A new truck grill was getting some negative attention on sales lots, Steven Zwinggi says, and an intern wanted to prove its strength to potential customers.
So he punched it.
Zwinggi, vice president of Peterbilt truck sales at Rush Truck Centers, was evaluating videos of contestants for the Rush Tech Skills Rodeo, which includes sales competitions. The intern didn’t make the cut, but Zwinggi says he’s seen salespeople with less than a year under their belts make the walkaround finals.
With sales, he pointed out, it’s not always about the experience.
“It’s definitely a DNA thing,” he says. And while punching isn’t required, some things are.
Bay State Truck and Trailer in Rehoboth, Mass., sells and services new and used trailers, including tank trailers, and trailer parts.
Sales Manager Erik Hoskins says good salespeople have a variety of skills, most of which, as Zwinggi says, come with the person. He says the best salespeople are eager, compassionate, goal-oriented, confident, aggressive, intelligent, humble and empathetic.
