Ron Finemore Transport is pleased to announce that the company has reached another important milestone in its journey with a new $8.5M "state of the art" transport and logistics facility in Orange ready to commence operation on Monday 14th May 2012.

In a letter to all staff, Ron Finemore & Laurie Brothers thanked valued staff and families for their support, hard work and commitment over the last eight years to assist in making the new facility a reality.  The facility will be home to the 120 staff that RFT employs in the Central West area of NSW and will boast warehouse storage, modern office capabilities, latest in workshop facilities and ample parking for the company's expanding Central West fleet. 

This investment in the Central West region is strong evidence of RFT's long term commitment to assisting it's customers compete in domestic and global markets and supporting the Central West region's growth and prosperity.  It is also a solid and visible commitment from the company owners, the Finemore family and CVC Group, in the work and effort of the staff and in the future of this key location as part of the RFT network. 

A number of celebrations will take place including an Official Opening and a staff and family celebration for the people operating out of the Orange facility. 

RON FINEMORE TRANSPORT SUPPORTS LOCAL YEAR 12 STUDENTS WITH UNIVERSITY AWARD

Alternative fuels must be safe, reliable, and cost-effective.

That’s what Laurie Brothers of Ron Finemore Transport advised an audience of leading players in the emerging biofuels industry at the Alternative Fuels Summit held in Brisbane last month.

Opened by Sir Richard Branson, the Summit explored the opportunities and challenges facing the development of alternative fuels in Australia as soaring global demand and tightening supplies of fossil fuels impact on the transportation industry, while it continues to address its greenhouse gas emissions levels. Alternative fuels stakeholders representing biofuel producers, feedstock suppliers, technology providers, independent and major oil companies, equipment manufacturers and government policy officials heard Laurie offer a trucking operator’s perspective on its biodiesel and other alternative fuel trials.

“Our customers demand that Ron Finemore Transport is safe, reliable and cost-effective in the delivery of its services. We cannot afford breakdowns and we cannot afford to let our customers down,” Laurie told the audience. “We expect the same from our suppliers, and we certainly cannot afford to be let down by our choice of fuel.”

Ron Finemore Transport specialises in linehaul road transport for market leaders in the Food and Energy industries. “Our customers demand high environmental performance and expect us to pursue green alternatives,” says Laurie. To find ways to reduce its fuel consumption and its impact on the environment, the company trials new technologies and participates in collaborative industry forums such as the LNG Users Group and the Green Trucks Partnership to test and share knowledge of new fuel efficiency technologies amongst trucking industry stakeholders. After testing a B20 blend in early 2008 Ron Finemore Transport quickly implemented its use throughout the fleet. Since then its fleet has used over 20 million litres of B20 with no negative impacts on engine fuel systems, fuel consumption or vehicle performance on the road.

A close partnership with Biodiesel Producers Limited and an investment in tank infrastructure at company depots and customer sites provides security of supply and use of biodiesel by its linehaul fleet of 160 vehicles operating throughout regional and East Coast Australia. Working with equipment suppliers and manufacturers for technical and warranty support was also crucial to success.

Alternative fuel use is just one aspect of Ron Finemore Transport’s strategy for maximising energy and carbon efficiency in its operations. High productivity B-Double vehicles which carry more freight with greater fuel efficiency make up 80% of its fleet, while innovative aerodynamic and tyre applications reduce rolling resistance on the road to improve fuel consumption.

“Biodiesel is the only practical alternative fuel option for Ron Finemore Transport and product quality is critical. Biodiesel Producers has met all our key deliverables regarding safety, reliability and cost-effectiveness, and our customers and the environment have benefited as a result,” he said.

New Contracts for Ron Finemore Transport.

The Liquids Division of Ron Finemore Transport recently commenced significant cartage contracts with two of Australia’s leading fuel retailers.

In formal tender processes involving the major players in the bulk fuel cartage market, Ron Finemore Transport succeeded in securing key regional delivery contracts which significantly enhances its service capability in regional areas of south-east Australia.

The awarding of the contracts allows the two clients to restructure their fuel delivery arrangements to increase the efficiency, service levels and cost-effectiveness of their distribution networks. Such changes strengthen the value these companies provide to their customers in the fiercely competitive fuel retailing market.

One contract extends Ron Finemore Transport’s long term relationship with major oil refiner Caltex Australia to service more company-owned and distributor sites throughout Central and North-East Victoria after many years delivering fuel into nearby Caltex locations.

The second contract establishes a new relationship with Woolworths Petrol, a market leader in Australian fuel retailing, with Ron Finemore Transport awarded order management and delivery responsibility for sites throughout the Australian Capital Territory and the Riverina and Central West regions of New South Wales.

Ron Finemore Transport’s reputation and demonstrated track record of providing first class reliability, safety and cost-effectiveness was clearly a determining factor in securing this new business in direct competition with its larger rivals. Another key factor was the efficiency achieved through well-utilised high productivity B-Double vehicles which make up the majority of the company’s bulk liquids tanker fleet. As Greg Sowden, General Manager of the Liquids division, states: “Delivering more volume in larger load sizes ensures service stations are continuously stocked while reducing the number of truck trips required, which reduces risk and impact on the community.”

Greg continues: “The awarding of these two new parcels of business by two of the most respected brands in the fuel business is testament to our hard-working team of drivers, schedulers, maintenance and support staff. We are proud of our growing reputation amongst the major oil companies, independent fuel marketers and regional distributors.”

As a result of continuing growth, people will see more Ron Finemore Transport vehicles in their distinctive red and green livery as they travel the highways of regional east coast Australia.

During early February Ron Finemore Transport received notification from Caltex Australia that we have been

successful in securing additional regional service station and depot work in Victoria. This additional business

incorporates delivery of bulk fuels to 20 plus regional sites and will complement the current tasks Ron Finemore

Transport undertake on behalf of Caltex.

Ron FinemoreTransport Liquids fleet will now service Caltex sites throughout western, central, northern and

north-eastern Victoria. This coverage cements Ron Finemore Transport as one of Victoria’s chosen dangerous

goods service providers.

The appointment of Ron Finemore Transport as Caltex “preferred regional carrier” across the region is the result

of all the hard work and commitment by all staff responsible for delivering a safe and reliable logistics solution

to its major customer.

Well done to everybody.

Sent: Monday, 3 January 2011 8:22 AM
To: RFT
Subject: Great Western Highway

Just a quick email to give compliments to your truck drivers that I see on my local roads. I'm assuming they are coming from and going to the Orange, NSW branch.

I frequently use the Great Western Highway between Wallerawang and Lithgow in NSW and enter the highway at Barton Avenue. This is on a down hill run for the highway traffic and quite often I have to stop and wait while attempting to merge because there is one vehicle coming down the hill and they don't move over. It is a 110km zone so the highway traffic is flowing quickly. More than once your trucks have moved over into the overtaking lane for me to enter the highway without me having to stop. And I have noticed them move over for other vehicles too.

Just a little thing really, but something I really appreciate and I wish more people did that particularly when I am in a hurry to get to work!

I've never noticed any sort of bad driving by any of your drivers and they always keep a safe distance from other vehicles.

Too often truck drivers are complained about so I just wanted someone to know at your organisation that people do notice good driving by truck drivers. And your trucks are very easily identified!

Regards

Leisl

Biofuel Partnership

In partnership with Volvo Australia and the Biofuels Association of Australia, Ron Finemore Transport has recently taken delivery of a new FH520 Volvo.  This is a trial truck that RFT will operate for the next 12 – 18 months.  With the co-operation of members of the Biofuels Association of Australia (BAA) this truck will run on varying inclusion levels of Biodiesel (for example B5 through to B30), from different suppliers.

The aim of this project is to raise the profile of Biodiesel in Australia and the profile of the BAA.  Ron Finemore Transport has been using a 20% biodiesel blend (from Biodiesel Producers Limited (Barnawartha) since May 2008, notching up more than 40 million kilometers travelling throughout Eastern Australia.  During this period we have experienced no issues with the product and have never changed a fuel filter due to fuel quality.

 Ron Finemore Transport is proud to partner with the BAA to raise the profile of the Biodiesel Industry in Australia.

 Ron Finemore Transport in Biodiesel Trial to Cut Emissions

Ron Finemore Transport is striving hard to minimise its environmental impact, joining progressive transport industry players to evaluate new technologies in the NSW Green Trucks Partnership.

Already using locally-produced biodiesel for over a third of the 30 million kilometres its fleet travels each year, the company is fitting monitoring equipment to five prime movers to report on the comparative fuel economy and operational performance of B20 blended biodiesel fuel against regular Mineral Distillate diesel. Each vehicle will run on B20 for one month, and then mineral distillate for one month, so that accurate assessments can be made under normal working conditions.

As the Managing Director, Laurie Brothers, states: “Ron Finemore Transport considers environmental protection to be an integral part of our commercial operations, and our policy is to continuously improve our environmental performance in line with technological developments. We see the NSW Green Trucks Partnership as an opportunity to validate our belief that B20 biodiesel can significantly reduce carbon emissions in the road transport industry without sacrificing operational performance.”

Other technologies being used or trialled within Ron Finemore Transport include LNG and LPG fuels, energy efficient low profile tyres with nitrogen inflation, low noise drive-line brake retarding systems, electronic stability control with rollover prevention, and aerodynamically designed prime movers and trailers, all supported by professional driver training programs.