Navistar opened a new Used Truck Center in Joliet, Ill. Previously located in Melrose Park, Ill., the new Chicago Used Truck Center location at 2691 Mound Road in Joliet is home to the Used Truck Center (UTC) sales facility, as well as a calibration engineering center and eight service bays.
Within the past few years, the used truck market has grown exponentially, with residual values rising to record levels and inventory dropping to extremely low levels. In 2021, the International Used Truck team sold all but 800 of the existing 6,000 used trucks in its inventory. International Used Truck Operations continues to buy and sell inventory to support the International UTC and dealer network, and new truck sales.
The 13,000-sq.-ft. facility is located near multiple interstates, allowing easy access for vehicles and customers. The construction of the Houbolt Truck Bridge and Road Extension project taking place in the vicinity of the Chicago UTC is expected to attract increased truck traffic, with nearly one-third of the country’s freight passing through the region every year.
“Our team did extensive research regarding a centralized and easily accessible location for the new UTC, and Joliet was the ideal option,” says Tony Stinsa, vice president, Used Truck. “Chicago metropolitan freight traffic is anticipated to double in the next 20 years, setting us up for a future of success in the area.”
The Chicago UTC has partnered with nearby International Truck dealer, Rush Truck Centers – Chicago, to provide maintenance services for the location’s eight new service bays. The dealer service technicians will contribute to reconditioning work and other service center needs.
The engineering calibration center at the Chicago UTC will test future product offerings, complete diagnostics testing, identify any potential risks and test the future products in the field. It also includes four drive-in test bays for stationary vehicle testing.
“The purpose for the calibration center is to see how our vehicles perform under various conditions and improve upon our engineering capabilities for future technologies,” says Steve Kadolph, engineering director, Powertrain.
The updated digital showroom will offer customers the option to browse inventory before visiting the used truck location. A specialized service bay at the Chicago UTC will be designated for customer deliveries, photo shoots and walkarounds to further enhance the digital showroom.
