Specialized manufacturer produces 12 sleeper units a day
by Steve MacNaull - The Daily Courier

April 12, 2006

Western Star Trucks is in Portland, but the company that builds sleeper cab units for them in Winfield is busier than ever. "We are celebrating building 10,000 sleepers in five-and-a-half years," said Chris Luehr, purchasing manager at Canadian Commercial Vehicles. "It's a milestone." Luehr's father is Canadian Commercial Vehicles' managing director Richard Luehr.

The company marked the event with a barbecue for staff and associates on the grounds of the 35,000-square-foot factory on Jim Bailey Crescent and displayed the sleeper on a Western Star truck. The sleeper is an option that can be installed behind the driver's seat. It's a sleeping unit with bed and TV that busy drivers can use when they pull over to get some sleep.

Canadian Commercial Vehicles specialty is "honeycomb" components made by layering aluminum and polypropylene (plastic) for lightweight, yet strong panels. Such panels can be used for truck sleepers and for many other automotive parts. Western Star pulled out of Kelowna in 2002 in favour of assembly at the Portland complex of parent company Freightliner. However, because Western Star had such a good network of suppliers built during its 35 years in Kelowna, it continues to buy more than $50 million worth of parts and components annually from 55 Okanagan firms.

Every day Canadian Commercial Vehicles fills up one or two shipping containers with sleepers for transport to Portland with Can-Am West Carriers. Other local companies that also send containers full of parts and components are Monashee Manufacturing, Kelowna Industrial Plastics, Crown West Steel and Reidco Metal.

Canadian Commercial Vehicles was started by American Commercial Vehicles of Ohio in Winfield in the fall of 2000 specifically to make sleeper units for Western Star. Although Western Star remains a prime customer, Canadian Commercial Vehicles has diversified and makes lightweight parts for other truck, car, bus, recreational-vehicle and boat clients.

In 2004, The Eastern Company of Connecticut acquired the company. Production follows Western Star's cycles. Output has been as few as two sleepers a day and as high as 16. Currently the company produces 12 a day with 35 staff.

Canadian Commercial Vehicles won best mid-sized business of the year at the 2004 Kelowna Business Excellence Awards in the category for companies with 21 to 40 employees.

10,000 Units Celebration Event

Just a few years after opening its doors in the Okanagan to be close to its major customer, Western Star, Canadian Commercial Vehicles is celebrating exceptional growth and the production of its 10,000th sleeper cab - even though Western Star has relocated to Portland.

Parent company American Commercial Vehicles of Ohio opened Canadian Commercial Vehicles in Lake Country in September, 2000. Initially the company produced mainly sleeper cab units for Western Star trucks which the drivers can use to pull over to get some sleep. A "honeycomb" layered aluminum and plastic construction method is used to produce cab panels that are both lightweight and strong. With the departure of Western Star, Canadian Commercial Vehicles has used this technology to produce parts for other truck, car, bus, recreational vehicle and boat clients, although Western Star remains a major customer.

At a celebration event on April 10th, the company's 35 staff and invited guests celebrated the production of 10,000 cab units with a barbeque. In order to meet the increasing demand for its products, Canadian Commercial Vehicles is actively recruiting dedicated individuals for its manufacturing shop floor.

Richard Luehr, Managing Director proudly points out that three generations of his family have worked with Western Star in some capacity. His father, Arthur ("Art") Luehr worked in production and maintenance for the company until his retirement in 1979, and now Richard's son Chris Luehr is Purchasing Manager at Canadian Commercial Vehicles.

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