Vanguard Truck Centers, a full-service commercial truck dealer group and leasing operation, acquired Nacarato Truck Centers to become one of Volvo Trucks’ largest dealer groups in North America. Vanguard’s primary OEM brands include Volvo, Tico, and Autocar heavy-duty trucks as well as Mack, Isuzu, and Hino medium-duty trucks.

The acquisition expands Vanguard’s presence to 28 Volvo full-service and parts-and-service-only locations across 11 states — Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Vanguard assumed full ownership of the Nacarato locations, including all existing stock and parts.

“This acquisition is not just about numbers — it's about joining two exemplary dealer groups to implement best practices, bolster synergies, and continue growing customer satisfaction, expanding customer access to the seamless support and services they have come to expect from both dealer groups,” said Peter Voorhoeve, president, Volvo Trucks North America.

Nacarato Truck Centers

Founded in 1976 in Nashville, Tennessee, Nacarato Truck Centers established itself as a key player in the commercial truck industry with a network of nine Volvo Trucks dealerships and service centers throughout Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, and Virginia.

Volvo said this strategic acquisition not only reflects the value of the Nacarato brand and its expertise in the commercial truck market, but also underscores its role as a trusted partner for customers seeking quality solutions within the Volvo Trucks ecosystem. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Nacarato Truck Centers to the Vanguard team. I have been friends with Mike Nacarato and his team for many years, and I have a tremendous respect for the platform they’ve built,” said Tom Ewing, president and chief executive officer of Vanguard Truck Centers.

Ewing said this investment indicates Vanguard’s continued belief in Volvo Trucks’ long-term positive trajectory, with best-in-class products and services for our customers.”

Volvo said the Nacarato and Vanguard teams will work closely to ensure a smooth ownership transition. Vanguard plans to retain all existing Nacarato employees, with CEO Mike Nacarato continuing to lead Nacarato Truck Centers under its existing brand.

"Over time, the groups will look for ways to leverage the combined scale of our network and strength of our teams to achieve more together for our customers and employees”, said Ewing. "For now, our primary goal is to support the Nacarato team as they continue to grow.”

Servicing Battery-Electric Trucks

Both dealership groups recognize that battery-electric trucks are an important part of the future of trucking and have invested in the required training and certification program to become Volvo Trucks Certified Electric Vehicle Dealers.

Vanguard recently announced that its sales and service teams are fully trained to support customers’ Volvo VNR Electric deployments at five locations — Phoenix, Arizona; Atlanta, Georgia (Forest Park); Charlotte, North Carolina; and Austin and Houston, Texas.

To become a Volvo Trucks Certified EV Dealer, Vanguard took advantage of a new financing program offered to dealers by Volvo Financial Services (VFS) that enabled its dealerships to install onsite charging stations and dedicated EV service bays, acquire diagnostic tools and personal protective equipment for technicians working with high-voltage systems, and purchase parts inventory for the VNR Electric model.

The acquisition of Nacarato adds three additional Volvo Trucks Certified EV Dealer locations in Roanoke, Virginia; La Vergne, Tennessee (serving the Nashville area); and Hagerstown, Maryland.

Locations to Maximize Uptime

With the completion of the acquisition of Nacarato Truck Centers, Vanguard now has more than 1,200 employees. All 28 Volvo Trucks dealership locations are also Certified Uptime Dealers, providing customers with access to almost 500 service bays to ensure efficient preventative service and thorough maintenance to maximize uptime and keep trucks on the road. 

“I have been searching for the right partner over the last few years, and through that process it became clear that Vanguard was the best fit for our employees, our customers, and our growth aspirations,” said Mike Nacarato, chief executive officer, Nacarato Truck Centers. “Our capabilities and offerings will only be enhanced by this combination, as we embark on this new chapter of growth and success together.”