1970 – 2012 Over 40 years of heavy truck service in the Midwest.
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1970
White Motor Truck franchise is purchased from Gruenenfelder family in Highland,IL by Milton John Hopkins III, Ralph Masters, and Rich Hartbeck. - 15 team members
- $1 million in sales
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1971
Dealership is relocated from 9th St. in Highland, IL to Highway 40 to a 15,000 sq. ft. facility. -
1975
Name change incorporated to Central Illinois White Truck. -
1975
Freightliner announces plans to distribute its own vehicles. -
1976
Milton John Hopkins IV takes over management of the company and becomes a shareholder as Masters and Hartbeck leaves the company to pursue other opportunities. -
1976
Wins "Regional Dealer of the Year". -
1977
One of the first truck dealers to be awarded a Freightliner franchise. -
1979
Purchases Freightliner/International dealer assets from the Taylor Family in Mt. Vernon, IL. -
1979
Freightliner "Regional Dealer of the Year" -
1980
Business Week Magazine/American Truck Dealers. Midwest: one of 4 dealers recognized in the USA as "Regional Dealer of the Year". -
1981
Relocates the Mt. Vernon dealership to interstate location; I-64 & I-57 during the era of 20% prime interest rates. -
1982
Name change is incorporated to Central Illinois Truck Centers for Highland, IL location and Southern Illinois Truck Center for Mt. Vernon, IL location. -
1983
Freightliner "Central Regional Dealer of the Year" -
1984
Highland parts, service, and sales operations move to a new interstate location in Troy, IL; I-70/55/270 interchange. Body Shop and New/Used Truck Prep remain in Highland. -
1985
Franchise agreement with International is terminated at the Mt. Vernon location to focus on Freightliner and Volvo White product lines. -
1985
15th Anniversary- Three locations
- Selling Freightliner, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo White Trucks
- $1.25 million in parts inventory
- 93 team members
- $36 million in sales
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1986
Freightliner "Great Lakes Regional Dealer of the Year". -
1987
Name change to Truck Centers Inc. for all locations. -
1988
Springfield, IL –carries Volvo White and GMC medium duty pickups and vans. Volvo car dealership assets purchased from Werner Family. -
1989
Truck Centers Inc. is Freightliner President's Forum Member and one of the top three dealers in the nation, based on dealership managerial and company performance. -
1990
Business Week Magazine/ American Truck Dealers mentions Truck Centers Inc. as "Grand National Dealer of the Year". This is the most prestigious award a dealer team can receive in the industry out of 2000 plus dealers from all brands. -
1991
Truck Centers Inc. expands the Troy, IL location to a 45,000 sq. ft. facility and moves the Highland Body Shop to Troy. -
1992
Michael Yates becomes a minority owner of Truck Centers, Inc. -
1994
Truck Centers Inc. purchases Freightliner franchise assets in East Peoria, IL from Farron White. -
1994
Truck Centers Inc. terminates the Volvo White franchise for Troy, Springfield and Mt. Vernon location to focus on the Freightliner product line. -
1995
St. Louis Freightliner dealership assets purchased from the Blumoff Family. -
1995
GMC Medium Duty franchise is terminated for Troy location to focus on Freightliner product line. -
1997
GMC Medium Duty franchise is terminated in Springfield location to focus on Freightliner product line. -
1998
Selectrucks of St. Louis opens inside the St. Louis dealership. -
1999
East Peoria dealership relocates to the new Morton, IL facility on interstate; I-74, Morton facility of 100,000 sq. ft. -
1999
Duckett Truck Centers dealership assets are purchased from Paul Duckett - Poplar Bluff, MO; Sikeston, MO; and Calvert City, KY. -
2000
Troy dealership expands to new separate facility of 161,000 sq. ft. The Body Shop remains in existing 45,000 sq. ft. Troy facility. -
2000
Training Center opens in Troy IL (24,000 sq. ft.) making Troy's total square footage 230,000 sq. ft. -
2000
Mt. Vernon dealership 33,000 sq. ft. expansion completed making Mt. Vernon's total square footage 54,000 sq. ft. -
2000
Selectrucks of St. Louis moves to the new facility in Foristell, MO off of Interstate 70. -
2001
Truck Centers Inc. takes on the American LaFrance Fire Apparatus Franchise. -
2001
Poplar Bluff, Sikeston, and Calvert City dealership assets are sold back to Paul Duckett. -
2003
Satellite store opens in Decatur, IL offering Parts, Service, and Used Truck Sales.
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2004
Truck Centers Inc. wins the Freightliner Summit Award and is considered one of the top twelve dealers in the nation. -
2005
Decatur, IL starts offering Truck and Trailer Repair. -
2005
35th Anniversary- Five dealerships and two divisions of TCI throughout IL and
- MO $6 million in parts inventory
- 450 team members
- $180 million in annual sales
- 500,000 + square footage in facilities
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2006
The new logo and website updates reaffirm our total commitment to embracing advances in technology for our customers.
The Springfield dealership is hit by two tornadoes in a row within a ten minute time frame. The main building is severely damaged forcing the dealership to be relocated to a small building on the property. -
2007
Selectrucks of St. Louis partnership with Freightliner dissolves. Freightliner becomes the managing owner.
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2007
New location opens in St. Peters MO. Interim focus new and used truck sales. -
2007
Springfield dealership undergoes an extensive renovation in the main building and reopens in that building. -
2009
Freightliner Aspire Awards: Springfield and St. Louis are awarded recognition as two of the top twenty dealers for freightliner. -
2011
St. Louis facility undergoes a major facility upgrade and renovation. This location now proudly offers the latest in heavy vehicle technology. -
2011
Springfield becomes a Fuso truck dealership.
