Ownership of the Mackay-based Crokers Truck Centre is set to be transferred to Western Truck Group (WTG).
The stewardship of the Crokers Truck Centre after 44 years of serving transport operators in the Mackay region, will be transferred to WTG and in doing so consolidates its growing network across central and northern and Queensland and also the Northern Territory.
With a history stemming back to 1889, the enterprise of the Croker family has ranged from shipping, sugar warehousing, fuel distribution, fertiliser, homewares, motor vehicle sales, steel and pipe galvanising and even insurance.
From its outset in 1977, Crokers Truck Centre held the Volvo Trucks franchise for the area. It added Mack and UD to its brand portfolio in the mid-2000s.
“The partnership between Crokers Truck Centre and Volvo Group Australia has provided customers in this region with unmatched service for over four decades,” says Martin Merrick, President and CEO, Volvo Group Australia.
“The various Croker businesses that have supported local industry have helped to create a successful bustling regional hub, it is a legacy to be proud of,” he said.
Crokers Truck Centre has traditionally serviced customers across the region from St Lawrence to Bowen, and inland to Clermont.
Joe White, Dealer Principal, Western Truck Group said bringing Crokers into the WTG network was a privilege.
“We are taking on the stewardship of a family legacy that has a long and proud history in Mackay,” he said.
“We will ensure that the loyal customer base that has been built up by Crokers over the decades will continue to be serviced in the same customer-centric manner as we continue to grow the business even further,” said White.
WTG was established in 2018 after the acquisition of Queensland Truck Centre (QTC) which had been operating in Toowoomba, Mt Isa and the Sunshine Coast areas since 1993.
Taking on the existing relationship with VGA, WTG established itself as a vital network partner looking after the transport needs of customers throughout Southern and Western Queensland.
As a result of that strong relationship, in March 2020, WTG entered into an agreement with VGA to acquire its dealership operations in Darwin, Cairns, Townsville and Rockhampton.
Mackay’s location on the Queensland coast as a major port for coal and sugar export has made it a strategic location for transport operators and heavy industry.
The acquisition ensures that even those operating in the geographically remote regions of Australia will be serviced by a network that is second to none according Richard Singer, Vice President Aftersales and Network Development, Volvo Group Australia.
“The sale of Crokers Truck Centre to Western Truck Group is a fantastic result for our customers both within the region and for those passing through,” he said.
“I’d like to thank and congratulate all those at Crokers, especially company directors Glen Croker and Ross Kynaston whose efforts over the years have made the business what it is today, they have been real ambassadors for everything that Volvo Group Australia stands for.”