Transport operator says Daimler's Elite initiative makes for better dealerships and helps his business.
Director of ABS Transport, Terry Warn, has backed the Daimler Trucks Elite Support initiative, which he says has had a positive effect on the way his business operates.
The ABS fleet, which includes nine Mercedes-Benz Actros trucks, is based in the Melbourne suburb of Carrum Downs, but the trucks run all over the country. They are mainly supported by two Elite Support certified dealerships; Daimler Trucks Somerton to Melbourne’s north and Daimler Trucks Adelaide.
Elite Support is a joint initiative by the Daimler Truck and Bus and the Daimler Truck dealer network that delivers a new level of service for Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner and Fuso customers across Australia.
A key feature of the Elite Support that is of most value Mr Warn and the team at ABS Transport is called Express Assessment. This service means that within two hours of a service write-up, the dealer will communicate primary diagnosis, check parts availability, and provide an estimate of cost and repair time.
“Being able to get such a quick response from the dealership has made the world of difference to us,” Mr Warn says.
“I can tell you the support that we get for our Mercedes-Benz products is just incredible. It allows us to keep our trucks on the road for longer and continue to serve our customers,” he adds.
Mr Warn, who started his career as a diesel mechanic at a truck dealership in Dandenong before building ABS transport with the help of his wife Celeste and three children Aaron, Shannon and Bianca, has been extremely pleased with his Actros models that are now in their third year of operation in his fleet.
“We analyse all the data very closely and the Mercedes-Benz trucks are extremely cost-effective and we are really pleased with them,” he says.
“That, combined with the support we receive means we will certainly be looking to stay with Mercedes-Benz when the time is right to replace them.”
To qualify for Elite Support certification, dealers must meet 129 stringent criteria, which are based on consistent communication, robust parts availability and range of other measures designed to deliver a premium in-dealership experience.
There are now seven Daimler Trucks dealerships with Elite Support certification across Australia, with many more in the process of achieving certification.