Contact:  tracy.darchini@daimler.com

High Point, N.C. – April 28, 2014 – Thomas Built Buses recognized is top dealers for 2013 at the annual dealer meeting held in Nashville, Tenn. on April 14, 2014. The 2013 Dealer of the Year award was presented to Sonny Merryman, Inc. of Evington, Va., a full-service dealer offering sales, parts, and vehicle service.  Sonny Merryman is now a record holding five-time Thomas Built Buses Dealer of the Year.

“At Thomas Built Buses, we believe in continuous improvement and innovation, two quality standards that Thomas Built employees and our dealers strive for every day,” said Kelley Platt, president and CEO of Thomas Built Buses.  “This year, we raised the standards for our dealers and Sonny Merryman met that challenge, exemplifying continuous improvement and innovation exhibited through its commitment to customer satisfaction, exemplary training and strategic planning for the future. We are proud of its success in 2013 and we are pleased it is part of the Thomas Built family.”

At the event, President’s Club and President’s Club Platinum awards for dealership excellence also were presented to select dealers in recognition of achieving key performance indicators.  A dealer must reach the President’s Club Platinum level to qualify as the Dealer of the Year for its region.  Other winners included:

Regional Winners

Midwest Region:  Kerlin Bus Sales & Leasing, Inc., Silver Lake, Ind.

Northeast Region:  W.C. Cressey & Son, Inc., Kennebunk, Maine

Southeast Region: Sonny Merryman, Inc., Evington, Va.

Western Region: The Bus Centre, Acheson, Alberta

Presidents Club Platinum

American Bus Sales & Service, Inc., Annapolis, Md.

Bus West, Carson, Calif.

Carolina Thomas, LLC., Greensboro, N.C.

Interstate Transportation Equipment, Inc., Hopkins, S.C.

Kerlin Bus Sales & Leasing, Inc., Silver Lake, Ind.

Matthews Bus, Inc. Florida, Orlando, Fla.

Mid-South Bus Center, Inc., Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Nelson’s Bus Service, Inc., Whitewater, Wis.

Sonny Merryman, Inc., Evington, Va.

The Bus Centre, Acheson, Alberta

Transportation South, Inc., Pelham, Ala.

W.C. Cressey & Son, Inc., Kennebunk, Maine

Presidents Club

Autobus Thomas, Inc., Drummondville, Quebec

Lewis Bus Group, Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah

Matheny Motor Truck Company, Parkersburg, W. Va.

Midwest Bus Sales, Inc. KS/MO, Bonner Springs, Kan.

Nesco Bus & Truck Sales, Inc., Bay Shore, N.Y.

Omaha Truck Center, Inc., Omaha, Neb.

Rohrer Bus Sales, Duncannon, Pa.

Thomas Bus Gulf Coast GP, Inc., Houston, Texas

About Thomas Built Buses

Founded in 1916, Thomas Built Buses is a leading manufacturer of school buses in North America. Since the first Thomas Built bus rolled off the assembly line, the company has been committed to delivering the smartest and most innovative buses in North America. Learn more at www.thomasbus.com or at http://www.facebook.com/thomasbuiltbuses.

Thomas Built Buses, Inc., headquartered in High Point, N.C., is a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, the largest heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America and a leading manufacturer of class 4-8 vehicles. Daimler Trucks North America produces and markets commercial vehicles under the Freightliner, Western Star and Thomas Built Buses nameplates. Daimler Trucks North America is a Daimler company.