After 44 years of serving transport operators in the Mackay region, Crokers Truck Centre is about to embark on a new chapter, as its ownership is transferred to Western Truck Group (WTG).
“The partnership between Crokers Truck Centre and Volvo Group Australia has provided customers in this region with unmatched service for over four decades,” said Martin Merrick, president and CEO, Volvo Group Australia.
“The Croker family has been an indelible part of the development of Mackay since the 1890s. 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.”
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.
Crokers Truck Centre came into being in 1977 and from the outset held the Volvo Trucks franchise for the area. Amongst other brands over the years, Crokers also added Mack and UD to its brand portfolio in the mid-2000s.
“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 Joe White, dealer principal at Western Truck Group. “We are taking on the stewardship of a family legacy that has a long and proud history in Mackay.
“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.
WTG was established in 2018 after the acquisition of Queensland Truck Centre 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. With the acquisition of Crokers, the WTG network of dealerships and authorised customer service centres will be well positioned to support the transport needs of operators throughout regional Queensland and the Northern Territory.
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. 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 Richard Singer, vice president aftersales and network development, Volvo Group Australia.
“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.
“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.”
Crokers Truck Centre officially became part of Western Truck Group today, July 1, 2021.