Meeting our industry’s best: A quick look at 2018 DOTY finalist First Call Truck Parts

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Updated Aug 3, 2018

Two weeks ago Truck Parts & Service released its finalists for the 17th annual Distributor of the Year award. All of the finalists this year were again selected through open industry nominations, and over the next several months, we will be regularly featuring each business on this website and on the pages of Truck Parts & Service.

Those features begin this week as we check in with 2018 Distributor of the Year finalist First Call Truck Parts.

This is the first nomination for First Call Truck Parts  for the Distributor of the Year award. The answers below were provided by First Call Truck Parts President Joe Ward.

First Call Truck Parts

 

When was your business founded, and by whom?

In 2001 by Joe and Margie Ward.

How many locations do you have?

We have one location in Tallahassee, Fla.

How many employees do you have?

19

What is your company’s value proposition?

Our value proposition is to provide QUALITY PARTS, FAST SERVICE AND GOOD PEOPLE to our customers.  Our number one priority is customer service and we believe that has been a core tenet of our success.  We understand that our customers are working on deadlines and we want to do everything in our power to ensure they are successful in meeting their goals.

In addition, we also strive to provide quality parts and access to good people and great experiences to our customers.  We believe the number one factor that determines success in a retail environment is a company’s ability to retain customers, and everything we do is centered around making sure our customers are always satisfied.

Do you offer any additional services to complement your parts offering?

Parts are important, but we have also seen our customers have additional needs that are not being fulfilled.  To address this, we have built a machine shop within our store that offers driveline repairs, flywheel resurface, DPF cleaning, 100-ton shop press, custom built u-bolts, built-from scratch hydraulic hoses and custom rebuild fan clutches.

We also want to make sure our customers are well educated so we host quarterly clinics for our customers.  This is a great opportunity for them to gain hands on practical parts training while networking with likeminded peers and exchanging ideas.

How do you differentiate your business from your competitors?

Our number one goal is customer service and we constantly strive to outperform our peers in that area. Our diverse product offerings also are suited to fit every customer’s needs and we make sure that customers have access to the highest quality parts available in the market. In addition, our quarterly clinics and our semi-annual customer appreciation lunch show our customers that they are our number one priority.

Why do you believe the heavy-duty aftermarket has nominated you for this award?

Throughout the course of our tenure as a company we have always been honest with our vendors and we work very hard to fulfill our promises and commitments. Having a great relationship with our vendors is a key component in providing consistency to our customer’s experience, and we have been extremely happy with the vendor relationships that we have established. We believe this is why we have been nominated for the award.

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