Sawtell and Sons is celebrating its 90th anniversary by adding another Volvo to its growing fleet
Currumbin based bulk haulers Sawtell and Sons has celebrated its 90th anniversary by taking delivery of Volvo’s FH16 truck.
For more than 50 years, Sawtell and Sons has been buying Volvo trucks exclusively. Volvo Group Australia says that in a tough industry where dynasties come and go, celebrating nearly a century in business is no mean feat.
The business started in 1933 after Percival Sawtell and his two sons purchased the only transport business on the south end of the Gold Coast in Currumbin.
Sawtell and Sons joint director Ken Sawtell says the vibrant southern suburb of the Gold Coast looked very different when his grandfather founded the business.
“There were five sons in the family,” Sawtell says.
“The two eldest started the business and my dad took it over in the ‘50s and started to build it up to what it is today.”
Joint director alongside his younger brother Grant, Sawtell says the business his grandfather started now spans across four generations.
Volvo says the business isthriving, growing from initially two trucks to a fleet of 60 and a workforce of 80.
Sawtell and Sons purchased its first Volvo only one year after Volvo began building trucks in Australia at its Wacol factory in 1972.
“I remember because I started driving for the business that same year. It was a Volvo F86,” Sawtell says.
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| Claire and Ken Sawtell alongside Volvo sales representative Joe Scalia |
These days, Sawtell and Sons do a combination of local and interstate work, with slightly more trucks working on the interstate side. The local fleet is kept busy though transporting sand, gravel and fertiliser.
“Business relationships that span decades are a rare thing in any industry,” Volvo Group Australia Vice President Gary Bone says.
“The relationship that has been forged with Sawtell and Sons and Volvo speaks volumes and is a true testament of the resilience, determination and integrity of the Sawtell family across the generations.
“I’d like to think these qualities are also reflected in some way by us here at Volvo.
“Shared values make the best foundations for long-term partnerships and I’m proud that Volvo has been part of Sawtell and Sons journey to date.”
The Volvo FH16 will join Sawtell and Sons interstate fleet that covers the majority of the eastern seaboard.
Sawtell and Sons’interstate fleet transports potatoes and fertiliser on long haul routes from South Australia to Far North Queensland.