Penske Truck Leasing today announced it has recently completed the acquisitions of Star Truck Rentals, Inc., a transportation services company offering full-service leasing, commercial truck rental, contract maintenance, used truck sales and additional services and Kris-Way Truck Leasing, Inc., a transportation services company offering full-service leasing, commercial truck rental, contract maintenance and dedicated contract carriage.
The acquisition of Star Truck Rentals, Inc. increases Penske’s existing fleet by approximately 1,900 vehicles and adds 18 locations throughout Michigan and Indiana. The acquisition of Kris-Way Truck Leasing, Inc. increases Penske’s existing fleet by approximately 900 vehicles and adds seven locations throughout Maine and New Hampshire. Penske is now integrating the facilities, staff, vehicles and processes of both companies into its existing network
The U.S. Department of Defense has formally recognized Penske Truck Leasing for its military-friendly policies. The company is a recipient of the Above and Beyond Award recently given by the Pennsylvania Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). The honor is provided to companies “for outstanding service and continuing support to the national defense.”
The company was nominated by Brian Southmayd, a Penske facility project manager based in Irving, Texas. As part of his work at Penske, he is tasked with oversight of Penske Truck Leasing new builds and facility renovations.
A Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy, Southmayd is a 15-year reservist. In this role, he plans and oversees the execution of his unit’s construction operations.
Not only is his unit called into duty to provide repairs and improvements at military installations domestically, Southmayd has also worked on humanitarian projects, like building affordable housing for veterans on Native American reservations.
At times, depending on military need, he is also temporarily called into active duty. This has brought him to ports in Europe and places like Afghanistan, Kuwait and the African nation of Djibouti.
“My bosses are supportive of my work as a reservist and they encourage my service,” stated Southmayd. “Working for an organization who is truly supportive of their employee’s service to the nation is unique. That sense of support and trust is recognized by the individual and family as well.”
Accepting the award was Sean Yentsch, vice president of facilities for Penske Transportation Solutions.
“I am proud to work for a company that supports veterans,” Yentsch stated. “Serving in the military as a reservist while juggling a career and family can be a challenge. Brian always manages to excel as a facility project manager. He is the consummate professional both in and out of work.”
Approximately 9% of Penske's annual new hires are veterans and the company has been routinely recognized as a top military-friendly employer. The organization offers a wide range of career opportunities including truck fleet maintenance technicians, truck drivers, fleet supervisors, operations management, logistics and supply chain operations, leadership positions and many others. Visit Penske’s careers site for more job opportunities for veterans.
By “Move Ahead” Staff
Penske Transportation Solutions furthered its ongoing commitment to veteran hiring across its truck rental, truck leasing and logistics businesses by signing a strategic commitment with the U.S. Army Partnership for Your Success (PaYS) program.
“We’re honored to begin this important, new relationship with the U.S. Army’s PaYS program,” said Ron Schwartz, vice president of staffing at Penske Transportation Solutions. “We truly value the service of our armed forces and the incredible diversity, work ethic and contributions they bring to our workforce.”
The PaYS Program is a strategic partnership between the Army and a cross-section of private industry, academia and state and local public institutes. The U.S. Army PaYS Program guarantees soldiers five job interviews and possible employment after their service in the Army.
“Joining forces with Penske has allowed us to amplify our impact and create even more opportunities for our veterans to thrive in the civilian world,” stated LTC Jesse Ceja, battalion commander of the Dallas Fort-Worth Recruiting Battalion station. “We are proud to work with Penske in bridging the gap between military services and civilian careers, which will ensure a brighter future for those who have greatly served our nation.”
The PaYS program is designed to help soldiers prepare for a career after the Army by connecting them with employers who understand the skills, discipline, and work ethic that military service members bring to a business.
This program is part of a long-term U.S. Army effort to help soldiers forge professional relationships with businesses and encourage business owners to look to the Army as a plentiful and reliable recruiting source. Since PaYS began in 2000, more than 1,000 employers have partnered with the program.
Approximately 9% of Penske's annual new hires are veterans and the company has been routinely recognized as a top military-friendly employer. The organization offers a wide range of career opportunities including truck fleet maintenance technicians, truck drivers, fleet supervisors, operations management, logistics and supply chain operations, leadership positions and many others. Visit Penske’s careers site for more job opportunities for veterans.
By “Move Ahead” Staff
Penske Truck Leasing has recently opened a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility in Channahon, Illinois. Located at 23400 S Frontage Road W it is conveniently located near Interstate 55 and Route 6 in the West Chicago-area.
At this location, Penske offers consumer and commercial truck rental, full-service truck leasing and contract truck fleet maintenance. It is also outfitted with the company's proprietary fully digital and voice-directed preventive maintenance process and Penske digital experience solutions, which help customers leverage Penske technology as well as options related to onboard technology systems (ELDs, telematics, onboard cameras, etc.).
“With the opening of this state-of-the-art facility, Penske demonstrates its commitment to investing in the local community, associates, and valued customers,” said Mark Gerber, the North Central area vice president for Penske Truck Leasing. “This spacious and innovative environment enhances our ability to serve customers and employees effectively while accommodating our growing customer base, all while maintaining service excellence and maximizing fleet uptime.”
The location is 22,752-square-feet and sits on 13.4 acres. It features five drive-thru bays with 10 service areas, plus an automated wash bay, and a full-service fuel island.
Penske currently employs over 30 associates at the new facility, and is hiring truck technicians, customer service representatives, and drivers locally and nationwide. For a list of open positions in the Channahon area and at other Penske locations across North America visit gopenske.com/careers for more information.
Penske Truck Leasing customer Balford Farms, a food distribution services and dairy products company headquartered in Burlington, New Jersey, is adding the first-ever electric truck to its fleet. The Orange EV yard tractor will support the company's warehouse and distribution center, which operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It will reduce Balford's carbon footprint by over 15 tons annually.
Balford’s environmental sustainability journey started over a decade ago with the installation of solar panels at their Burlington warehouse and distribution center.
“We’re thrilled about this opportunity to bring innovation into our truck fleet and expand upon our recent sustainability commitments and successes,” said Larry Walker, CEO of Balford Farms. “This new electric truck exemplifies our ongoing promise towards being an environmentally responsible leader in the food distribution industry while delivering efficiency and safety to our workplace, and the very best service to our customers.”
Balford specializes in providing warehousing and distribution services to quick service restaurant chains. Balford also markets and distributes their own Rosenberger’s dairy brand to customers throughout the Northeast U.S.
By “Move Ahead” Staff
READING, Pa., October 30, 2023 – Penske Truck Leasing customer Balford Farms, a food distribution services and dairy products company headquartered in Burlington, New Jersey, is adding the first-ever electric truck to its fleet. The Orange EV yard tractor will support the company's warehouse and distribution center, which operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It will reduce Balford's carbon footprint by over 15 tons annually.
Balford’s environmental sustainability journey started over a decade ago with the installation of solar panels at their Burlington warehouse and distribution center.
“We’re thrilled about this opportunity to bring innovation into our truck fleet and expand upon our recent sustainability commitments and successes,” said Larry Walker, CEO of Balford Farms. “This new electric truck exemplifies our ongoing promise towards being an environmentally responsible leader in the food distribution industry while delivering efficiency and safety to our workplace, and the very best service to our customers.”
Balford specializes in providing warehousing and distribution services to quick service restaurant chains. Balford also markets and distributes their own Rosenberger’s dairy brand to customers throughout the Northeast U.S.
Penske Truck Leasing has earned placement on the VIQTORY 2024 Top Military-Friendly Employers list, in the over $5 billion category. VIQTORY is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business that produces publications like Military Spouse and G.I. Jobs magazines.
Institutions earning the Military-Friendly Employer designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. In excess of 1,200 companies participated in the survey.
Methodology, criteria, and weightings were determined by VIQTORY with input from the Military-Friendly Advisory Council of independent leaders in the military recruitment community.
Final ratings were determined by combining an organization’s survey score with an assessment of the organization’s ability to meet thresholds for recruitment, new hire retention, employee turnover, and promotion & advancement of veterans and military employees.
Jennifer Sockel, executive vice president of talent and enterprises services at Penske remarked: “We are very pleased to consistently rank among the top military-friendly organizations. Our company continues to place a high value on hiring and retaining the talented men and women who have proudly served our country.”
By “Move Ahead” Staff
Leases and rentals give fleets flexibility to adjust the number of vehicles they need without making long-term, up-front capital commitments, and there are similarities between the two. Both provide capacity without significant capital investments and give fleet operators flexibility in the number of vehicles they keep.
However, there are also differences that companies need to keep in mind when determining the best solution for their needs.
Fleets use a variety of acquisition strategies for equipment. The National Private Truck Council’s 2023 Benchmarking Survey found that 30% of the fleets taking part in the survey leased all or most of their heavy-duty units, and another 30% used a combination of ownership and leasing acquisition strategies. Additionally, 29% of respondents operating heavy-duty equipment said they had turned to the rental market in the past year.
Advantages of leases and rentals include:
Lower Initial Investments: Commercial vehicles are costly, and leases and rentals allow fleets to increase their capacity without a significant capital investment.
No Hidden Costs: Besides the hard costs associated with purchasing assets, there can also be hidden costs, such as taxes and licensing. With leases and rentals, those costs are included, making it easier to budget.
Late-Model Equipment: Rentals and leases allow fleets to obtain late-model equipment, giving them access to the latest technology, safety and driver-comfort features.
Robust, Included Maintenance: Maintenance is a critical aspect of increasing uptime and operating a safe fleet. Penske’s rentals and leases include maintenance and repairs and wear-and-tear items such as tires. Penske offers a nationwide network of service locations to meet preventive maintenance and over-the-road repair needs. Because maintenance costs are included, fleets can avoid unexpected repair costs.
24/7 Support and Replacement Vehicles: If a problem does occur with either a lease or rental, roadside support is available around the clock. If needed, Penske can provide a replacement unit to keep freight moving.
Technology Support: Rental and lease customers gain access to Fleet Insight™, which is available on desktop and mobile. Through Fleet Insight, fleets can customize reporting, manage maintenance repairs, access billing and invoicing, and analyze reporting and data trends.
Rental customers can also use it to view and edit reservations.
When choosing between a lease or a rental to add capacity, there are important factors to consider. These include:
Duration of Need: The length of time equipment is needed can determine whether a rental or leased truck is the best approach. Rental trucks can be rented daily, weekly or monthly, so they are ideal for short-term surges and seasonal demand. Lease periods tend to be longer, making them a good choice for longer-term, consistent and ongoing operations.
Flexibility Requirements: Penske offers flexible reservation and cancellation policies on rentals, giving fleets more flexibility if their needs change. Customers can also take advantage of rent-to-lease conversions if they determine a longer-term commitment is needed.
Growth Expectations: A business’s growth plans can help determine what type of additional capacity is needed. If the company anticipates expanding its fleet to meet consistent, longer-term needs, leasing can provide a more structured and scalable approach. If growth is uncertain, a rental that can be transitioned to a lease could be a better option.
Finances: Finances are always an essential consideration in any business decision. Leases can provide savings over rentals. Fleets interested in transitioning to leasing from ownership can utilize Penske’s Sell2Lease program. Penske will buy customers’ used trucks, regardless of the fleet’s age or condition, with a fair and competitive offer.
Penske offers a wide range of equipment available to lease or rent, including Class 8 day-cab and sleeper tractors, dry-van, pup and flatbed trailers, refrigerator trucks and trailers, high-roof cargo vans, straight trucks with liftgates and more. Customers can also choose alternative fuel options, including electric and natural gas vehicles.
Reading, Pa., March 12, 2024– Penske Truck Leasing has recently opened a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility in the southwest region of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Located at 1150 60th Street SW, Byron Center, Michigan – it is conveniently located near US-131.
At this location, Penske offers consumer and commercial truck rental, full-service truck leasing and contract truck fleet maintenance. It is also outfitted with the company's proprietary fully digital and voice-directed preventive maintenance process and Penske digital experience solutions, which help customers leverage Penske technology as well as options related to onboard technology systems (ELDs, telematics, onboard cameras, etc.).
“This new, state-of-the-art facility will allow us to support a growing customer base and expand the district’s footprint,” said Mike Pritchard, senior vice president of the North Central region at Penske Truck Leasing. “Not only does it exceed expectation in size – it is also outfitted with innovative technology to keep pace with the growth and current demand of the transportation industry.”
The location is 22,898-square-feet and sits on 14.1 acres. It features five drive-thru bays with 10 service areas, an automated wash bay, and a full-service fuel island.
Penske currently employs over 40 associates at the new facility and is hiring locally and nationwide. For a list of open positions in the Grand Rapids area and at other Penske locations across North America visit gopenske.com/careers for more information.
By: "Move Ahead" Staff
For the tenth straight year, Penske Truck Leasing will be participating in the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) to be held in Atlanta, GA, on June 24 through June 28.
SkillsUSA is a national organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations. As part of the national conference, more than 5,000 students who were state champions participate in hands-on competitions in more than 100 trade, technical and leadership fields.
Penske will be connecting with aspiring technicians at the Conference to reinforce the importance of their work to the industry and to promote career opportunities that are available with the company. This year will mark Penske’s third consecutive year as an official sponsor. Leading up to the national conference in June, SkillsUSA is running state-level competitions through the month of April that will determine which students will move on to compete in Atlanta this summer.
Last year, only five states participated in Penske-affiliated contests. The interest has grown since. “We’ve expanded our footprint from five states we were involved in last year to twenty this year,” said Greg Klever, Manager of Technical Schools and Partnership Programs. Of the twenty participating states, only Ohio’s competition will be completely run by Penske. “What that means for the Ohio competition is that we’re in charge of all the coordination, like figuring out which industry partners will run which stations,” said Klever. “In the other nineteen states, there’s an industry partner who will help coordinate the competitions and ask [Penske] if we’re available to run any of the stations in those states.” According to Klever, anywhere from eight to ninety students will participate in each state competition.
The competitions themselves are wide-ranging and technical. "Penske has fourteen disciplines that students are tested on ranging from electrical systems and transmissions, to hydraulics, vehicle inspections and precision measurements,” said Klever. “We’re doing a lot of DOT [Department of Transportation] stations this year. The stations vary from state to state dependent on which partner programs are available to assist. From there, those partners make up the tests, the scoring, the judging and whatever else is needed.”
Andy Boff, Director of Maintenance Initiatives for Penske, is also based in Ohio and believes in the importance of building strong relationships with partner programs. “These partnerships are so crucial because they show that the skilled trades are alive and well, and there’s a lot of opportunities for students to grow, for students to be excited about what their future can look like in a skilled trade. From the industry side, it allows us to really engage and get a lot of good feedback from the students on what they’re looking for from employers and what they’re expecting out of a career on the other side of it as well.”
Penske will be running the Ohio competition for the second straight year. “Last year was the first year we were heavily involved in the judging, and we had nineteen students who took part in the competition for the state of Ohio,” said Boff. “This year there are thirty-nine, so it’s doubled in size. We’ve had meetings with instructors from across the state to drive more engagement, help with that partnership between industry and school, and drive some more excitement around what from an industry standpoint we can help and support.” Boff thinks that excitement about skilled trades has only grown since 2023. “I think [that interest] has really helped us grow the diesel competition for the state of Ohio.”
Boff believes that an event like SkillsUSA provides young, aspiring technicians who are looking to break into the industry insight into what a career in the field can look like. “It gives them a lot of great face-to-face exposure to industry partners that can help drive their career and help them grow in the future. It just creates that enthusiasm and buzz between student and industry.”
For information on diesel technician job openings and other career opportunities with Penske, visit https://penske.jobs/.
By: "Move Ahead" Staff
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