<<Rewind 2011: Kuchel Transport

In-depth

23 Aug

Prologue: Along with running a successful business, Tony and Anne Kuchel are great supporters of truck shows, seeing them as a promotion of the industry as a whole, as well as a chance to get away from the daily grind for a couple of days.

I first caught up with them at The Castlemaine Truck Show way back in November of 2011.

…..

Kuchel Transport, out of Nuriootpa in the Barossa Valley region of South Australia, commenced operations in 1950 with Tony's father. As with so many family businesses, Tony grew up in the cab, loved the industry, and was determined to carry on the business his father had started. Today the business has 16 rigs on the road, Tony thinks – perhaps he should have spent more time at school learning to count!

Kuchel's is a one-brand operation, and that brand is Western Star. "We find them to be a good truck and a good company to deal with. Commonality of the brand across the company has benefits in terms of parts and servicing as well."

The company hauls bulk commodities and produce – a bit of grain, a bit of meal, stockfeed, potatoes – whatever is in season.

Tony's wife, Anne is the financial controller of the business - one of the wisest moves Tony reckons he has ever made – along with marrying her of course. "He tries to spend more than we earn," laughs Anne. "But he accepts it when I say no."

The Kuchel's have three children. The oldest, Jacob works full-time in the family enterprise. Daughter, Kendell is into painting and can turn her deft hand to murals and such. Youngest son, Jordan is a qualified auto electrician whom the family nabs whenever work on the fleet is needed.

3. 1954 Ford C600 is even better on the inside..JPG

Along with the fleet of rigs, Tony and Anne are the proud owners of a superbly restored 1954 Ford C600, which they have converted into an RV with all the bells and whistles.

"As well as it being a getaway, we use it to follow up on business and catch up with our customers. This becomes our mobile office and gives us the freedom to travel where we need to without the need to look for hotels and motels. It certainly creates an impression wherever we go, especially when people get a look inside."

Tony likes to be hands-on with the business. He doesn't mind getting dirty in the workshop, doing a bit of spray-painting and will take one of his trucks on a run every now and then to, as he puts it, 'stay in touch with the real world.'

What are his impressions of today's drivers?

"There's a lot of good guys around but there's a bad element out there too, unfortunately. It's not quite as friendly as it was years ago. Some of it, no doubt comes from the big companies that are around today. Unfortunately that can make you a number, not a name. Add in today's pressures - and I include government legislation - and it's a different world. I don't believe that enforcement is targeted in the right areas. Too often the various enforcement agencies will go for the easy pickings rather than targeting the serious offenders. There is too much nitpicking on the good guys for the little things. There's more idiot car drivers out there than truck drivers, that's for sure. But as always, the publicity goes the wrong way.”

“We're pretty tight on the guys doing the right thing. All our trucks are on satellite tracking and that's not a problem for any of the guys we've got. If it was they wouldn't be there anyway. The system protects them. If they're doing the right thing then there are no issues. If something does go wrong there is evidence to back what's happened. We monitor the driving hours closely as well. That's for everybody. We value our drivers as well as the trucks they drive.

The industry doesn't get any easier. We estimate the carbon tax will cost us about $10,000 per rig per year. Tony Albanese said it's not going to be anything like that. A Melbourne-Sydney run in a B-Double will only cost about $35 a trip. When you put it like that, it doesn't sound like much but multiply $35 a day over a year and you easily get to $10,000. To me, and I'm not a big operator, that's $160 grand!"

The Kuchel's fleet carries the motto, 'Road transport… your lifestyle depends on it!’ as a gentle reminder to the public from where (literally) they get their bread and butter.

"We try to be cognisant of our driver's needs. We are very aware of the need for lifestyle. It's not all about the job. Because the drivers are away from home so much we'll do things like letting them take the kids with them on the road through the school holidays. The kids can come around and help wash the trucks. If there is a concert that dad needs to go, to we'll rearrange schedules around it wherever possible. We try to keep it one driver, one truck. It gives the guys responsibility and pride in their vehicle. Our Jake is around to cover holiday periods, and if one of the drivers is sick."

**Stuart Riemann (L) and Justin Wenham**

Justin Wenham and Stuart Riemann both drive for Tony Kuchel. Justin states, "They treat us like family. I've never had a better job. I don't know about this bloke, but I'm not going anywhere."

Stuart agrees wholeheartedly. "Why would you mate? It's just a great company run by terrific people."

Many of the big transport companies could do themselves a big favour by taking a look at Kuchel Transport's business model.

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