Continental Improves Road Service Program, Holds Mascot Name Contest

Continental Tire the Americas’ commercial tire unit has launched both an updated emergency road service program for commercial trucks, and a contest to name the program’s mascot.

Continental TrukFix emergency road service hotline and assistance program for national account customers, recently underwent a number of enhancements aimed at improving customer service, communication and reliability.

According to Clif Armstrong, CTA director of truck tire marketing, the tiremaker has partnered with an outside firm to handle the 24/7/365 toll-free hotline – 877-TRUKFIX – connected to CTA’s network of more than 1,000 commercial tire dealers and service outlets throughout the U.S. and Canada.

As part of the enhanced service, Continental recently underwent a three-month service capability verification for all providers in its database, he said. Each emergency call is monitored and tracked through completion of the road service, and is now followed by a next-day contact to the dealer. “Pricing to the fleet for the services is regulated, and convenient billing through Continental’s national account invoicing system means that company drivers don’t have to be responsible for cash or credit card reimbursements.”

There are no membership fees and enrollment is automatic for Continental truck tire national accounts.

“This free service for our national account customers is now better than ever,” Armstrong said. “Not only do our customers have access via our website, the toll-free hotline and the truck tire dealer locator app for iPhone, but they also get peace of mind. With this launch we’re able to get them back on the road faster than ever before, and ensure that they receive regulated pricing on tires and related services.”

As part of program’s upgrade, CTA has chosen a character mascot, who will represent the TrukFix program at dealers, trade shows, events and for online communication. And the tiremaker is holding a national contest to name the mascot, with the winning entry earning an iPad 2 tablet computer.

The contest opens Feb. 6, and entries can be made at trukfix.com through Feb. 24, CTA said. Entries can also be made at the Continental Tire Facebook page, Armstrong said. CTA plans to unveil the mascot and give away miniatures at the Mid-America Trucking Show, Mar. 22-24 in Louisville.

Ascot Supply Corporation, based in Newnan, Georgia, has selected Mark Paquette for the newly created position of vice president. In this position, Ascot Supply said Paquette will oversee the growth of the company's products, corporate profitability, manage marketing and advertising and assume many other responsibilities.

He will work under the direction of current President David Kessler and officially begin his new role on June 3. Paquette joined the tire and automotive industry in the early 1980s at his father's tire shop, and his contributions to Mohawk Rubber Sales were instrumental in the company's growth and eventual sale to Myers Tire Supply in 2021, according to Ascot Supply. Paquette eventually was given a promotion to the role of director of operations at Myers Tire Supply.