New facility to incorporate five Peterbilt offices

Peterbilt of Springfield in May broke ground near the 744 exit ramp off Interstate-44 east of Highway 65 for a new $5.1 million facility that will incorporate the truck dealership's five offices on Eastgate, Kearney and Chestnut Expressway, according to General Manager Ron Thomas. The estimated completion date for the 90,000-square-foot facility is Jan. 15, 2001.

Nabholz Construction is the general contractor for the project and the architect is Bill Derington.

The Springfield operation serves as the headquarters for the eight Peterbilt locations in Missouri and Arkansas owned by The Larson Group, a family business founded in Springfield by Claire Larson in 1987. The Larson Group is now operated by Claire Larson's six sons, and owns every Peterbilt location in Missouri and Arkansas with the exception of one, Thomas said. Glenn Larson, who is the second-oldest son and is based in Springfield, is The Larson Group's president and owner, and also owns a local John Deere dealership and Larson Farm & Lawn.

Plans for the new facility, which will comprise 22 1/2 acres, have been in the works for about two years. Thomas said the new facility will give the dealership higher visibility because of its location near the interstate.

"We're the first dealer to get out on I-44. We're kind of disguised at our present locations because we're so spread out," Thomas said.

New facilities similar to the one under construction here have been recently completed or are planned for in other locations. The Larson Group's Peterbilt locations in O'Fallon, Springdale and Ft. Smith, Ark., and its facility in Joplin are being remodeled. Thomas said The Larson Group's success with its Peterbilt dealerships over the last 12 years allowed for the recent improvements.

"We have had in the last 12 years a real solid, good truck market to sell trucks and service trucks in. We were able to put some money aside over the last 12 years for these expansions," Thomas said.

The Springfield operation will add approximately 20 employees with the completion of the new facility. Thomas said Peterbilt of Springfield now employs about 120. The Larson Group has more than 300 total employees at its full-service dealership locations in Springfield, O'Fallon, Joplin, Ft. Smith, Ark., North Little Rock, Ark., Springdale, Ark. and its parts locations in Sikeston and Van Buren, Ark.

According to Peterbilt, their heavy-duty trucks are known for high resale value and low maintenance requirements, and are also gaining ground in the medium-duty truck market. A typical Peterbilt features a precision-tooled lightweight aluminum cab, a variety of suspension systems and a three-piece, 20-bolt crossmember/gusset unit for extra frame durability.

The Larson Group recently purchased property in Indiana for another dealership, and also operates a large truck body shop in South Dakota.

"Our plan is to continue to expand," Thomas said.