TruckSafe membership grows

The TruckSafe accreditation program has welcomed StockTrans (NSW), Bonney Energy (Vic) and the Smithfield Cattle Company (Qld) as its newest accredited members.

StockTrans started as a one-truck operation in Grafton back in 1988. Today, the fleet has grown to include more than 30 combinations, and specialises in best-practice cattle transport across New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.

"Safety is our highest priority in our operations," says StockTrans Managing Director, Joe Sepos.

"It just made sense to join TruckCare and now TruckSafe – it’s all about making sure things are done right the first time."

Bonney Energy is the Victorian arm of the Bonney Group, which also includes long-standing TruckSafe members Caltas and Lloyds North. Established three years ago, Bonney Energy distributes fuel across the Geelong, Colac and Ballarat areas to commercial sites, wholesale clients and primary producers.

General Manager Tony Winsall said TruckSafe was an obvious step to make sure Bonney Energy met the same high safety standards as other Bonney Group businesses.

"By implementing TruckSafe in our business, we've really improved our concentration on safety and the maintenance of our vehicles," he Winsall said.

"It would be an understatement to say that going through the TruckSafe process has affected the business. It's really changed our whole culture, which has in turn improved workplace safety."

The Smithfield Cattle Company began operating as a lot feeder in 1986, growing through two separate beef market crashes to become one of Australia's premier feedlot operations. Family owned, the Smithfield business also provides extensive cattle transport services and has been TruckCare accredited since 2009.

"TruckSafe and TruckCare accreditation sends a good message to our clients – we were the Woolworths livestock supplier of the year in 2014," said Smithfield Managing Director, Jason Shearer-Smith.

"These systems provide them with assurance that we are doing the right thing."

TruckSafe Chairman Stephen Marley welcomed all three businesses to the TruckSafe family.

"Operators that join TruckSafe go above and beyond the requirements of the law to make sure they run a safe and professional business," he said.

"I congratulate StockTrans, Bonney Energy and the Smithfield Cattle Company for making the decision to put safety first in their business operations."