With a respected history in the transport industry, Ron Finemore turned to starting his own company in the early 2000s. Its growth can be put down to a family feel and an unwavering commitment to driver safety.
As a transport company, Ron Finemore Transport carries a strong legacy.
The family-owned and run country-Australian business was established by Ron Finemore in 2004 after he acquired Lewington’s Transport. With a respected reputation in the industry, Finemore then completed the founding of his company when he purchased Smith’s Transport in Orange in 2005.
Ron Finemore Transport has been on an upward trajectory ever since, operating in southern NSW and working up and down the eastern seaboard.
Shane Tucker is the safety, operational risk and compliance manager at the company and says Ron Finemore’s legacy has been a key reason for the operator’s growth.
“Through Ron’s lifetime involvement in transport, he has worked in a number of areas when it comes to various types of deliveries and transport,” Tucker told ATN.
“Ron is founder and chairman of the board. His involvement in the industry goes back to the 1970s and has shaped what we do as a company.”
Ron Finemore Transport’s main focus currently is on the delivery of consumable goods to supermarkets and service stations, including food and fuel.
Finemore’s experience in the industry involved various areas from livestock to car carrying, before settling on food and fuel transport in the early 2000s.
With a predominantly European-based fleet of 289 prime movers, the operator is flourishing under a high utilisation model of its trucks.
Tucker says the company averages around 1.3 million kilometres per week as a company based on loops and shuttle services.
He says the prestige aligned with Finemore’s name in the industry and its focus on food and fuel delivery has helped it grow quickly as a company.
“What we do has certainly helped our expansion,” Tucker says. “As a company we’re constantly evolving and growing since our establishment was complete in 2005.
“The transport industry is always challenging, but we believe our company is now in a good spot.”
While the company has grown fast, Tucker says it has always remained rigid when it comes to safety. He says the inspiration comes from Finemore, who has had a lifelong dedication to developing safety standards in the industry.
Among Ron Finemore Transport’s core values is the need to prioritise safety, people and reliability when it comes to providing cost-effective options for customers. If the operator can remain safe, legal and compliant, Tucker says it is satisfied.
The company has done so in numerous partnerships, including a current one with Aussie Pharma Direct, who distribute ViroCLEAR.
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A key method of keeping the operator safe is by paying attention to maintaining the entire fleet of heavy vehicles.
Tucker says the fleet age averages between 1.8 to 2 years, with fleet turnover on regular basis.
“We make sure our trucks have the latest safety equipment and options all installed,” Tucker says.
“We have a strong focus on the latest technology to protect our drivers, as well as on training and upskilling them.
“When we onboard our staff, we make sure they’re managed correctly when it comes to fatigue management, while during their ongoing development we emphasise driver safety.”
It can be difficult to maintain this meticulous approach to safety while also attracting enough skilled workers into the company.
Throughout the staff and skilled driver shortage, Tucker says the company has become nimble in its recruitment and training approach.
Although Tucker admits the shortage is a nightmare for all involved in the industry, Ron Finemore Transport is doing everything possible to find new skilled employees.
“We’ve been actively recruiting and offering internal training programs to support potential drivers,” Tucker says.
“We try to interact with schools, TAFEs and other areas in the industry to give the insight that our industry is a career and that there’s lots of options for those wanting to join it.
“Whether it be mechanics, technicians, operational support or financial teams, we promote that it’s a great long-term industry to be in.”
Tucker says he’s certain that Ron Finemore Transport is a company worth working at because it provides a future and invests in the development of its people.
With its family feel and rapid growth, Tucker says now is the time for potential employees to get on board and grow as an industry member.
“We have strong family values as a company and are focused on looking after our people,” Tucker says. “It’s an agile organisation to work in with Ron being so hands on.
“His family members like Alan, Shane and Scott Finemore are also heavily involved in the operation side of the business, making it a great family business to be part of.”