Media Releases for Kenworth

< back to Media Releases

Brown & Hurley Darra named as 2008 Kenworth Dealer of the Year

Pic caption L to R: Joe Rizzo, Managing Director PACCAR Australia, Jim Hurley, Brown and Hurley Group General Manager, Rob Brown, Dealer Principal and Brown and Hurley Group General Manager Service, and Andrew Hadjikakou, Director Sales and Marketing, PACCAR Australia.

Leading truck dealership, Brown & Hurley Darra has won the coveted 2008 Kenworth Dealer of the Year award. This is an outstanding achievement – the fourth time for the dealer and a record 11 times for the Brown & Hurley Group.

The announcement was made last week at a special PACCAR presentation attended by dealers from across Australia. The award is judged on a points system covering general dealership performance, truck sales, customer service and support.

PACCAR Australia’s Managing Director, Joe Rizzo, congratulated Rob Brown, Dealer Principal and General Manager Service of the Brown & Hurley Group, for his dealership’s consistently high performance for many years.

“Brown & Hurley Darra is the ideal example of a Kenworth dealer,” Mr Rizzo said. “It has a dedicated team of sales, service and support people, and it continues to invest heavily in parts and service training. This is all part of Brown & Hurley’s commitment to the customer in all facets – from the ongoing improvement in facilities to the way it conducts business – before, during and after the sale,” Mr Rizzo added.

Mr Brown said it was a great honour to be recognised with such a prestigious award from the industry leader.

“I am delighted to accept this award on behalf of the Brown & Hurley team. We have won numerous industry accolades over the years, but winning the Kenworth Dealer of the Year is the sweetest of all. That’s because Kenworth products, service and support set the standard for the truck industry,” he said.

Brown & Hurley Darra enjoyed success across all of its markets throughout 2008, including major sales to large and small fleets as well as owner-drivers.

A Kenworth dealer for 44 years, the Darra dealership is situated on the Ipswich Motorway, a major transport artery on the outskirts of Brisbane. The 20,000 sqm site includes an expansive showroom which displays the entire Kenworth and DAF truck ranges. It also has a large parts supermarket and workshop. This features 40 service bays, including three full-length, drive-through pits which can manage B doubles, as well as the latest diagnostic and repair equipment.

The Darra dealer has traditionally serviced south-east Queensland and as far north as Bundaberg and west to the Northern Territory border. But, in order to better manage increasing customer demand, Brown & Hurley recently launched two new full sales, service and parts dealerships. The Yatala branch opened in April last year. Located mid-way between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, it covers the southern region. The Toowoomba dealership, which opened earlier this month, services the northern and western parts of Queensland.

Mr Brown attributed three elements to the dealership’s continuing success – quality products, dedicated, hard-working staff and a loyal customer base.

“Kenworth is Australia’s premier truck manufacturer. It offers durable and reliable trucks which attract the highest resale values and the lowest total cost of ownership.  Kenworth is the brand truck owners and operators aspire to have, because they are the best in the business,” Mr Brown said.

“And we complement Kenworth’s quality products with quality service and support. We make it easy for customers to do business with us. It’s the little extras we do which make all the difference – like registering the vehicle, getting permits for the operator, and spending a day or two on detailing before handing the vehicle over. And, once we’ve made the sale, we stay in touch with our customers, making sure their needs are being met and providing advice regarding their future growth,” he explained.

“I visit customers regularly and their feedback is almost universal. They’re all very pleased with how well their Kenworths are performing – how the drivers love driving them, and how the owners are happy with their reliability and durability.

“That’s the advantage of working with Kenworth. The trucks are designed and manufactured in Australia, so customers know their vehicles will suit Australia’s unique conditions and applications. And, if a customer has a specific requirement, there’s no need to compromise – Kenworth can custom build a truck to suit specialist tasks,” Mr Brown explained.

“The Kenworth Dealer of the Year award is not about who sells the most trucks, but which dealer provides the best overall performance for the customer,” Mr Rizzo added. “The fact that the Brown & Hurley Group has won this award 11 times is proof of their continuing commitment to their customers.”

Brown & Hurley Darra last won the Kenworth Dealer of the Year award in 1998. It has been recognised with a variety of industry accolades, including the DAF Dealer of the Year four consecutive times (2003-06). The Brown & Hurley Group – Kenworth’s longest-serving dealer organisation – was established in 1946. Today it covers some of NSW and all of Queensland, with full dealerships operating in Darra, Coffs Harbour, Kyogle, Rockhampton, Toowoomba, Townsville and Yatala. It also has parts stores in Tamworth and Tweed Heads.

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 worldwide manufacturer of heavy and medium duty trucks under the Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF nameplates. It also provides financial services and distributes truck parts related to its principal business.

RELEASE ENDS

For further information:

Neil Willox

Marketing Manager

PACCAR Australia

Tel: (03) 9721 1500

Media Contact: Neil Willox (neil.willox@paccar.com)

< back to Media Releases