Nelson’s Bus Service Named Dealer of the Year

High Point, N.C. – Thomas Built Buses president and CEO Kelley Platt presented the company’s 2010 Dealer of the Year award to Nelson’s Bus Service, Inc. at the annual Thomas dealers meeting on October 4.

In announcing the award, Platt said, “The hallmark of this year’s dealer of the year is an organization so dedicated to customer service, that they’ve woven it into their name. Nelson’s Bus Service, Thomas Built’s 2010 dealer of the year, ensures that their customers see the value of the entire relationship and provides them with a superb service strategy to ensure support long after the sale.”

Nelson’s Bus Service is a 70-year old school bus contractor, dealer and repair company based in Whitewater, Wis. Service has been a Nelson company tradition since 1940, when the founder, W.C. Nelson repaired his first school bus. Over the years, Nelson’s has grown into one of the leading school bus dealers and contractors in the Mid-West. Nelson’s currently operates a facility of just over 21,000 square feet on five acres of land in Whitewater and will open a new 15,000 square foot facility on 19 acres in McFarland, Wis. Nelson’s has been a Thomas dealer since 1974.

Chris Arnett and Dave Nelson, co-owners of Nelson’s Bus Service, accepted the award on behalf of the company. A surprised and humble Arnett said, “I’m proud of the exceptional team effort demonstrated by every member of the Nelson’s organization that made achieving this award possible. The dealer of the year designation is earned by the work we do every day and is a direct reflection of the confidence and continued partnership that our customers bestow upon us.”

The Dealer of the Year award, which is selected from four regional winners, is presented annually to Thomas dealers who demonstrate outstanding performance in customer satisfaction, customer service and support, financial performance and overall relationship with Thomas Built Buses.

Honored as regional dealers of the year, in addition to Nelson’s, were:

• NESCO Thomas Bus Sales of New York, Bay Shore, N.Y. (eastern region)
• Whayne Supply Company, Louisville, Ky. (southeast region)    
• I State Truck Center, Inc., Billings, Mont. (western region)

At the same event, gold, silver and bronze awards for dealership excellence were presented to selected dealers in recognition of outstanding performance in service, parts support and bus sales.

Thomas Built Buses (www.thomasbus.com) is the leading manufacturer of school buses in North America, with more than one-third of the market. Since the first Thomas Built bus rolled off the assembly line in 1936, the company has been committed to delivering the smartest and most innovative buses in North America.

Thomas Built Buses, Inc. 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.