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Fuel-efficient loaders contribute to growing sand business

In 1969 John and Rose Divall bought some land containing a small quarry at Carrick Road in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, not far from Goulburn and about 100km from Canberra.

The quarry had been running as a small concern for about 30 years before its acquisition by the Divalls, and in 1991 brothers Andy and Michael Divall started an earthmoving and bulk haulage business at the site.

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In 1992 construction of the Hume Highway’s dual carriageway started, bringing with it a huge opportunity that spurred the quarry’s success.

Today the Carrick Road quarry continues to be the hub and spiritual home of the Divall’s Earthmoving and Bulk Haulage business.

The business has grown to include multiple quarry sites, providing a vast array of raw materials, crushing and screening services, plant hire, construction and civil works, demolition, recycling and scrap metal.

Divall’s also incorporates the Southern Tablelands Bitumen, Concrete 4 Goulburn, and Goulburn Sand and Soil businesses.

A SIZEABLE FLEET

The Divall’s fleet started in 1991 with a Kenworth cab-over and a Kenworth T400 truck. The fleet now numbers more than 170, including 33 various trucks and trailers and more than 130 pieces of construction equipment, with a combined total of 37 crushers and screens and nearly 30 excavators.

Volvo makes up a small but growing part of the fleet, with two L120F wheel loaders working with mobile crushers, an L45 wheel loader working at Goulburn Sand and Soil and Michael Divall’s L150G wheel loader working in the Carrick Road quarry.

Michael Divall says a detailed evaluation process spanning two years was undertaken before the addition of a Volvo machine to the fleet.

”The most important things to us when buying machinery is availability of parts, serviceability and operator comfort,” he said.

“Since making the decision to purchase the Volvo loaders we have been pleased with the availability of parts from CJD Equipment. Our mechanics find the loaders easy to work on, our operators enjoy driving them, and as a business we have been extremely pleased with the loaders’ fuel efficiency.”

CUSTOMERS FUEL EXPANSION

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The Divall’s motto had always been: “No job is too big or too small.”

“From a skid steer job in a customer’s front yard to work on the multi-million dollar wind farm at Traralga, we do it all,” Michael Divall said.

The brothers are very customer-focused.

“We like to make sure that we are available when needed to respond personally to any of our customers’ questions or inquiries, and are proud of the fact that those that deal with Divall’s can still deal directly with the owners,” Andy Divall said.

Another point of pride for the brothers is the business’s rate of expansion over the years; although 50 per cent of Divall’s business is completed within 100km of the Australian Capital Territory, its operations also extend from Queensland to Victoria.

The brothers believe Divall’s has made a positive contribution to the local communities in which it operates – particularly in the Goulburn and surrounding areas – with the business now employing more than 150 people.

A SUCCESSFUL BALANCE

Michael Divall said throughout the evolution of the business, Andy Divall had been “basically left to run the show”.

“I’m happiest when I’m working on the ground with the boys, and if I’m not filthy dirty then I’m not trying hard enough,” Michael Divall said.

Andy Divall added, “The partnership has been very successful over the journey and I’m sure it’s because of the balance that Michael and I have been able to create.” 

Source: CJD Equipment

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