Truck Center Companies (TCC) is a large truck dealership in the Midwest that is also known for its important work equipping schools with buses. The company helps qualified localities and nonprofits secure much-needed buses through financing especially designed to stretch their budgets—tax-exempt municipal leases provided by Baystone Government Finance, a division of KS StateBank.
TCC benefits in several ways by offering this financing option to eligible schools through Baystone’s vendor finance program.
“Our partnership with Baystone Government Finance enhances our ability to sell equipment while delivering a high level of service to our customers. Their turnaround time on quotes is unmatched, allowing us to deliver quick and accurate responses to customer inquiries,” said Teya Swanson, finance and insurance manager for Iowa and Kansas locations of TCC.
“Baystone has knowledgeable customer service professionals who are great to work with, and I can trust them to work directly with my customers,” noted Holly S. Mayo, the company’s finance and insurance manager for Nebraska locations. “They make the documentation process feel seamless and easy compared with other financing entities we work with on transactions.”
Trusted team
TCC has been in business for more than 50 years. It is one of the largest Freightliner/Western Star truck dealerships in the US, with locations in 18 cities throughout Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and Minnesota. The company also is a trusted source for school buses.
In 2024, TCC began working with Baystone to give qualified customers the option of financing their buses through tax-exempt municipal leases. Baystone provides tax-exempt municipal leases for financing many types of vehicles and equipment, including school buses, for local, state, and tribal government organizations as well as eligible nonprofits across the nation.
Municipal leases are attractive financing options for government and nonprofit customers because of their reduced rates, averaging approximately 30% below commercial rates, and other advantages. They are available for all 50 states and, in most of them, are structured as lease-purchase transactions.
Manufacturers and dealers that make it easier for qualified customers to finance their equipment through municipal leases can expand their sales and enhance customer service—if their finance provider has the expertise to manage the complexities of tax-exempt funding requirements.
For TCC school bus transactions involving municipal leases, the company relies on Baystone’s government financing expertise, and the two companies work together closely as a team. TCC typically collects the required financial information from the customer and submits the credit application to Baystone for review. Once approved, Baystone works directly with the customer to complete and execute the funding documents. In some cases, TCC designates Baystone to coordinate with the customer, up front, to collect the necessary financial package.
TCC’s close relationship with Baystone is benefiting their customers and their company. It also has been a positive experience for Mayo and Swanson personally. They described Baystone’s communications as consistently fast, friendly, professional and responsive.
“Our relationship with Baystone has allowed us to provide a valuable service to our customers via competitive interest rates, quick responses and overall ease of doing business,” Mayo said.
Swanson, who often works with Karen Neathery of Baystone, added that “Karen and her team make every point of contact seamless and are extremely attentive throughout the whole process.”
“Our primary goal is to get our customers on the road as quickly as possible while ensuring a seamless experience from start to finish,” she said. “Partnering with KS StateBank’s Baystone Government Finance team allows us to provide competitive rates, fast responses, and an overall enjoyable and stress-free financing experience.”
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