THEVOICE • rockfordchamber.com
September 2021 3
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CIT Trucks keeps trucking along COMPANY POSITIONED FOR GROWTH WITH NEW LOCATIONS By Paul Anthony Arco One of the best known companies in the trucking industry is located right here in Loves Park. CIT Trucks is a medium and heavy-duty dealership that specializes in sales, service and parts for new and used trucks. The company was founded and incorporated in 1975, with corporate headquarters located in Normal, Ill. Once known as Central Illinois Trucks, the name was changed to CIT Trucks as the company grew in other parts of Illinois, Indiana and Missouri. “We are a full-service dealership,” said Jim Garner, Service Manager. “We sell or lease trucks to a variety of industries, and we have 24 work bays for service. “Everything is touched by a truck.” For example, CIT serves municipalities that need landscaping trucks and snowplows, companies that deliver groceries, and companies that haul gas. The Loves Park facility was built by William Charles Company in 1997 and sold to Northern Illinois Mack. In 2012, CIT purchased Northern Illinois Trucks. CIT has 17 locations throughout Illinois, Indiana and Missouri, and 700 employees, including 60 in Loves Park. “Our location is one of the largest
locations CIT owns,” said Garner. “We sell Kenworth, Volvo, Mack and Isuzu trucks.” Most of CIT’s local customers are based in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.
Growth Plans The global pandemic has created challenges for the transportation industry. “Truck inventory and parts have experienced extended delays,” said Garner. “As soon as we get new truck inventory in, it’s sold. All businesses are undergoing challenging delays.” Despite the obstacles, CIT has managed to weather the storm. Garner said the company has continued to grow, including hiring new staff during the past year. He credits strong ownership for the company’s success. “Our organization is very solid,” he said. “We saw the writing on the wall and positioned ourselves to be financially strong. We’ve buckled down and continued to prosper.” The future looks just as promising. CIT is in the process of establishing new locations and remodeling existing facilities. In Loves Park, the company is planning for a warehouse expansion. “The company as a whole is growing,” Garner said. “In the future, long-term renewable fuels are
going to expand, and that will be huge for our industry.” Locally, the CIT workforce is made up of highly-skilled CIT has 17 locations throughout Illinois, Indiana and Missouri, technicians, sales staff, and 700 employees, including 60 in Loves Park. accounting, parts, leasing and finance. Garner, who’s been technician is a mobile and financially with the company for 23 years, is proud stable career path.” Secondary education of the longevity within his team. The is preferred, and CIT has an in-house tenure ranges from new hires to 40 years training program for employees who desire of experience. additional education. “We struggle to find skilled employees One of Garner’s greatest satisfactions like anyone else,” said Garner. “We never is the relationships he’s developed over the had problems until the past five years, and years. “When you take care of customers like every year it gets more difficult. It used to we do, you form many good friendships,” be that kids growing up on the farm would he said. “If a truck going from New York to make the transition to diesel technician, California breaks down, our team stays late but as smaller farms are going away that to get the parts needed so the driver doesn’t lose the load. I tell customers that we’re recruiting source is becoming depleted.” the Mayo Clinic of the trucking industry. Relationship Building It’s a good feeling anytime you can help a To help restock the talent pool, CIT customer solve a problem.” has become involved with area technical colleges such as Rock Valley College CIT TRUCKS and Alignment Rockford. They even Service Manager: Jim Garner visit middle schools to speak to younger 4301 N. Bell School Rd., Loves Park students. “It’s important to show them 825-639-2000 different paths and the value of trade www.cittrucks.com schools,” Garner said. “Being a diesel
