EAST LIVERPOOL – Hill International Trucks, based in East Liverpool, will add a new dealership in St. Clairsville this year, adding 40 jobs immediately and up to 40 more over the next three years.
The International truck dealership also purchased a trucking center in Aliquippa, Pa., giving Hill International a presence near Pittsburgh.
As the trucking industry took on a heightened importance during shutdowns nationwide, handling the delivery of medicine, food and other necessities, business at Hill International Trucks remained strong, says marketing manager Nick Frantzis.
When states began requiring certain safety measures, Hill International – which also has sites in Eighty Four, Pa., and Wheeling, W.Va. – had to quickly develop practices that complied with differing state mandates.
“Procedures like sanitizing vehicles before and after being serviced, contact-free parts pick-up and delivery, and virtual sales consultations are some of the practices put in place to ensure a safe customer experience,” Frantzis says.
To comply with Pennsylvania’s mandates, the store in Eighty Four closed for four months but had “a strong resurgence” in its new truck sales department. The used-truck sales side, meanwhile, ended the year with 450 trucks sold, making it one of the largest preowned sales departments in the country.
“The parts departments at each Hill International store were able to remain open throughout the year, relying heavily on online orders, which increased 40% year-over-year,” Frantzis says. “Customers could order over the phone. Socially-distanced pickup and delivery was also available.”
Hill launched a 24/7 roadside assistance program last year while Hill Mobile Maintenance posted three consecutive record-breaking months.
All of the company’s service departments were honored by the truck manufacturer for outstanding quality.