COMMERCE CITY — One of the largest medium- and heavy-duty truck sales companies in the country has selected a 15-acre site in Commerce City as the location of its second-largest dealership.
Houston-based Rush Enterprises and contractor W.E. O’Neil Construction in Denver broke ground on a 125,400-square-foot truck sales and service center at 6955 E. 50th Ave.
“It’s been a nearly five-year process for us to get to this point, and we are extremely excited,” said Mike Russell, Colorado general manager of Rush. “This facility is key for us. It’s going to mark a huge change for our culture in the dealership and how we go to market.”
The $18 million facility will be a Peterbilt Ford Truck sales and leasing center made up of three buildings: a 83,000-square-foot service center, a 24,000-square-foot body shop; and a sales building that is around 17,500 square feet.
Rush already runs about 110 large truck dealerships in 20 states. The company sells, finances, insures, leases and rents new and used heavy and medium-duty trucks like semis. Rush officials anticipate at least 30 permanent jobs will come out of the Commerce City facilty within two years.
There are four other Rush Truck Centers in Colorado — Greeley, Pueblo, and two in Denver. A 135,000 facility in Phoenix is the only Rush center larger than the one planned for Commerce City.
Commerce City Mayor Sean Ford said the city is planning some roadway upgrades that will benefit the growing industrial market in the city.
Colorado 2 will soon be “four lanes from 72nd Avenue to Interstate 76 to help the trucking industry through our community,” Ford said. “We already have about 75 or 76 trucking companies here in Commerce City, and it’s great to have Rush come in and be part of our family.”
Megan Mitchell: 3030-954-2650, mmitchell@denverpost.com or
