AASP/NJ MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
by ALANA BONILLO
Elizabeth Truck Center Elizabeth Truck Center really does do it all. Not only is the facility known as the largest commercial vehicle collision and repair center in the Tri-State area, but its award-winning truck builds have truly put the business on the map. “Our collision work is done with the same quality as our custom builds,” shares Elizabeth Truck Center President Steve Pesce, Jr. “We are known as one of the top truck customizers in the country. We won a major truck build-off at the Mid-America Trucking Show back in 2005 in Louisville, KY. We’ve produced over 100 custom trucks; probably about 20 of those are super customs. While our primary business is collision and paint service, we are also custom truck builders.” It all began with Steve Sr., who opened Car Craft Collision in Brooklyn in the 1970s. Although Steve Jr. and his brother, Anthony, did not automatically set out to work in the industry (having graduated from St. John’s University with business degrees), they eventually followed in the tradition of their father. In 1996, the Pesces opened Elizabeth Truck Center, where Steve Jr. took on the day-to-day operations. (Anthony, meanwhile, took the reins at Car Craft Truck Works.) The business grew substantially over the years; today, the New Jersey location houses the collision center, a parts department and a full-service tow truck dealership for Miller Industries. Elizabeth Truck Center performs collision repair work on all heavy and medium trucks, including tractor trailers, semi-trucks, pickup trucks and emergency equipment such as fire engines and ambulances. Vans are the lightest vehicles they do. Additionally, the facility works on smaller motor vehicles for select friends and family. Elizabeth Truck Center also houses the Custom Chrome Shop, which Steve Jr. calls a “trucker’s candy store.” The Chrome Shop is run by his sister, Kim Ruggiero. These days, Steve Jr. oversees collision and sales at the New Jersey location, where he utilizes his background in accounting. In 2015, the family opened a satellite shop, Elizabeth Truck Center of Long Island. A member of AASP/NJ for at least 15 years, he takes part in the AASP/NJ Workers’ Compensation Insurance Safety Group through the Amato Insurance Agency and is glad to have AASP/NJ Executive Director Charles Bryant to turn to for any and all issues. “Charlie is a good person to get advice from.
28 | New Jersey Automotive | April 2021
Father and sons in business. Left to right: Anthony, Steve Sr. and Steve Jr.
Whenever we have any motor vehicle issues or legal issues, he helps us get what we need. He’s helped us obtain needed paperwork to protect us with issues with insurance claims.” Steve Jr. and his crew also look forward to attending AASP/NJ’s NORTHEAST® Automotive Service Show annually to learn about the newest tooling on the market. While Elizabeth Truck Center faced challenges as a result of COVID-19, the business overcame an even greater obstacle last year. In March 2020, shortly before the lockdown hit, a major fire took out Elizabeth Truck Center’s 20,000-square-foot mechanical garage. Fortunately, the business was able to recover. “We actually rebuilt ourselves back to full capacity, and it really shows our resilience. I can’t speak enough about the people in the trucking community who reached out to us and helped in every single way. It’s a work in a progress – and we just passed the one-year anniversary of the fire – but we got everything stabilized. We are keeping the ball rolling and are rebuilding better than ever.” Looking back on his career of choice, Steve Jr. truly has no regrets and loves the daily grind of working in this industry. “Basically, no two days are alike. There are a lot of different challenges that come your way each day. The collision industry is not like a grocery store; there’s no repetitive cycle. There’s always a challenge with insurance companies, jobs and employees. There is never one day that is the same as the last.” NJA
