AVIS is a BIG fan of HINO

In-depth

21 Dec

No, not that AVIS – although I’m sure that the hire company would be as equally enamoured of the brand as are Shaun and Wendy Avis and their Avis Haulage company, based in the Adelaide suburb of Wingfield.

Shaun Avis is a Pom who followed his English born, but Australian bred wife, Wendy to Australia after they met while she was holidaying in the Olde Dart. But we’ll come back to that….

Shaun has been around trucks for all his working life, firstly as a mechanic then behind the wheel. He tells the story of driving Whiskey barrels from Scotland down into England in his early days.

“The authorities – read Police – would drill a barrel, take a quantity out and then plug it. This would happen on three or four occasions on a trip. It was apparently for our protection,” laughed Shaun. “The distillery would designate which barrel I was to proffer them.”

Meanwhile an 18 year old Wendy who had emigrated to Australia as a child, went to England for a holiday during her gap year. Staying with an uncle, he suggested a cheap way to see the country.

“I know a bloke,” he said. “A truck driver called Shaun who drives all over the country.”

Wendy got to see a lot of the UK, and a lot of Shaun Avis. Winter came, which is the right time for any Aussie – even an adopted one – to head back home. A year later, Shaun came out ‘for a holiday’, just to see what it was like. Shortly thereafter he returned for good.

His first job was back on the spanners, working for Queensbridge Motors in Adelaide, followed by a stint driving road trains for Bulls Transport, also in Adelaide -after all that’s where Wendy lived.

“Well, I needed somewhere to live,” quipped Shaun.

A job with Cummins followed and then driving for Robert Remilton from Victor Harbor. Shaun and Wendy – now firmly entrenched together – bought the truck from Robert and Avis Haulage was on its way.

The business started transporting rolling steel tube for Hills Industries – the Hoist people – out of Lonsdale, SA predominantly to Melbourne with trips to Sydney, Brisbane and Perth if required. At the time they would top up the steel business with transporting boats and other product, but carting steel eventually took over and is now 100% of the business.

Hills Industries became Orrcon and that company was bought by Bluescope but through all the changes Avis Haulage has remained contracted to the companies for some 30 years.

“What we offer as a team works for them,” said Wendy. “We've expanded on that original contract into other steel deliveries as well so we've got a few different customers these days and different contracts, but all in steel.”

Son, Eric joined the family business seven years ago and younger brother, Luke came on board in the past six months. Working from four separate locations, Avis haulage has grown from that original truck to a fleet of 14.

In late 2021 Avis needed to add to the fleet with some rigid trucks.

“We initially didn’t have a specific brand as top of mind,” said Shaun. “Then we went to CMI Hino here in Adelaide and met Key Account Manager, David Cushion. David is a really straight talker without any of the bull. We told him what we were after and he really understood. We should also mention Sales Manager, Dani Brown who took the time to get to know us and our business. They have just been awesome to deal with.”

“We’ve got a mixed fleet,” added Wendy. “So we’ve dealt with a number of companies over the years, but CMI Hino have gone above and beyond. It’s not just been the sale, but also the after-sales service which has been impeccable.

“Aftersales service is as important, if not more important than the sale. The follow-up is what is going to create brand loyalty. We know that nothing is perfect and something will break down sooner or later but it's the response to whatever may happen that is going to ingratiate you to a company.

“That said, we had no teething problems with the Hino’s at all, apart from a bug with the cameras, but that was fixed straight away without us having to chase them. All you want when a problem is found is for it to be fixed without any argy-bargy and CMI Hino have been there for us all the way.”

A great salesman and good service are one thing, but is the product itself working for the Avis’s?

“Remembering that everything we carry is heavy steel, the Hino’s have been excellent,” said Wendy. “We have other Japanese product in the fleet and the Hino’s – all 500 Series 2635’s by the way – are better on fuel, better on tare weight, carry heavier loads, in fact far better overall.”

“On top of all that, they are beautiful to drive,” added Shaun. “They’re comfortable, quiet and easy to get in and out of tight spaces. They’re a delight.”

The Avis Haulage fleet also includes prime movers. Would Shaun and Wendy consider the Hino 700 Series for that role?

“Certainly,” reply the couple in unison. Shaun continues. “To be honest I’ve not driven the 700 Series as yet, simply because we’re not in the market for one at the moment. But when the time comes we’ll for sure look at the 700 Hino for two reasons: one – how good the 500 Series is, and two – David Cushion, Dani Brown and the rest of the team at CMI Hino.”