Mississippi-based Volvo Trucks dealer expands operations

One of the largest Volvo Trucks dealerships serving the Gulf Coast region has doubled in size with the recent purchase of three new locations in southern Louisiana. Old River Truck Sales now has six locations and nearly 200 employees in the region.

Old River purchased dealerships in Lake Charles, St. Rose (serving New Orleans) and Breaux Bridge (near Lafayette), adding more than 115,500 square feet and around 25 technicians. The acquisition gives customers more convenient access to sales, parts and service along Louisiana’s Interstate 10 corridor.

"Volvo Trucks customers who have experience with Old River are especially excited about the expansion because it gives them more options for exceptional service and support,” said Göran Nyberg, president of Volvo Trucks North America. “We’re pleased that Old River has made this investment to serve more of our customers in the region.”

Headquartered in Richland, Mississippi, Old River also has locations in Laurel, Mississippi, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

“Our company’s slogan is ‘We Work Harder,’ and we try to live up to that promise with every sale and service,” said Lee White, Old River president. “This expansion represents an important milestone for our Volvo Trucks customers and our employees.”

White started Old River in 1982 at age 19, initially selling wire rope and other logging supplies from his family’s farm in Woodville, Mississippi. In 2001 the company opened Old River Volvo, Mississippi’s only full-line Volvo Trucks dealer.

Since 2010, Volvo Trucks and its dealers have invested more than $530 million resulting in a 50 percent increase in service bay capacity, a 372 percent increase in Volvo master technicians and a 63 percent increase in overall service capacity.