Volvo Trucks North America dealer Vanguard Truck Centers has invested $23 million in a new facility, which is one of four locations in the Houston, Texas area, in addition to a full-service body shop, offering customers increased uptime, service and support.
Located on 23 acres on the north side of U.S. Highway 90 at 12935 Crosby Freeway, the 120,000-square-foot dealership features a spacious and well-staffed parts service counter, lobby, and showroom, including a 45,000-square-foot warehouse with a mezzanine level. The expanded infrastructure houses a regional call center with a citywide dispatch service for parts delivery across the greater Houston area. With over $8 million in parts inventory, orders are fulfilled through Volvo Trucks’ recently announced e-commerce platform PartsASIST to maximize uptime.
The facility has 44 service bays staffed by 42 technicians – 21 of whom are master technicians – and operates a 24/7 mobile service fleet. The service area includes a covered, four-lane drive-up for inclement weather. It is also equipped to service CNG vehicles and the new Volvo VNR Electric model. Additionally, the new Vanguard Truck Centers service shop is fully heated and air conditioned, with energy-efficient features for the comfort of employees and customers.
“Vanguard Truck Centers is a perfect representation of our dealer network’s exceptional dedication to its employees and customers,” said Peter Voorhoeve, president at Volvo Trucks North America. “The impressive new flagship facility supports Vanguard’s and Volvo Trucks’ market growth in the Houston area and surrounding region.”
For the 151 on-site employees at the new facility, locker rooms are spacious and well-equipped including showers, and there are multiple break rooms. A large employee training center includes a meeting area for internal and customer events, while a driver’s lounge features theater seating, work areas and complimentary Wi-Fi.
The majority of the 20 Vanguard Truck Centers spread across the U.S. are also Certified Uptime Dealers, including the new Houston facility. To earn certification, Volvo Trucks evaluates dealer service locations for 31 rigid process standards, all supporting maximized uptime. These standards range from expedited check-ins, streamlined communications, and separate bays for faster repairs.
“Our goal is to exceed customer expectations with our entire product and service offering,” said Tom Ewing, president and CEO at Vanguard Truck Centers. “As a leading Volvo Trucks dealer, our new location in Houston will demonstrate the standards of excellence that both Volvo Trucks and Vanguard Truck Centers are known for.”
Vanguard Truck Centers plans to host an open house for the new location when COVID-19 safety protocols allow. Hours of operation for the facility are Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 12 a.m. CT and Saturday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. CT. The site provides expansive parking areas, allowing convenient access for customers and employees.
For more information, please visit the Vanguard Truck Centers website.
