REEF Group bring national transport award home to Western Australia

While pressure brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic affected the global economy, the Australian transport industry continued to deliver essential goods and services to many Australians. The commitment to deliver, by our Western Australian Transport community, has been recognised nationally.

The Western Australian transport and logistics business REEF Group, in February 2021, was awarded the ‘Australian Champion Transport and Logistics Small Business 2020 Award’ at the Sydney Convention Centre, with around 1,000 guests in attendance. The Hon Scott Morrison MP, Prime Minister of Australia, extended his best wishes to all attending the Award night and gave recognition to the tough year for small business in 2020.

Mr Robert O’Keefe, REEF Group business owner said, “Having the REEF Team’s resilience and strategic thinking, passion and commitment, celebrated amongst our peers, was an experience I will remember. Returning home with this national Award demonstrates how Western Australian businesses are leading the nation.”

REEF is a Western Australian owned specialised transportation and logistics business operating since 2002. Custombuilt vehicles and certified drivers/ operators, offer a variety of transport solutions that are capable of self-loading plant and equipment, for state-wide deliveries.

Mr Bradley Skuse, REEF Group General Manager, said, “REEF may appear alike to other transport businesses, however the creative safety product of the business - the REEF Group patented CLOS (Container/ Equipment Loading and Offloading System), sets us apart as leaders in our field.”

Safety and professionalism have always been standard with REEF Group, demonstrated by their previous Awards, including the Worksafe Award for ‘An Outstanding Contribution to Safety and Health’ and Chamber of Commerce Award for ‘Excellence in Training’.

Situated in Perth and Bunbury, REEF have an extensive fleet which includes tilt trays, low loaders, side-loaders and crane trucks, ensuring ease of movement for transportable equipment.

The Transport Co-ordinator Team, managed by Ms Tahlia Hitchcock, ensures best possible outcomes for clients.

REEF customers include the commercial business sector in need of safe and efficient means of transporting equipment, such as Coates Hire and Instant Products Group, through to households requiring

REEF Group business owner Mr Robert O’Keefe accepting the national award for Transport and Logistics

reliable container delivery/pickup, storage alternatives and self-house moves.

Customers receive safe transportation and excellent service at a competitive price, including set distance pricing and direct communication during the delivery process. This quality of service and commitment to professionalism has raised the bar in the transport industry.

REEF Group have been specialising in transport and logistics services in Western Australia for near 20 years, the REEF team are proud of the reputation they have built over this time.

More recently, REEF expanded into Bunbury, opening a local premise, which now provides dedicated trucks and employment opportunities for local people.

Newly appointed local Mr Ronnie Vorderhake is the Bunbury Branch Manager and manages the Bunbury and South West regions, with a clear focus on customer service. This expansion by REEF offers dependable local transport options, certified drivers/operators and faster response times to the South West region.

REEF’s creative ingredient to the business - the patented CLOS (Container/Equipment Loading and Offloading System), is a safety innovation which sets REEF apart as a leader in the transport and logistics industry.

This combined with environmental responsibility and provision of support for staff through training, health and wellbeing initiatives, has resulted in REEF becoming a multi award winning transport business.

Their long-term commitment to staff and safe practices is showcased by their Worksafe Award, signed by the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection, ‘In recognition of an outstanding contribution to safety and health in the workplace’.

The Worksafe WA Bulletin on Industry Guidance for the Safe Operation of Tilt-tray Vehicles refers to REEF’s patented CLOS and states, “Draw bars are recommended when loading and offloading containers because they eliminate the misuse of chains and miscellaneous attachments. The draw bar also eliminates the need for slings to have an excessive angle”.

At the request of Worksafe WA, REEF held training sessions for Worksafe Transport Inspectors, to improve their awareness of safe loading/offloading transportation practices.

The REEF patented CLOS has fostered a culture of safety and wellbeing within the Australian transport sector, further enquiries can be made by contacting REEF Group.

Internal training initiatives have also received recognition through a Chamber of Commerce Award for ‘Excellence in Training’. This accredited and nonaccredited training for employees is provided in both the Bunbury and Perth locations by REEF Training Officer Mr Garry Bonser.

The training programs meet operational needs and align with company standards. Courses range from internal inductions, safe work procedures for equipment, defensive driving, manual handling, fatigue awareness and more.

New drivers receive training with a dedicated trainer. Drivers/operators are also provided with paid opportunities to further their skills through accreditation training courses, truck licence upgrades, crane operating and rigging certifications. This training empowers them to make improvements within their workplace, and opens up opportunities for further education and career development.

Creating a National Training Division to train and support all drivers/operators in safe Tilt Tray Truck operations to a certification standard is now marked for the future.

This Western Australian entrepreneurial and creative Transport business has excelled in the small business arena and fostered an environment of possibilities for innovation and growth. Business Owner Mr Robert O’Keefe said, “I may own and oversee the business, but our REEF Team, our trucks and our services, are its lifeblood”.

REEF Group are looking to further expand and employ more drivers and schedulers, career and transport service enquiries are welcome by emailing service@ reefgroup.net.au or phone 9454 3724 (Perth) 9707 1486 (Bunbury).

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Iused to live in Kalbarri and it was heartbreaking to see the devastation that ensued from Cyclone Saroja. My best wishes to all residents of Kalbarri and anyone else affected. The only upside I can see is once and for all, most of the asbestos will be removed from the town.

This month I received a lovely letter from Britta Littlemore who sadly lost her partner Michael ‘Springy’ Spring. This happened right at the beginning of the pandemic and due to restrictions a proper and befitting send-off was impossible. Thank you to Britta for sharing his life with us in this edition (Page 17) and whilst I know this was hard for you, the magazine gives his story a permanent legacy.

It is important to me that our history and people are remembered and I welcome any readers to contribute any of their achievements, human interest or anything else related to our transport industry. Email some high resolution JPEG images (1 – 3 MB in file size each) and a rough outline of your story giving me all the facts to karen@ angrychicken.com.au

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7...............................................Questions to WA State Government 8..............................................A Fair Go for Owner Drivers 16...........................................Bird’s Eye View 22.........................................HCVC 24.........................................WA Transport History Endorsed by

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WA TRANSPORT magazineTHE TRANSPORT AND MACHINERY MAGAZINE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA 100007516 December 2020 | price $6.95ISSN 2202-6193