California-based Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company has expanded its Seabrook, NH dealership by opening a second location in nearby Hopedale, MA in order to better serve customers in the areas south of Boston.
The new location serves Rhode Island, Connecticut and Western Massachusetts, while the original Seabrook location shifts its focus to areas north of Boston, such as Eastern Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont.
Jon Comeford, president of Utility Trailer of New England, noted that the rising cost of fuel was a major factor in his decision to open the new location.
“We want to help our customers improve their bottom lines by minimizing the downtime and expense of having trailers out of service,” he said. ‘By being closer, we can be more responsive to their needs.”
The dealership also made personnel changes to handle the expansion, hiring Gary Fruscello as vp & gm last April to help streamline operations, operating systems and accounting functions to accommodate a multiple location dealership. Al Smith, service manager, heads up the service departments at both locations, while Jim Haley assumes the role of parts director and operations manager as new hire Ed Smith takes over as parts manager for the flagship Seabrook location.