Kerlin Honored For Thomas Bus SalesSILVER LAKE - Kerlin Bus Sales and Leasing, Silver Lake, earned the Thomas Built Buses Dealer of the Year Designation for 2008.
Clifford Zehr, president and general manager of Kerlin Bus Sales, said, "We're one of only seven companies that's ever received it more than once. The last time we received this award was in 1995. They don't come by very often."The award is based on a set of 10 criteria. The company's outstanding area was in customer service. John O'Leary, president and CEO of Thomas Built Buses, stated that Kerlin's "JD Power scores are consistently high and often ranking as high as 999 out of 1000."
Zehr said, "It's a testimony to my staff for the quality of work they do. We really take it to heart to treat our customers the way they would like to be treated."
The company has about 30 employees throughout Indiana, and sells new buses in the state and used buses throughout the world.
Kerlin Bus Sales and Leasing is a family-owned and operated Thomas Built Buses dealership.
Russell Kerlin founded the Kerlin Motor Co. in 1927. Originally they sold Fords. In 1962, the company became Kerlin Bus Sales when Kerlin's son, Ed, sold the first Thomas Built Bus.
Ed's two daughters, Lora Ogden and Cindy Zehr, currently own the business. Zehr's daughter, Melanie Zehr, also has entered the business ensuring that Kerlin Bus Sales will continue to serve Indiana for years to come.
The award helps support the idea that this family business has succeeded in fulfilling their mission statement: "Kerlin Bus Sales, your partner in transportation, is committed to serve above and beyond the expectations of all customers with honesty, integrity, and respect."
According to Zehr, it is all to the credit of their hardworking employees. "It's because of them that we got the award," he said.
