GE Trailer Services opens re-sale center at Fontana, Calif.

Pre-owned reefers are ready for sale at GE Trailer Services' new Fontana, Calif., location.

The Trucker News Services

5/2/2008

FONTANA, Calif. — 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 here helps truckers obtain pre-owned trailers at reasonable prices, a company official said.

“Truckers are struggling as they face higher fuel prices and increased costs from regulatory compliance,” Joe Artuso, CEO of GE’s Trailer Fleet Services business, said. “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 Ave. in Fontana, near Elm, and just off the Cherry Street 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.

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 conducted safety demonstrations locally, including private highway “ride-alongs” for reporters to view safe merging and stopping distances from the truck driver’s perspective, and learn up close and personal some of the differences between how cars and large trucks operate on the highways. GE has provided a free leased trailer for the ATA to use for this traveling exhibit for the past three years.