Second generation of Tobin family driving expansion
Burgeoning carrier Followmont Transport is celebrating 35 years servicing its home state of Queensland.
The company has grown steadily there over the decades and the regular industry award winner had a signature year last year with the acquisitions for Towers Transport to bolster its New South Wales presence.
The Towers purchase was a strategic move was made to offer additional services to their existing customer base for the benefit of their businesses, and is currently in the process of ramping up further.
Along with its continued investment in fleet, properties, people, training and compliance, the company is also transitioning to improved digital platforms, offering a better customer and employee experience.
Read about Followmont’s purchase of Towers, here
Founded through humble beginnings in 1984, Bernie Tobin and Alan Salpietro saw a gap in the market when a rail strike affected newspaper deliveries to regional communities, the company says of the early years.
The two men loaded their only truck and took to the road to ensure Queensland towns remained connected and it wasn’t long before their work ethic was recognised by multi-national retailers.
The company has since evolved from “two men and truck, to becoming Queensland’s largest family-owned transport company”, it says.
Now led by Bernie’s son, Mark, as MD, Followmont has more than 800 employees, close to 1,000 pieces of equipment, 25 plus Depots throughout Queensland and New South Wales and 150 local contractors.
Mark Tobin hails the firm’s continuing dedication to providing the best service possible.
“It’s been this dedication that has set a precedent for how we operate and why we have achieved so much over the 35 years,” he says.
“We form partnerships with our customers and understand what they need to be successful in their business and how we can help them achieve that.
Bernie says that from the moment they started, they made a promise to their customers.
“If we said we would deliver the freight, we delivered it,” he adds.
“Integrity is everything and when we shook hands with our customers, they knew we were true to our words.”
Maintaining their family feel across the organisation is the most important factor for Followmont Transport, boasting a tagline of ‘it’s personal, not commercial’.
It’s the hands-on relationship that that Mark says is embedded in their culture.
“Our company was founded on family values and it’s important that legacy is carried on,” Mark says.
“We instil these values in our people and expect our team to deliver the highest level of service.
“We always pull together to get the job done, not one person is more important than the other.
“When it comes to providing for our customers, every role in our organisation plays a part and we couldn’t do it without supporting each other.
“Our people form a family unit and we have created an environment where they feel a sense of belonging and are committed to each other. Without those values, we couldn’t drive the business forward.”