Going Green

Yesterday we delivered our first Peterbilt Model 335 Electric Hybrid to NorthWestern Energy here in Billings.  According to the brochure "This product utilizes the Eaton Hybrid Electric Power System to capture energy generated in routine driving conditions.  This captured energy is then applied as electric torque and blended with engine torque to improve vehicle performance, increase fuel efficiency, reduce maintenance costs and provide zero emission engine-off worksite operation". 

Translation:  There is an electric motor and an inverter between the engine and transmission.  When you step on the accelerator, electricity that is stored in a few hundred pounds of lithium-ion batteries (just like in your digital watch) help propel the vehicle foward.  At about 20 mph the regular diesel engine kicks in.  Then as your driving down the road, the batteries are recharged and the cycle repeats itself. 

The application that NorthWestern is using this truck in is a bucket truck and it is the best for this particular Hybrid model.  The reason is that they use the bucket when the truck is stationary to fix power lines.  Typically, you'd have to have the diesel engine running to help move the bucket around, but with this product, the bucket is powered electrically.  Every 45 minutes or so, as long as the truck is in "safe" mode (parking brake on, outriggers down and hood closed), the diesel engine starts automatically and completely re-charges the batteries in 5 minutes. This results in a 50% decrease in the amount of fuel consumed over a conventional diesel configuration and increases the engine life and decreases maintenance costs.  Not bad! 

All in all, it's a pretty cool set up. 

We also sell hydraulic hybrids and natural gas powered units as well.  To borrow a catch phrase, or at least part of one:  "This aint' your daddy's Peterbilt"!

Talk to you soon. 

God Bless. 

Spring Thaw-

As I write this, I'm watching the thermometer struggling to break 30 degrees.  It's almost spring in Montana but that just means only a couple more months of cold, till our "real" spring in May. 

Typically, I'd be going stir crazy waiting for the thaw, but this year it's different.  To be completely honest we've been too busy.  In Billings we're doing everything we can not to turn anybody away from the shop, but the work is piling up, and it shows no sign of slowing.  Last falls wheat crop was large, cattle prices remain high, freight is picking up again, used trucks are strong and as icing on the cake, the eastern Montana oilfield is absolutely booming.  Likewise, the parts department continues to outdo itself.  Compared to last year at this time when we could have held a bowling tournament in the shop, it is definitely a good thing. 

Missoula continues to break new ground as well. Parts continues to grow sales and our used truck business is keeping us hopping. We've been buying used trucks from coast to coast, literally.  California to Nova Scotia, we are going where we have to go to get good used inventory that seemingly, keeps flying off the shelf.  All the while, Town Pump is almost ready to open their newest, and very large, travel center literally across the street.  Between them and Muralt's Truck Stop, we are anticipating a nice bump in walk in parts and service business come summer.

So, just like the weather, our economy is a series of cycles.  As we watch it get warmer, we also watch the economy heat up, and hopefully, continue to grow for some time to come. 

It was a little scary there for a while for a lot of people (myself included), but as they say, what doesn't kill you will make you stronger.  I've been told that if you made it through the last three years (at least in this business), you should be just fine, and being an optimist, I believe it. 

We've weathered a fair share of adversity and learned a few hard lessons since 08, but we're still standing, and that much stronger for it.  We're now looking forward now to applying those lessons. 

God Bless

P.S.  Happy birthday to my beautiful daughter Katie Melissa Gustainis,  22 years young today.  Love you Punk!

The Importance of People

Terrie Schaff began working at Northwest Truck and Trailer Sales in Billings, Montana on October 10th, 1986.  On that day I was a 22 year old rookie truck salesman at Barry Cassata GMC Trucks in Glen Ellyn Illinois.  Twenty two years later in August of 2008 I purchased Northwest Truck and Trailer and Terrie was still here.  Today she retired.  We had a little ceremony for her this morning over cinnamon rolls and coffee and I said a few words of thanks and farewell.  One of the things I said was about the importance of people in the equation of business, and how fortunate I was to be associated with such a fine person as her and all the employees of Montana Peterbilt. The more that I think about that now that I see Terrie's office is empty, the more I'm convinced I didn't say enough.

I read somewhere recently that today's average college graduate will have 10 jobs by the time they are thirty years old.  Ten!  Used to be when you looked at a potential employees resume' and they had more than two or three jobs in a period of a few years, they would be considered a "job jumper".  My the times, how they are a changin'.

Now I'm not sure if it's just Montana, I'm sure there are other areas of the country where there might be a similar climate, but I can't recall ever encountering  such a large group of employees having such a broad and diverse skill set, a great work ethic, and a team spirit that any NFL team would kill for.  We have several employees that have well over twenty years of service and some over thirty!  You just don't find that kind of dedication anymore.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, one of the deciding factors for me in making the commitment to this  place was the people.  It's easy to forget in today's climate of instantaneous internet buying and selling that it's the people that make or break a business, people like Terrie Schaff.  The way employees are treated, and in turn, the way they treat the business is the difference between success and failure. 

So with that being said, it is a sad day for all the employees of Montana Peterbilt and for me personally in that we are saying farewell to a long time dedicated employee and friend, but at the same time we're happy that Terrie is going to take some time to rest.  So long Terrie, we wish you and Ron good health and happiness.  But keep in mind when you get bored, the door is always open. Your shoes are amongst a select few that I sincerely doubt we will ever truly fill.

God Bless

MX Tour is Missoula Bound!

Hello All,
I am very pleased to announce that Montana Peterbilt has delivered (14) PACCAR MX Engines since August and they're all doing very well.  I've had reports of anwhere from 6.1 to 6.5 MPG.  Not bad for right out of the box.

All of these units have been delivered through our Billings store, so now it's Missoula's turn.  Mark your calendars because the Peterbilt MX Tour is coming to Missoula on Wednesday of next week, October 20th.  The event runs from 11:00 AM till 4:00 PM with lunch being served from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM.

The tour includes a mobile 1000 square foot showroom featuring the PACCAR MX Engine as well as many new Peterbilt product offering.  Also on hand will be the all new Peterbilt Model 587 which will be available for you to ride and drive.

Representatives from Peterbilt and Paccar will be on hand to demonstrate our new products and answer any questions you may have.

Hope to see you there!

Kevin

Two Years and Holding Strong

August 1st, 2010 was Montana Petertbilt's two year anniversary.  It's kind of hard to believe it's already been two years; For me anyway. 

It's at this point that I'd like thank all of our customers and congratulate our employees, every one!  We've come a long way in a short while and as of the date of this writing, Montana Peterbilt is ranked number one in our district for parts goal achievement.  In addition, we're ranked both regionally and nationally for both parts and service performance.  I couldn't be more thankful to every customer, or more proud of the dedication and hard work of every employee.  Without all of you, this accomplishment would not have been possible.

Reality Check:  Yes, times are still tough, and we are nowhere near where we need to be to equal the performance of years past, but we are getting there.  I'm not sure who said it, but I've always been a firm believer in the school of thought that victory and success are easy to handle, but it is adversity and challenge that are the true measure of a person or an organization.  You can either give up, or keep fighting.

Improvise, Adapt, Overcome: OK, so I borrowed that from Clint Eastwood in Heartbreak Ridge, but it's rings true.  If there is one thing I cannot stand to hear, it is this:  "But we've always done it that way" .  If you would like to see my blood pressure skyrocket, just use that as an excuse.  One of the most valuable lessons I've learned and the one I try to impart to my children, employees, etc, is that things never stay the same, change is constant.  The impossible is possible and the improbable is probable.  And unless you want to get run over, go out of business, or fail at whatever endeavor you are pursuing, my humble recommendation is that you be prepared for it: change that is.  If it's not working, try another way, I don't care how long you've been doing it that way.  The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results. 

But That's Impossible:  Really?  Let's make a short list of the things many people once thought of as gospel:

"The Titanic is unsinkable"
"We have peace in our time"
"We could never put a man on the moon"
"The Soviet Union will never collapse"
"The Dream Team will never be beat by those inferior European basketball teams"
" Osama Bin Who? Those lunatics could never really hurt us here at home"
"The levees around New Orleans have held up till now.  They can never fail"
"An African American will never be president"
"There is no housing bubble"
"This bank cannot fail"

I could go on, but I think you get the point.  No one foresaw the economy we are now dealing with, but we can't change it.  All we can do is figure out new ways to be successful.  If it ain't workin', fix it, change it, or find something else to do. 

Baby Steps:  Could things be better?  Absolutely! But it won't be fixed tomorrow, next week or next month.  In fact it could realistically take years to get back to where we were.  But the good news is:  I repeat:  The good news is: is that we've stopped the free fall, we're no longer skipping along the bottom, but now, dare I say, we've started our slow, yet steady ascent up and out of the abyss.  One step at a time. 

Cautiously Optimistic: Freight rates are up, trucking companies are making more profits, used truck demand is up and the average age of the fleet in this country is very old, translating into pent up new truck demand.  We are going in the right direction, and although it won't happen overnight, we will succeed.  Call me an optimist, a glass half full kind of guy, whatever, but that's just the way I think.  If you're looking for me, I'll be the guy with my shoulder to the grind stone, head down,  taking one step at a time, pushing for the finish.

Talk to you again soon.
Kevin

Montana Peterbilt and Big Sky Trucking Embrace the New ISX/SCR Engine

Bob Schmaing, Motana Peterbilt, and Randy Stewart, Big Sky Trucking

This week Randy Stewart of Big Sky Trucking took delivery of a 2011 Peterbilt Model 386 from Montana Peterbilt. This truck is the first to be hitting the road in Montana that meets the stringent new guidelines placed upon the trucking industry by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Peterbilt's model 386 boasts sleek aerodynamic styling coupled with performance and fuel efficiency, putting the 386 at the top of it's class.

Cummins new ISX/SCR engine further boosts the performance and efficiency of this model, and is the first engine certified by the EPA for meeting the 2010 emissions standard (2.5 grams). While meeting these standards, the ISX will continue to provide excellent fuel economy.

Montana Peterbilt and Big Sky Trucking are proud to embrace this new environmentally friendly technology, while still meeting the rigorous demands of today's trucking industry.  Thanks for the order Randy!

Dear Employees, Thank You.

Each year, Peterbilt Motors Company scores all full service Peterbilt dealer locations performance through a program called the Standards of Excellence.  This program measures performance in four functional areas of dealership operations.  These include:

• General Management
• Truck Sales
• Parts Department
• Service Department

The results determine how well each dealership is doing in these areas by measuring operating standards, financial results and goal achievments.  Each year at the Peterbilt Dealer Meeting, the Platinum Oval Award is awarded to a very select group of dealers who have demonstrated outstanding performance in all aspects of the Standards of Excellence program. 

At this years meeting, only (10) dealers out of (211) full service locations were honored with this prestigious award, and I am very pleased and honored to annouce that Montana Peterbilt - Billings was one of them!

This award would have not been possible, and is in fact the direct result of all of our employees hard work and dedication.  My brother John and I are very proud to be associated with such fine people and wish to congratulate each one of them on this outstanding achievement!

Thank You! 

Kevin