Stoops Freightliner-Western Star dealerships are taking big steps forward with an aggressive construction plan aimed at improving customer experience, facilities, and development opportunities, including increasing employment, and positively impacting the environment with a focus on energy efficiency.
Demolition started this fall at a location next to the dealer’s Indianapolis site, and the state-of-the-art construction project is slated to be fully operational in the spring of 2025. (The current Indianapolis location remains open during construction.)
With the design expertise of Halstead Architects, this regional headquarters will feature a 46% capacity increase in the service bays and a 30% capacity increase in the parts department, which will reduce wait times and enhance efficiencies for customers. Meanwhile, Halstead Architects designed the customer waiting areas to facilitate customer comfort and utility. The facility will also include a pet lounge and dog park to accommodate those traveling with pets.
The additional space in the building will make room for employee growth opportunities for existing and new staff. Planned new hires include diesel and maintenance technicians, body shop and trailer technicians, office administration staff, sales staff, parts and warehouse personnel, marketing coordinators, database and IT administrators, and other positions. To apply, please visit stoops.com/careers.
Stoops currently leads the country with its Certified Diesel Technician Program, which is a three-year technical curriculum that combines a minimum of 27 weeks of classroom instruction with on-the-job training to cover everything needed to launch a successful career. Students attend all courses at the Stoops Training Academy in Indianapolis and then return to their home dealerships, located throughout Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, to put their classroom knowledge into practice. Upon graduation, students earn recognition as Freightliner-certified technicians and receive a nationally recognized apprenticeship certification.
Brian McCoy, president of Stoops Freightliner–Western Star, stated, “We are excited about investing and expanding our current operations in Indianapolis. This investment is focused on giving our customers a best-in-class experience. The new facilities will provide even more capacity to train and mentor our employees. We anticipate adding 50 jobs and will have expanded employment opportunities. This state-of-the-art corporate building and dealership will reinvigorate this side of Indianapolis, and we are excited about the future.”
Stoops’ corporate leadership looked for ways to further reinvigorate this area and positively impact the environment.
Stoops is excited to partner with HSI Solar and Halstead Architects to install a 1.1MW Mounted Solar Array on the building. This new solar energy system represents a significant step in the new building and emphasizes efforts toward energy efficiency. The system will produce an estimated 1.4GWh of energy annually. In addition to solar power generation, Stoops has incorporated resiliency with a .75MWh Battery Energy Storage and microgrid solution. This in the event of losing power from the grid will fully utilize the available PV generation and battery storage to attempt to meet the facility demand.
“In addition to the environmental, social and governance (ESG) benefits, which is a great focus of Stoops, this system will reduce our energy consumption and costs, and provide operational stability through modern technology, freeing up the budget for workplace improvements, training, and development,” said David Shane, Stoops vice president of operations.
“We’ve worked closely with Stoops, Halstead Architects, and NEO Engineers to develop a project with solutions that address not only the long-term impact on rising utility rates but to provide a means of power stability ensuring minimal impact on operations in the case of power outages. HSI Solar takes a holistic approach in the development of our solutions to achieve our partner’s economic, social, and environmental objectives,” said Nick Koon, co-founder of HSI Solar.
This new Stoops construction project features partnerships with Indianapolis city leadership, the Chamber of Commerce, and Develop Indy regarding tax incentives and workforce development.
We are thrilled to receive the Property Tax Abatement approval for our ambitious expansion project,” Shane said. “This project not only symbolizes our dedication to advancing our industry but also signifies our commitment to the communities we serve. The partnership with Develop Indy and the City of Indianapolis has been invaluable in realizing this vision.”
Stoops’ commitment to sustainability shines through its added investments. The company is poised to stake $6.5 million in personal property for a solar and microgrid installation in collaboration with AES Indiana. Additionally, a Cummins (headquartered out of Columbus, IN) power generator and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations will further solidify a commitment to green initiatives.
“Working with mission-minded companies like Stoops and HSI that put a concerted effort into sustainable design choices like integrating solar panels exemplifies our city’s value of fostering innovative public–private partnership,” said Aletha Dunston, director at Develop Indy. “Stoops’ investment aligns with our goals of fostering economic growth and enhancing the region’s workforce. We are excited to see this project’s positive impact on the local community.”
Joshua Bain, Indianapolis City-County Council — District 20 representative, stated, “Over the past few years, I have been able to get to know the team at Stoops Freightliner/Truck Country and how dedicated they are to our community. From their local state-of-the-art training academy that offers both paid on-the-job training and classroom instruction to their forward-thinking approach to sustainable industry practices, I am confident Stoops will continue to grow and thrive in Indianapolis. We celebrate the investments of a new regional headquarters and dealership facility here on the Southwest Side of Indianapolis, and with their 50 new employment opportunities, we look forward to Stoops continuing to be a national industry leader.”
One of the key highlights of this project is a strong commitment to workforce development and inclusivity. In partnership with EmployIndy’s Modern Apprenticeship Program, Stoops’ Inclusivity Plan will allocate 5% of the estimated abatement value to fund up to 12 apprenticeships annually throughout the abatement period. This initiative will not only provide valuable career opportunities for the community but will also contribute to the development of skilled technicians in the diesel and EV sectors.
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