Truck Centers Inc.’s (TCI) President/CEO, Katie Hopkins, received the industry’s highest honor, the prestigious 2024 American Truck Dealers (ATD) Dealer of the Year Award, at the ATD Show in Las Vegas, NV.
The ATD Dealer of the Year Award is a national distinction that recognizes commercial truck dealers for business performance, industry leadership, and charitable and civic involvement in their local communities. An esteemed panel of independent experts from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business used a decision matrix to evaluate various aspects of dealer operations, business and the seven nominee’s individual contributions.
“Over the past 11 years since her approval as dealer principal successor, she has spearheaded acquisitions in multiple markets and championed growth and core values for the dealerships,” praised the panel of judges. “Hopkins has seen growth with TCI in key performance indicators, including substantial increases in the past five years. Under her leadership, the firm operates as a solutions value-added company.”
Hopkins has spent her entire career in the dealer industry and aligned with Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) and their Freightliner and Western Star brands at TCI. She and her brother, Justin Hopkins (VP of Sales), have both been approved as DTNA dealer principal successors and are the third generation of their family to lead the company. Katie was promoted to CEO and successor of her father, M. John Hopkins, IV, who led the business for 48 years. The elder Hopkins retains his role as chairman alongside his longstanding TCI partner and minority owner, Michael F. Yates, as vice chairman. In winning this year’s award, the Hopkins family etched their names into the ATD history book. Katie and her father, John, are now the first parent-child duo bestowed ATD Dealer of the Year honors.
“This ATD Dealer of the Year Award is a great honor for Truck Centers Inc. and a testament to our team,” said Hopkins following her award acceptance. “Our people have always been our best resource, but we have had to work through tremendous growth and change in our 54-year history. I am committed to implementing sustainable and meaningful initiatives to be more agile and improve experiences for our 750 team members and customers. We are so fortunate to have a talented and passionate group of men and women driving this change by providing our valued customers with exceptional service and being empowered to be the frontline heroes of our story.”
Founded in 1970 as a single store with 15 employees in a rural community near St. Louis, the TCI network now comprises 10 full-service dealerships and two auxiliary locations in Illinois, Indiana and Missouri, with 750 team members. The group was also the 2014 Successful Dealer Award winner.
“I am thrilled for what this award means for our team,” continued Hopkins. “We have many team members and multi-generational families who have been with us since that 1990 win and before. They understand what an honor this is for us all. We also have a lot of newer folks who have embodied our traditions and legacy with a sense of pride. We have worked to build upon a rich heritage but remain open to innovation, collaboration and progressive change. I appreciate how they have adapted to our network’s growth, new technology, a pandemic, and internal and external shifts because they make my job so rewarding and meaningful.”
Truck Centers Inc. (TCI) is a premier network of medium- and heavy-duty truck dealerships offering Freightliner, Western Star, Freightliner Custom Chassis, and Kalmar/Ottawa products. With a 50+ year heritage, TCI, led by three generations of the Hopkins family, has grown from a single store into a robust network of ten full-service dealerships and two auxiliary locations supported by 750 team members in Illinois, Indiana and Missouri. Our team’s success is grounded in providing exceptional customer service, an extensive inventory of premium parts, comprehensive service offerings, and complete collision repairs for all makes. As responsible stewards and trusted partners, TCI is committed to delivering exceptional customer service in a collaborative, innovative environment that fosters a communal spirit of giving back. You can learn more by visiting www.truckcentersinc.com.
