The West Coast-based commercial truck tire dealer network formed earlier this year by Tire Factory LLC and the Independent Tire Dealers Group LLC (ITDG) is off to a hot start, Tire Factory officials told dealers this past weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah.
"We've done a good job of launching the program," said Anthony Showen, Tire Factory director of business development. "Our medium truck tire sales are doing very well."
The network operates under the umbrella of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.'s fleetHQ national account program. However, it is open to dealers who currently do not sell Goodyear truck tires.
"If you want to sign up and do what's necessary and take on the line, and there is no significant conflict in your trading area, we would absolutely like (dealers) to consider" enrolling in the network, ITDG CEO and President Mike Cox told www.moderntiredealer earlier this summer.
Portland, Ore.-based Tire Factory has approximately 185 dealer-members throughout the western U.S. About 70 of them sell medium truck tires.
ITDG has 115 members representing more than 300 locations, most of them also in the western U.S. About 40% of ITDG's members sell truck tires.
Larry Orr, Tire Factory's commercial business manager, is spearheading the new program. Showen says Tire Factory and ITDG hope to have 100 locations in network by the end of 2009.
Tire Factory members were in Salt Lake City this past weekend to attend the grand opening of the program group's new distribution center.
