Serving sightseers Jacksonville FL

When people are traveling North America by motorhome, it's comforting for them to know there's a place close by that can take care of their RV. In the past year, the Caterpillar RV Center network has grown from 56 initial locations to more than 100, with more joining the network every month.

"RV owners have different needs from truck drivers or other motorists. The growth of our Cat RV Center network indicates how important it is to make sure the services that meet these needs are readily available," said Tony Kapustka with the Bus and Specialty Vehicle Group for Caterpillar On-Highway Engines. "We offer everything from comfortable waiting rooms with cable television to specially trained technicians and service bays dedicated to RV service at locations throughout the U.S. and Canada."

Carolina Cat RV Center

A perfect example is Carolina Cat RV Center in Statesville, N.C. This location features a wide center bay reserved for RVs, mobile lifts designed for motorhomes, diagnostics and other specialized equipment for better servicing.

"We are currently adding four more bays to the Statesville location, while following the same basic floor plan at our other service centers," said Jeff Greenway, product support manager for Carolina Cat. "That floor plan includes a private lounge, satellite TV, refreshments and comfortable furnishings. We also treat each motorhome with kid gloves, particularly when we have to enter the interior of the vehicle to service it. We never forget that these are people's homes, and it's something we take very seriously."

Becoming certified as a Cat RV Center location involves a significant commitment in terms of training and resources from a Cat dealer, and all are audited annually to ensure quality of service, according to Kapustka. The certification process includes training for service personnel, as well as mandatory facility enhancements, such as the new lifts and building renovations at the Carolina Cat RV Center.

A new "level" of support

Cat RV Centers certified through Level One are required to provide 24-hour, seven-day emergency service assistance, a clean bay and protection for the interior of the vehicle (including using drop cloths, booties and performing a condition assessment), a clean, comfortable waiting room with Internet access and cable television, and generator repair.

Level Two includes all of the previous features, with the addition of chassis service and mobile lifts with a service pit. Level Three, the highest level attainable, includes all of these features plus technicians certified by the RV Industry Association, a house repairs system, complimentary potable water and electrical hookups, an LP station and a dump station.

A 24-hour RV hotline at (877) 777-3126 and Web site (http://rv.cat.com) are available to help travelers find the nearest Cat RV Center when they're on the road.

All of these dedicated services result in an enhanced experience for customers. Just ask Bob and Paula Moore, members of the FMCA chapter of the Cat RV Engine Owner's Club and customers of Empire Cat in Kingman, Ariz.

"In March, our 1997 Safari motorhome had to be towed to the Empire Cat RV Center while we were on our way to a pre-paid RV rally. We arrived at Empire Cat around 6 p.m., expecting to have to wait until morning for service. Instead, the service manager and technician were waiting for us, and they had us back on the road by 8 p.m.," Bob Moore said. "This is above and beyond the call of duty to a customer—we are so grateful to know that there is a shop of this caliber in our area, servicing our rig and with such care to the customer."

With a 60 percent increase in service locations in the first year of operation, Caterpillar's enhanced service keeps customers loyal while helping dealers enhance the profitability of their service departments.