Truck Topics
Churney's Truck Center
Since its founding in 1983,Churney's Truck Center of Cleveland, Ohio has been a full-service dealership offering Class 8 On-Highway truck sales along with a body shop for collision repair, front end alignment and full air conditioning/refrigeration service.
The dealership has earned a stellar reputation and a loyal customer base among truck buyers in Northern Ohio during the last two decades, but what is not as widely known is the company's commitment to serving the expedited truck market.
President Mike Churney and brother Dan Churney, Vice President, started in the family business at the ripe age of 13 years old by sweeping floors in a friend's body shop and learning the business, pardon the pun, from the ground up.
The brothers began building expedited trucks in 1998 - their first build, a UD Nissan cabover. Since that time, Churney's has grown into a major player in this niche, in both sales and service.
Says Mike Churney, "We're not just a dealership, we're a body company as well, so we can do the whole project here if necessary. We always do the final assembly at Churney's - toolboxes, bumpers and so on. That way, the customer can deal primarily with us and that makes for true one-stop shopping."
"We custom build our expedited trucks per the customers' desires but we have ready-to-run trucks in stock. We have an inventory of 10-15 new trucks available that are ready to build. We use components from all the major sleeper manufacturers - with sizes from 96" to 120" available. The cargo boxes are the product of a Cleveland-based manufacturer - ABC Box Company."
Churney's Truck Center also offers a fresh alternative to the typical expediter truck nameplate choices by offering a brand that is making inroads into the fast freight industry - The Hino "a Toyota Group Company".
The Hino "a Toyota Group Company" nameplate has been the leading producer of medium and heavy-duty diesel trucks in Japan for the last 30+ years. In the U.S., it is best-known for its medium-duty cabover trucks sold here since 1984. In 2004, the COE's were replaced by six new models in Classes 4 through 7, all with conventional cabs. Toyota holds a controlling interest in Hino.
North American made
The Hino's engine and cab are constructed and crated in Japan and then shipped to the U.S. where they are assembled at a Hino "a Toyota Group Company" facility in Long Beach, CA. The chassis and other essentials are manufactured in America, with steering columns from TRW, transmissions from Allison and Eaton, drivetrains from Dana and suspension by Hendrickson. Even the hoods are manufactured in Indiana.
"Except for the Toyota-built engine, everything else on the truck is American-made. That means it's very easy to find parts and there are over 22,000 service centers nationwide."
Some spec's
Churney offers two Hino models specifically for the expedited market, the Hino Model 268, a 26,000 GVW truck and the Hino Model 338,a 33,000 GVW unit that sits on a 271" wheelbase. The 338 is powered by a Hino 8 liter, 6-cylinder, 4-valve diesel that makes 260 hp @ 2500 rpm, and 585 lb-ft of torque @ 1500 rpm. The truck features an Allison 3000RDS 5-speed automatic transmission.
The Model 338 comes fully-equipped with air conditioning, cruise control, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, electric windows, AM/FM CD player, air-suspension seat, a 3-piece front bumper, dual 52-gallon fuel tanks and a chrome grille. Also available is an in-dash GPS unit with DVD as well as complete side and backup camera systems.
Mike Churney says that the Hino's design features make for a very driver-friendly truck: "The 338 has the tighest turning radius in the industry. It's just shy of the wheel cut of a cabover. The cab, in addition to being very well insulated from road and traffic noise, is very roomy. In fact, a 6'8" driver can sit behind the wheel and still have headroom."
Churney says that the Hino difference is embodied in the details: "This truck has a larger door cut, more headroom, better visibility, wider steps into cab...Hino just does everything a little better."
"Because of its quality and performance, you can think of the Hino as being the Lexus of trucks."
Churney touches on the durability of the product: "Another quality that makes the Hino 338 unique is that when properly maintained and serviced, it is definitely a million-mile truck, and that's almost unheard of in Class 7 units. Hino has been producing trucks for close to 45 years now and the product is a mix of old school quality with modern engineering."
"Besides being a Toyota product (and Toyota is very cautious about anything it puts its name on), the Hino carries the best warranty in the business. It's a 3-year bumper-to-bumper unlimited mileage warranty and you don't get that out of any other manufacturer."
"The manufacturer backs up its product line with a 3-year roadside assistance program. If service is required, the owner can call a toll-free number and be directed to one of 22,000 authorized service locations in the U.S. This program comes with free lockout service, free jump starts, free towing and free out-of-fuel service."
Testimonials
- It was this unmatched standard warranty that greatly appealed to one Churney customer. Carl Hadley is the owner of Transportation Designers Group Ltd., a 50-truck expedited fleet. He tells us, "The 3 year, unlimited mileage warranty is probably the main reason I bought the Hino's. If a manufacturer is willing to stand behind what it builds to that degree, it has to be a quality product."
Hadley has 5 Hino 338's in his fleet and he says, "I've had absolutely no problems with them and am very happy with these trucks. All of them have the 84" Bentz sleeper with the Allison automatics and they're all leased with FedEx Custom Critical. My teams love them!"
He continues, "A lot of these business class trucks aren't built to run a lot of miles and with my business, my trucks can run over 450,000 miles in 3 years. That's a lot of miles for a business class engine. If a manufacturer can offer the warranty coverage that Hino offers, I think that's a pretty good testimonial about the truck."
"We bought these trucks from early to late summer this year and Mike Churney has been extremely good to deal with. When I buy some trucks next year, I'll probably be looking at some more Hino's."
- Another satisfied Churney customer is Lesco Corporation, a groundskeeping organization. Between 2005 and 2006, Lesco purchased 112 Hino Model 338's from the dealership and the company reports no service failures from any of the units.
- Tim Bennor recently purchased two Hinos that are now part of DJ Trucking, an expedited fleet based in Perrysburg, Ohio.
"You can't beat the warranty. You know, margins are tight and it's tougher to make a profit in expedite. When Toyota and Hino come across and offer an unlimited mileage warranty and 5.75, 4-year financing, I can't say no to that."
He continues, "These are equipped with the 6-speed transmission and I find those to be a little better for fuel economy. My trucks are averaging around 10-11 mpg."
"Bob Rizzo is my salesman and he has been great to work with. All I'm buying now are Hino's."
Variety
Mike Churney says, "We lease all makes and models. A customer can lease a Hino, Freightliner, International, Peterbilt or just about any make of truck from us. We also stock other makes for purchase including Freightliner M2's, Mitsubishi and UD. This allows the customer to shop and compare other popular expedite trucks with the Hino's."
"And," says Churney's president, "we have a good inventory of pre-'07 trucks These trucks represent a substantial savings over the new trucks with the particulate filters that are required for '07."
Expedite
The Churney's are very active in the presentation of the expedited "message", as demonstrated by their participatation in the Expedite Expo, the Expediter Experience at the Mid-America Trucking Show as well as the Expediter Workshops.
Churney tells us, "We realize that a percentage of our customers will be coming to this business from non-trucking backgrounds, so we're sensitive to their needs and we take the time to help them find the truck that's right for their application. We will go over the truck's components and help them custom-build their truck."
"For example, some of the most popular features that our husband/wife teams are looking for are the sleepers with bathrooms. The couples really appreciate the toilet/shower combinations and we can offer them some very innovative solutions."
Location, location, location
Situated on I-480 at Exit 25B (about 5 miles from downtown Cleveland), Churney's Truck Center is in close proximity to many of the largest expedited carriers including FedEx Custom Critical, Panther Expedited, Tri-State, Bolt Express and others.
Mike Churney says, "When our customers purchase a truck from us and fly in for the orientation at one of the carriers, we will pick them up at the airport if they desire, arrange accomodations close to both our dealership and their carrier, and provide ground transportation or assist them in a car rental. We try to help them defray some of the start-up costs in their business."
Financing
Mike Churney says that his company has a variety of lending sources to assist the buyer in securing the Hino to fit his needs.
"Toyota financing is very friendly to first-time buyers with interest rates as low as 7.5% for qualified buyers. In most cases, it's a matter of one single application with no financials required."
Mike Churney: "I want to extend a special invitation to everyone to stop by the Churney booth at the 2007 Mid America Trucking Show in Louisville.We'll have a special show truck set up with all of the options available in '08."
"Of course, we extend that same invitation to anyone in the Northern Ohio area to stop in at our facility and meet with Bob Rizzo and Phil Simonski, ourexpedited truck representatives, Dan Churney or myself."
Churney's Truck Center Online Inventory - Click Here!
Churney's Truck Center
(216) 475-3322
877 732-5700
www.churneys.com