For independent distributor Dustin Cannoy, the tool truck has always been about control, consistency, and doing things the right way. His Freightliner MT55 has been with him since day one and is still running strong as the centerpiece of his operation today.
Built once, built right
Cannoy doesn’t hesitate when asked if his truck is custom.
“The whole truck’s custom,” he says. “It’s all got wood interior. I designed the layout in it.”
The build was intentional from the start, designed around how he works and sells. Years later, that approach still pays off.
“I absolutely love the truck I’m driving right now," he adds. "I love it.”
For Cannoy, familiarity breeds efficiency, and the truck has evolved with him without losing its original purpose.
A route that covers all
Based in Oregon, Cannoy’s route stretches across the Salem and Corvallis areas, but his customer list goes far beyond traditional automotive repair shops.
“I see everything from construction companies to the government, municipalities, automotive shops, bus shops, avionics, even military hospitals,” he says.
That diversity requires flexibility and a willingness to adapt, two traits that have defined his business for nearly two decades.
Built with the right partners
As his business has grown, Cannoy has relied on strong supplier relationships to support his wide-ranging inventory.
“Sonic Tools USA has been such an amazing company to me and has been a big role in my business," he says, "along with John Snyder Tools and ISN."
Those partnerships help him maintain the depth and variety needed to serve such a broad customer base.
Order on wheels
Organization is nonnegotiable for Cannoy, a habit he traces back to his upbringing.
“My folks were OCD and clean freaks, and so am I,” he says with a laugh. His personal rule is simple. “Today’s work is today’s work, not tomorrow’s work.”
Inside the truck, that mindset is obvious. Promotional products are positioned on the dash and beneath the ratchet display. Shelving is consistent and methodical, with metric tools on the left side and standard tools on the right, a system he has followed since the beginning. Full air tool and power tool displays, a Milwaukee display, and diagnostic stands give customers space to browse and ask questions without slowing down the route.
A workspace customers know by heart
Inside Cannoy’s Freightliner, the workspace is designed to guide customers the moment they step onto the truck. Promotions and giveaways are positioned front and center, right on the dash, making them impossible to miss.
“The best deal on the truck is always on the dash,” Cannoy says. “My customers know when they step on to ask, ‘What’s new this week, Tool Man, what’s new?’”
That consistency is intentional. Over nearly 18 years in business, Cannoy has trained customers to look in the same places every time, from the dash displays to a large, dedicated shelf that reinforces weekly deals and contests. While repetition builds familiarity, Cannoy is careful not to let it turn into complacency.
“Consistency is key, but don’t get it twisted with complacency,” he says. “Complacency is where dreams go to die.”
The result is a truck layout that feels predictable in the best way: structured, engaging, and designed to keep customers looking, asking questions, and coming back each week.
About the Author
Nadine Battah
Editor-in-Chief
Nadine Battah is the editor-in-chief of Professional Tool & Equipment News (PTEN) and Professional Distributor magazines. She has been covering the automotive aftermarket since 2021, after graduating from Kent State University with a bachelor's degree in journalism and marketing.
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