Winners will be announced at American Truck Dealers (ATD) Show 2018 in Las Vegas in March.
John Arscott, CEO of The Pete Store in Baltimore, Md., is one of seven nominees for 2018 Truck Dealer of the Year – a national award that recognizes commercial-truck dealers for business performance, industry and civic leadership and community service.
“It personally means a lot to me to have been nominated for this award by my peers. When you look at the quality of the other nominees, it’s clear to see that entrepreneurialism and leadership are alive and well in our industry,” said Arscott. “I’m proud to be mentioned alongside a great group of dealers.”
In 1992, Arscott opened his first Peterbilt dealership in Toronto, Canada. The business grew to include three full-service Peterbilt locations in Ontario. In 2001, he sold the business and purchased Peterbilt of Richmond [in Virginia] followed by Peterbilt of Baltimore [in Maryland]. Today, there are 15 locations in seven states, which include Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
“After 25 years as a dealer, I no longer define what I do as work. I’m fortunate to wake up each day with enthusiasm and excitement to continue building something special with our team,” added Arscott, who employs more than 400 people. “My greatest satisfaction comes from seeing our people grow personally and professionally.”
The dealership group and its employees support many charitable causes, but dedicates most of its contributions to three non-profit organizations: Starkey Hearing Foundation, through financial assistance, provides 100,000 free hearing aids per year to patients in more than 100 countries; First Response Team of America, which includes the donation of five Peterbilt trucks and dealership volunteers to assist communities impacted by natural disasters during the first critical hours; and the dealership started a sustainable trucking company in Cambodia with the profits supporting the Cambodia Children’s Fund, which provides food, clothing, education and housing to thousands of families in impoverished areas of the country.
Industry leadership involvement includes the American Truck Dealers (ATD) 20 Group (chairman and member), Peterbilt Dealer Council (member) and Peterbilt Motors Co. (SuperTruck development).
He has received numerous awards from Peterbilt Motors Co., which include two North American Dealer of the Year awards, Truckcare Dealer of the Year, Engine Parts and Service Dealer of the Year, PACCAR MX-13 Engine Dealer of the Year, Peterbilt Best in Class, North American Parts and Service Dealer of the Year, PACCAR MX Engine Dealer of the Year, and 25 Platinum Oval Dealer awards. Entrepreneur magazine ranked the dealership group one of America’s 500 fastest growing companies.
The national Truck Dealer of the Year award is sponsored by ATD, Heavy Duty Trucking and Procede Software.
The other nominees are Joseph Alosa, Sr., president and CEO of New England Kenworth in Concord, N.H.; Mark Bergey, president of Bergey’s Truck Centers in Souderton, Pa.; Richard Reynolds, president of Peach State Truck Center in Norcross, Ga.; Jon Vandehey, president/CEO of Mid-State Truck Service in Marshfield, Wis.; Lee White, II, president of Old River Companies in South Richland, Miss.; and Craig Young, president of Young Truck Sales in Canton, Ohio.
The nominees were selected by ATD board members and dealer association executives. Professors from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business in Bloomington, Ind., will evaluate the nominees based on dealership performance, industry leadership, civic contributions and community service.
The winner and runner-up will be announced during the 55th annual ATD Show (formerly the ATD Convention & Expo) in Las Vegas, which runs concurrently with the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Show from Thursday, March 22, through Sunday, March 25, 2018.
ATD, a division of NADA, represents more than 1,800 medium- and heavy-duty truck dealerships.
For more information, visit www.atdshow.org.
This is the second article in a seven-part series highlighting the nominees for 2018 Truck Dealer of the Year.
