Terry Martin, vice president and dealer principal at Martin’s Peterbilt, has been named American Truck Dealers’ (ATD) 2026 Truck Dealer of the Year.
A 35-year veteran of the truck dealer industry, Martin was presented his award by ATD President Jacqueline Gelb, Procede CEO Larry Kettler and Trucks, Parts, Service Content Director and Editor Lucas Deal during a general session at the ATD Show Thursday in Las Vegas. Procede Software and TPS are sponsors of the Truck Dealer of the Year Award program.
Terry Martin
“I am truly honored to be named Truck Dealer of the Year,” Martin said Thursday. “I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to our amazing customers, our dedicated employees, our partner Peterbilt and my family for their unwavering support. Without each of them, we would not be here today.”
Martin’s story in the trucking industry, like many ATD Truck Dealer of the Year nominees over the years, starts with family. Martin’s grandfather Bert Martin Sr., spent time as a trucker in the early 1960s before identifying a need for local parts distribution in his region.
Martin’s Truck Parts was launched in 1965, at first purchasing used or wrecked trucks to salvage used components to deliver to the marketplace. The company grew quickly, and Bert’s four sons joined him in the business over a 10-year period until 1978.
[RELATED: ATD focused on Right to Repair, FET repeal on Capitol Hill in 2026]
In 1987 the company earned its first nameplate as a Western Star dealer, and Terry Martin joined the company soon after.
In his early years, Martin did everything. He worked in the warehouse, at the parts counter. He was in parts procurement, handled warranty claims and even spent time in truck sales. He was promoted to vice president in 2000 — the same year the company transitioned to its badge to Peterbilt — and over the last 25 years has helped lead the business from a one-store dealer with 12 associates to a six-location operation with nearly 250 employees.
Today, he looks back at those early years as essential for the education he received about the industry and dealer operations.
“Using the knowledge gained from multiple departments, I not only gained confidence in myself but that of the dealership team,” Martin wrote in his award nomination packet. “My advancement to vice president in 2000 came from consistently taking initiative and demonstrating that I was ready for more responsibility.”
Martin’s success in the field also can be attributed to his customer centricity and an authentic desire to help all who rely on Martin’s Peterbilt.
As he told TPS last month, Martin’s success comes from treating customers like family. “We want them to know that when an issue arises, it will be addressed and handled immediately,” he said. “We apply the same philosophy with our employees, which has helped build a strong, positive culture within our organization.”
Martin added, “What sets us apart is the personal commitment of our employees and ownership group. We believe every person plays an important role, and we hold ourselves accountable to doing our jobs with care, pride and excellence.”
“I’ve known Terry for over 10 years, and through that time working with and getting to know him, I have found him to be a person who leads by example with the most honorable heart and character,” Andy Hoffman, president at GTG Peterbilt, wrote in nominating Martin for the Truck Dealer of the Year Award. “He treats everyone he meets with kindness and respect and manages with a style that elevates everyone around him.”
[RELATED: DTNA’s Carson tells ATD crowd says high-tech trucks require high-quality service]
In assessing his own leadership style, Martin is humble and self-effacing, calling himself a hands-on leader who enjoys connecting with associates to understand their needs and motivations. Also a strong believer in teamwork, he recognizes cohesiveness across Martin’s operations is vital to the company’s success.
He also cares deeply about his colleagues, customers and community, and last year helped raise more than $750,000 to support victims of a tornado in his native area, earning him the Laurel County, Ky., Humanitarian of the Year Award.
He wrote of the honor in his nomination packet that it reminded him that “our greatest accomplishments aren’t measured in sales, but in the difference we make in the lives of our neighbors and community.”
Ryan Young, president at Young Trucks in Canton, Ohio, was named finalist for this year’s award. Other nominees recognized Tuesday were Patrick Chastang, COO at Chastang Ford; and Patrick Jacobs, president at Carco International.
