Trucking is an ever-changing industry. Nowhere is that more true than in California. Between the aggressive regulatory policies of the state’s Air Resources Board (CARB) and its diverse economic footprint, California trucking operators are consistently evolving and transforming their businesses to remain successful.
To excel trucking in the Golden State, carriers need to not only be business savvy but also informed.
That’s where Central Valley Trailer Repair (CVTR) comes in. As the state’s largest Great Dane dealer, CVTR has four decades of experience supporting truckers across the state. The company is more than just a trailer dealer.
Founder and President Mike Shuemake opened the business to be a service provider, to offer essential repair and parts support to a customer base thirsty for aid. The business has grown dramatically from those early days, adding product lines, services, new buildings and additional locations, but Shuemake says he’s never strayed from his original mission.
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CVTR strives to be every customers’ best business partner. The number customers can call at 2 a.m. “and we’ll pick up the phone,” Shuemake says. In such a challenging market, that level of customer service doesn’t go overlooked. Shuemake says he believes its why so many of those early customers he won in the 1980s still do business with CVTR today.
It also has helped CVTR to be named a finalist for the second annual Trailblazer Award, powered by Successful Dealer.
“The one thing we have always tried to do is make sure our customers know we’re here to help them grow their business,” Shuemake says. “We want to provide them the type of service they can rely on.”
Shuemake says one way CVTR strives to do that is through its product offerings. Shuemake partnered with Great Dane as the brand’s dealer for central and southern California in 2000 and he expanded his business to support the brand’s northern territory in 2008. CVTR is proud to support Great Dane. The OEM’s expansive product line ensures the dealership can meet any customer request for trailers, parts and service with a top-line brand well known and respected across the state.
“We do a lot of work selling our company as a whole. Not just trailers but everything we can offer and we think the brand we sell supports that,” says Chris Shuemake, Mike’s son and CVTR’s sales, rental and leasing director. “We can support customers on the warranty side, the service side. It doesn’t matter … . When you buy from us, you won’t never see us again. We will be here for anything you need.”
The company’s vast services back up that commitment. CVTR has stores in Fresno and Stockton, Calif., but also has dozen service trucks traversing the state to meet any customer need, Chris says. He says beyond trailer maintenance and repair, CVTR’s service department also does quite a bit of truck service — including some light engine work — transport refrigeration unit (TRUs) service and more.
“We do service for just about anything with wheels,” Chris says.
Additionally, in cases where a service event is expected to take some time, CVTR’s lease and rental fleet of more than 300 trailers ensures “we can get the customer into that equipment and back on the road to keep their business going,” Mike says.
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CVTR also stays active in California’s greater trucking industry. Mike has served in leadership roles within the California Trucking Association and National Trailer Dealers Association, and, more than 15 years ago actually served as a member of industry to provide input with CARB on its TRU rulemaking.
The engagement enables CVTR to maintain its position as a steady resource for customers.
CVTR supports its communities too. The Shuemakes have long been involved in the Fresno Transportation Club and the Central Valley Cycling Charitable Association (CVCCA), both of which work to raise funds for organizations in need across central California.
As for how the Shuemakes keep CVTR going, the duo are self-effacing.
“I don’t think we have a corporate culture so much as a family atmosphere — for our people and our customers,” says Mike. “More than 20% of our people have been here more than 20 years.”
The proof is in the promotions. Chris says the last two shop foreman to leave CVTR did so at retirement, and the two men in the roles now were promoted from within each location. Similar stories are found across the business, he says.
That familial focus and consistency has enabled CVTR to maintain customer relationships for decades.
Says Mike, “Most people I do business with, I consider them my friends. But my friendship is not built on my selling them something. Even if they wanted to do business with a competitor, I would still think of them as my friends.”
The Trailblazer Award was created last year recognize and honor North America’s trailer dealer community for their essential support of the transportation industry. The Trailblazer Award is graciously sponsored by Hendrickson and Procede Software. To learn more about the program, go the award page.
