Navistar relocates Chicago Used Truck Center to Joliet

Navistar has opened a new Chicago-area used truck center in Joliet, Illinois, to replace the center's previous location in Melrose Park. The new Joliet location is home to a calibration engineering facility and eight service bays and the used truck sales center.

Within the past few years, the used truck market has grown exponentially, according to a release from the commercial truck OEM, with residual values rising to records and inventory dropping to low levels. In 2021, the International used truck team sold all but 800 of the existing 6,000 used trucks in its inventory. International used truck operations continue to buy and sell inventory to support the International UTC and dealer network and new truck sales.

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The new 13,000-square-foot Joliet facility is located near multiple interstates, allowing easy access for vehicles and customers. The construction of the Houbolt Truck Bridge and Road Extension project taking place in the vicinity of the used truck center is expected to attract increased truck traffic, with nearly one-third of the country’s freight passing through the region every year, according to Navistar.

“Our team did extensive research regarding a centralized and easily accessible location for the new UTC, and Joliet was the ideal option,” said Tony Stinsa, used truck VP for the OEM. “Chicago metropolitan freight traffic is anticipated to double in the next 20 years, setting us up for a future of success in the area.”

The Chicago UTC has partnered with nearby International Truck dealer, Rush Truck Centers-Chicago, to provide maintenance services for the location’s eight new service bays. The dealer service technicians will contribute to reconditioning work and other service center needs.

The engineering calibration center at the used truck center will test future product offerings, complete diagnostics testing, identify potential risks and test the future products in the field. It also includes four drive-in test bays for stationary vehicle testing.

“The purpose for the calibration center is to see how our vehicles perform under various conditions and improve upon our engineering capabilities for future technologies,” said Steve Kadolph, engineering director, powertrain, at Navistar.

The updated digital showroom will offer customers the option to browse inventory before visiting the used truck location. A specialized service bay at the Chicago UTC will be designated for customer deliveries, photoshoots, and walkarounds to enhance the digital showroom.