PACCAR Australia managing director Andrew Hadjikakou, Southpac Trucks CEO Maarten Durent, The Colonial Motor  Company CEO Graeme Gibbons, and PACCAR director sales and marketing Australia, Brad May.

For a second consecutive year and against a field of more than 25 dealers across Australasia, New Zealand‘s Southpac Trucks has been awarded Kenworth Dealer of the Year.

The prestigious Kenworth Dealer of the Year accolade is hotly contested among dealers, and is awarded to the dealership with the highest ranking across all areas of their Kenworth business.

Southpac‘s dedication to its customers was also highlighted through being the runner up to the 2018 PACCAR Australia Service Dealer of the Year award for exceptional standards in service and support – an award they won last year, as well as achieving a high ranking for their parts business.

The Kenworth Dealer of the Year award was presented at PACCAR‘s annual dealer event, held in Queenstown.

Managing director of PACCAR Australia, Andrew Hadjikakou presented the 2018 Kenworth Dealer of the year award to Southpac Trucks CEO Maarten Durent, congratulating his team for their professionalism, outstanding customer support and for setting a strong example for other dealers not only within the Kenworth network but the industry as a whole.

“Focusing on the most important factor in the business – the customer – Southpac Trucks has again shown the highest standards of service and professionalism. 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. This award serves to encourage all dealers across the Kenworth dealer network to strive for customer excellence.

“Southpac‘s ongoing commitment to the industry and continued investment in its people and facilities is commendable, providing customers with the latest products and services and industry know-how.”

“On behalf of PACCAR Australia, I congratulate Southpac Trucks on its most recent achievement and know they will enjoy continued success, upholding their exemplary standards into the future,” Hadjikakou said.

Durent dedicated the award to his team for their hard work, dedication and passion, which he said shows through in all they do.

“We are again honoured to win this award and for being recognised as the top performing dealer among an excellent cast of dealers. The relationship we have with our customers is paramount to our success, and we pride ourselves on delivering exceptional customer service and support. The Southpac team is committed to quality in all they do and has made winning this award possible.

“My team is going to be over the moon. We‘ve got an outstanding sales and service teams, and we continue to invest in facilities and equipment to provide exceptional customer service,” said Durent.

The Colonial Motor Company CEO Graeme Gibbons added: “We have a really good relationship with the factory; a really positive, collaborative approach, and a culture of doing the right thing for the customer, whatever it takes. It‘s what our business is built on. Maarten and his team have an absolute dedication to doing the right thing for the customer and it‘s supported by the factory.”