BURLINGTON, Ont. – Sheehan’s Truck Centre recently swept the Canadian category of the Volvo Master Sales Leader conference awards, taking home eight awards, not least of which was the prestigious Canadian Volvo Dealership of the Year award.

“It was a surprise for us, we were all there for the presentation and it was a really nice honor,” said John Murphy, sales manager for Sheehan’s.

John Murphy also won three awards for Most Vocational Units Sold, Most Variety of Customers and Most Volvo Engines Sold. Mike Murphy won for the Most Used Trucks Sold. Adam Cziraki, Mike Murphy and Dennis Sheehan all met their individual sales targets and received Master Sales Leader Awards.

Volvo Trucks North America Inc. honored top sales professionals from its dealer network at the conference held in Cancun, Mexico in May.

“It takes hard work and dedication to make it to the top in the trucking industry,” said Scott Kress, Volvo Trucks senior vice-president of sales. “But there are a few who combine hard work with creativity and the ability to really meet the customer’s needs. Volvo’s Master Sales Leaders are in that select group.”

It was clear that Sheehan’s Truck Centre was among those few organizations when they accepted eight of Volvo’s awards.

The family-owned business was founded in 1989 when Pat and Gayle Sheehan opened a used truck centre in Aberfolye, Ont., they then obtained a Volvo franchise in 1991. Sheehan’s moved to its current Burlington location in 1996 and since then, Pat and Gayle have handed over the reigns to their son, Dennis, and daughter, Kelly.

Dennis Sheehan said he is proud to have taken over the family business.

“It is something my parents started and my sister and I are lucky to be able to carry it on and be successful at it. We grew up talking about it at the dinner table and we are still talking about it at the dinner table. It has become our life, and it is a great feeling that this award is our first big one since my sister and I took over from my parents in 2000,” he said.

The achievement would not have been possible without loyal customers and the continued support from Volvo Trucks Canada, said Murphy.

Criteria for the Dealership of the Year award included sales numbers in new and used trucks, the variety of customers in terms of the number of owner/operators and fleet buyers, the applications offered and the percentage of Volvo engines that power the trucks sold, Murphy said.

“The reputation Sheehan’s has built, along with a young, aggressive crew and a product that is second to none, has guided us to where we are today,” he said.

Dennis Sheehan said the key to his truck centre’s success has been hard work.

“We have about 65 employees and everybody works really hard. Whether we are related or not, we are like one big family and we treat everybody like family too. It’s a fun place to work and that is a big contributor to our success,” he said.