western Star trucks. This technology uses a combination of hardware and software to report and track key truck diagnostics and metrics that help you reduce downtime and improve your operational efficiency. Virtual Technician comes in two packages:

The VT base package provides remote diagnostic tracking and alerting to help you avoid critical downtime. This technology automatically detects engine faults and reports the fault code to Detroit’s call center instantaneously via satellite technology. The call center analyzes the fault and determines the nature and severity, and then communicates the fault information to your predetermined contact person. The driver is then directed to the closest service center who has also been contacted to identify necessary parts and service availability.

You can also upgrade to the Virtual Technician Visibility Package. This provides tracking, metrics, and navigation assistance to help you improve your operational efficiency. When combined with a service contract the Visibility package includes everything in the VT base package plus access to the Ground Traffic Control website which displays real-time information for pinpoint accuracy on vehicle stops, speeds, routes traveled, mileage by state, excessive idling and other onboard events.

 

The Detroit Assurance suite of safety systems protects your drivers and your business by delivering a new level of on-road control and protection in Freightliner Cascadia and Cascadia Evolution trucks. Detroit Assurance fully integrates with your Detroit engine and transmission as well as your truck’s braking systems and dashboard to enhance driver safety by mitigating collisions. This safety suite includes active brake assist, adaptive cruise control, radar equipment, and a lane departure warning system. 

 

To close a year to remember, I am pleased to announce that Rob Cygan has joined our company as Executive Vice President. Rob was Daimler Truck Financial’s GM of Marketing and Business Development. He will take over the daily operations of our dealerships in Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa. His travel schedule should allow him to meet many of you in the months ahead.

Please let us know what else we can do to help you stay successful and to enjoy your New Year.

Trey J. Mytty
-- CEO