Volvo honours top US rental franchises

Volvo Rents, the rental arm of Volvo Construction Equipment, named franchise holder Paul Bullock and family in the US as its 2008 Franchise of the Year. It is the third year in a row that the Louisiana family has won the honour.

The Bullock family opened its first Volvo Rents franchise in West Monroe, Louisiana in 2003. In 2004 it added a store in Alexandria and in 2007 a store in Bossier City. Volvo said the three Louisiana stores are widely recognized by their clients for being the "friendliest rental stores in town".

The Franchise of the Year Award is given to the owner group that demonstrates strong store growth, return on fleet, receivables management, training attendance, marketing, branding and appearance. The 2008 award was presented at Volvo Rents' annual Franchise Convention held in February in Palm Springs, California.

The award for New Franchise of the Year went to the outlet at Longmont and Colorado Springs, Colorado, owned by Dick Lammers, Christian Holmsen and Bobby Creason.

Volvo Rents operates 83 rental stores in North America, 79 in Europe and one in Mexico.