Rodney Canny

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame in 2021.

Rodney Canny was born in January, 1960 the second son of Brian and Ann Canny.  Rod’s career path was pretty much pre-determined as the family’s transport business had been founded in 1905 by his great grandfather, William Bryan, continued by his grandfather, Len, and then his father, Brian. 

Rod grew up in his hometown of Wangaratta, Victoria. During the school holidays, after school and on weekends, Rod would be down at the Wangaratta Depot working alongside his father, grandfather, Uncle Jack, and brother, Greg.  Learning to drive a forklift, driving a truck around the yard and learning how to load and unload furniture trucks under the guidance of his senior relatives, gave Rod knowledge and experience well beyond his years. He also learned that nothing happens without hard work.

At the age of 18, Rod finished school and obtained his truck driving licence in 1978. He spent the next three years driving in Melbourne, Victoria, doing beer runs while continuing to play basketball and football when not working. 

In 1990 Rod stepped away from driving and became the Operations Manager in the Wangaratta Depot. His brother, Greg, was the manager of the Melbourne Depot and his father, Brian, was the sole Managing Director of Canny Carrying Co.  In 2016, Brian passed away and two years later, when Greg retired, Rod became the sole Managing Director. Rod’s son, Jai, and daughter, Kayla, (now the fifth generation) also started working in the business. Canny Carrying Co. services the north east region of Victoria with the main head office in Wangaratta and depots in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Wodonga.

Rod has not lost sight of the core values, ethics, hard work and determination that his forbears used to build the business whilst being well aware of the need to adapt and meet the challenges of an evolving transport industry. With four grandchildren, Rod is hoping the sixth generation is in the wings to preserve the family tradition; he knows the business will be well placed should any of them decide to join. 

After all, transport is in their genes!