Duckett Truck expanding in four locations

Business Today

POPLAR BLUFF -- Duckett Truck Center is entering its 17th year in business. It has grown considerably through the years, but president and owner Paul Duckett and his wife, Hazel, have more plans to expand the company.

Duckett Truck Center, located on Highway 67 North, is a full-service Freightliner dealer, and the company plans to add other dealerships.

"We're committed to adding a fuel stop and truck wash," said Duckett. "We'll probably be the first Freightliner dealer with fuel."

The fuel center will use a card system. It will be self-serve with low prices on diesel and gasoline.

"Price is king in the fuel business," said Duckett.

The fuel center should be open in 45 to 60 days.

Jim Ward, operations manager, said the company's services include a $1.7 million parts inventory, radiator shop, alignment shop, frame straightening, paint shop, body shop, a salvage department and certified welders.

There's a lounge with showers for truckers, and truckers also have access to an insurance office and a barber shop.

The center has added Tiffin motor homes, which manufactures Allegro recreational vehicles.

Duckette said the motor homes have a custom chassis made in South Carolina and can be purchased at any of the Duckett Truck Centers in Poplar Bluff, Sikeston, Farmington or at the primary location for the RVs -- on Interstate 24 in Calvert City, Ky.

Duckett also offers crew-cab trucks, Interstate and Transcraft trailers, Century wreckers and enclosed trailers for items such as race cars.

The Farmington location is the newest facility with sales, parts, service and a fuel center.

Even though Duckett Truck Center is expanding in other areas, the growth started in Poplar Bluff. There are 50 employees at the Poplar Bluff location and 165 employees at all four stores.

Duckett said, "We took advantage of the downturn in the trucking industry and economy and now we're growing. We're probably only one of four or five dealerships in the country that are growing."

Duckett started building his skills and later his business at an early age.

"I overhauled my first engine when I was 14 years old," he said. "It was my dad's Farmall H tractor. I made it a Super H."

In 1964, Duckett went to work for Phelps Truck Center. In 1985, he and his wife bought the company and built it from a $3 million-a-year dealership to a $50 million-a-year dealership.

"People say they'll put up everything but their house," he said of those early years. "We put up everything we had to buy this company. I was 100 percent positive it would be nothing less than a success."