Thomas Built Buses Honors Top Dealers of 2020

Thomas Built Buses (TBB) recently recognized the winners of its 2020 Dealer of the Year, President’s Club, and President’s Club Platinum awards.

The school bus manufacturer honored this year’s winners during a virtual awards program held earlier this month, according to a news release from Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), the parent company of TBB.

Interstate Transportation Equipment Inc., a full-service dealer offering sales, parts, and vehicle service based in Hopkins, South Carolina, was named the company’s 2020 Dealer of the Year.

“2020 was a rough year, but Robert Coleman and his team at Interstate Transportation provided Thomas Built Buses a simply dominating sales strategy and really went above and beyond for their customers,” said Jed Routh, vice president of sales, marketing, and service at TBB.

Interstate Transportation Equipment, according to DTNA, played a key role in providing clean-diesel engine technology to its customers via the Detroit DD5 and DD8 engines as well as educating state agencies and customers on electric vehicle conversion. The dealership reportedly also promoted various safety technologies to protect students in and out of the school bus.

“They really have their customers’ best interests in mind and do whatever it takes to ensure the best school bus for students and for the larger community,” Routh added in DTNA’s news release. “Plus, they achieved a world-class Net Promoter score and continue to earn strong marks from their customers for their service and support.”

Dealerships that received TBB’s President’s Club and President’s Club Platinum awards were recognized based on their achievement of key performance indicators this year, according to DTNA. To qualify as the Dealer of the Year in a specific region, a dealer must reach the President’s Club Platinum level.

Here is the full list of TBB’s 2020 dealer award winners:

Dealer of the Year

• Interstate Transportation Equipment Inc., Hopkins, South Carolina

Dealer of the Year Regional Winners

• Midwest Region: Kerlin Bus Sales and Leasing Inc., Silver Lake, Indiana
• Northeast Region: New England Transit Sales Inc., Pocasset, Massachusetts
• Southeast Region: Interstate Transportation Equipment Inc., Hopkins, South Carolina
• Southern Region: Sonny Merryman Inc., Evington, Virginia
• Western Region: BusWest – Southern California, Carson, California

President’s Club Platinum

• American Bus Sales and Service, Annapolis, Maryland
• Autobus Thomas, Drummondville, Quebec
• BusWest – Southern California, Carson, California
• Carolina Thomas LLC, Greensboro, North Carolina
• H.A. DeHart and Son Inc., Thorofare, New Jersey
• Interstate Transportation Equipment Inc., Hopkins, South Carolina
• Kerlin Bus Sales and Leasing Inc., Silver Lake, Indiana
• Matthews Buses Inc., Ballston Spa, New York
• Matthews Bus Alliance Inc., Orlando, Florida
• Mid-South Bus Center, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
• NESCO Bus, Bay Shore, New York
• New England Transit Sales Inc., Pocasset, Massachusetts
• Rohrer Enterprises Inc., Duncannon, Pennsylvania
• Sonny Merryman Inc., Evington, Virginia
• Transportation South Inc., Pelham, Alabama
• W.C. Cressey and Son Inc., Kennebunk, Maine

President’s Club

• Hoekstra Transportation Inc., Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Matheny Motor Truck Co., Mineral Wells, West Virginia
• Midwest Bus Sales Inc., Crawford, Arkansas
• Midwest Bus Sales Inc., Bonner Spring, Kansas
• Thomas Bus Sales of Georgia, Forest Park, Georgia