As we pointed out last week, we are in the midst of the awards season and while the Golden Globes, Oscars and Jemmies have all ben handed out, the plaudits for dealer performance in the Australian truck sales business are only just getting warmed up.
The next off the rank appear to be the annual ‘Best of the Year’ gong for Paccar dealers, with the Bayswater based company announcing its winners for its Dutch brand DAF.
And the winner is………..(drum roll) ……. Brown and Hurley Kenworth DAF at Caboolture, which is the dealer named as the 2024 DAF Dealer of the Year. This is the first time Kenworth DAF Caboolture has been awarded the accolade, lets call it the DAF-FY for best dealer, since the introduction of the award in 2002.
The DAF Dealer of the Year award was presented to Kenworth DAF Caboolture dealer principal, Dylan Hurley.
Paccar says the award acknowledges dealer performance across all areas of the DAF business and recognises excellence in truck sales, parts sales, service, finance, and overall customer support – all areas in which Kenworth DAF Caboolture excelled throughout 2024.
Brown and Hurley have expanded operations over the years since it is said to have became the first dealer group to distribute heavy duty trucks in Australia in 1946, with dealerships located throughout Queensland and New South Wales’ Northern Rivers. Caboolture is the latest Brown and Hurley full-service dealership to open, having opened its doors in 2015.
Paccar Australia’s managing director, Damian Smethurst, presented the Dealer of the Year trophy, congratulating Dylan Hurley for this superb achievement to win the hotly contested DAF award and crediting the team for its outstanding performance.
“In a highly competitive and challenging market, customers are increasingly demanding more from dealers. Kenworth DAF Caboolture has not only succeeded in fulfilling these expectations but has also exceeded them by delivering outstanding customer service and professionalism,” said Smethurst.
“The dealership’s ongoing investment in its personnel and facilities is highly valued. This enables them to provide customers with the latest products, services, and industry expertise—key attributes of a premier PACCAR Dealer that helps set a high standard in the industry, Smethurst added.
“On behalf of PACCAR Australia, I would like to extend my congratulations to everyone at the dealership for their dedication and hard work. Everyone is truly deserving of this award, and I am confident they will continue to achieve success whilst maintaining the high standards for years to come,” he said.
Dylan Hurley expressed his gratitude to his winning team, saying,
” On behalf of the entire Caboolture team, I am proud to accept this award. It is an honour to be recognised as the top-performing dealer by Australia’s leading heavy-duty truck manufacturer,” said Hurley.
“I want to express my gratitude to our dedicated sales, service, and support professionals for their remarkable efforts. I also thank PACCAR for their exceptional products that allowed us to meet our customers’ needs,” he added.
Despite a challenging year, our achievements are a testament to the commitment of our team, who consistently go the extra mile. This award is a well-deserved recognition for everyone involved and reflects the trust our valued DAF customers place in us. I also want to acknowledge the crucial role our strong relationship with the PACCAR team has played in our success, and I am grateful for their support,” Hurley said.
Paccar pointed put that Kenworth DAF Caboolture is part of the Brown and Hurley dealership network, which is is a family-owned Australian company established in 1946, and which now employs more than 600 people in Queensland and Northern New South Wales. Over the almost eight decades since it was established, the group has clearly forged strong relationships with customers and continues to provide the commercial vehicle industry with quality services and facilities.
