When Robert (Bob) Gibson started his small service shop in Edmonton 50 years ago, he had no idea that the humble beginning would turn into one of Canada’s leading parts and service providers for drivetrains and power steering. Now, with several brands in The Gear Centre Group, 34 branches across the nation and more than 350 employees, Gibson is proud of the positive impact The Gear Centre has had on the industry for five consecutive decades.
Steven Kneller, marketing lead, shares that Gibson is still at the helm.
“Bob remains the president to this day,” says Kneller, before describing how the founder started the company.
“During his time doing outside sales for a White Truck dealership and working with customers, he noticed a demand in Edmonton for transmission and differential units, parts and service. New inventory and ready-to-exchange units were scarce, and it was deemed as a specialty apart from overall heavy truck and automotive repair. He saw the opportunity to establish his own business to specialize in the remanufacturing and service repair of drivetrain components.”
The Gear Centre Ltd. opened its doors on March 18, 1975, offering powertrain unit repair services and parts for light and heavy duty vehicles. A unique business model serviced B2B and B2C – vehicle owners and fleet managers alike.
Growth was rapid. By 1980, the second company under the brand was formed: Pat’s Driveline Specialty & Machine Ltd. The first branch was opened in north Edmonton to provide driveshaft parts and repair service for all types of automotive, heavy truck, agricultural, off-highway and industrial applications. Pat’s Driveline has since expanded to 12 Canadian locations, offering full service including dynamic shaft balancing, custom design and maintenance.
Kneller adds, “In 1984, further expansion in the Gear Centre Group occurred with another new corporation, Hydra-Steer. The first branch was established in Edmonton to service all power steering and hydraulic needs for our automotive, heavy truck, agricultural and industrial customers. Product offerings include new steering pumps, motors, cylinders and remanufactured steering gears, all fully tested to meet or exceed OEM standards. Branches in Calgary and Surrey have also been established, with most Gear Centre branches being authorized distributors of the full power steering product line.”
They didn’t stop there. The fourth company, Discount Truck Parts Ltd., opened in 1990. It started as a truck wrecker and has now evolved to offering new and custom fuel and hydraulic tanks, frame rails, bracket kits and banjo housings.
With these successful brands in The Gear Centre Group, the next step was very logical. Quality Gear opened in 1993 to streamline the manufacturing and procurement of the parts the companies serviced and sold – and being so uniquely positioned empowered another company just one year later. Canada-Wide Parts Distributors Ltd. started business in 1994 to concentrate on the wholesale distribution of drivetrain units and products throughout Canada, providing volume at competitive pricing to fleet operators and repair shop customers to purchase replacement units.
The reputation, reach and outstanding service provided by the brand allowed them to move into another area of the market. In 1997, The Gear Centre Off-Highway opened as its own division in Calgary and Edmonton to fulfill the greater demand of remanufactured units, parts and service capabilities for the construction, industrial, agricultural, mobile equipment and forestry industries. Additional locations later opened in Surrey and Mississauga.
“The key factor that contributes to our success over the past 50 years is building robust customer relationships with major heavy truck fleets and owner operators, including the off-highway, construction and industrial sectors,” says Kneller. “In addition, we have cultivated a long relationship with our parts and unit suppliers to be an authorized distributor for all the major brands like Parker, Dana Spicer, Meritor, Weasler, Eaton, TRW and Eurocardan, to name a few.”
A major milestone was expanding out of the Alberta market and opening up in the Greater Toronto Area.
Kneller adds, “Following entry into the eastern markets, in 2014 we constructed and opened a new multi-bay facility in Mississauga to increase our service capacity to establish an Eastern Canadian warehouse distribution centre for The Gear Centre and Pat’s Driveline.”
The driving success is also seen in The Gear Centre Group’s ability to remain proactive. Fifty years ago, there was no internet or online shopping, and the market lacked the competitive international nature that it has today. With an increasing number of new brands with similar products entering the market, all with the ability to be found with a quick Google search, The Gear Centre Group remains in continued demand based on it’s longstanding reputation and service-oriented values.
Success is not measured only externally. For the Group’s leadership team, a big part of what they consider success is when the team excels.
“The most rewarding thing is to have our staff grow their careers in both the trades and further develop their technical and mechanical skills,” Kneller explains. “Personally, it has grown my career in the marketing department and enhanced my business management skills.”
The vehicles and industries that The Gear Centre Group services have changed over time as new technologies are introduced. The Gear Centre remains at the forefront by being adaptable in what they need to offer their clients, and embracing the tech that impacts their products, services, and internal processes. This is why The Gear Centre is the one stop for all drivetrain service and repair needs for heavy truck applications, off-highway equipment and light duty applications.
Kneller says, “Over the last 50 years, our diversity of product offerings has expanded from just drivetrain units in heavy trucks to full custom driveshaft manufacturing capabilities, to steering unit rebuilding expertise and offering a full line of truck hydraulic products for the heavy truck industry. We’ve diversified to service not just the motor transport industry, but also automotive performance, off-roading, forestry, mining, construction, industrial and agricultural industries.”
“The services we offer have evolved into other industries, units and remanufacturing expertise,” he continues. “We have invested heavily in state-of-the-art testing equipment including transmission dynamometers, electronic diagnostic equipment and software, driveline balancers and power steering dynamometers, as well as regular internal auditing and training by our quality assurance department. The Gear Centre Group was one of the first companies of its kind in North America to become ISO 9001 certified. Our technicians regularly attend factory-training programs to ensure our remanufacturing is to the latest OE upgrades.”
Externally, The Gear Centre Group supports many community initiatives.
Over the years we have provided advertising support for several non-profit organizations like Crime Stoppers, MADD Canada, Veterans News, and the Edmonton Food Banks. Additionally, we have supported the Children’s Autism Services of Edmonton, through hosting Halloween and Christmas parties, along with sponsoring yearly golf tournaments”
With 50 years of growth and service, there is a lot to be grateful for. On behalf of the team, Kneller says thank you.
“Since 1975, it has been a team effort to grow the company to what it is today. I want to acknowledge the 350 employees in all our departments and branches across the country for a job well done everyday in their work. I also want to compliment the leadership and work of the general managers: Rick Panachuk and Gary Nelson at The Gear Centre Truck & Auto, Derek Logel at The Gear Centre Off-Highway, Jerry Friesen at Pat’s Driveline, Steve Taylor at Hydra-Steer, Brent Krahn at Quality Gear and Francis Sasota at Canada-Wide Parts Distributors Ltd. I want to congratulate the owners, Bob and Kurt Gibson, for 50 years of business success at the Gear Centre.”
What will the next 50 years bring?
Kneller concludes, “One of the goals for our businesses is to further increase our online parts catalogs and e-commerce platforms for our Pat’s Driveline and Canada-Wide Parts divisions.”
