Sterling plant manager to open dealership in London, Ont.

WILLOUGHBY, Ohio (June 21, 1999) — The manager of Sterling Truck Corp.’s plant in St. Thomas, Ont., will leave the position next month to become the branch manager of a new Sterling Truck dealership in London, Ont.

Terry Bruni has been manager at the plant since 1994. He oversaw its transition from building trucks for Freightliner Corp., Sterling’s corporate parent, starting in April 1998.

Bruni will manage the company-owned facility initially, with the intent to purchase it at a later date, according to a company statement. The new dealership will be located at the intersection of Hwy. 401 and Wellington Road in London.

Freightliner Corp. president and CEO Jim Hebe called the London location “vitally important. … We intend it to be a flagship for the entire Sterling Truck brand.”

Bruni’s successor at St. Thomas has not been named. J. Hal Fraser has been named assistant plant manager. He had been materials manager at St. Thomas since March 1998.

Sterling builds 111 trucks a day at St. Thomas. Since Sterling production began there, the plant has grown physically by 40% and employment has risen by nearly 70% to 1800 people.