Driving Force opens new Fort St. John location on Airport Road

“This was a strategic move for us to make sure that we have a very high profile location and I think that we’ve accomplished that,” he argues. “In our previous location, we really couldn’t display our product well enough. We think that we can sell a lot more used trucks than what we have been able to do so far.” 

There are already plans in place for expansion at the new location, as it will soon become a service location for Toyota Hino medium duty trucks, which Driving Force sells at locations in Langley, Edmonton, and Calgary. It will service trucks in the area, as well as its own trucks, and expected to be open by January 1, 2014. 

Driving Force joins many other companies who have set up shop along that stretch of road, including Shell Canada and the B.C. Oil and Gas Commission, which MLA Pat Pimm jokes he used to use the Swanson Lumber Road to avoid when bringing people in from the North Peace Airport. 

“That doesn’t happen anymore,” he says, adding, “This building stands out more than all the rest, I have to say.” 

The grand opening was attended by dignitaries from all levels of government, including Mayor Lori Ackerman, who thanked the company’s owners for their investment in the area. 

“When we look at the opportunity that this region has in front of us, we certainly can be smiling and showing others how to grow,” she says. “Small and medium size enterprises are the backbone of our economy. Thank you for investing in our community.” 

Polovick maintains that the new building shows his company’s commitment to the area, with long-term plans to stay. It’s also looking to expand to other industry towns like Fort Nelson. 

“Obviously there’s a lot of work that happens in that part of northeastern British Columbia as well,” he says. “Prince George would be a natural expansion for us as well, and as the pipelines are moving to the coast in the Kitimat and Prince Rupert area, we think there’s some other smaller communities that will probably see some of the benefit of the growth that’s going to happen over the next number of years.”

In lieu of serving alcohol at the event, a donation was made to the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation.