Rainer E Schmueckle, previously head of BUSINESS UNIT TRUCKS NAFTA (FREIGHTLINER, STERLING, THOMAS BUILT BUSES) within the Commercial Vehicles Division as well as president and chief executive officer of the wholly owned DAIMLERCHRYSLER subsidiary Freightliner LLC, has been made chief operating officer of the Mercedes Car Group, effective April 15, 2005. Chris Patterson, previously senior vice-president-service and parts at Freightliner, will replace Schmueckle as head of Business Unit Trucks NAFTA as well as president and chief executive officer of Freightliner LLC.
Scott Burkhart has been appointed vice-president and general manager — controls product business team for Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC, a member of the Knorr-Bremse Group. Bruce Brancato, formerly branch manager at Arrow Truck Sales Inc's Los Angeles CA location, has been promoted to director of business development. Arrow named Larry McDaniel, formerly assistant manager in Los Angeles, as Brancato's replacement at the Whittier CA location. The company also promoted Randy Kricke to branch manager of the Atlanta GA sales office. Arrow has placed Kevin Schuller in the newly created position of trailer purchasing manager.