Robert Hornby
Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at Reunion 2014.
Robert Henry (Bob) Hornby did not initially consider driving a truck as a career option. As a young man he was more interested in communications. However, on meeting and marrying his wife Sandra and witnessing her father-in-law's passion for transport, Bob was prompted to drive and own his own transport business. While living in Wollongong in 1966, Bob started driving alongside his father-in-law, an experienced driver, running Sydney, Brisbane. A couple of years later Bob purchased his first truck and began carting steel from Port Kembla to Sydney firstly for South Coast Equipment and later for Lodehaul and Braileys Transport.
It was Bob's commitment to industry and sheer determination to create a successful business that saw him awarded a contract from BlueScope Steel in 2000 carting freight from Port Kembla to Brisbane. Later, alongside his son and now business partner Adam Hornby, he purchased F.H Transport. The next five years were a turning point for Hornby Transport. The company bought three tipper trucks and commenced all bulk movements off the ships at Port Kembla. The trucks worked around the clock. More tippers were purchased and a third director, Rob Miners, was appointed.
In 2007 in a bid to expand their already thriving business the three directors purchased the tipper side of Metal Transport Industries growing from a fleet of seven vehicles to 30 vehicles overnight. This once 'one truck and one operator' family-owned business is more prosperous than ever with contracts from major companies such as Onesteel, BlueScope and Incitec. It now operates all over Australia with 36 trucks, 20 subcontractors and 50 employees.
Bob is still driving today, however he is mainly based in the office focusing on the safety and technology side of the business. Over the years Bob has won many awards in this field including the 'Onesteel Safety Excellence Award' in 2011. Bob Hornby is well known among his peers for his determination and passion for the road transport industry. The ongoing success of the business is testament to what Bob has achieved to date.
