Updated: Thursday, May 8, 2008 1:51 PM PDT

GE opens 8-acre trailer re-sale center in Fontana

By FONTANA HERALD NEWS

Freight movement from Pacific ports to inland distribution centers requires thousands of “mobile warehouse” over-the-road trailers, and a new GE re-sale center opening in Fontana helps truckers obtain pre-owned trailers at reasonable prices.

“Truckers are struggling as they face higher fuel prices and increased costs from regulatory compliance,” explained Joe Artuso, CEO of GE's Trailer Fleet Services business. “This new trailer sales showroom provides affordable alternatives to help truckers meet customer commitments, keep freight moving, and improve profitability in these tough economic times for the transportation industry.”

The new GE Trailer Sales Showroom is located on eight acres at 15521 Slover Avenue, near ElmAvenue, and just off the Cherry Avenue south exit of Interstate 10.

More than 300 late model over-the-road trailers are in inventory on the lot itself, with thousands more available in the region and at other lots nationally. The off-site inventory is easily searchable at GE's website, www.trailerservices.com.

In most cases, late-model used trailers - in good to excellent condition - can be obtained from GE for less than half the cost of a comparable new trailer, and still provide reliable service with modest ongoing maintenance cost. In comparison, new trailers can run from $20,000 for a dry van to $50,000 for a refrigerated model.

To celebrate the grand opening of its new Fontana location, GE is donating a late-model 53-foot trailer to the American Red Cross of Orange County, for use in staging disaster response supplies in the region (see photo above).

Stanley V. Perdue, OC Chapter CEO and regional executive officer, said the donated trailer will enhance the ability of the Red Cross to quickly move emergency supplies when required.

“When disasters strike, time is of the essence to address the human needs that arise,” Perdue said. “GE has been a strong financial supporter of our efforts on the national level, and this very practical donation will enhance our ability to respond to catastrophic disasters in Orange County and throughout the Southern California region.”

Also helping GE celebrate its Fontana showroom opening is the American Trucking Associations (ATA). The national trade group for the trucking industry operates an educational highway safety program called “Share the Road.” It will be conducting safety demonstrations locally. GE has provided a free leased trailer for the ATA to use for this traveling exhibit for the past three years.

GE is the largest re-seller of trailers in North America, selling more than 25,000 used trailers annually in the course of operating its 50 year-old North American trailer leasing business. These older trailers include units taken in trade from customers and from the routine “refreshing” of its own fleet of 130,000 assets. GE's Trailer Fleet Services operates 90 full-service branches across the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

The new Trailer Sales Showroom in Fontana is its seventh site in California, and the second GE site in Fontana.

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