Scott Lamb, president of Atlantic Great Dane of South Portland, Maine, is the winner of the second annual National Trailer Dealer of the Year award.

Sponsors CitiCapital and the National Trailer Dealers Assn. announced the honor this week. The announcement originally was to be made during the NTDA annual conference in late September, which was cancelled in response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attack.
The winner was chosen from finalists evaluated by an independent panel of industry judges. This year's finalists also included: Thomas R. Leuner, president, Northeast Great Dane in Bridgewater, N.J., and Jeff Smith, president, Utility Tri-State in Claremore, Okla.
"Trailers are an essential part of the transportation industry, and trailer dealers are some of the unsung heroes behind the scenes, helping to make this country's transportation system the world's finest," said Doug Spencer, executive vice president, CitiCapital Transportation Finance.
Lamb, who was also a finalist in last year's competition, started the dealership with George "Joe" Hutchins in 1988, with Hutchins as financial partner and Lamb being responsible for all day-to-day decisions. Before that, he sold trailers and parts at Great Dane-Columbus in Columbus, Ohio, Northeast Great Dane in Peabody, Mass., and Trailmobile in Everett, Mass, with a career dating back to 1973.
Between 1990 and 2000, gross sales at Lamb's dealership have increased an average of just over 11 percent - a 10-year increase of more than 230 percent. Atlantic Great Dane sells 63 percent of the vans and reefers sold in its territory, the state of Maine. In addition to a strong sales presence in the state, the dealership is recognized as a leader in providing trailers to the food and dairy industries nationwide. In fact, in 2000, the dealership sold more new trailers out of territory than in territory.
"Our philosophy is that we do not expect our customers to be trailer experts; we are the trailer experts," Lamb says. "It is our job to listen to the customer problems, needs and wants, then find the best solution."
National Trailer Dealer of the Year Award nominees were evaluated on the basis of three criteria: dealership contribution and effectiveness, industry contribution and community involvement. This year's independent panel of industry judges included Richard Bowling, Truck Trailer Manufacturers Assn.; David Kolman, publisher, Truck Sales & Leasing magazine; Denise Rondini, Successful Dealer magazine; Bruce Sauer, Trailer/Body Builders magazine, and Alan Sims, International Trucking Show.