KANSAS CITY, Mo. –Arrow Truck Sales is turning 60 this year and will be hosting customer and dealer events over the summer to celebrate the milestone.

The truck dealer was founded in April, 1950 as a small used truck lot in Kansas City by Jerry Nerman and the late Melvin Spitcaufsky. The two partners invested $8,000 into the operation. Today, Arrow Truck Sales boasts 19 retail locations in the US and Canada including Arrow Trucks Toronto which was recently named the 2009 Branch of the Year. The dealer’s branches carry an inventory of about 2,500 units of all makes and models.

In its formative years, Arrow was primarily a wholesaler but by the early 70s it expanded rapidly. Arrow built its current headquarters in Kansas City in 1977 and in the early 80s its wholesale business benefited from deregulation.

The company opened its first retail location in the 1980s with its Atlanta retail dealership opening its doors in 1984, the company recounts. The Volvo Group bought 50% of Arrow Truck Sales in 1998 and completed the acquisition in 2001. Founder Jerry Nerman turned 90 this year and subsequently announced his retirement after 60 years with the company. Asked why he was stepping down, he quipped “to pursue other interests.” Nerman is also known as the founder of the Used Truck Association. He’s an avid art collector.

“It’s truly amazing, and even a bit humbling, to realize where Arrow started as a company, and see where we are today,” said Carl Heikel, president and CEO of the company since 2004. “Our success and growth through the years is a direct reflection of our dedicated people, quality products, exceptional customer satisfaction and perseverance in an extremely competitive industry.”