Worldwide Equipment, a heavy-duty truck dealer group based in Prestonsburg, Kentucky, has purchased the Columbia and Greenville S.C. locations of Cherokee Kenworth.


Both locations will integrate into the operations of the larger dealer network, and officially opened as Worldwide Equipment of South Carolina effective Monday. The acquisition is Worldwide's first venture into the state of South Carolina.

"We're excited about the opportunity to do business in South Carolina," says Worldwide Equipment COO Scott Blevins. "In addition to offering our existing customers a wider service area, we expect to make several new long-term partnerships to replicate the success that we've had in the surrounding states. With the quality of employees, products, and customers, there's plenty of potential in these locations."

Existing staff will remain in place with few exceptions and additional positions are currently being advertised.

"A few members of our existing staff will facilitate the transition to our network, but the additions we'll be looking to make will be from the local areas in both cities," Blevins said.

In Columbia, formerly of Cherokee Kenworth's leasing department Shawn Broadway has been named division manager. This location will offer new and used truck sales, parts and service support, finance, insurance and leasing.

In Greenville, current operations manager Ken Wood will lead the division. Having been with the company for several years, Wood views the change in ownership as a positive business decision with plenty of room for growth. The Greenville location will also offer a full range of services with an additional leasing office in Piedmont.

Columbia and Greenville are two of Worldwide Equipment's three new dealerships added in 2011. The company also operates 13 other full-service dealership locations, along with 20 parts and leasing stores, in West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio. The company anticipates growing its facilities and locations in the near future.

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