Daimler Truck Financial Rated Highest in Dealer Satisfaction Among Captive Finance Firms

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., Dec. 8, 2009 -- In one of the toughest environments for the U.S trucking industry in years, Daimler Truck Financial achieved the No. 1 ranking in the annual dealer satisfaction survey conducted by the American Truck Dealers (ATD), a division of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA).

As the captive finance company supporting Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) dealers selling Freightliner and Western Star brands, Daimler Truck Financial recaptured the top spot from PACCAR Finance, which supports dealers selling Kenworth and Peterbilt brands.

Daimler Truck Financial and PACCAR Finance have been battling it out for the top spot for the past six ATD surveys with Daimler taking the No. 1 ranking in 2004, '05, '07 and '09 while PACCAR won in 2006 and '08. Daimler Truck Financial delivered the largest year-over-year increase with a 15 percent improvement on last year's score and recorded the highest score since ATD started measuring captives in 2004.

"Our dealers recognized the substantial efforts that our employees are making each and every day to support our dealers' business," said Richard Howard, head of Daimler Truck Financial. "Our score and ranking is especially significant given the environment we are operating in today and the considerable changes our employees had to go through the last two years."

The annual ATD survey is mailed to medium and heavy-duty new truck dealers in the United States. Dealers evaluate their Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) in the following categories: Value, Marketing, Policy Parts, People and Finance. In the Finance category, dealers rank their satisfaction with their captive finance partner in six areas:

  --  Range of products available to dealers
  --  Range of products available to customers
  --  Competitive programs relative to rates and terms for new and used
      vehicles
  --  Timeliness of response from the captive
  --  Quality of Sales & Marketing staff assistance when needed
  --  Availability of capital at competitive rates to the dealer-owned
      leasing company

"We will continue to be proactive with our dealers in working closely with them and listening carefully to their concerns to ensure that we are constantly developing new initiatives and trying to enhance current offerings," Howard said.

Brad Fauvre, CEO of Velocity Vehicle Group of Los Angeles with Freightliner dealerships in LA, San Diego and Las Vegas, said Daimler Truck Financial's top ranking in the ATD survey is a result of being a strong finance partner with the Freightliner dealer body.

"They are making sure everyone is successful for the long haul," he said. "They have demonstrated their responsiveness to the dealer body by fixing systems, re-designing processes for quick credit decisions and by improving their flexibility during the downturn."

Fauvre is chairman of the Daimler Truck North America dealer council and said Daimler Truck Financial is quick to take action on concerns and suggestions of the dealer council's finance subcommittee.

"They are a consistent provider of market-appropriate programs like leasing rates for vocational customers," he said. "Unlike the banks that get in and out of the market, Daimler Truck Financial only does truck financing and they are always focused on the end-user and that makes them a very consistent partner."

Other OEM captive finance firms rated by dealers in the ATD survey are: Mack Commercial, Volvo Financial, Ford Motor Credit, International Finance and GMAC.

About Daimler Truck Financial

Daimler Truck Financial, now in its 35th year of operations, is a business unit of Daimler Financial Services (DCFS USA LLC) providing wholesale financing and credit lines to Freightliner, Western Star, and Thomas Built Bus dealers. Daimler Truck Financial offers a broad range of flexible financing plans for fleet customers, owner/operators, municipal and vocational customers as well as an extensive selection of dealer financial services that fully support Daimler Trucks North America's commercial vehicle brands throughout North America.

About ATD

Founded in 1970, the ATD division of the National Automobile Dealers Association is the only organization representing dealers selling new medium- and heavy-duty trucks in the United States. More than 2,200 members of ATD receive full association services from NADA.