FORT KENT, Maine — After 71 years, the family-owned Daigle and Houghton truck dealership, with locations in Fort Kent, Hermon and Saco, has been acquired by Allegiance Trucks Company.
Allegiance Trucks had locations in Auburn and Portland before acquiring Daigle and Houghton on Jan. 14.
The fourth-generation Maine business began in 1951 as a dealer of Massey-Harris farm equipment, but switched over to truck sales three years later and has served truckers in Maine and beyond ever since. Day to day operations will largely look the same, but new ownership will bring a few changes.
“While this begins a new chapter for our company, I would share with you that this has been an emotional decision from the beginning of this transaction to its conclusion. In the end, we feel this is the best solution for our employees and customers,” reads a letter from Daigle and Houghton owners Gary and Greg Daigle to employees and customers.
Daigle and Houghton employs 90 people, all of whom will maintain their positions within the company, Gary Daigle said.
Family members including Gary and Greg Daigle as well as Greg’s son Cory Daigle will continue to work for the company in managerial positions.
Allegiance Trucks represents Isuzu, Ford and Hino, and with 37 locations in eight states, is the largest International truck dealer in the Northeast.
Daigle and Houghton previously sold and serviced Western Star trucks but will no longer be able to do so under Allegiance Trucks ownership.
“Even with 36 years of exceeding Western Star’s parts, service and sales goals, they decided they no longer wanted to be represented at the same location as their competition,” the letter reads.
Gary Daigle said that customers can expect the same level of service the business has provided for the past seven decades.
“We’re the same people continuing to work as hard as we can to serve them,” Gary Daigle said.