02 Small Business Credit Meets Needs Quickly 03 Customer Spotlight — ATS Logistics 04 New Overnight Payment Address Customer Source Q4 2014 NEWSLETTER FOR CUSTOMERS OF DAIMLER TRUCK FINANCIAL The Driven to Succeed Program: Consumer Rates, Commercial Products Class-leading products deserve an industry-leading finance program. That’s why Freightliner Trucks and Daimler Truck Financial have teamed up to offer the Driven to Succeed Finance Program, with money-saving incentives on eligible dealer stock Freightliner Class 6 or 7 vehicles financed by December 20th. The program offers one of two financing incentive options to qualifying customers looking to purchase Freightliner Class 6 or 7 vehicles: Our goal is to help drive our customers’ business toward success, helping many afford the new industry-leading vehicles they need through financing incentives. “The value of this program truly is in the financing,” stated Grant Hummel, Medium Duty Product Manager, Freightliner Trucks. “Customers can get a consumer rate for a commercial product.” “When you have a great product like the Freightliner M2 106, which can do a variety of different jobs, you really need a financing program that’s second-to-none,” Hummel emphasized. For more information, visit daimler-truckfinancial.com, freightlinertrucks.com or see your local dealer. “At Daimler Truck Financial, we are focused on providing the best commercial financing options for the best products in the market for our customers. This is what we do.” Jeff Watson, Brand Manager, Marketing, Daimler Truck Financial *Actual rates, terms, down payment and program eligibility will be determined by Daimler Truck Financial’s Credit Team, based upon creditworthiness of customer. Daimler Truck Financial reserves the right to modify or terminate the program at any time with no notice. 01 From the Front Line: Small Business Credit Meets Needs Quickly Customer Spotlight — ATS Logistics – Financing Growth and Success Recently, Customer Source had Ongoing Training Focused on Your Needs “Without DTF’s help, ATS would not be running new trucks and an opportunity to talk with Brandi Training is also an important part of the success story of Small attracting so many drivers. DTF took the time to understand our Kuykendall, Small Business Credit Business Credit. The entire team is cross-trained in the different business and as a result, has truly helped us grow our company.” Manager, Daimler Truck Financial. customer segments. In addition, all team members spend time each Jason Gianoukos, Vice President-Finance, ATS Logistics, Inc. The department she manages year visiting dealerships and trade shows to better understand our is comprised of 17 individuals customers’ needs. “We realize we can gain a tremendous amount of who make credit decisions for knowledge by reaching out and talking with our dealers and customers commercial vehicle customers “With DTF’s creativity in structuring a competitive finance package that about their businesses,” stresses Kuykendall. truly benefited this customer, we now have a very prominent company for many Daimler Trucks North running trucks that other customers in our territory see every day. We America (DTNA) brands, including Every Experience Matters consider putting this truck deal together to be a crowning achievement Freightliner, Western Star, Thomas for Triple-T in Summerville, and look forward to a long-term relationship Built Buses and Sprinter. There is a very focused customer service philosophy built into the with ATS Logistics.” processes of the department. Kuykendall states: “We believe every Tim Matt, Dealer Principal, Triple-T Freightliner You may not hear about this experience matters, so we have developed a team commitment to Daimler Truck Financial (DTF) communicate effectively and to listen to our dealer and customer department when applying for a needs. We like to go above and beyond what might be considered commercial loan, but this group a normal customer expectation because we know our customers In 1986, the Gianoukos brothers, Jimmie, Andy and Tony, started “We’ve been working with ATS since the five years we’ve been in our of individuals is working with are waiting for a response.” their Atlantic Transportation Services business as a courier service, Summerville, South Carolina, location,” states Mike McDede, sales your dealer to provide quick and delivering lost luggage for several airlines at Charleston International professional for Triple-T Freightliner, the local Freightliner and Western timely approval of your finance application. “The Small Business Credit “Our goal is to work with our dealers and customers in getting the Airport. They started with one truck. Now, 28 years later, that business Star dealer. “We sold them their used Freightliners as they were department is definitely fast-paced,” Kuykendall states. “We receive information needed to provide a fast approval turnaround,” states has transformed into a large warehousing, transportation and freight expanding their trucking business, so when the time came for a about 2,500 customer applications and finance about 85 million dollars Kuykendall. She points out that by providing complete documentation, management company, ATS Logistics, Inc., located in North Charleston, purchase of new, fuel-efficient trucks, we were ready to help.” a customer can help to increase the speed of a credit decision. of commercial vehicle business every month. It certainly keeps us busy South Carolina. Triple-T immediately provided ATS a Cascadia Evolution demo unit. and motivated.” Here is a list of documentation needed: Although the company’s initial growth started with their warehousing They were impressed. “We then contacted DTF,” stated Stewart Brown, • Complete Owner-Operator/Vocational application including a business, the brothers quickly realized there was opportunity on “both President, Triple-T Freightliner. “Knowing that ATS was involved in a Growth in Volume and Service signed Authorization to Conduct a Credit Investigation sides” of the warehouse. So in the mid-1990’s, they set up both a major construction project, we felt that putting together a truck Application and approval volume is up over 30 percent in 2014. One of • Employment information with contact names and numbers local intermodal operation to haul containers to and from the Port of deal that included financing would place them in a more advantageous the major reasons for this is the growth of vehicle sales and financing Charleston, and added a brokerage division to help their warehouse position. We felt that DTF could provide the flexibility to meet • Credit reference information with contact names and numbers to vocational customers. DTNA dealers have a great line-up of superior customers deliver their domestic freight to various points in the U.S. their needs.” vocational products, and DTF is focused on supporting these products. • Complete specs for used unit and Canada. When Dimitri Gamvrellis, District Finance Manager, Daimler Truck “This has definitely increased the number of applications and approvals • MSRP/Invoice for new unit in our department,” states Kuykendall. “Our brokerage customers, although pleased with our full range Financial, got involved in the deal, he sprang into action. “I knew it • Desired term and down payment of services, wanted more from us,” states Jason Gianoukos, Vice would take a customized finance solution to put this deal together, To better respond to the increased volume of vocational credit • Line of Business for Vocational Customers President-Finance, ATS Logistics, Inc. “They were looking for carriers given their warehouse expansion efforts going on,” he stated. “We applications, Small Business Credit created a team of senior vocational that owned their own equipment and therefore could provide the worked hard and were able to structure a loan that fit their needs analysts to help support this business growth. As the most seasoned In summary, Kuykendall states: “Even though we primarily work with reliability and responsibility they needed from their carrier partners.” very well.” members of the Small Business Credit Department, the vocational dealers, we know there is a customer behind every transaction. Our senior analysts understand the unique needs of vocational customers goal is to provide first class service along with a financing solution to Based on that need, in 2011 and 2012 ATS purchased 42 used ATS ended up purchasing 24 Cascadia Evolutions with the Detroit and the various types of financing options. meet the needs of each and every commercial vehicle customer.” Freightliners to expand their trucking division, giving them 48 drivetrain. “Because of Daimler Truck Financial, we were able to finance company-owned trucks. “Although we now had a fleet of our own our new Cascadias with excellent terms,” commented Gianoukos. trucks,” continued Gianoukos, “we knew we needed to eventually run The Cascadias are working great for ATS. “Our fuel economy and newer, more fuel-efficient equipment to make this part of our business maintenance expenses are everything we expected them to be, and successful long term.” more,” states Gianoukos. “We are saving thousands of dollars a year Western Star Introduces the All-New 5700XE When the time came to buy new, fuel-efficient trucks, the brothers were per truck in both fuel and maintenance costs. We expect to save over in the process of expanding their warehousing business—constructing a two million dollars in expenses over the five-year term.” new, state-of-the-art,