Complete Trucks’ owner-operator Sebastian Spadaro shares how the long history of freight transport has helped shaped his family-run business
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The T908 is not up for sale; it is one of those vehicles that the Complete Trucks’ team goes back to again and again – whether to make deliveries of trailers to customers or to pick up new stock for the dealership
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Located in the greater city of Shepparton, Complete Trucks is an independent truck and machinery dealership. The business specialises in used trucks, trailers and machinery. Working from the two-acre property in the heart of the Goulburn Valley in country Victoria, the business caters to all industries and businesses across Australia.
Its range includes trucks from small, medium and large rigids, pantech bodies and semi-trailers.
“From trade trucks to curtainsiders, we have a huge range of trucks and machines suitable for every transport business need,” Spadaro says.
The current stock includes trucks from various brands including Kenworth, DAF, Scania, Mercedes Benz, Hino, Isuzu, Fuso and Nissan; trailers from Vawdry, Krueger and Freighter; a Mitsubishi tipper; and earthmoving equipment and machinery from Kubota to New Holland and more.
Complete Trucks also operates a huge workshop at the property, which allows the business to modify any vehicle to suit specific industry needs.
“I take a lot of pride in our stock, which is all hand-picked. Once we get a vehicle or equipment in, we put it through our workshop and get it ready for our customers.
“The key to our operation is that we can accommodate different trucks to different industries. We can facilitate all workshop and engineering modifications to meet our customers’ specific needs including tray modifications, beaver tail ramps, pantech body adjustments,” he says.
TRUCKING BORN AND BRED
The family-run business was founded by Sebastian and his father John Spadaro in 2007. Since then, Sebastian and his wife Kristy Spadaro have been running the show with the same ethics that were the cornerstones of their fathers’ careers in transport.
Sebastian’s father had a long and illustrious career running his own transport company, Spadaro Refrigerated Transport, while Kristy’s father, David Pierce, gained enormous experience and respect over the course of his long career driving heavy vehicles for various businesses.
“Transport has always been in my blood. My father was very well known in the industry. I idolised him. I grew up watching his ways and how successfully he ran his business. He was extremely good with service and I think that’s one of the best lessons I learnt from him – respecting people and understanding their needs. That’s what I think is old-fashioned country service, something we abide by here at Complete Trucks,” he says.
“Vehicles are one thing, they will always come and go but to build relationships with so many different people from so many different industries and being a small part of their success stories is more than anything.
“We have a long history of interstate cartage. As a result, Kristy and I have always had a passion for this industry. We work for that pride that was left by the legacy of both our fathers. My late father-in-law, David Pierce, was also one of the veterans of the transport industry. He was a legend of the highways.”
Over the decades the couple has seen the transport industry go through many changes and now that they are running their own business their aim is to adapt to the demands of new technologies while keeping intact their core business values of respect, trust and quality.
The picture on the front cover of this issue is of one of Complete Trucks’ old warhorses, a Kenworth T908. It is not up for sale but it is one of those vehicles that Sebastian’s team goes back to again and again – whether to make deliveries of trailers to customers or to pick up new stock for the dealership.
“It’s a multi-purpose vehicle. It’s our pride icon,” Sebastian says.
“Ever since I was a little boy I’ve had a passion for Kenworth trucks. When my father was involved in the transport business he had a penchant for Kenworth trucks and maybe that was my first big influence for this brand. Their style and aesthetics is only trumped by their robustness.
“My father-in-law loved his Kenworth trucks too,” he adds.
Sebastian and his team understand the needs of freight transport vehicle and equipment buyers. They focus on dedicating time to understand their customers’ requirements and help them find the most suitable machines.
“It’s not like selling a motor car where it’s easy to match someone with the type of car they want. In this industry we have to make sure that we understand the customer’s demands and help them find the vehicle or equipment that best suits their work needs. We have to listen to people and really understand their business requirements because a lot rides on it. At Complete Trucks it is very important that we assist customers make the right choices,” he says.
For more details and current listings, visit www.completetrucks.com.au or call 03 5821 3214 to speak to one of the sales staff.
