The Pennsylvania Truck Dealers (PTD) recently named Five Star International Trucks Inc. Pennsylvania’s “2007 Dealer of the Year” during their annual convention. Pete Scheler, president of Five Star International Trucks, accepted the top honor.
The PTD is a division of the Pennsylvania Automotive Association, which represents all of the state’s new car dealers and 91 percent of its new commercial truck dealers. The annual award recognizes a member who has been particularly successful. With eight locations throughout the state and a new facility in Mount Joy that opened in late 2006, Five Star’s success is apparent. The dealership has been recognized twelve times with International’s Circle of Excellence, an award established to honor International dealerships that best exemplify commitment to the International Diamond Standards Program. The program measures dealer performance in terms of operating and financial standards, market representation, and most importantly, customer satisfaction.
"Five Star's continued level of commitment and professionalism is the backbone of what International dealers stand for," said, John Whitnell, International's vice president, Dealer Operations. “We are proud to have such a dedicated dealer who so thoroughly understands the needs of our customers and excels every day in meeting and exceeding them.”
Scheler’s expertise and his love of the truck sales business have made him one of Pennsylvania’s most respected businessmen, and his sons, Fred and John, are helping to carry that success into the next generation.
“What I’m most proud of is the team we have at Five Star. In my judgment, they’re the best in the business,” he said. “This award really means a lot. I’ve been in the truck business for 45 years and this is a fine tribute to what we’ve accomplished.”
Scheler’s career began in 1962. After serving in the Navy, he took a friend’s advice and got a job with the International Harvester dealership in his hometown of Buffalo, N.Y. “My friend recommended the company highly, said it promised great opportunity, which it has fulfilled,” said Scheler.
After twelve years in Buffalo, Scheler purchased the IH dealership in Erie, Pa., and opened Five Star International there. Five Star moved to a new Erie facility in the late 1980s, and in the 1990s Scheler expanded Five Star into Harrisburg, Reading and York. From 2003 through 2006, the dealership grew again establishing locations in East Earl, Allentown and Williamsport.