Cox Automotive acquired the remainder of Fleet Services from minority owners Mike Dickinson and Ted Coltrain, the company announced Wednesday.
"When we founded Dickinson Fleet Services nearly 30 years ago, I couldn't have imagined that we would grow it into what it is today: A nationwide industry leader with a best-in-class team," says Coltrain, vice president of operations. "We built a legacy of trust and determination to get the job done right. Cox is ready to build on that legacy and take this business into the future."
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Coltrain will retire from Fleet Services this month. Dickinson will remain with the company as a consultant.
Dickinson Fleet Services was founded in 1997 and was acquired by Cox Automotive in 2020. Since then, the business grew to more than 1,500 technicians, servicing more than 14,000 clients annually. With the acquisition of Trudell Trailer Sales and other regional maintenance providers such as Mobicare and Corcoran's Mobile Service, Fleet Services also expanded its nationwide offering within medium and heavy duty fleet parts and service along with direct parts sales and semi-trailer sales.
"This acquisition represents our steadfast commitment to the fleet industry and the opportunity to take Fleet Services to the next level," says Steve Rowley, president of Cox Automotive. "We are proud to build on the legacy the Dickinson family began and we're just getting started. We are in this business for the long term. Not just for this year, but the next 50 years and beyond."
Kevin Clark will become Fleet Services' interim vice president of sales. He now leads the Emergency Mobile Service (EMS) division along with FleeTec Academy, the company's technician training program.
"After three years with Fleet Services, I've seen first-hand the massive growth potential that comes with being part of Cox — for clients, for our people and for the industry we're in," Clark says. "I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to partner more closely with our clients as we grow together and lead fleets into the future."
