Market moves: Peterbilt dealer sales dominate August news

The sale of an East Coast Peterbilt dealer operation highlights the transactions in the dealer, aftermarket and supplier sectors in August. 

The month started in the service sector, where Amerit Fleet Solutions on Aug. 1, reported the purchase of Triple Diamond Truck and Trailer Repair, based in Ontario. The move brought Triple Diamond into the same family of companies as sister operation Pro Reefer. “The acquisition of Triple Diamond builds on Amerit’s and Pro Reefer’s growth momentum and represents another important step in our long-term growth strategy,” said Adem Lev, vice president of corporate development at Amerit Fleet Solutions.

The first Peterbilt transaction came from TLG, which reported on Aug. 3, it had acquired two Virginia locations from Fitzgerald Peterbilt. The move brings TLG into the state and pushes its storefront total to 36 locations. “This expansion into Virginia strengthens our presence in the Southeast and allows us to better serve customers with the industry-leading service TLG is known for. We look forward to building on the relationships developed by the Fitzgerald team,” said TLG President and CEO Glenn Larson. 

Next was Peterbilt of Atlanta, which on Aug. 4 acquired the assets of Fitzgerald Peterbilt’s four Alabama locations. In conjunction with the acquisition, the company changed its name from Peterbilt of Atlanta to Pearson Peterbilt Group. “We are honored to have reached this agreement with the Fitzgerald family. They have built a highly respected organization with outstanding employees and a strong reputation for serving customers throughout Alabama. We are grateful for the opportunity to continue that legacy,” said Scott Pearson, president of Pearson Peterbilt Group.

Also on Aug. 4, Hunter Truck acquired Dimmick Group Peterbilt and Lucky’s Truck and Trailer Sales, adding ten locations across to the Hunter network. “This acquisition expands Hunter’s footprint and allows us to welcome the dedicated and hardworking employees of Dimmick Group Peterbilt and Lucky’s Truck and Trailer Sales to the Hunter Truck family. Their experience, commitment to customer service and relationships within their communities make them an invaluable part of our continued growth,” the company stated.

Exiting the dealer space, on Aug. 11, it was reported Multi Parts Solutions acquired HKX Inc., a manufacturer of auxiliary hydraulic kits and control-system solutions. “HKX is an engineered-solutions business, which is exactly what Multi Parts Solutions is across every market we serve,” said CEO Brian Cohn. “We are inheriting a talented team known for responsiveness, application-focused engineering and dealer collaboration, highly aligned with the same values we try to live every day at MPS of trustworthiness, teamwork and innovation.”

That was followed Aug. 18, by GlobalTech IQ in its acquisition of CarTech IQ Florida. “Our product gives technicians a faster path from symptoms and trouble codes to the most probably repair,” said John Stoeckinger, co-chairman and CEO of GlobalTechIQ. “It brings together information that technicians would otherwise have to locate and evaluate across multiple sources. That means less nonproductive diagnostic time, greater consistency across the shop, and more vehicles repaired correctly and efficiently.”

The month closed with a merger, as Masterack and Reading Truck joined forces. Together, the combined organization creates one of the industry's broadest commercial vehicle upfit portfolios. "By combining our complementary capabilities, nationwide footprint and deep product expertise, we're creating an organization that delivers more value to our customers through broader solutions, greater accessibility and a better overall experience," said Norb Markert, interim president of Reading Truck Equipment.