As a testament to dedication and passion for the industry they serve, the three gentlemen in the Commercial and Fleet Division at Vista Ford of Oxnard have a century of combined experience in the automotive Industry. Through personal attention to detail, educating customers is a hallmark of service at the dealership.

Jim Cory, general manager of the commercial division, clocks in with 40 years; Fleet Manager Bob Archuletta has 43 years; and Don Satterfield, a commercial account manager, has enjoyed an automotive career spanning 17 years. All have been with Vista Ford's Commercial Division since its inception in 2000 and each is a Certified Master Commercial Salesperson through Ford Motor Co.

While Cory and Satterfield incorporate serving the diverse needs of small to medium-size business customers, Archuletta takes on the role of fleet operations, serving local government agencies, city departments, municipalities and private companies. Fleet customers who purchase vehicles in higher numbers also fall under Archuletta's care. Customers experience the dedication and loyalty of the commercial staff and appreciate the longevity and dedication each displays through continuous service at the dealership.

Vista Ford General Manager Randy Haddock says the Commercial Division at his dealership is a valuable tool for business people who require the knowledge and expertise from a true truck professional that can advise how to maximize payloads and keep their business running strong.

"Jim, Bob and Don are a dynamite team who really care about our commercial customers where they are going in the future and how we can help to get them there," said Haddock.

The commercial and fleet department specializes in working with people who don't just need a truck, but need a truck to accomplish life goals through the job they do.

"In the case of commercial vehicles we are selling, we sell tools, not toys," Cory said. "These trucks make money for people and if the tool is not the right fit for the job, he/she can't work."

Customers who purchase commercial or fleet vehicles at Vista Ford are enrolled in Ford Motor Co.'s Business Preferred program. As members, business owners are entitled to a number of unique benefits including complimentary delivery of new vehicles to the jobsite or designated drop, custom finance and leasing programs through Ford Motor Credit, Ford Fleet program support, pricing and incentives. Other perks include discounts on parts and service, next bay availability in emergency situations, managed maintenance programs, aggressive pricing, employee purchase program and designated service advisors.

Not every Ford dealership is qualified as designated Business Preferred, however. The certification process is stringent, based on sales, service and customer satisfaction and must be reviewed each year to retain this elite status.

"We go through a lot of training to become certified commercial specialists and are experts at determining what vehicle will best fit the needs of customers," Cory said. "We have a legal and moral obligation to consider the end-use application of a vehicle. We want to provide this assurance to our customers."

"Having a wealth of experience and knowledge about the correct weights, towing, pulling and payload capacities of each truck is of vital importance to us and our customers," Archuletta said. "It is a big deal to know these numbers and to make sure customers understand the limitations as well as capabilities."

While many Web sites and publications may guide consumers to the facts and figures of purchasing a truck by offering comparisons in payload and towing capacities, the experts at Vista Ford of Oxnard have hands-on experience and take the issue very seriously. "We qualify individual needs and meet them by selecting the truck we know will exceed their needs and because of this we retain customers for life. Our customers trust us."

To meet the needs of business customers, Vista Ford has a selection of more than 75 commercial trucks on-site — the largest commercial Ford selection of on-site inventory in Ventura County.

Because of the high volume of commercial sales through the years, Vista Ford of Oxnard has established a great working relationship with many top conversion manufacturers to custom design truck beds, including Stahl, Marathon, Royal, Scelzi Enterprises, Supreme and Harbor.

"We want to make the experience of buying commercial vehicles as turn-key as possible," Cory said. "Time is money and business people do not have the time to sit in a dealership for hours to purchase a new vehicle. They want to call us on the phone, come in, sign documents and drive it off the lot in 20 minutes or less."

For customers, the Commercial Division stands as a true partnership between buyer and seller. But it goes much deeper than this.

"We don't just sell a truck to a customer, we stay with them for the entire ownership experience," Satterfield said. "The sale is only the beginning when they grow, we grow, and we want to be there for them. When they hurt, we hurt and we are here to help."

For service needs, a dedicated Commercial and Fleet Service Department ensures vehicles are attended to by Master Certified Service Advisors and serviced by Vista 's on-site Master Certified technicians. It is one of the few dealerships in Ventura County certified to handle heavy-duty trucks, including the newest F-450 Diesel truck, and also services fleet automobiles and trucks for larger businesses.

Going above and beyond in service is a source of pride for Cory, Satterfield and Archuletta. Having the confidence in ownership that stands by and support its efforts benefits customers, no matter where the road takes them.

Satterfield reminds customers, "If you've got a job, we've got a truck at Vista Ford for you."

Vista Ford of Oxnard is in the Oxnard Auto Center at 1501 Auto Center Drive.

For more information, call 983-6511, or visit the Web site at www.vistaauto.com.