11/01/2023
November 1, 2023
PRESS RELEASE
Velocity Truck Centers (VTC) announced today that the company has further expanded into Canada with the acquisition of First Truck Centre (First Truck). The acquisition of First Truck, with twelve locations in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada, adds the largest group of Daimler Truck dealerships in Western Canada to the Velocity network.
Today, VTC has 63 locations in the United States, including 11 body shops, offering coast-to-coast coverage of commercial vehicle sales, service, parts, collision and fabrication services as well as equipment financing. Combining the 12 locations from First Truck, and its 15 locations in Mexico, Velocity now has 93 locations in North America, and another 18 in Australia for a total of 111 worldwide. Across this network VTC focuses on Speed, Value and Trust, bringing unparalleled customer focus, including two-hour Express Assessment, Elite Support Certification and equipment financing through its Crossroads Equipment Lease and Finance division.
Co-Presidents of VTC, Brad Fauvre and Conan Barker, said, “We are very excited to welcome the First Truck Centre team to what is the most comprehensive commercial vehicle sales, service and support network in North America. It has been a pleasure to work with the Olson family and First Truck executive team through this process. The continuity of the First Truck Centre leadership team will enable us to achieve the best of both worlds – a Canada led team with total focus on the market, supported by the resources, processes and functional teams of the Velocity organization. We want to personally welcome everyone from First Truck Centre to the Velocity organization, and we look forward to meeting customers throughout Western Canada in the coming months.”
First Truck President and CEO, Rod Graham added, “The union of our two highly principled and professional organizations made sense. The alignment of core values, team-first philosophy, education and training opportunities, unique Daimler Truck opportunities, and degree of increased resources that will support both our customers and employees is what led us to the decision to become a key geographic pillar of Velocity Vehicle Group. This acquisition sets the foundation for continued growth in Canada. We look forward to better serving our customers through size, scope, scale, sophistication, and safety.”
Velocity Truck Centers, a part of the Velocity Vehicle Group (VVG), operates commercial vehicle dealership locations in the US across California, Arizona, Nevada, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama and Hawaii. VVG also operates Daimler dealerships across Australia, as well as Mexico, and now, 12 locations in Western Canada. VTC provides new & used commercial vehicle sales, including the full spectrum from pickup trucks to delivery vans to 18-wheelers and school buses, as well as aftermarket parts and service support, along with a multitude of other vehicle-related services. VTC is an authorized dealer for the Freightliner, Western Star, Autocar, Ford, Fuso, Thomas Built Buses, Sprinter, Isuzu, Hino Trucks, SportTruck, Renegade RV, Rosenbauer fire, Battle Motors and Freightliner Custom Chassis vehicle brands and Great Dane and several other specialty trailer brands. VVG also offers equipment financing through its Crossroads Equipment Lease and Finance subsidiary, as well as small business and SBA loans through Velocity SBA and truck rental and leasing through Velocity Truck Rental and Leasing.
