ORANGE, Calif., May 1, 2008 – A formidable team with a winning tradition, Erion Racing competes on the highly competitive Motorcycle Superbike Racing Circuit. As the team travels around the country, it wants to project the same winning image driving into the racetrack that it demonstrates on the racetrack.
“Ours is a very high profile, high visibility and image-driven business,” said Kevin Erion, president of Erion Racing, headquartered in Orange, Calif. “Our Kenworth T2000s fit the image profile perfectly, with both cutting-edge technological features and sleek aerodynamic design.”
When the team’s first Kenworth T2000 arrived on the circuit in 2001, other teams and sponsors took notice. “I soon realized there were other high visibility companies involved in racing that also wanted to project a good image with a quality truck, but they didn’t necessarily want to own a truck,” said Erion. “So I thought, if I could operate one truck, why not two, four or six? That was the beginning of my trucking business.”
As more customers signed on, Erion incorporated his truck leasing company and christened it RiLauJa, an acronym for his three daughters Riley, Lauren and Jamie. All of RiLauJa LLC’s clients are involved in racing, says Erion, who has expanded his fleet to seven trucks – all T2000s – each one specially spec’d for individual customers.
“Some of my trucks have automatic transmissions because the clients prefer them,” Erion says. “Some have bigger engines. The only thing that I have standardized on is the Kenworth T2000 because of its performance design.
“Everyone who drives for me says it’s the best truck they have ever driven. There’s not one specific thing that they point to and say ‘that’s what I like most about the truck,’ because everything about the Kenworth T2000 is quality. It’s comfortable, roomy and smooth riding. Drivers love them.”
With 75-inch AERODYNE(R) sleepers and Diamond VIT interiors on his latest purchases, Erion’s drivers enjoy great comfort in over-the-road trucking. Spec’ing high quality interiors has an added advantage at trade-in time, says Erion. “There’s a good market for Kenworths, especially with low mileage and pristine interiors, and we keep our interiors immaculate.”
Erion plans to trade his T2000s after six years of service, or about 300,000 miles. The oldest truck currently has only 240,000 miles. “Our trucks arrive at the race track and sit there for two or three days,” he says, pointing out that each truck puts on only 40,000 miles annually. “Our most important measurement is customer satisfaction. We cater to whatever our racing clients need with a sort of a la carte service. Some need a tractor and driver, so I provide both. Others have their own drivers.”
With such a strong customer service orientation, it’s no wonder Erion appreciates his Kenworth dealer, Inland Kenworth of Fontana, Calif. “Those guys take care of me like I buy 100 trucks a year,” he says. “It’s amazing the service I get. It’s so enjoyable doing business with a group of people who treat me like I’m their No. 1 customer. That’s exactly how I try to treat my customers.”
Kenworth Truck Company is the manufacturer of The World’s Best heavy and medium duty trucks. In addition, Kenworth is the recipient of the 2007 J.D. Power and Associates awards for Highest in Customer Satisfaction for Over The Road, Pickup and Delivery and Vocational Segment Class 8 trucks. Kenworth’s home page is www.kenworth.com. Kenworth. A PACCAR Company.
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