Kenworth Opens Its Largest Dealership in America

Mon November 05, 2007
Truck and Trailer Guide

Kenworth Sales Company’s new $13 million, 122,000 sq.-ft. (11,341 sq m) flagship location represents a “far cry” from the small three-person, family-run shop that the truck dealer’s founders opened 62 years ago.

“Our founders would not recognize this company today,” said Kyle Treadway, Kenworth Sales Company president and grandson of founders W. Jay and Veda Treadway.

“My grandfather’s office was the trunk of his car as he traveled the mountain west selling trucks. Dad [Gene Treadway] was only 17 years old; his job was to sell parts, while my grandmother ran the office, paying all the bills at the end of the day,” Treadway recalled during the recent grand opening celebration of Kenworth Sales Company — Salt Lake City.

The celebration marked the opening of Kenworth’s largest dealership location in North America, involving one of Kenworth’s oldest dealers. The facility is located at 2125 S. Constitution Blvd., in West Valley City, Utah.

he special ribbon-cutting ceremony featured four generations of the Treadway family.

A member of the Kenworth dealer network of nearly 300 locations in the United States and Canada, Kenworth Sales Company’s new full-service facility offers an indoor showroom where customers can view Kenworth models in comfort. There are 55 service bays with eight bays dedicated to preventive and express maintenance services, including Kenworth PremierCare ExpressLube. Six 5-ton (4.5 t) bridge cranes, full-length service pits, and gear rebuilding capabilities make it easier for technicians to service trucks quickly and efficiently.

Kenworth Sales Company — Salt Lake City includes a spacious body shop with a paint booth, plus an indoor truck wash and a fuel island. A driver’s lounge provides wireless Internet access, washer and dryer facilities, vending machines, and work space for drivers.

The facility is three times larger than the dealer’s former main facility and is on 28 acres at the intersection of I-215 and State Route 201, about 7 mi. southwest of downtown Salt Lake City.

“This new facility is in a unique location as we’re at the crossroads of the west here in Salt Lake City. We serve those traveling the heartland to the coast and those traveling from California and beyond,” said Treadway.

“The size of our new facility will enable us to display a wide selection of Kenworth’s newest models, including the Kenworth T660, which is generating a lot of interest and capturing the attention of our customers, particularly general freight haulers,” added Treadway.

“We also anticipate a lot of interest from municipalities in the Kenworth T370 hybrid model and we have plenty of room to keep a wide selection of Kenworth’s other, new medium duty trucks.”

Kenworth recently introduced the T370 Class 7, T270 Class 6 and T170 Class 5 conventional models, and the K360 Class 7 and K260 Class 6 cabover models.

According to Treadway, Kenworth Sales Company also plans to offer a wide selection of both the Kenworth T800, its best-selling model for customers in construction, mining, agriculture, long haul, parts and delivery, and logging; and of the Kenworth W900, a best-seller for fleets and owner-operators looking for a truck with a high profile appearance.

For more information, call 801/487-4161 or 800/222-7831 or visit www.kenworth.com.