The 80,000th terminal tractor was sold by Cal-Lift, a family-owned dealership established in 1964 that has represented the Ottawa brand across the western United States since 1978.

“Kalmar Ottawa sales and rentals are a huge part of our business,” explains Oscar Jimenez, sales manager for Cal-Lift. “Over the last 44 years we have sold terminal tractors to customers across the port, distribution, and logistics industries and we have more than 150 Kalmar Ottawa trucks in our rental fleet, a number that continues to grow.”

Jimenez describes Kalmar Ottawa as a leader in the terminal tractor market, continually looking at ways to improve the product by listening to feedback from customers, dealers and operators, and providing service support and parts supply for maintenance.

“We are proud and honored to represent the brand and its continued success with the sale of its 80,000th truck,” he adds. “Kalmar Ottawa has been a great OEM to partner with over the last six decades.”

The first manufacturer to build a terminal tractor

This is a significant landmark for Kalmar Ottawa says Doug Queen, VP solution sales, terminal tractors. “We were the first manufacturer to build a terminal tractor and have since built more than four times as many units as any other manufacturer,” he explains.

When Kalmar Ottawa produced the first terminal tractor back in 1959, no one could have envisaged the impact these vehicles would have on global trade and e-commerce. They have become the cornerstone of how freight gets properly positioned in ports, warehouses, intermodal yards, manufacturing facilities, and a host of other locations.

“We will celebrate this sales milestone at a customer event for the recipient of this unit later this year, where we will express our sincere appreciation to them for helping us reach this amazing milestone,” adds Queen.