Bob and Alison Mavin reflect on the growth of Mavin Truck Centre

However, the Mavin family's passion for customers and the transport industry has continued.

For Bob Mavin, his career started in Kempsey at Kyle's Transport, working as a diesel mechanic.

On July 1 1975, Bob, with his wife Alison, and colleague Peter McNamara, opened their minds to entrepreneurship, starting, in partnership, the Mavin and McNamara trucking business.

With apprentice Rodney joining the team, the company was founded with four employees.

Alison and Bob never imagined the heights it's reached today.

"Not really," Bob told the Argus when asked if he expected the company's current growth.

Alison Mavin: "Everything used to be hand written, none of this computer business."

"I'd write all the dockets and statements out at the dining room along with my daughter Joanne."

For Bob, trucks have run in his blood.

His father, Reg, had the first semi-trailer in Kempsey.

"A single-axe, 22-foot long," Bob recounted.

Mavin and McNamara started off maintaining and serving a fleet of Mercedes Benz prime mover for Kyle Transport, their former employer.

Operations began at a rented workshop in South Kempsey before the big move.

In 1980, they set themselves up at 5 Woolford Crescent, South Kempsey, and it's been home ever since.

In it's early days it was a shed with a tree out the front. A tree that constantly caused problems.

"Everyone used to run into this tree," Bob laughed.

"Alan Mavin had a ute, pulled up in front, backed up and hit the bloody tree.

"The back window of his ute fell out he hit it that hard, he started going crook then started laughing."

By 1989, the business had grown to employ around eight people and became a full sales and service dealer with Freightliner now introduced.

Alison explained in the early days, business was done differently.

"I used to get up at 12 and 2 o'clock in the morning, because people would knock on our door after breakdowns," she recalled.

"We'd have to come down here and get filters out."

According to Alison, she was out of bed quicker than her husband.

"Aw yeah I did (wake up), but he didn't," she laughed.

"I'd have to wake him up, but anyway that's life."

In 2004, the company saw a change in organisational structure after Peter sold his share to the Mavin's.

The Mavin name stayed solid with son Dean taking over as dealer principal.

Dean's career started at 15, working 40-hour weeks before gaining further experience in Sydney and Detroit.

Over time, Dean has seen the business continue to evolve and he's learnt a lot with numerous trips to Germany and America along the way.

"Businesses have got more complex, you're constantly keeping up with technology and everything is moving faster," he explained.

"You have to keep developing and learning.

"That's the biggest challenge, not coming from that era (of technology), we've never expected to keep growing but it's the natural path we've taken."

The Mavin's agree that two fundamental parts of the business have been key to its growth; staff and customers.

"We received a good range of customers from Kyle's, timber clients started coming, we worked on everything," Dean and Alison recalled.

"I've still got the cards from those customers, all hand-written.

"You never think you're going to get this big, customers are what keeps you going."

In terms of staff; Chris Tyne, Scott Kesby and Steve Pinkstone have been some of their longest serving.

Chris and Steve are both with the business while Scott's tenure lasted over 25 years.

February 1988 saw Chris begin work as a mechanic before moving onto parts and now warranty.

"There's not one specific thing (that's the biggest change), we were in a shed once upon a time, then we've added and added," Chris said.

"There was eight staff when I first started.

"It's funny when you think back, we had Peter and Bob and they were lead mechanics so they were working on the floor and then three apprentices.

"Then there were four, two bosses and two apprentices, Alison ran the front, Sharon (Peter's wife), Scott Kesby started and we grew from there."

With the introduction of technology Chris said, with a growing team, there's been changes to customer service and management within business.

"Everybody used to know everybody, you knew everybody by name and their families, it was probably more personable then and smaller," he recounted.

"Back in the day it was fairly close knit, it was so personable.

"If you had dramas or if something wasn't right, stuff that had nothing to do with work, you could talk to them (Bob and Alison), didn't matter what the issues were, and if they could help they would.

"I can remember Bob, if we had a big week he'd come around, take $20 out of his wallet and give it to you and say 'you've had a big week, you fellas got in and did what needed to be done'.

"Now if you did that it wouldn't get you a feed at KFC, but back then you were clearing $90 a week, if someone gave you $20 it was like that's pretty cool and you still think back now and think that's pretty cool."

As for current sales manager, Steve Pinkstone, the journey started with a previous association to the company.

"Steve started off as a customer and now he works for us, he's worked for us for 20 years," Bob said.

"He never pressures anyone, never pushes anything to sell, he's renown for it and is a great bloke."

Today, the Mavin Truck Centre has evolved significantly from the shed at South Kempsey to a business with three branches with Taree and Coffs Harbour coming on board.

Overall, 63 employees exist across all dealerships with 45 in Kempsey, 11 in Taree and 7 at Coffs.

The business has expanded to include Mavin Hino with the changeover in name from Mavin and McNamara to Mavin Truck Centre occurring in 2010.

Trucks continue to be sold, serviced and looked after, with the centre a deserved recipient of the 2020 Daimler Dealer of the Year. As the saying goes, 'Without trucks Australia stops'.

Above all else, the Mavin's pride themselves on supporting local, and being family-oriented.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: