Mack and Volvo Trucks dealer Northwest Equipment Sales expanded its footprint with the opening of its fourth location, Tri-Cities, based in Burbank, Wash. The new facility will serve one of the fastest growing areas of Washington State, and will extend Mack’s sales and service reach even further. 

Located off U.S. 12, a major thoroughfare in Washington, the new state-of-the-art 30,000 square-foot facility rests on 10 acres at 171 Gateway Road, Burbank.

“Longtime Mack dealer Northwest Equipment Sales is an excellent example of the ongoing commitment our dealers make to their markets and our customers,” said Jonathan Randall, Mack Trucks senior vice president of North American sales and marketing. “Opening a new facility during the current COVID-19 situation was no easy feat, and we are proud that Northwest Equipment Sales was able to make this extensive investment in the brand to better serve Mack customers.”

The Tri-Cities facility offers $250,000 in parts inventory, with plans to increase that amount in the next few months. The facility has four drive-through service bays and an end bay, allowing 15 trucks to be serviced at one time.

“Northwest Equipment Sales is a valuable part of the Volvo Trucks family, and we appreciate its dedication in supporting the success of our customers over the years,” said Jeff Lester, senior vice president of sales at Volvo Trucks North America. “The dealership’s investment in the Tri-Cities area will help to support overall economic growth at a time when it’s needed most.”

The new dealership has eight service technicians and plans to have 18 employees total by the end of 2020. The Tri-Cities location joins Northwest Equipment Sales sites in Twin Falls, Idaho, Boise, Idaho, and Hermiston, Oregon.

Jim Hibler, founder of Northwest Equipment Sales, first opened up a used truck facility in 1981 in Twin Falls. In 1988, he purchased a Mack franchise and expanded to Boise in 1995, followed by Hermiston in 2007.

“We wanted to increase the support for our customers, so the Burbank location was ideal for a new Northwest Equipment Sales dealership,” said Travis Hibler, vice president of sales for Northwest Equipment and son of Jim Hibler. “Through this new dealership, we will expand our coverage area, while delivering the same dedicated sales, service and support our customers have expected since we opened our first Mack franchise in 1988.”

Opening the new site had its challenges, Hibler said. Ground was broken on March 1, 2019, but work was stopped March 23, 2020, due to Gov. Jay Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order. However, as part of the transportation industry, the new facility was considered essential, and construction resumed at their new location on March 31.

“It was definitely a challenge, but we’re pleased that we were ultimately able to move forward and open this new dealership for our customers,” Hibler said.