Contact: nicholas.smith@daimler.com

HIGH POINT, N.C. – March 3, 2016 – Thomas Built Buses, a leading U.S. manufacturer of school buses, announced today that Transportation South in Pelham, Ala., is the latest Platinum Support certified dealer.

Platinum Support, a collaborative effort between Thomas Built Buses and its dealers, is focused on improving the customer experience. Platinum Support dealers and their highly trained staff provide rapid diagnosis, responsive turnaround and quality, consistent communication, robust parts availability and superb customer service.

Platinum Support certified dealers undergo a rigorous training where they learn to eliminate all areas of waste from day-to-day business practices by reducing vehicle downtime and lowering vehicle life cycle costs to the customer.

“Transportation South has been one of our top dealers for years, so this Platinum Support certification fits them nicely,” said Paul Start, market growth development manager, Thomas Built Buses. “As industry leaders, we thrive in a culture of continuous improvement, so we’re proud to recognize partners like Transportation South which continually go above and beyond to meet customer needs.”

As a full-service dealer, Transportation South offers school, commercial and activity buses, along with superior service and parts selection.  They will join other Platinum Support certified locations including Carolina Thomas of Greensboro, N.C., the Sonny Merryman dealership of Evington, Va., and Autobus Thomas in Drummondville, Quebec.

“We are pleased to partner with Thomas Built Buses as part of the Platinum Support program,” said Bucky Law, president and owner of Transportation South. “Platinum Support is not just an award to put on the wall, but is most certainly a culture in itself. It means we have processes in place to better meet our customers’ needs.  It’s really a win-win. We have become even more efficient and our customers reap the rewards.” 

“While we have prided ourselves on maintaining an appearance both personally and with our facilities that sets us apart from our competition, this process has proven to us that it’s much more,” Law continues.  “At the end of the day, from the moment a customer or potential customer walks in our front door, until that time when they’re ready for their next vehicle, we want it to be a simple decision as to whom they buy from.  Platinum support certification has made that possible for us.”

For more information about the Platinum Support program, customers may contact their local Thomas Built Buses dealer. 

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.