SEMA: TravelCenters of America launches 'biggest' commercial dealership

LAS VEGAS (Nov. 3, 2016) — Nationwide truck stop chain TravelCenters of America L.L.C. (TA) has created what it's calling the largest independent commercial tire dealership in the U.S. with the rollout of the TA Truck Service Commercial Tire Network.

Barry Richards, TA's executive vice president, made the announcement Nov. 2 at the Las Vegas Country Club outside the SEMA Show complex, noting the network's formation allows the company to continue to meet increased customer demand for flexible, efficient sourcing of commercial truck tires.

The Westlake, Ohio-based company, which has been in business since 1972, operates 243 truck service locations in 43 states and Canada, principally under the TA and Petro Stopping Centers brands. Those facilities include about 1,079 repair bays, nearly 3,000 technicians and a fleet of more than 1,600 of its RoadSquad Connect emergency roadside assistance vehicles, along with a growing fleet of OnSITE mobile maintenance vehicles.

By comparison, Columbia, Miss.-based Southern Tire Mart L.L.C. ranks as the largest commercial tire dealership in the U.S. and Canada, with $805 million in annual commercial sales through its 75 outlets, according to Tire Business' 2016 commercial tire report.

TA president and CEO Tom O'Brien said the chain has "significantly expanded the ways in which we may sell tires, and the tires that we may sell to our customers.

"In addition to our traditional retail and 'national account' offering, we have already added tire brands, including Cooper Tire, Roadmaster, Goodyear, Marathon and Kelly, and expect to add others soon."

Those will include BFGoodrich, Pirelli and Formula by Pirelli truck tires in the eastern U.S. and Texas, joining the Yokohama- and Continental-brand truck tires the company also already offers.

Mr. Richards said TA's largest partner is Goodyear, and the truck stop chain's expanded network will include the Akron-based tire maker's retread tire program — "and local brand retreads at competitive prices."

TA also said it has expanded its array of tire brands available through both RoadSquad and OnSITE.

Mr. O'Brien's statement added that many of the tires in TA's line up "will now also be available for pick-up by customers, delivery at customer locations and through direct sales.

"We believe that the TA Truck Service Commercial Tire Network is the largest independent commercial tire dealer in the U.S., and that we have assembled a leadership and dedicated sales team to bring the combination of wide product choice, flexible delivery/install capability, and competitive pricing to our customers that may be unparalleled in the commercial tire business."