Get The Service You Deserve At Aber's!
Aber's Truck Center
is celebrating 53 years of service and we're proud of that fact. We'd
like to share a few details about
Aber's history of loyal service to the Ashland community
and the national
trucking industry. Thank you for your interest in
Aber's. Take a moment to read the details below
and see why... at Aber's Truck Center
we do one thing...
trucks...and we do it
well.
Miles Aber was working at a local alignment shop but dreamed of owning his own business. Local businessmen encouraged and supported his dream and on August 5, 1950, Miles opened the
doors to his own shop, Aber's Wheel and Frame Alignment. The business was located on Claremont Avenue behind what is now the Surrey Inn. Miles and wife Alene were the only
employees. Sons Larry and Danny came along and began learning the family business.
A used 1-ton truck, was purchased in 1951. Miles built a small crane operations on the back and
the company had it's first wrecker. With the addition of the wrecker, Aber's started taking service calls for AAA. Aber's were on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to service stranded
motorists.
In the latter part of 1953, Miles was in an accident that totaled the wrecker. The
seriousness of the concussion Miles sustained in the accident was not realized
until he went out and bought a "Ford" truck to replace the wrecked one.
A highlight of 1954 for the Aber's was the move to their new location in what now houses the Wrecker and Crane Division. Local car dealerships, organized by businessman George Buzzard,
got together and helped Miles and Alene move their operation and equipment. Son Allen was born, adding another little Aber to cut his teeth on wrenches and sky-hooks.
The family grew again in 1956 with the birth of son Jerry. Business continued to grow as well and in 1961 Aber's Wheel and Frame Alignment changed it's name to Aber's Garage. It was also in
1961 that Bill Gibson from General Motors approached Miles and Alene about becoming a GMC dealer because this area was without one. After several meetings and much talk Aber's Garage
became a dealer in light and medium duty GMC trucks. In three years it was necessary to build on to what is now the wrecker and crane building. The company incorporated in 1956 and built the
present truck center in 1979.
With the addition of the GMC franchise, the next logical step was to become a service and repair shop for all makes of trucks. Sons Larry and Dan who were both mechanically
inclined and enjoyed working on cars and trucks became the first mechanics along with Miles.
The International Truck franchise was purchased from John Kestner in 1984 and in 1988, after
receiving the Volvo franchise, the Aber's name was changed again to Aber's Truck Center.
The wrecker and crane division has grown from the single small self-made wrecker to a service of 5 small wreckers, 4 semi-wreckers and 6 cranes. In 1998 another division had to be added to
house all the equipment. The wrecker division continues to be on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Along with accepting AAA for services, they also accept Montgomery Ward, Sears, All
State, and GE financial Signature.
Today, Aber's is staffed by
44 talented employees and it remains a family owned and operated business. Allen and Jerry operate the wrecker and crane service while Danny
manages the dealership. Larry was active in the business until his death in 1996.
