International Truck has named WATERS Group as the 2022 North American Truck Dealer of the Year.
International says the award recognizes the top International Truck dealer for their commitment to provide industry-leading uptime and unparalleled performance in annual sales, service and customer satisfaction. Dealer Principal David Waters and his son, Vaughan Waters, were in attendance to accept the award.
“WATERS Group has a customer-first mindset that Navistar values in our dealers and they have forged phenomenal relationships with local fleets, resulting in notable sales numbers,” says Jeff Felix, group vice president, Dealer Sales and Operations. “Because of their rich legacy, community involvement and family-oriented business model, we are proud to have them as one of the many successful dealerships in our vast dealer network.”
WATERS Group is a Mississippi-based International truck and IC Bus dealer group and currently operates six locations and employs more than 300 people. The Waters family acquired the International franchise in 1938 when Ray Waters Sr. founded the company in Columbus, Miss. Now 85 years later, the company is managed by the third and fourth generation family members: Mike, ML, and David Waters and their sons Michael, Josh, and Vaughan Waters, respectively.
“A core goal of our company and a stated WATERS Family Value is to achieve B.O.B. Excellence (Best of the Best) in all we do,” says David Waters. “This is a goal we set for each and every team member throughout our company. This was a tremendous team effort by all our employees and vendor partners that has allowed the WATERS Group to be recognized. Most importantly, we appreciate our customers having faith and trust in us to serve their transportation needs.”
In 2022, WATERS Group delivered more than 500 units to customers, sold nearly $21 million in parts, and all dealer locations received Prestige Standards certification for customer service. Navistar says three WATERS Group sales employees received the Champions Club recognition for Top Delivered Truck Units (DTU) numbers and the Customer Advocate award. In 2019, WATERS Group was also named a top three performing dealer group by International Truck.
“Our team works diligently to go above and beyond for our customers as we instill a ‘customer first’ philosophy in all do,” says David Waters. “Our business model is simple: happy customers plus happy employees equals a successful business.”
In addition to Dealer of the Year, International Truck also has recognized several dealerships with high vehicle and parts sales numbers, repair velocity and Prestige Standards customer service.
The company says its 2022 Presidential Award winners are:
- Beauce/Amiante Group
- Cornhusker International Trucks
- Cumberland International
- Diamond Group
- Gibbs Truck Centers
- Maxim Transportation Services, Inc.
- Nelson Leasing, Inc.
- Rechtien Group
- Reseau Dynamique
- Selking International
- Waters Group
- West Michigan International, LLC
- Wieland Sales, Inc.
- Winslow Gerolamy Motors
