One of our departments here at the dealership that has been growing exponentially has been our Fleet and Commercial sales. This week, we wanted to introduce our Fleet and Commercial Account Manager, Patrick Harrington. Patrick has over 20 years of automotive experience, and a local link to our area. He's one of the friendliest people here, while having vast stores of knowledge about the many vehicles he is able to match to his customers' needs. Whether you're looking for a fleet of 100 vehicles for a company, or a commercial heavy duty truck built to the Arkansas state regulations for hauling your specific cargo, Patrick is a professional and knowledgeable part of our team here at Lewis Automotive that will match you to the vehicle or vehicles that fit your needs.
Patrick is originally from California, but has been in Arkansas for most of his adult life. He currently resides in Mountainburg, AR, with his wife, along with pygmy goats and chickens. He enjoys hunting in his spare time, or spending time with his 4 children and 7 grandkids.
I wanted to ask Patrick about the top things to look for in a commercial vehicle, and he highlighted three areas: safety, longevity, and most importantly, matching the vehicle to the specifications set by the Arkansas Department of Transportation for the work the vehicle will be doing. If your payload and tow capacity needs to be over 10,000 pounds, with your truck being outfitted with a flatbed and tow hitch, he can either build or find you a truck or commercial van that fits your exact needs.
Some of his top picks for vehicles that can handle the rough and tumble daily grind of a commercial vehicle would be:
The standard features of the RAM 3500 Tradesman include HEMI 6.4L V-8 410hp engine, 8-speed automatic transmission with overdrive, 4-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS), side seat mounted airbags, curtain 1st row overhead airbag, airbag occupancy sensor, air conditioning, 18" styled steel wheels, cruise control, ABS and driveline traction control, electronic stability.
The standard features of the RAM ProMaster 1500 Low Roof include Pentastar 3.6L V-6 280hp engine, 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive, 4-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS), side seat mounted airbags, curtain 1st row overhead airbag, air conditioning, 16" steel wheels, ABS and driveline traction control, Crosswind Assist electronic stability, power windows, power locks.
The standard features of the Ford F-450 XL include Powerstroke 6.7L V-8 475hp intercooled turbo engine, 10-speed automatic transmission with overdrive, 4-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS), side seat mounted airbags, Safety Canopy System curtain 1st row overhead airbag, air conditioning, 19.5" forged aluminum wheels, driveline traction control, AM/FM stereo with 4 speakers, voice activation radio with steering wheel controls, FordPass Connect 4G internet access.
The standard features of the Ford Transit Connect XL include 2.0L I-4 162hp engine, 8-speed automatic transmission with overdrive, 4-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS), side seat mounted airbags, Safety Canopy System curtain 1st row overhead airbag, airbag occupancy sensor, air conditioning, 16" steel wheels, ABS and driveline traction control, AdvanceTrac w/Roll Stability Control electronic stability, power windows.
To get a hold of Patrick, feel free to visit the Commercial Vehicles section of our website, or you can call Patrick directly at (479)582-6203.