Page 26 • June 16, 2021 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT GUIDE
Parman Tractor & Equipment moved into its new, 20,000-sq.-ft. Nashville facility in November 2020 on the same property that had previously been the home of Cumberland Tractor & Equipment.
By Eric Olson CEG CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Just two years ago, a new company, Parman Tractor & Equipment, opened its doors to contractors in Tennessee and other parts of the South wanting a distributor of top shelf construction machinery — one that is also expert in the art of treating its customers well. It was not long before customers found Parman to be exactly what they were looking for. Located in Nashville, with a customer service radius extending 100 mi. around the Music City, the new dealership sells, rents and services new and used skid steer loaders, backhoes, large and mini-excavators and compacting equipment for the construction business, as well as some agricultural equipment for that industry. In the case of Parman, though, the word “new” requires a bit of clarification. In May 2019, the dealership formerly known as Cumberland Tractor & Equipment was acquired by Parman Holding Corporation, an employee-owned petroleum products distributor, also headquartered in Nashville. The large conglomerate also counts Parman Energy Group and Signature Lubricants among its divisions. With the deal, Cumberland was renamed Parman Tractor & Equipment and the latter
has since worked to live up to and strengthen the old dealership’s good name and reputation in the region. It started by totally rebuilding the old Cumberland location into a more modern facility on the north side of Nashville. Parman also upgraded its capabilities and has completely revamped its approach to customer service. Rachel Hockenberger, CFO of Parman Holdings, explained that her company saw
Cumberland as an extremely attractive asset — one that was too good to pass up. “Parman learned of an opportunity to purchase Cumberland Tractor & Equipment through a Parman Energy Group customer,” she said. “Upon assessing the opportunity, we found synergies between service and reliability, which could complement both businesses. From there, it was a no brainer.” “Parman Energy Group has had robust
growth over the years stemming from organic growth and acquisitions,” said Steve Moore, CEO of Parman Holdings. “The acquisition of the equipment dealership has definitely been one of our most successful and gives us the confidence to further diversify and grow our Parman brand.” Parman Energy Group had partnered with Cumberland as a supplier for years prior to the acquisition, Hockenberger said, making the transition a smooth one and has maintained a good association with the former owners. Construction Business Dominates Company Focus Cumberland Tractor & Equipment started its life in 1981 as Nashville Ford Tractor Inc., owned by the Denny family. Over time, the original company grew and evolved into one of the region’s leading distributors before it was acquired in 2012 by a local heavy-duty truck dealer, who gave it the Cumberland name, according to Charley Crichton, president of Parman Tractor & Equipment. In the seven years between that sale and Parman Holding’s purchase of Cumberland, the distributor had begun to shift its business focus and growth more toward the construction industry, said Crichton, adding that Parman has been able to build its customer-
Parman Tractor & Equipment carries Link-Belt excavators.
see PARMAN page 58
