1970

White Motor Truck franchise purchased from Gruenenfelder family in Highland,IL by Milton John Hopkins III, Ralph Masters, and Rich Hartbeck.

  • 15 Team Members
  • $1 Million in Sales
1971 Dealership relocated from 9th St. in Highland, IL to Highway 40 and a 15,000 square foot facility.
1975 Incorporated name change to Central Illinois White Truck
1975 Freightliner announced plans to distribute it's own vehicles.
1976 Milton John Hopkins IV took over management of the company and became a shareholder as Masters and Hartbeck leave the company to pursue other opportunities.
1976 White Motor Great Lakes "Regional Dealer of the Year"
1977 Awarded a Freightliner franchise- one of the first truck dealers to have the franchise.
1979 Purchased 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 Relocated Mt. Vernon dealership to interstate location; I-64 & I-57 (During the era of 20% prime interest rates)
1982 Incorporated name change to Central Illinois Truck Centers forHighland, 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 operation moved to a new interstate location in Troy, IL; I-70/55/270 interchange. Body Shopand New/Used Truck Prep remained in Highland.
1985 Terminated franchise aggreement with International in Mt. Vernon location to focus on Freightliner and Volvo White product lines.
1985

15th Anniversary

  • 3 Locations
  • Selling Freightliner, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo White Trucks
  • $1.25 Million in Parts Inventory
  • 93 Team Members
  • $36 Million in Sales
1986 Freightliner "Great Lakes Regional Dealer of the Year"
1987 Freightliner "National Dealer of the Year"
1987 Incorporated name change to Truck Centers, Inc. for all locations.
1988 Springfield, IL- Volvo White and GMC Medium Duty pickups/vans/Volvo car dealership assets purchased from Werner Family.
1989-98 Freightliner President's Forum Member: (1 of top 3 in nation - based on dealership managerial and company performance)
1990 Business Week Magazine/ American Truck Dealers: "Grand National Dealer of the Year" (Most prestigious award a dealer team can receive in the industry out of 2000+ Dealers of All Brands)
1991 Expanded Troy, IL to 45,000 sq. ft. facility and moved Highland Body Shop to Troy. Sold Highland facility.
1992 Michael Yates became a minority owner of Truck Centers, Inc.
1994 Purchased Freightliner franchise assets in East Peoria, IL from Farron White.
1994 Terminated Volvo White franchise for Troy, Springfield and Mt. Vernon location to focus on Freightliner product line.
1995 St. Louis Freightliner dealership assets purchased from the Blumoff Family.
1995 Terminated GMC Medium Duty franchise for Troy location to focus on Freightliner product line.
1997 Terminated GMC Medium Duty franchise in Springfield location to focus on Freightliner product line.
1998 Selectrucks of St. Louis opened inside the St. Louis dealership.
1999 East Peoria dealership relocated to new Morton, IL facility on interstate; I-74, Morton facility (100,000 sq. ft.)
1999 Duckett Truck Centers dealership assets purchased from Paul Duckett - Poplar Bluff, MO; Sikeston, MO; and Calvert City, KY.
2000

Troy dealership expanded to new separate facility, (161,000 sq. ft)

Body Shop remained in existing Troy facility (45,000 sq. ft.)
2000 Training Center opened in Troy IL (24,000 sq. ft.) making Troy's total square footage 230,000 sq. ft.
2000 Mt. Vernon dealership 33,000 square foot expansion completed making Mt. Vernon's total square footage 54,000 sq. ft.
2000 Selectrucks of St. Louis moved to the new facility in Foristell, MO off of Interstate 70.
2001 Truck Centers took on the American LaFrance Fire Apparatus Franchise.
2001 Poplar Bluff, Sikeston, and Calvert City dealership assets sold back to Paul Duckett.
2003 Satellite store opened in Decatur, IL -offering Parts, Service, and Used Truck Sales
2004 Freightliner Summit Award (1 of top 12 dealers in the Nation)
2005 Decatur, IL starts offering Truck and Trailer Repair.
2005

35th Anniversary

  • 5 Dealerships and 2 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
2006

New Logo and highly functional website updates and reaffirms our total commitment to our customers.

Springfield dealership is hit by 2 tornadoes in a row within a 10 minute time frame. The main building is
severely damaged forcing the dealership to be relocated to the very small building also on the property.

2007

Selectrucks of St. Louis partnership with Freightliner
dissolved. Freightliner became managing owner.

New Location opened in St. Peters MO. Interim focus new & used truck sales.

Springfield dealership underwent an extensive renovation in the main building and reopened in that building.

Total Commitment Through Superior People, Service, Facilities and Products.

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