Louisville, KY. Detroit Diesel Corp and Western Star each rolled out new programs specifically for truck drivers here at the Mid-America Trucking Show. Detroit introduced its Million Mile Club and Western Star launched its Design Our Star Project.
Detroit, which is celebrating its 75thanniversary in 2013, decided to also celebrate an important milestone for its drivers at the same with the launch of the Million Mile Club, a new ownership community that thanks long-time Detroit engine drivers for their loyalty and trust.
Open to U.S. and Canadian fleet owners and drivers with 1 million or more miles on their Detroit engines, members are eligible to receive a variety of perks, including a baseball hat, coffee mug, vehicle badge and more, according to the company. Members will also receive news and updates from Detroit.
“The Million Mile Club is just one way we can thank and recognize our customers for their hard work and trust in our engines,” said Brad Williamson, manager, engine and component marketing for Daimler Trucks North America. “For the past 75 years, Detroit engines have been proven time and again to be reliable and durable, and the Million Mile Club celebrates our customers, products and brand.”
Any brand of truck qualifies, provided the truck is still in operation and has a Detroit engine under its hood. Fleet owners/drivers with less than 1 million miles, but interested in future membership, can also join the Million Mile Club community for updates.
Western Star’s new program, the Design Our Star Project, is also intended to engage customers on a new level with the Western Star brand. The outcome of the project will be the first Western Star show truck to be built from the ground up by popular vote through social media channels.
Fans and customers can cast their first vote at the 2013 Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) by visiting the Western Star booth (#30185) or online at www.designourstar.com, which will host regular voting rounds through October. The first voting round will feature Western Star 4900 truck model options. Subsequent voting rounds will include the truck’s application, engine, interior options, exterior aesthetics and more, with results from each round posted in real time on the website.
Western Star will build the customized show truck based on final voting results. The final 4900 truck model will be unveiled the truck at the 2014 Mid-America Trucking Show.
“Western Star is renowned for building the most extreme, tricked-out show trucks and our first interactive social media program will involve our worldwide customers and fans in this process,” said Andy Johnson, brand manager, Western Star. “Empowering our customers and fans to customize a new model that showcases their unique creativity is the very essence of the Western Star brand.”
Freightliner Trucks has a driver program of its own, as well. The Team Run Smart Community was launched last year to provide a forum for drivers to exchange ideas with the company and one another concerning several key areas such as fuel economy, business and driver health.
“We have always had a double strategy,” Martin Daum, president of Daimler Trucks North America told Fleet Owner. "People don’t buy a truck because they want to, they buy a truck because they need to. For me, anytime somebody needs to buy a truck, I want it [to be one of ours. These programs give us another way to engage with drivers and customers to support our brands.]