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CSM Spotlight
CSM Spotlight
Allison Smith
Allison Smith
When I'm not helping our dealership partners, you can often find me on a job site, happily getting my hands dirty. I love to build, and thanks to my trusty Milwaukee tools, I've got a knack for everything from basic plumbing and electrical to hanging drywall, tiling, and even building my own furniture and chessboards. My ultimate goal is to one day earn my General Contractor's license, so I love talking shop with our pros! Speaking of my professional life, my ride is a 1998 Jeep Wrangler Sport named Dory. While she's not much of a work truck—I can barely fit an 8' board in her without it sticking out the front window—what she lacks in size, she makes up for in utility. She's my go-to for off-roading adventures, and she'll be with me for my first Archery Deer season this month, which I'm incredibly excited about! Though I love Dory, she's only my second-best purchase. My number one is my English Springer Spaniel, Winston. We're a team, a two-for-one package deal. Winston loves to lay under my desk during the work day. I genuinely enjoy working with our dealers and always look forward to hearing about your latest hunting or fishing trips and, of course, learning more about the industry from you!
Dealer Spotlight- Scott Sodergren, Hamilton Chevrolet of Warren
Dealer Spotlight- Scott Sodergren, Hamilton Chevrolet of Warren
Say ‘Hello’ to Scott Sodergren, our August Dealer Spotlight!
How long has Hamilton Chevrolet of Warren been serving the community?
Scott: Since 1996, almost 30 years now.
What is Hamilton Chevrolet of Warren’s favorite way to give back to the local area?
Scott: We have many preferred ways to give back to our community. We have been a long-time supporter of the following local organizations:
Winning Futures (Founding and original supporting origination)
Warren Consolidated School for the Performing Arts
Gilda’s Club of Michigan
American Cancer Society
But our strongest support has probably been for the Make-a-Wish foundation of Michigan. They supported the Hamilton family by granting a wish to owner Don and Aleta Hamilton’s son Christopher in the early 1980s (his wish was to meet Hulk Hogan) shortly before he passed away from cancer. Since then, the Hamilton family has given away multiple cars as fundraisers, and built an endowment with over $1,000,000 for MAW Michigan.
What is your role at the dealership?
Scott: I am the Commercial Truck manager, I also sell them to business customers, and I also have a good size clientele that I lease and sell new and used vehicles too since 1996. I also assist with all of the digital advertising including our main website, Google, Facebook, etc.
How has Work Truck Solutions helped you in your role?
Scott: Extremely helpful from properly displaying my Commercial Vehicles to finding hard to find commercial vehicles. Leads from Comvoy as well as vehicle details stickers in windows with specs and pricing just to name a few.
What's your favorite thing about working with Work Truck Solutions?
Scott: I love working with companies big and small, especially small business owners. I love being able to help make their job easier and love being able to make the process easy for them so they can concentrate on their own day to day activities.
What's one piece of advice you would like to give that has helped you throughout your career?
Scott: It takes a village, can’t do it alone, ask for help and utilize your resources and with a little patience you will be successful.
Would you recommend Work Truck Solutions to other dealerships? Why?
Scott: So many reasons from all of the experienced managers to top notch software Work Truck Solutions helps me get in front of more and more qualified buyers just have to put in the work or the layout.
Brain Break
Brain Break
August in Commercial Vehicle History
It's August, and while you're probably trying to beat the heat, we're taking a look back at some of the hottest moments in commercial vehicle history!
A Hot Start for the Transit: On August 9, 1965, the very first Ford Transit van rolled off the assembly line in the UK. This workhorse was so popular that in some countries, "Transit" became a generic term for a van—like how we use "Kleenex" for tissues. Fun fact: The factory where it was built used to make fighter planes during World War II!
A "Tremendous Pace": Back in 1896, on a summer day in London, Bridget Driscoll became the world's first motor vehicle traffic fatality. She was struck by a Roger-Benz, which was allegedly moving at a "tremendous pace" of a whopping 4 mph. A reminder that even back then, speed was a relative concept—especially when the car's maximum was 8 mph.
From "Grabowsky" to "GMC": The name we know and love as GMC has a fun backstory. It was founded in 1900 as the "Grabowsky Motor Company" by brothers Max and Morris Grabowsky. In 1909, it was acquired by General Motors, and the rest is history. We're guessing "Grabowsky Trucks" didn't have the same ring to it?
The Original Ford Pickup: While Ford was busy selling Model T cars, people started getting creative, converting them into trucks. Ford took notice and in August 1925, introduced the first factory-built Model T pickup. It was priced at a cool $281 and had a steel bed perfect for hauling. This was the true ancestor of the modern-day F-150!
Making a Great Escape: During World War I, GM was a major supplier of military vehicles. By August 1918, more than 90% of its truck production was for military use. A GMC truck was driven from Seattle to New York in just 30 days in 1916—a cross-country trip that sounds like a serious test drive!
Happy August, everyone! Keep on truckin'.
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