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CONTENTS
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It's not truck hire
it's a people business
From operating out of a ZoZo hut to a giant on the truck hire scene. That's the route Spartan Truck Hire has taken over the past 21 years. While many companies have come and gone in this highly competitive arena, Spartan Truck Hire has not only stayed but has grown into a formidable force which provides an invaluable service to its many customers. To find the key to the success of the organisation,
FleetWatch correpondent Dave Scott roamed the corridors and spoke to the people who man this company. And guess what? That's where he found the key. It's the people and their approach to the welfare of both the company and its customers that stands out as exemplary. In fact, it stands as an example for others to follow.
Spartan Truck Hire started operations more than 21 years ago from a little 'ZOZO' office in Kempton Park. The founder Syd Friedman, then aged 61, and son Arnold signed a franchise contract with Liberty Car Hire to commence business in the vehicle rental business.
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The
culture and spirit of entrepreneurs hip linger in
Spartan Truck Hire from early days when founder, Syd
Friedman and his son Arnold (above) signed contracts
from a Zozo hut in Kempton Park. |
Syd Friedman, a mechanic by trade, had all the qualities necessary for running a successful truck hire business - entrepreneurship, a hands-on management style and extremely hard-working. These character traits were passed onto his son and current managing director, Arnold Friedman.
When talking to the people at Spartan Truck Hire, there's one thing that runs as a common thread throughout the organisation and that is the way people are empowered and motivated to make decisions for their customers. This is the first thing that comes into discussion with Arnold Friedman.
"Spartan people are my business and I encourage them to operate on the basis of making decisions that they must own and live with. If a decision does not work out the way they wanted it, they must fix it themselves. Most companies state that their people are their most important asset - management's challenge is to walk the talk."
This approach among the 200 staff members at the company has established a culture of trust and teamwork that shines through a very stable workforce. What more do customers want to deal with than people who are constant and genuinely empowered to handle customer problems?
"I also want the people around me to have better lives," says Arnold. "Everybody at Spartan enjoys a performance bonus - even at cleaning staff level, because that too is a vital function that needs motivation. I think of my staff as entrepreneurs and would like them to feel this and act in the same way," he says, adding: "I don't want to be a lone decision-maker and have Spartan people think they are working for a family-owned concern. It's also their business."
As to the future direction of the company, he sees it lying in long term contractual relationships.
"We're entering a logistical era and the emphasis will fall on Spartan Logistics where we take over and look after a customer's supply chain - not just his road transport needs. We already have many such contracts and are growing this side of our operations in addition to short-term rental where Spartan Truck Hire started out."
He stresses, however, that whatever strategy is adopted, it will remain a people's business. "Therein lies our strength," he says.
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