Yellowknife (Mar 09/05) - The staff has already been trained and even though the trucks won't roll in until May, Northern Metalic Sales is about to become a Western Star truck dealer.

The Western Star dealership will be a first for the NWT, said Northern Metalic Sales manager Rob Sasseville.

"We haven't had a grand opening yet, but we've been busy with customers ... the trucking industry is very excited," he said. "Some local business people are excited as well, the response has been overwhelming."

Heavy-duty truck dealership

Northern Metalic Sales' head office in Whitehorse operates a heavy-duty truck dealership aligned with DaimlerChrysler - the manufacturer of the Western Star nameplate.

The Yukon site also carries Freightliner and Sterling trucks.

The decision to bring in a Western Star dealership was made in reaction to a need in the marketplace, said Sasseville.

"All these trucking companies have no place to go to have their trucks fixed if they happen to break down," he said.

A year in the works

Overall, the deal to bring in Western Star to the diamond capital took about a year and a half to come together.

The price tag on the big trucks can run more than $125,000 with some of the vehicles staying on the road for more than a million miles.

"I don't have any trucks on the premises yet, we're in the process of our winter road haul so we're marshalling winter road product on our lot and we're limited for space," he said, adding the staff is excited to get some in stock.

As part of the process, representatives from Western Star assessed the operation at Northern Metalic Sales prior to granting the dealership.

"You have to have the latest technology in specialized electronics to service these trucks," he said. "We've had training on the service and parts and on the global computerized system where you can track the truck using a VIN - vehicle identification number."

The Northern Metalic sales staff has spent countless hours preparing for the new venture.

"You need to be certified on the computer programs," he said. "There's a minimum of 25 courses you need to take to offer the services of the dealership."