Thomas Built Buses celebrates Kerlin Bus Sales & Leasing, Inc. as its 2024 Dealer of the Year. 

The annual award honors a dealership's exceptional customer support, industry leadership, and ongoing commitment to student transportation.

Based in Silver Lake, Indiana, Kerlin has been a Thomas Built Buses dealer for over 60 years. This marks the dealership’s fourth Dealer of the Year honor, with prior recognition in 1995, 2008, and 2021.

“Kerlin has been an integral part of Thomas Built for decades and has successfully passed the legacy from one generation to the next,” said Daoud Chaaya, vice president of sales, aftermarket and marketing for Thomas Built Buses. “The entire team at Kerlin consistently raises the bar on excellence through their unwavering commitment to the overall TBB value proposition and exceptional customer experience. Congratulations to Kerlin Bus Sales and Leasing on being named the 2024 Dealer of the Year.”

In addition to the Dealer of the Year award, Kerlin was also named to the Thomas Built Buses President’s Club, President’s Club Platinum, and Honors Class, which recognizes the top seven dealers for overall performance. The dealership remains a trusted advisor to schools throughout Indiana and beyond, providing expert guidance and service for diesel and electric bus fleets.

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Each year, Thomas Built Buses evaluates dealers across its network based on key performance metrics, including customer service, parts availability, training participation, and sales performance. 

The Dealer of the Year award represents the highest level of achievement among all TBB dealers in North America.

Other award winners are:

2024 Honors Class

• H.A. DeHart & Son, Inc. – Thorofare, New Jersey

• Interstate Transportation Equipment, Inc. – Columbia, South Carolina

• Kerlin Bus Sales & Leasing, Inc. – Silver Lake, Indiana

• Matthews Bus Alliance, Inc. – Orlando, Florida

• Mid-South Bus Center, Inc. – Murfreesboro, Tennessee

• Midwest Bus Sales, Inc. – Litchfield, Illinois

• New England Transit Sales, Inc. – Tyngsboro, Massachusetts

2024 President’s Club Platinum

• Carolina Thomas, LLC – Greensboro, North Carolina

• H.A. DeHart & Son, Inc. – Thorofare, New Jersey 

• Hoekstra Transportation, Inc. – Grand Rapids, Michigan

• Interstate Transportation Equipment, Inc. – Columbia, South Carolina

• Kerlin Bus Sales & Leasing, Inc. – Silver Lake, Indiana

• Matthews Buses, Inc. – Ballston Spa, New York

• Matthews Bus Alliance, Inc. – Orlando, Florida

• Mid-South Bus Center, Inc. – Murfreesboro, Tennessee

• Midwest Bus Sales, Inc. – Litchfield, Illinois

• Midwest Bus Sales, Inc. – Shawnee, Kansas

• New England Transit Sales, Inc. – Tyngsboro, Massachusetts

• Rohrer Bus Sales – Duncannon, Pennsylvania

• Sonny Merryman, Inc. – Evington, Virginia

• Thomas Bus Sales of Georgia – Forest Park, Georgia

• Thomas Bus Texas – Dallas, Texas

2024 President’s Club

• American Bus Sales & Service – Annapolis, Maryland

• BusWest – Carson, California

• Complete Bus and Specialty Vehicles – Clarksburg, Ohio 

• Empire Truck Sales, LLC – Richland, Mississippi

• Midwest Bus Sales, Inc. – Commerce City, Colorado

• Midwest Bus Sales, Inc. – El Reno, Oklahoma

• Myers Equipment Corporation – Canfield, Ohio

• Schetky Northwest Sales, Inc. – Portland, Oregon

• Transportation South, Inc. – Pelham, Alabama

• W.C. Cressey & Son, Inc. – Kennebunk, Maine

Last Year's Award: New England Transit Sales Named Thomas Built Dealer of the Year