Navistar honored G. Russ Trimble, dealer principal of Southwest International Trucks in Dallas, as the International Truck Dealer of the Year at its 31st Annual Circle of Excellence awards in Napa Valley, Calif.


Trimble is the 11th recipient of this honor. Navistar annually presents the International Truck Dealer of the Year award to only one of the more than 300 International Truck dealers and distributors throughout the world. The Dealer of the Year must be exceptional in all facets of the truck distribution business, including sales, parts and service. The International Dealer of the Year is also characterized by his or her distinguished level of investment back into the business, including investments in personnel, business processes and facilities.

Trimble became a dealer in 1982 when a number of truck sales employees took over former International Harvester Company truck sales branches and became dealers. Since then, Trimble has earned the Circle of Excellence 17 times. Starting with one dealership in Dallas, Trimble and his team grew into one of the pre-eminent, locally owned and operated truck dealerships in the Southwest, with 305 employees and four more locations in McKinney, Fort Worth, Arlington, and Bridgeport, Texas.

Southwest expanded in 2005 and 2006, adding 18 service bays, a used-truck operation, and a parts and service store that has become a full-line dealership. They have re-invigorated their Idealease lease and rental operations by naming a new president, growing their rental fleet and improving their presence on Irving Boulevard. Southwest International designed all their dealerships to provide an outstanding customer experience.