Fleet Specialties opened shop on August 1, 2008 under the leadership of Paul Gaudin. Early memories include a small shop with three fixed hoists and one set of independent column lifts. Located on Vanley Crescent close to a waste transfer station, frequent shop visitors included an assortment of stray cats and raccoons.
Gaudin’s reputation as successful fleet manager in the towing industry was well-known. As word spread that he had opened shop, trucks began to appear. Gaudin’s attention to detail and insistence that all services be performed in the same way each and every time translated into a predictable and cost effective fleet management strategy for his customers.
At the same time, Gaudin’s passion for classic cars developed into a unique sideline as many business owners with fleet vehicles also collected classic cars.
In Fall 2010, Fleet Specialties acquired the building at 130 St. Regis Crescent North, previously occupied by Early Birds, a supplier of classic muscle car restoration parts. The additional shop and lot space enabled the company to add services such as custom upfitting and storage of spare fleet vehicles.
We set out to run a business with all the supports and processes that are standard at an established full-service dealership. Our business management system helps us manage inventory down to a 99 cent bulb. We track each vehicle’s service history and provide guidance to our customers so they can make informed decisions on when to take a vehicle out of service. — Paul Gaudin
