A dealership from one of Australia's oldest truck dealer groups - Gilbert & Roach Newcastle - has just taken out the trucking industry's most coveted dealer prize, the 2011 Kenworth Dealer of the Year.

The announcement was made at PACCAR Australia's annual dealer awards event. The awards are open to Kenworth dealers from various parts of Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. Dealers are judged on a points system across five main areas, including general dealership performance, truck sales, customer service, finance and parts support.

The Gilbert & Roach dealer group was established in 1946 and joined the Suttons Group in 1971. The Newcastle dealership was appointed a Kenworth dealer in 1981 and a DAF dealer in 2002. The dealership is the largest in the region, with first-class facilities akin to those in major capital cities. It services the greater Newcastle and Hunter Valley region, extending from The Entrance in the south to Taree in the north and Merriwa in the west.

At the awards ceremony, PACCAR Australia's Managing Director, Joe Rizzo, congratulated the Newcastle dealership on its outstanding performance in all areas as well as its unwavering commitment to customers.

"Gilbert & Roach Newcastle is a fine PACCAR dealer and it sets an excellent example for the entire industry," Joe said. "It has worked tirelessly and been a high achiever over many years. In fact, the dealership has won several Kenworth prizes for both truck and parts sales. It has also finished a number of times in the top three dealers for the Kenworth Service Award," Joe said.

"Like all PACCAR dealers, Gilbert & Roach Newcastle employs factory-trained staff, maintains state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment and offers genuine PACCAR parts support. What impresses us the most is the high standards of customer service and professionalism throughout the dealership. That is the true hallmark of a leading PACCAR dealer," he explained.

In accepting the award on behalf of the Newcastle dealership, the Director of the Suttons Group, Craig Sutton, said it was a great honour to be recognised as the best dealer in the best dealer network in the region.

"We are delighted to have won this award. The Kenworth Dealer of the Year is an accolade all of our dealerships have been striving toward for years. This award is for all of our staff in Newcastle, led by Tony Cox. Staff in every department work together as a team, delivering a consistent service to all customers before, during and after the sale," Craig said.

"The secret to our success is no secret at all," added Gilbert & Roach Newcastle, General Manager, Tony Cox. "The secret to success is how well you treat your customers. All of our staff are highly trained and knowledgeable about our products. But most of all, they go the extra mile for our customers - so much so that many of our staff and customers have been friends for years. And, because of those long-standing relationships, customers continue to come back to us for new trucks, servicing and parts. And we continue to provide them with the best advice and service in the region. It's a win-win for everyone," Tony said.

Gilbert & Roach Newcastle boasts comprehensive and advanced trucking facilities. Located in Sandgate until 1984 the dealership then relocated to Hexham on a 3.8 hectare site. In 2006, Gilbert and Roach completely rebuilt and expanded the facilities at a cost of $10 million.

Today Gilbert & Roach Newcastle has the yard stocked with a range of Kenworth and DAF trucks fully-speced and ready for delivery. The complex includes an ALLRig parts and accessories supermarket with more than $1 million in stock, as well as customer amenities, including a rest room, kitchen and entertainment area.

The workshop comprises 18 drive-through service bays, 10 of which can manage B doubles. It has a wide range of state-of-the-art diagnostic and repair equipment to service all PACCAR trucks. The dealership also offers extended parts and workshop hours, plus a 24-hour emergency breakdown service and parts which is available throughout the region.

The Newcastle and Hunter Valley region is a significant player within the road transport industry. Gilbert & Roach caters for a wide range of transport applications, including steel, coal, farm produce and livestock as well as winery, timber, freight, interstate and off-road mining.

The dealership saw solid sales throughout 2011 from new and existing customers across various Kenworth models.

Tony Cox expects his, and other PACCAR dealerships, will have a bumper year in 2012, thanks to the latest innovations from Kenworth and DAF, which will be showcased at the 2012 International Truck, Trailer and Equipment Show in Melbourne in mid March. Kenworth will unveil a new fully-featured interior for its popular K200 model at the show. In addition, DAF will officially launch its new award-winning flagship model, the X105, which boasts higher horsepower engines and the most spacious cabs in its class.

"That's the advantage of working with PACCAR - they offer a complete range of medium and heavy-duty trucks for virtually any transport application. And they're backed by the most professional dealer network in the nation," Tony said.

"Kenworth certainly lives up to its credo: Australian made. World's best," Craig added. "The trucks are engineered to withstand Australia's toughest applications and our most diverse environments. And they can be custom-built to meet unique operations and individual needs. It's no wonder truck drivers love Kenworths, and everyone aspires to own one."

At the dealer awards ceremony, PACCAR Australia also presented the Kenworth Service Award to Barry Maney Group in Mt Gambier, and the Kenworth ALLRig Parts Award to Graham Thomson Motors in Shepparton for their outstanding performance throughout 2011.

Joe Rizzo said PACCAR conducts comprehensive training courses and regularly evaluates dealers to ensure its Kenworth and DAF products are represented in the best manner possible.

"Our awards encourage excellence in all of our truck dealers. They provide a win-win for everyone, particularly the customer, who benefits from a professional network of experienced dealers that is second to none," Joe explained.

Kenworth trucks are designed and manufactured in Australia to meet the world's toughest applications. Kenworth, a division of PACCAR Australia, is market leader in heavy duty trucks in Australia. Its trucks are also exported to Papua New Guinea and New Zealand. PACCAR Inc, a Six Sigma company, is a global technology leader in the design, manufacture and customer support of high-quality light, medium, and heavy-duty trucks under the Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF nameplates. PACCAR also designs and manufactures advanced diesel engines, provides financial services and information technology, and distributes truck parts related to its principal business.

For further information:

Mick Bennett
Marketing Services Manager
PACCAR Australia
Tel: (03) 9721 1500