Accuride Wheels Named Thomas Built’s Supplier of the Year

High Point, N.C. – Oct. 17 – Thomas Built Buses recognized its best suppliers and presented the company’s Supplier of the Year award at an annual two-day supplier event focused on quality manufacturing and building the best buses possible.

Thomas Built Buses president and CEO Kelley Platt presented the 2012 Supplier of the Year award to Danny Bullock (quality director), Dan DeBord (director of sales) and Mike Brothers (eastern region director of sales), of Accuride Wheels, Evansville, Ind. Accuride Wheels, which has been a Thomas Built supplier for more than a decade, manufactures steel and forged aluminum wheels for heavy- and medium-duty trucks and commercial trailers, and for buses. Each supplier is rated on engineering, quality, logistics, warranty and purchasing. Accuride Wheels was recognized for the best cross-functional performance.

Bergaflex, Holly, Mich., a global provider of hose and tube assemblies, was named Most Improved Supplier. Numerous Gold and Silver awards were announced, as well.

Platt said, “This event offers an opportunity to express our appreciation for the invaluable contributions of our suppliers, as well as a forum for discussing the challenges we face together in the coming year. Fostering an open dialog at events like this helps us to provide the best quality product and deliver maximum value for our customers as well as ensure our mutual success.”

More than 200 representatives of Thomas Built’s 100 largest suppliers attended the annual supplier event held at the Embassy Suites in Greensboro, N.C., September 18-19, 2012.

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 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.