FLEET FOCUS
Most of the runs are completed overnight for Kurmond Feed and Freight on fuel-efficient Mercedes-Benz Actros.
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PRETTY HORSEPOWER Kurmond Feed and Freight provides the connection to get valuable livestock fed throughout all seasons.
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urrounded by rural holdings and nestled in the green foothills of the Blue Mountains west of Sydney is the picturesque village of Kurmond. The Bennett family have been involved in agriculture and transport for five generations and continue to provide a vital link between farmers and hungry livestock. After following his father Ron, and his grandfather Jack, into farming and transport Steve Bennett became instrumental in the design and development of some specialised trailers for carrying large quantities of empty pallets. He did this for around seven years before selling off his trucks 34
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and going back to the family’s roots of farming fodder crops such as lucerne in the Forbes area of western NSW. As Steve began supplying hay and chaff to livestock owners he realised the need for trucks to transport his produce to his clients. Eventually he accepted a good offer and the farm was sold and Steve went on to develop the current feed merchant business, mostly specialising in fodder suitable for horses, and with it the in-house transport operation. The feed industry has changed significantly with the advent of social media and much of the trading is now done via platforms such as Facebook rather than the traditional method of
advertising in rural newspapers. “I’m computer literate but I’m not social savvy,” says Steve. “I stood back and realised this is my son Jack’s world. Jack was just starting into the buying and selling of feed products, so I said it was time to hand over the day to day running to him, and I slipped back into the driving role. I’ve found that at many of the farms we deal with, the sons are taking over as well.” Most of the feed runs are overnight which suits Steve. The priority is their own freight and it is not unusual to factor in running back empty from delivering feed. However, if it can be managed to suit their own feed transport
