On Monday Truck Parts & Service announced its finalists for the 2015 Distributor of the Year award. We are now taking a brief look at each nominated distributor.
For information on Blaine Brothers, we turn to President Dean Dally and Vice President of Sales & Marketing Kevin McCarty.
When was you business founded, and by whom?
In 1979 by Rick and Fred Dally out of the back of a 1969 Ford pickup.
How many locations do you have?
Blaine Brothers is our parent company with locations in Blaine, Minn., Scanlon, Minn., and Clearwater, Minn. North American Trailer has two locations in Eagan, Minn., and one in the following: Inver Grove Heights, Minn., Scanlon, Minn., Stanley, N.D. Blaine Brothers Truckaline has one location in Blaine, Minn. Hydraulic Specialty is located in Fridley, Minn.
How many employees do you have?
We have 220 employees.
What is your company’s value proposition?
Blaine Brothers provides parts and service solutions 24/7 for people who earn their living with commercial vehicles.
What has been the biggest change in your business over the past calendar year?
We developed and implemented a Fleet Maintenance Program. We are providing this service not only from our own shop but managing repairs and invoices from other repair shops for customers. This will be a continuing growth focus for us moving forward.
We also have focused on our employees. This focus has included customer service training for our entire staff along with more specific things such as AC, Steering, etc. We are also implementing a new CRM tool that will provide our inside and outside team with the information they need to operate the business on a daily basis. This will include a production module for HSI on the manufacturing side of their business.
We also have made changes to increase our value to our current and future employees. We have improved our overall benefit program to not only retain our current staff but to attract future employees. When others are reducing this benefit due to increasing costs we are offering better programs to our employees.
Why do you believe the heavy-duty aftermarket has nominated you for this award?
We believe it says that the industry has recognized Blaine Brothers and it’s brother companies for the hard work and effort all of our employees have put into building this business since 1979.
We truly believe we bring more value to the customer than anyone in our market. We feel that our business model is being recognized by our peers as one that is on the leading edge for the future of the heavy-duty industry. We like to have fun at work but we also work very hard. If you are honest and take care of the customer properly the business will follow.
For more on Blaine Brothers, go to www.blainebrothers.com, and check Truck Parts & Service magazine in the coming months.
