REGINA, Sask. — Custom Truck Sales (CTS) has recently celebrated its 40th anniversary with major customer events at its four locations in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

The Kenworth dealer was founded in 1965 by two generations of the Leach family with third generation family members at the helm today.

“My grandpa, Arnold Leach, was selling for another OEM but he thought Kenworth made a better truck and represented a brighter future,” said Brent Leach, Custom Truck Sales president. “He organized a group and approached Kenworth to obtain the franchise. My dad, Don Leach, left his job at the provincial gas transmission company and joined his father to start the dealership.”

Custom Truck Sales expanded five years later to Saskatoon, Sask., opened in Winnipeg, Man. in 1986, and added a parts and service facility in Estevan, Sask. in 2001.

“Our territory stretches 12 hours driving time east to west from western Ontario where we sell to loggers to western Saskatchewan where we sell to the oil patch,” said Leach, who has been with the dealership for 20 years. Today, Brent’s brother, Ken, leads the Regina location. Another brother, Rob, and sister, Wendy Williams, are non-operating partners.

Custom Truck Sales is part of the Kenworth dealer network of nearly 300 locations throughout Canada and the U.S. and is also affiliated with PacLease. The dealership’s Winnipeg location is its largest with a 35,000 square-foot facility, 24 service bays, and 75 employees.

While the trucking market in Saskatchewan and Manitoba has changed significantly over the years, Leach said that Custom Truck Sales has kept pace with an assist from Kenworth. “Having the Kenworth product has enabled us to sell to mining companies, the logging industry, construction companies, agricultural users, over-the-road fleets, and the oil and gas industry,” he said. “We sell the entire lineup of Kenworth heavy duty tractors and medium duty trucks with the T800, W900 and T600 leading the way.

“Our employees also have been a huge part of our success,” Leach said. “We have several in Regina and Saskatoon with us 25 years or more and many in Winnipeg approaching 20 years.”

Leach said the long partnership with Kenworth has worked well for Custom Truck Sales. “Kenworth makes quality trucks and is a quality company,” Leach said. “It’s been a great relationship over the past 40 years.”

“Custom Truck Sales is an outstanding dealership and a true leader in providing World’s Best support, facilities and technology to its customers,” said Bob Christensen, Kenworth general manager and PACCAR vice president. “Kenworth congratulates Custom Truck Sales on its 40th anniversary.”