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NATIONWIDE Towing & Transport, the largest towing company in Australia, scooped up a total of three awards at the inaugural Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC) Industry Awards night held at the Plaza Ballroom at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne.

It won awards for best towing operator, best workplace safety and, the big prize of the night, it lifted the award for the best large company.

Nationwide Towing and Transport chief executive officer Rob Nicholls said the recognition had come after three decades of diligent effort by a number of founding families who had the vision to create a sophisticated, safe and professional company based on towing.

“The guys have been doing it for nearly 30 years, built a great business with a very heavy emphasis on investing into workplace health and safety, and information and communications technology (ICT) and to create as much automation as possible,” he said.

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“This is all to ensure we are doing everything as safely as we can because the business is risky, towing vehicles from the side of the road, sometimes a highway, at all times, in all weather.”

The result is the largest towing operator in the country, with 450 employees and contractors, 250 tow trucks and 100 service vans.

Nationwide does 320,000 jobs a year and almost 300,000 emergency roadside assistance calls.

“We have also run yellow vans for automobile clubs across the country, some dating back to 1960. If you call for a yellow van, it could be us.Vacc_awards5

“We are a leader in the industry,” Mr Nicholls said. “Possibly the biggest towing service in the world, but certainly in Australia.

“One of our shareholders and our IT guy went to the US and Canada last year and there was no-one near our size.”

Mr Nicholls said Nationwide knows it is only as good as its people, all of whom receive training in their particular disciplines but also in workplace health and safety (WHS) and the principles of high quality service.

“This is a sophisticated company. There has been a lot of time and effort put in by a lot of people.Vacc_awards2

“In the last five years we will have invested $30 million or more in fleet, WH&S, ICT and people. The thing that wraps it all together is the quality system and the people. You’ve got to have good people.”

Mr Nicholls said Nationwide runs an in-house training course for its drivers run by certified trainers. The quality of the training has been recognised by other companies.

“We are also continually sending people on external courses in leadership, management, WH&S and technical training.”

Nationwide has just completed a massive renewal of its fleet, bringing the average age of its vehicles down to around three years, even though some of the larger trucks can be up to 10 years old.

Mr Nicholls said Nationwide was open to gaining a foothold in states where it is not operating at present.

“We continue to assess opportunities across the country.”Vacc_awards4

 

AWARD WINNERS:

Award Winners Gallery – Click to enlarge

Best Mechanical Repairer:  Automotive Diagnostics and Repairs

Best Heavy Vehicle Repairer: Johnson’s Truck and Coach Service

Best Body Repairer: Cranbourne Body Works

Best Auto Recycler: Smart Parts

Best Engine Reconditioner: HM GEM Engines

Best Auto Electrical: Orbost Auto Electrics

Best Towing Operator: Nationwide Towing and Transport

Best Service Station: Ballarat Taxis Co-op

Best Aftermarket and Retail Business: Dynamic Wheel Company

Best Tyre Dealer: A1 Tyrepower

Best Farm Machinery Dealer: Agpower and Transport

Best Truck Dealer: Johnson’s Truck and Coach Service

Best Motorcycle Dealer: Roe Motorcycle and Mower

Best Used Car dealer: Melbourne’s Cheapest Cars

Best New Car dealer: Max Kirwan Mazda

Best Investment in People: All Head Services

Best Workplace Safety: Nationwide Towing and Transport

Environmental Business Leader Award: Norden

Best Regional Business: Europanels

Best Small Business: Cranbourne Body Works

Best Large Business: Nationwide Towing and Transport

Vacc_awards

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