Leslie Doggett Industries, one of the largest family-owned businesses in Houston, expanded its footprint in the Austin region with new dealership acquisitions this week adding $120+ million in annual sales to Doggett’s revenues approaching $2 billion.

 

Through its heavy duty truck division, Doggett acquired dealerships for Freightliner, Western Star and Detroit Diesel from the Austin Freightliner Group of commercial dealerships previously owned by the Jay Hendrix Family. Financial terms of the acquisitions in Austin, Georgetown and Buda, Texas, were not disclosed.

 

The acquisitions from Austin Freightliner Group complement Doggett's existing footprint of Freightliner dealerships in San Antonio, El Paso and cities in the Rio Grande Valley including Laredo, Pharr and Brownsville.

 

"Bringing Austin Freightliner into the company culture that has led to all our success will be a win-win for our customers and our team of dedicated folks," said Paul Burk, executive vice president and general manager of the Doggett Truck Group. "Doggett has historically doubled the number of technicians after acquisitions providing best-in-class training, processes, benefits and compensation packages. We plan to dramatically grow Austin Freightliner the same way."

 

Doggett grew its dealership count to 40 with the additions in the Austin market. The firm has locations or geographic coverage in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and New Mexico.

 

In April, Doggett announced acquiring Western Star, Autocar Trucks and Detroit Diesel locations in the San Antonio market from Grande Group in April.

 

Doggett is the Freightliner, Western Star and Autocar dealer for the state of Arkansas with locations in Little Rock, Van Buren, Searcy and the Springdale/Fayetteville market. The family-owned heavy equipment dealer bought privately held Truck Centers of Arkansas for $103 million in May 2018.

 

In 2019, Doggett Truck Group acquired Truck Enterprises Inc., an authorized Western Star, Detroit Diesel and heavy duty trailer dealer, which added locations in El Paso and Carlsbad, New Mexico and grew the company headcount. Less than a month later, Doggett picked up the privately held Great Dane Trailer distributor/dealer for El Paso, Laredo and McAllen/Pharr, Texas, with territory stretching to Las Cruces, New Mexico.

 

Doggett is a Houston based diversified heavy equipment dealer/distributor for 7 first-tier manufacturers (www.DOGGETT.com) that are either number 1 or 2 in their respective industries: John Deere Construction and Forestry Equipment (18 dealerships), Toyota Industrial Equipment - forklifts & material handling (7 dealerships), Freightliner On-highway and Vocational Trucks (9 dealerships), Western Star On-Highway and Vocational Trucks (located in most of our Freightliner dealerships), Great Dane On-Highway Trailers (1 dealership), LinkBelt Cranes (4 dealerships), Doggett/Vernon Gene’s/Woolford Heavy Duty Truck Diesel Parts Stores (7 stores), and one Ford Auto dealership reported to be the fastest growing Ford store in the nation. Doggett employees approximately 2200 full time employees with 40 dealerships approaching $2 billion in annual sales. Doggett is a family owned business without outside investors.

Houston, TX. – (Apr 23, 2021) – Leslie Doggett Industries through its Heavy Duty Truck Division has acquired the San Antonio dealerships for Western Star (Daimler North America’s Vocational and On-Highway Heavy Duty Truck line), Autocar (Severe Duty Class 7 and Class 8 vocational trucks – known for outstanding Trash/Waste Bodied Trucks) and Detroit Diesel from the Grande group of commercial dealerships owned by Richard (Dick) Kane for the past 50+ years.

Paul Burke, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Doggett Truck Group said, “this acquisition will fit in very nicely with our outstanding service organization which was voted the #1 dealership in the US by Successful Dealer Magazine. Technicians and their work are everything to Doggett and our customers; we live and breathe UPTIME. Folding Western Star, Autocar and Detroit Diesel in to our fabulous work environment will be a win-win for our customers and our team of dedicated folks. This is all very exciting.”

This acquisition complements Doggett’s existing Texas Freightliner dealerships in San Antonio, Laredo, Pharr, Brownsville and El Paso giving Doggett Freightliner of Texas distribution rights for all Freightliner and Western Star branded trucks, Autocar and Detroit Diesel for the Greater San Antonio Market with full service/sales/leasing dealerships. Doggett is also the Freightliner, Western Star and Autocar dealer for the State of Arkansas with dealerships in Little Rock, Van Buren, Searcy and Springdale/Fayetteville.

Freightliner is the North American brand for the world’s largest truck maker, Daimler Benz Trucks (German/Frankfurt – Daimler AG). Additionally, Freightliner is North America’s largest highway (18 wheeler) and vocational truck manufacturer with an unprecedented market share often exceeding 40% having more than double the market share of Peterbilt, Kenworth, Mack and Volvo.Doggett is a Houston based diversified heavy equipment dealer/distributor for 7 first-tier manufacturers (www.DOGGETT.com) that are either number 1 or 2 in their respective industries: John Deere Construction and Forestry Equipment (18 dealerships), Toyota Industrial Equipment - forklifts & material handling (7 dealerships), Freightliner On-highway and Vocational Trucks (7 dealerships), Western Star On-Highway and Vocational Trucks (located in most of our Freightliner dealerships), Vernon Gene’s Truck & Diesel Depot (1 dealership), Great Dane On-Highway Trailers (1 dealership), LinkBelt Cranes (4 dealerships) and one Ford Auto dealership reported to be the fastest growing Ford store in the nation. With all dealerships supported though Doggett’s in-house retail financing entity, Diesel Finance & Leasing LLC.

This acquisition, on the heels of Doggett’s purchase of one of Houston’s oldest and largest Ford dealerships (Lone Star Ford), boosts Doggett’s dealership count to 35 which are located and/or have geographic responsibilities throughout Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas and New Mexico. Doggett, founded by Leslie Doggett and Brady Carruth in 1993 with 17 employees, was ranked in 2019 by the Houston Business Journal as Houston’s Largest Family Owned Business (without outside investors of any kind) with annual sales approaching $2 billion through its 35 dealerships.

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Houston, TX. – (Nov 25, 2020) – Doggett Ford, the #1 fastest growing dealership in Texas and #2 in the United States, is proud to introduce its new state-of-the-art, full-service dealership to better serve retail and commercial automotive customers in the Greater Houston Area. Before completing its new facility, Doggett Ford operated out of trailers during the 18 months of construction. During that time, all dealership departments not only remained fully functional but grew to become Ford’s number one fastest growing dealer in Texas and number two in the USA despite operating out of trailers, an achievement none has accomplished so far. That outstanding growth is due to the innovative approach which combines Doggett’s industrial, heavy equipment culture and professionalism with Ford’s tradition of excellence in the automotive industry.

Houston, TX. – (Feb 23, 2021) – Doggett Freightliner continues to grow, expanding into the Brownsville area to provide expedited parts and unmatched service support for local customers. With the new Brownsville facility, Doggett Freightliner will have nine locations throughout Texas and Arkansas, including San Antonio, El Paso, Laredo, and Pharr, Texas, along with North Little Rock, Springdale, and Van Buren, Arkansas. The Brownsville facility complements Doggett's existing Freightliner and Western Star dealerships that now sell and service flatbeds, dry freight, refrigerated vans, and other over-the-road truck offerings. This new location will help local customers maximize uptime with expedited parts and dependable mobile support.

HOUSTON, Texas, Aug. 6, 2020 – Doggett Ford is truly honored to announce it has partnered with The 100 Club to present a new 2020 Ford F-150 Platinum truck to Houston Police Department Senior Police Officer Chase Cormier. Cormier sustained severe injuries and survived the horrific helicopter crash that took the life of his longtime friend and partner on May 2 of this year. In support of Cormier, Doggett Ford is proud to contribute $21,000, while The 100 Club covered an additional $50,000 of the truck expense.

  1. Doggett Industries Acquires Great Dane Trailer Dealership
  2. Leslie Doggett Industries Acquires Truck Enterprises Inc.
  3. Toyota Industries North America Acquires Hoist Liftruck
  4. No. 10: Heavy equipment dealer Leslie Doggett Industries makes the grade

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