Sali Transport Feature

A BRIGHT FUTURE‌ S. Sali & Sons Transport is celebrating 60 years in business this year and managing director, Sam Sali and wife, Nina are looking forward to a bright future for the successful, local, family run business. Photo: Emma Hillier.

A history rich in family values and business growth IT all began with just one truck and two brothers 60 years ago, but despite simple beginnings, S. Sali & Sons Transport has grown to become an essential part of the local transport industry.

The late Alan Sali, brother of current managing director, Sam Sali, had always had an interest in trucks and actually owned his first truck well before the two brothers started S. Continued on page 30 Sali & Sons Transport.

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Where it all began B OR N i n 19 2 8 , A l a n Sali was the founder and driving force behind Sali’s Transport.

Trucks were always a passion of Alans, but he wasn’t able to fully pursue his dream until 1956 when he started the transport busi ne ss w it h brot her, Sam. Together, the two built the company from one truck delivering 100 loads annually, to a fleet of trucks that today delivers approximately 3,000 loads across the country.

“A la n h ad b oug ht a ALAN SALI… Being the mastermind truck well before starting behind S. Sali & Sons Transport, Alan the business, but he had to Sali was always fond of trucks and sell it after he was needed worked in the business for 40 years, to help on the family farm. which he started in 1956 with brother, Dad came to him and asked Sam. Photo: Supplied. what will it be…the truck or the farm. Alan was always a family driven person and so he chose the farm,” Sam said.

“He remained an integral part of the business for 40 years.

He had fantastic public relations skills, which I think is why the company was able to land some of the contracts it did.

“He deserves to be remembered and honoured for having the vision he did. Without him, the business wouldn’t even have existed let alone been so successful.

“To be celebrating 60 years of the business is something that I am sure Alan would have loved to see and I know he would be proud.”

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A pillar of our community SAM Sali, the now managing with 100 percent attendance director of S. Sali & Sons and was recognised as a Paul Transport, was born in 1937 only Harris Fellow, one of the highest achievements with rotary. Sam’s a few months before his family long string of awards doesn’t stop moved from their home country there. He was awarded the ATA Albania to Australia and settling National Award for Outstanding in Shepparton.

Contribution to the Australian Although he was nine years Trucking Industry in 2003 and younger than his brother, Alan, then in 2004 he received an it didn’t stop the two from joining award in appreciation for service forces and starting S. Sali & Sons and commitment to NatRoad, Transport in 1956, but he never which he is a founding director dreamed it would grow so much of. in such a short time and become As well as the transport a vital inclusion to the transport company, Sam is heavily involved industry in the Goulburn Valley.

SAM SALI… As the current managing director in real estate and property Married to his wife Nina for at S. Sali & Sons Transport, Sam Sali has always development across the region.

54 years, the two have three been a community and family driven man. Photo: Sam said, “The Sali family has daughters and one son, Vivien, Emma Hillier. been involved and engrained in Noreen, Linda and Adem. Sam’s children have also been very involved within the local many aspects of the local community for many years.

“Our family has diversified and between the family community and each have their own families. Vivien married Refet Ibisi and they now have a son, Sabri, named we operate six orchards, Shop 221, Traffik and Arcade after Sam’s father. Adem is married to Naz and they have Fashions.

“In 1986, I was a foundation member and director of the two daughters, Sarah and Ella.

Sam has long been an important part of our community. National Transport Federation and served on the board for He spent 12 years on the Bourchier Street Primary School many years.

“I became managing director at S. Sali & Sons council and during this time, Sam and the president of the school council, Michael Loughead were together Transport in 2002, but was manager before then, standing responsible in building the school’s multi-purpose room, alongside my brother Alan.

“When it comes to the business, customers are the most which was named in their honour, the Loughead Sali Multi-Purpose Room. Sam also spent 40 years with the important visitors on our premises. They are not dependant Albanian Muslim Society Shepparton, has so far spent on us, we are dependant on them. Customers are not 44 years as a member of the Rotary Club of Shepparton outsiders in our business, they are a part of it.”

The next generation Part of the family ADEM Sali is the only son of Sam and Nina and started with the business from a very young age and like his uncle and dad, he always had an interest in trucks.

When he finished technical school, Adem worked with his uncle on the family orchard before making the decision to join the family transport business and run the S. Sali & Sons Transport workshop for many years.

Adem is now the general manager and is looking forward to one day taking over and running the business.

“There is a bright future ahead for the transport industry and it is an exciting time to be a part of it,” Adem said.

“There is nothing else I would rather be doing and it really is something special to be able to work alongside family.”

JOHN Barrett has been a part of the S. Sali & Sons Transport family since 1974.

He started out as a driver but in 2004 became the company’s operations manager.

“After many years driving, my experience was able to lend itself toward a positive direction forward for the business and so I made the decision to move from being a driver, to being operations manager.

“I think in the coming years, S. Sali & Sons will continue being as strong as ever and I am glad to have had the opportunity to see that through.”

ADEM SALI… Adem Sali is the general manager at S. Sali & Sons Transport and will one day take the reigns and lead the business into the future. Photo: Emma Hillier.

JOHN BARRETT… John Barrett has been with S. Sali & Sons Transport for 42 years and, after spending many years as a driver for the business, is now operations manager. Photo: Emma Hillier.

A driver for life

PETER Jackson, or Jacko as he is more affectionately known to others in the business, has been a driver for S. Sali & Sons Transport since 1986 and doesn’t plan on giving the job away anytime soon.

He has enjoyed his time with the company and says it is the family friendly atmosphere that is the reason why he is happy to stick around.

“My father used to work for the company and that’s how I got involved. When my father fell ill I took over with his truck and then later sold the truck and commenced driving with S. Sali & Sons Transport full time.” Peter said.

PETER JACKSON… Having been a driver for S. Sali & Sons Transport for 30 years, Peter Jackson says it is the family friendly atmosphere that will keep him around for years to come. Photo: Supplied.

An integral part of the team LEANNE Chandler joined S. Sali & Sons Transport in 1992 and has been an integral part of the office environment. For the past 24 years, Leanne has worked in administration and handling the company’s accounts.

“The best thing about working at S. Sali & Sons Transport is that the business is family owned and a friendly environment to work in. Over the years I have gotten to know everyone personally and I very much feel like a part of the family,” Leanne said.

“It has been good and I love it here.”

LEANNE CHANDLER… For the past 24 years, Leanne Chandler has been an integral part of the administration office at S. Sali & Sons Transport. Photo: Emma Hillier.

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A history rich in family values and business growth CELEBRATING 60 SUCCESSFUL YEARS… S. Sali & Sons Transport has come a long way from its humble beginnings in 1956. In the photo on the left is driver, Tom Haughton (right) with the first truck owned by the company with Alan Sali (left) with the company’s second truck, a bright red Diamond T. In the photo on the right, Sam Sali can be seen with the company’s second truck, a bright red Diamond T. Photos: Supplied.

continued from front page IN 1946, Alan used his truck throughout the 6 month fruit season, but sold it after commitments arose on the family farm, but because of his deep interest in trucks Alan, along with Sam began the transport company in January 1956 and purchased their first truck, a 6 tonne Bedford truck.

Sam said, “At the time that Alan decided to create the company, I was still completing my apprenticeship in motor mechanics, so initially Alan managed a lot of the organisation and of the business, as well as the driving, and I loaded the truck and serviced it on weekends to be ready for him the following week.

“Our first loads were carrying local fruit and vegetables to the Melbourne Market and other factories. We worked with many local orchardists.

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“We have always run our operation from our current site on Verney Road in Shepparton.”

A highlight for the brothers came in 1958, when they brought a brand new truck with a 31’ single axle trailer, a bright red Diamond T. In 1964 they bought an International 184 with a 34’6” bogie trailer, which allowed the brothers to take their first steps toward interstate work and it wasn’t long before they were making deliveries to the Sydney Market.

With the business growing, the fleet increased from two to three and more drivers were employed to allow Alan to take on a fulltime management role.

In 1965 the business took on a fuel tanker and began carrying fuel for BP into the Goulburn Valley.

“We spent 25 years working with BP and during that time, fruit began to taper off as our

main focus. We began branching out into local and interstate general freight.

“Today, we have many national clients and concentrate heavily on interstate work carrying food products, building materials and a range of other materials.

“It’s funny to think that we started off with just us two and now we have 14 employees. We used to be able to carry a 16 tonne payload and deliver 100 loads annually and today we carry 60 loads per week, which is approximately 3,000 annually, and we do that with 9 trucks capable of carrying up to a 38 tonne payload.

“Over the years, the business’ main achievement has been the fact that we were able to continue and grow, and we owe that to Alan. I have to pay homage to my brother, Alan. Without his ingenuity and drive, the company wouldn’t be here today, and we are all very grateful that it is.”

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From simple beginnings to a promising fleet STARTING with just one truck that delivered 100 plus loads per year, S. Sali & Sons Transport has grown to a fleet of six B-Doubles that carry 38 tonnes at a time and three single, semi trailers capable of carrying 24 tonnes per load.

With 60 years of experience behind them, S. Sali & Sons Transport utilise the technology of Kenworth trucks and more recently, Scania trucks.

These trucks are used to deliver food products, building materials and general purpose materials to areas right across the country.

STRONG FLEET… S. Sali & Sons Transport managing director, Sam Sali and son, general manager, Adem with one of the company’s Kenworth trucks and Scania trucks, which are part of the fleet of nine. Photo: Emma Hillier.

A relationship that spreads nationwide FROM Melbourne to Sydney and Brisbane, S. Sali & Sons Transport has built the company from small beginnings to now working with many national accounts, but there are still locals who are utilising the efficient services offered by the local, family run company.

S. Sali & Sons Transport has also enjoyed a lengthy working relationship with many local

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companies who help them keep their business going strong. One such local business is Central Tyre Service, who has been alongside the transport business since its conception in 1956.

S. Sali & Sons Transport managing director, Sam Sali said, “We’ve enjoyed a long term association with Central Tyre Service.

Family wise, I can remember my dad used to deal with them right back when they were located in Fryers Street.

“Business wise, we’ve enjoyed our working relationship with them, they’ve always been good people to deal with and we look forward to continuing our relationship with them into the future.”

A tight-knit team WHILE S. Sali & Sons Transport began its life with brothers, Alan and Sam Sali at the helm, the business today has a tight-knit team who all work together as a family to ensure day-today operations run smoothly.

Fourteen members of staff work in administration and as drivers for the transport company, and managing director, Sam Sali says that they are essential in supporting the success of the business moving forward.

“There has been a continuing shortage of drivers over the last 10 years, and the mining boom has had a disastrous effect on that. We are seeing a bit of an ease with that at the moment, which is positive. The future does look a little worrying when it comes to drivers though, as we are noticing there aren’t many in the younger generation getting into the industry.

“All of our staff here are more than just people who work for us, they are very much a part of the family.

“Leanne in administration has been with us for 28 years and the office environment wouldn’t be the same without her. Our operations manager, John Barrett has been

VERY MUCH PART OF THE FAMILY… From left, S. Sali & Sons Transport general manager, Adem Sali, office administration, Leanne Chandler, managing director, Sam Sali, operations manager, John Barrett.

Photo: Emma Hillier.

with us for 42 years, and while he started as a driver, his expertise helps to bring a wealth of industry knowledge to the business.

Peter Jackson has been with us as a driver for 30 years this year. That’s half the time we have been in business. Having family work

The company today S. SALI & Sons Transport has seen many changes throughout the trucking industry.

From new technology introduced into its fleet, to changes in road safety, the company plans to continue to service and grow its clients and in turn continue to grow the business.

As a successful, small business, S. Sali & Sons Transport operates efficiently, which sets it apart from other transport companies in the region.

“Because of the fact we are a smaller, family owned and operated business it allows us to remain competitive in the industry locally,” managing director, Sam Sali said.

“We have also had our own dedicated workshop and mechanic from the begining, which is a big help when it comes to servicing our fleet.

“We move with the times, which is why we carry a lot less fresh produce now than we did at the beginning. We diversified the business to include other materials that were required interstate some time ago and this stands us in

POINT OF DIFFERENCE… As well as being a family owned and run, efficiently operating business and diversifying over the years to include interstate transportation, S. Sali & Sons Transport has its own dedicated workshop to help service its feet. Roger Weidenbach is the company’s mechanic/workshop manager. Photo: Emma Hillier.

good stead for the future.

“We have a consolidated list of loyal customers which will grow in the coming years and this will mean our business will grow along with it.”

alongside you really makes every day that little bit better and I am lucky enough to have my son, Adem here with me.

“Each of our staff members help to maintain the high standard of the business, which we just could not do without.”

A piece of the furniture

H A R O L D Campbell, or JC as he is more affectionately known around the truck yard, has been a driver for S. Sali & Sons Transport on and off for the last 20 years.

“I started looking for a bit of work and I knew a couple of the drivers at the company at the HAROLD CAMPBELL… time. I had heard For the last 15 years, good things about Harold Campbell has the business and so been working with S. I decided to go in Sali & Sons as a driver. and have a chat with Photo: Emma Hillier.

Sam,” JC said.

“They are a great bunch of people to work with. I feel like a bit of the furniture now.”

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