One of Australia’s longest standing Volvo truck dealerships has changed hands with Crockers truck Centre in Mackay becoming a part of the Western Truck Group after 44 years as a family-owned Volvo franchise.
The Crockers have been Volvo Truck dealers sine 1977 when they took on the Swedish brand, later adding Mack and UD when those brands became a part of the Volvo Group in the 2000s.
The purchase of Crockers Truck Centre will add to the Western Truck Groups portfolio of Volvo Group dealerships.
Western Truck Group was established in 2018 following the purchase of the Queensland Truck Centre and its Volvo Group dealerships in Toowoomba, Mount Isa and the Sunshine Coast which had been operating since 1993. The Group entered into an agreement with VGA to acquire its dealership operations in Darwin, Cairns, Townsville and Rockhampton.
According to Volvo, the acquisition of Crokers will mean the WTG network of dealerships and service centres will be well positioned to support the transport needs of operators throughout regional Queensland and the Northern Territory.
“The partnership between Crokers Truck Centre and Volvo Group Australia has provided customers in this region with unmatched service for over four decades,” said Volvo Group Australia’s president and CEO, Martin Merrick.
“The Croker family has been an indelible part of the development of Mackay since the 1890s, and 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,” said Martin Merrick.
The Croker family enterprises have a history dating back to 1889 across shipping, sugar warehousing, fuel distribution, fertiliser, homewares, motor vehicle sales, steel and pipe galvanising and even insurance.
“Bringing a strong business like Crokers into the Western Truck Group network is not only a fantastic opportunity, it’s also quite a privilege, “said the dealer principal of Western Truck Group, Joe White.
“We are taking on the stewardship of a family legacy that has a long and proud history in Mackay,” White added.
“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,” he said.
Volvo said that 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 znd Crokers Truck Centre has traditionally serviced customers across the region from St Lawrence to Bowen, and inland to Clermont.
“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,” said Volvo Group Australia, vice president aftersales and network development, Richard Singer.
“The consolidation of the Western Truck Group network for operators across north and central Queensland as well as the Northern Territory ensures that even those operating in the geographically remote regions Australia will be serviced by a network that is second to none,” he said.
“And 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.”
“We are indebted to both Ross and Glen for the commitment they have shown to their staff and customers over the past decades. They truly represent everything that is great about the industry we operate in and support,” Singer concluded.
