News from Kenworth: PremierCare Offers 'After the Sale' Support Services
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Jeff Parietti, (425) 828-5196 jparietti@paccar.com
Kenworth PremierCare Program Offers 'After the Sale' Support Services
KIRKLAND, Wash., March 20, 2001 - "After the sale" support services offered by the Kenworth PremierCare(R) Program continue to grow in popularity among customers.
The program features preventive maintenance, roadside assistance, express services, fleet card, and electronic parts inventory management.
PremierCare Preventive Maintenance Program
The Kenworth PremierCare Preventive Maintenance Program focuses on scheduling regular service, tracking warranty claims, and helping to compare operational and maintenance rates within a fleet.
"A truck's purchase price is typically only about 20% of the truck's cost over its life, so it's critical to keep costs under control and trucks on the road where they earn income," said Steve Gilligan, Kenworth general marketing manager. "Our PM program especially appeals to fleet customers who run in multiple states or provinces and don't have their own shop, or operate a group of trucks that are difficult for them to maintain."
Comprehensive maintenance management software is also available to all participating customers. "We record all expenses and repairs scheduled through PremierCare, and customers receive secure Internet access to enter all other maintenance and repairs," said Gilligan. "This comprehensive system assists customers in tracking and controlling expenses, and it's fully Internet-based."
Under the program, customers sign a preventive maintenance agreement. A PremierCare representative will schedule the service into the Kenworth dealer in the United States or Canada, where they will still receive the same service and price level contracted for under their PM agreement.
"The objective is to provide the best quality maintenance service at a fixed, reasonable price," said Gilligan.
Kenworth PremierCare Roadside Assistance
Kenworth's PremierCare Roadside Assistance offers a toll-free call (1-800-KW-ASSIST or 1-800-592-7747) for fleets and owner operators needing help on the road -- regardless of truck make -- 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Kenworth PremierCare hotline is staffed by representatives who contact the nearest Kenworth dealer to handle the emergency.
"Two years ago, Kenworth and PACCAR made a major commitment to customer support by starting up the Customer Call Center for round-the-clock support," said Steve Gilligan, Kenworth general marketing manager. "We now have a staff of 18 in the Call Center, and double that number available for added support in other areas.
"More than 10,000 customers representing over 50,000 trucks are participating in this value-added service," he added. "In addition, there is no charge to customers for calling the Center."
The Call Center also offers real-time repair updates via the Internet, tracking of an owner's preference for everything from repair payment to tires, and scheduling maintenance at Kenworth dealer locations anywhere in the U.S. and Canada.
Kenworth PremierCare Connect
For Kenworth fleet customers operating their own maintenance shops, PremierCare Connect is a powerful, comprehensive shop management tool that helps solve parts inventory problems. This program not only reduces time spent managing inventory, it enables the customer to streamline the tracking of repair orders, maintenance scheduling and per-vehicle repair costs.
Currently, more than 260 fleets are participating in the PremierCare Connect program, helping to reduce parts inventory costs and achieve significant savings of up to $25,000 annually. The Kenworth PremierCare Connect system is being demonstrated live in Kenworth's booth at the Mid-America Trucking Show.
Kenworth PremierCare Express Services
Kenworth PremierCare also offers express services that are quick, professional and convenient. Kenworth's 60-minute, PremierCare ExpressLube is available for all makes of Class 7 and 8 trucks. The service includes a four-filter oil change, complete chassis lubrication; and a 20-point inspection.
The PremierCare Express Air Conditioning service is a 27-point inspection that includes a complete evacuation and recharge, receiver/drier replacement, plus up to five pounds of R134a refrigerant.
Kenworth's ExpressLube and Express Air Conditioning programs are both performed for a uniform price at participating Kenworth dealers in the U.S. and Canada.
Kenworth PremierCare Fleet Card
Kenworth PremierCare Fleet Card is designed for customers with five or more trucks. The card offers an easy and convenient method for fleet customers to make parts and service purchases at Kenworth dealer locations. It also serves as a fleet management tool by consolidating bills and providing a range of other transportation services, such as fuel billing, cash advances and permits.
The fleet card is accepted at over 4,000 fuel purchase locations in the U.S. and Canada, serves as an ATM card, can be used for PlusCheks(TM) and payroll advances.
Kenworth PremierCare Fleet Card customers can also purchase emergency truck tires and services at pre-determined, competitive prices at Bridgestone/Firestone locations. The card also can be used for emergency breakdowns handled by Kenworth's PremierCare emergency roadside assistance hotline.
For more information on the Kenworth PremierCare Program, go to Kenworth's website at www.kenworth.com and click on Parts & Service. Kenworth Truck Company, a division of PACCAR Inc, is a leading manufacturer of heavy and medium duty trucks.
#