Crokers Truck Centre goes to WTG

After 44 years of serving transport operators in the Mackay region a new chapter will begin with the ownership of Crokers Truck Centre being transferred to Western Truck Group.

“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 Croker family has been an indelible part of the development of Mackay since the 1890s,” he continued, “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, 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 (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.

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.