Volvo marks 50 years of Oz truck building

VOLVO GROUP AUSTRALIA is a true manufacturing success story, this week celebrating 50 years of making trucks Down Under with the handover of two commemorative 50-year branded trucks.

The 50-year anniversary FH700XXL trucks were handed over to long term customers Scott and Regina Harvey, of SRH Milk Haulage, while Nathan Stephens of JR Stephens Transport also took delivery of a commemorative Mack Anthem. 

Volvo Trucks International senior vice president, Per Erik Lindstrom, was at the event to handover the special models and celebrate with valued customers.

“We talk about the Volvo family, and you as customers are part of that family,” said Mr Lindstrom at the event.

“I am super proud to be here to help celebrate 50 years of building trucks here, this country is very important to Volvo Group, and we are here to stay.”

For the Harvey’s, of SRH Milk Haulage, the journey started with just one Volvo truck back in 1996 and has progressed to a fleet of more than 60 Mack and Volvo trucks, hauling milk across New South Wales, Western Australia, and Victoria. 

“It’s when you dig into the history of these customers and their partnership that you reflect on the journey that they’ve taken over the years,” said Volvo Trucks Australia vice president Gary Bone.

“Scott and Regina Harvey started SRH milk haulage back in 1996 with a single Volvo at Hexham NSW, move on 26 years over half the time that Volvo has been building trucks in

Australia, they’re now in three states with over 60 trucks utilising both the Mack and Volvo brands.”

For Scott Harvey, SRH Milk Haulage director, his longstanding commitment to the brand comes down to the ongoing support offered by Volvo Group Australia.

“It’s been an adventure that’s for sure,” he said.

“But I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it all the way through. But for me it’s the people

and the relationships that make it work.

“The backup and support, especially when you’re on milk 24/ 7, has always been there for SRH without a doubt.”

Volvo Group Australia chief executive officer, Martin Merrick, thanked the long-term customers who have now operated various generations of Volvo and Mack rigs.

“While this is a celebration of our success and longevity in one of the toughest trucking markets on the planet, this is also a celebration of customer success,” said Mr Merrick.

“Without long term customers like SRH and JR Stephens we wouldn’t be able to mark this occasion.”

“Our customers challenge us to go on the journey with them. As they grow and succeed, we too grow and succeed.”

“These companies are just a small part of the colourful tapestry of characters and stories that make up the Australian transport industry yet their contribution to our society and our economy is invaluable.” 

Back in 2017 Volvo Group Australia celebrated its 60,000th Australian made truck, and at the time joined the Australian Made Campaign – allowing the manufacturer to badge its trucks with the ‘Australian Made’ logo.

To celebrate its Australian Made success, Volvo Group Australia wrapped both a freshly built Mack and Volvo truck in iconic green-and-gold ‘Proudly made in Australia livery.

The manufacturer, at the time, had invested more than $27 million in the production facility, as well as around $160 million worth of investment, alongside private partners, in its dealerships and customer service network.

Volvo Group Australia established the now gargantuan Queensland manufacturing plant, in Wacol, back in 1970 and since that time more than 70,000 Volvo and Mack trucks have been assembled at the facility.

The Wacol site is expected to commence local production of battery-electric trucks by 2025, as Volvo FH and FL electric models prove popular in Australia.