About Ballard Truck Center History & Values

Roots that date back over 100 years

What started in 1906 with Louis Ballard, a blacksmith and carriage maker, opening a small repair shop in Millbury, Massachusetts, has grown into a family legacy spanning 5 generations.

Mission

Provide honest and genuine, full-service commercial truck support to the hardworking people that transport, build, maintain, repair, and serve our communities across New England.

Vision

To be the Northeast’s most trusted full-service commercial truck network by delivering exceptional experiences to our customers and employees—setting the standard for satisfaction, reliability, and service at every touchpoint.

Values

The Ballard Difference means treating every employee and customer like family, doing what’s right, and continually striving to be better. These are the values that we operate by every day.

1906–1940

Established

1906: Louis Ballard, a skilled blacksmith and carriage maker, offers automotive repair services.
1918: With a rising demand for repair services, Louis founded L.H. Ballard’s Garage on Howe Avenue in Millbury, Massachusetts, with his son, Harold, joining as his assistant. It was the first auto repair shop between Worcester and Blackstone.
1928: Expanding his business, Louis opened Ballard Motor Sales, a Chrysler dealership, on a neighboring property.
1940: By this time, Louis employed seven full-time mechanics, with Harold playing an integral role in the business.

1906–1940

1948–1982

Growth

1948: Harold Ballard and his wife, Minnie, took ownership of the dealership, earning the Chrysler Medal of Merit Award in 1951.
1960: Robert “Bob” Picking joined the dealership after serving four years in the U.S. Navy.
1982: Harold and Minnie’s niece, Janet Grahn, and her nephew, John Picking, began working at the dealership.

1948–1982

1988–1999

Team Building

1988: Bob Picking and Janet Grahn acquired Worcester Mack, rebranding it Ballard Mack Sales & Service. Steve Grahn, Janet’s son, joined the team shortly after.
1990s: The company shifted focus from consumer vehicles to commercial trucks, closing Ballard Motor Sales and selling the Millbury property.
1999: Ballard Mack became Ballard Truck Center.

1988–1999

2001–2011

Family Owned

2001: Ballard Truck Center opened its 2nd location in Johnston, Rhode Island.
2007: Samantha Grahn, Steve’s daughter, joined the company full-time.
2010: A 3rd location is opened in West Springfield, Massachusetts.
2011: A 4th location is opened in Avon, Massachusetts.

2001–2011

2012–2024

Hard Work

2012: Robert Picking, John’s son, joined the company.
2019: Ballard Truck Center expanded with its 5th location in Tewksbury, Massachusetts.
2020: A 6th location opened in West Wareham, Massachusetts, followed by the acquisition of Ballard’s first Granite State location (7th in total) in Manchester, New Hampshire.
2023: Ballard Truck Center made history by winning top national awards at the Mack and Volvo Trucks Dealer Executive Meetings, earning the titles of Volvo Trucks 2022 United States Dealer of the Year and Mack Trucks 2022 North American Dealer of the Year.
2024: Ballard Truck Center opened its 8th location in Bangor, Maine.