Andersen Truck and Tractor P/L is a real family affair. Shaun Andersen and his wife Suzanne started the business in 2000 when their son Tom, 19, was a toddler.
Tom is now a qualified diesel fitter in their Goondiwindi business, where Suzanne works full-time and “runs the show”.
Their team, which includes eight mechanics, repairs fixes and rebuilds truck and tractor engines of all sizes.
Goondiwindi sits on the Queensland-New South Wales border, which is experiencing a serious drought. Good rain isn’t expected until next April.
Shaun’s clients are feeling the pinch and so are he and Suzanne, who also run a 1500-acre farm with about 120 breeding beef cattle.
A DEUTZ Australia dealer of six years, Shaun says DEUTZ engines are used locally for irrigation pumps, generators, forklifts and rollers.
Many customers fit their own engines, but Shaun and his team help if needed. He is known locally for his experience and reliability.
“Customers will buy an engine and we will fit the engine ourselves, or sometimes they will fit it to a pump themselves,” Shaun says.
“One customer, Cameron Pastoral Company, runs piggeries and has DEUTZ engines as generator units. They’re reliable and they’re value for money. We provide aftersales service for the engines and have a range of spare parts.”
When Tom was younger, Shaun coached and managed his Goondiwindi Boars rugby league teams. Father and son now enjoy working on Holden cars, including an LE Monaro.
“At the moment we’re working on a HZ 253 Premier Station Wagon,” Shaun says
Tom’s sisters are on different paths. Cady, 28, is a journalist, and Isabella, 22, is a biomedical scientist.
DEUTZ Australia is not quite family, but Shaun had a great relationship with retired Sales Manager Roger Wenzel and now does with Dealer Development Manager Shane Moretto.
“We have a good working relationship with DEUTZ and our customers, which has been built up by hard work.” Shaun says.
Shaun and Suzanne have also visited DEUTZ headquarters in Cologne and made many friends within the business and with other dealers.
“There’s a lot of people that you do see,” Shaun says. “It’s good to meet other dealers and share experiences.”
