300 Main Street, Suite 200, Dubuque, IA 52001
Mon – Thurs 8 am – 5 pm, Fri 8 am – 12 pm
Thompson Truck & Trailer, Inc. located at 1190 Roosevelt Ext, Dubuque, is one of six full service truck dealerships in eastern Iowa and western Illinois.
Chairman & CEO, Dennis Thompson is one of five nominees for Truck Dealer of the Year. The American Truck Dealer (ATD) a heavy duty trucking magazine and Procede software present this award annually.
Nominees for the national award are evaluated on dealership performance, industry leadership and civic contributions. This year marks the 53rd annual ATD Convention & Expo. It will be hosted in Las Vegas from March 31st to April 3rd, 2016, when the winner and runner-up will be announced.
Dennis has spent his entire 40-year career in the commercial truck dealership business. Working for Hawkeye International Trucks right after graduating high school; his energy, passion, and leadership enabled him to transition into management. Being a part of the service department in 1989, he took over total maintenance for CRST; one of the nation’s largest privately-held transportation companies. “This gave me the opportunity to prove my ability to manage a standalone operation,” he said. “We began servicing CRST with three Hawkeye employees and grew the operation to 183 employees.”
After having the opportunity to purchase Hawkeye International Trucks in 1998, Thompson has since expanded the business to six dealerships, two Goodyear Tire locations, four NAPA locations and 300 employees.
Under Thompson’s leadership, the dealership has earned several industry awards, including ONE Idealease, Navistar’s Circle of Excellence and ESGR Recipient Favorable Employer of Veterans. Thompson is currently serving as a board member for the Iowa Motor Truck Association. He has also been involved with the Iowa Motor Association, International Truck Dealer Council, Navistar Dealer Advisory Board and TMC Advisory Council Tire and Service Operations. He has been a 20-Group member since 1998 and is a 2008 graduate of the Executive Dealer Leadership Program.
“I have been involved with the International Truck Dealers Council and the Navistar Dealer Advisory Board Process for many years,” said Thompson. “Representing my fellow dealers has given me the opportunity to present issues from our perspective while working collaboratively with our OEM to solve problems and improve our mutual market share.”
Thompson and his wife, Ann, have been strong supporters of several organizations in the communities their dealership serves. They are involved with Waypoint, a non-profit organization established to assist women and children who are homeless or victims of domestic violence. In 2014, they purchased a 6-unit apartment complex with the goal of leasing units to individuals who are homeless or victims of domestic violence. The dealership sponsors fundraising events, and Ann works with the clientele and oversees the crisis line.
Other organizations the dealership supports include the Atkins Fire Department, Benton Community School District and Chamber of Commerce in all of their locations. They also provided aid and support for employees affected by a flood in 2008.
“Through financial contributions and our time, we have seen the difference we can make in the lives of our neighbors,” Thompson added.
Thompson Truck & Trailer sell and service all makes and models. As well as specialize in International, Isuzu Trucks and Idealease Leasing & Rental. For more information please call (800)728-6699 or visit www.thompsontruck.com.
