Mike Waters, president of Waters Truck and Tractor Co. in Mississippi, was named the 2005 Truck Dealer of the Year during ceremonies last weekend at the American Truck Dealers convention in Orlando, Fla.

The award, co-sponsored by the American Truck Dealers and Heavy Duty Trucking magazine, recognizes top dealers for excellence in business practices, industry contribution and community leadership.
Waters, a third-generation dealership owner, operates out of four full-service locations in Mississippi and another facility dedicated to contract maintenance. The International dealership’s territory runs 190 miles north to south and 160 miles east to west and covers an area with a combined population of less than 100,000 people.

Finalists for Truck Dealer of the Year for 2004 are:

Bob Dwyer
President
Allentown Truck Sales & Service
Allentown, Pa.
(Mack, Volvo, Mitsubishi Fuso)

Tim Fyda
Fyda Inc.
Columbus, Ohio
(Freightliner, Sterling, Western Star, Daimler Chrysler Vans)

Jon Pritchett
President and CEO
Nextran Corp.
Lake City, Fla.
(Mack, Volvo, Isuzu, Mitsubishi Fuso, GMC, Terex Advance Mixers)

Other nominees for Dealer of the Year are:

Carter Baker
President
Peterbilt of Knoxville
Knoxville, Tenn.
(Peterbilt)

Doug Cayce
President
Northwest Ford & Sterling Truck Center/TransChicago Truck Group
Franklin Park, Ill.
(Ford, Freightliner, Sterling, Western Star, Freightliner Custom Chassis)

Jim McCullough
President
General Truck Sales & Service
Memphis, Tenn.
(GMC, Volvo)

Robert Hoover
President
Hoover Truck Centers
Flanders, N.J.
(Sterling, Western Star)