Trucking Industry News

OAKLAND, Maine, - When E.J. Fabian looks at the past few years, he sees them as speed bumps on an otherwise perfectly good road to success. It's hard to argue with the numbers for this Oakland, Maine-based fuel- and home-heating oil delivery company.  Fabian Oil Inc., has grown from a $16 million company five years ago, to revenues of $65 million today.
 
Five years from now? "We could double in revenues through expected growth and acquisitions," said Fabian, who started the business in 1988 with his father-in-law, Bert Marston. Fabian bought out Marston in 1996 to become sole owner.
 
Good customer service, marketing, image and smart acquisitions have been the recipe for success for Fabian Oil. And, according to Fabian, so have Kenworth trucks. "Looking professional with reliable trucks and delivering on time with courteous drivers says volumes about your company," said Fabian. "We started out as a wholesale transportation company delivering fuel to gas stations and convenience stores throughout Maine," said Fabian. "We then opened three of our own stations under the Valero brand.  We have five Kenworth T800s and W900s hauling 10,000-gallon tankers making deliveries. The drivers love the comfort and from a mechanical standpoint, we've never had a problem.  Both models are excellent work trucks."
 
In 1991, Fabian said his company saw an opportunity in the home fuel delivery business, and that has grown to represent about half of his business. The company has five heating oil branches throughout Maine - Oakland, Augusta, Jay, Rumford and Thomaston. 
 
For home fuel delivery, Fabian utilizes Kenworth's medium duty trucks including the Kenworth T370. The latest order of T370s, purchased through C-B Kenworth, feature PACCAR PX-8 engines driven through Allison automatic transmissions. "We have 10 oil trucks with 2,800- and 3,000-gallon tanks, plus three propane trucks with up to 3,600-gallon capacity," said Fabian. To increase productivity, the oil trucks have two and sometimes three compartments, so heating oil, kerosene, and different grades of diesel fuel can be carried at one time.
 
"Our drivers will average 30 to 40 stops per day - some up to 60. So, we put a lot of emphasis on driver comfort," said Fabian. "And this type of stop-and-go puts a tremendous amount of wear and tear on a cab - especially the doors. With a Kenworth, we've never had to worry about our drivers or the integrity of our cabs. The cabs and doors stay tight with no sag. And the visibility from the cab is excellent."
 
According to Fabian, tight urban roads and neighborhoods provide challenges for some of his competitors, but Fabian's Kenworths have a sharp turning radius to navigate the tight streets. "Our guys can't spend time and energy worrying about tight delivery areas, so the maneuverability of our Kenworths is critical to us," he said. 
 
To offload fuel and heating oil, the Kenworths are equipped with PTOs, which drive transfer pumps that can move 80 gallons per minute. "That kind of pumping volume can get us moving on to the next delivery very fast," said Fabian. "For our residential customers, the average fill is 150 gallons, so we're able to get in and out very quickly."
 
Moving into 2010, Fabian says he's bullish about the future. "Our Kenworth trucks are rock solid and so is our business," he said. "Kenworth has always been there for us with reliable trucks and dealer support that we think is second to none. We think our customers feel the same about us. And that's what will keep us moving forward in the years to come."
 
Kenworth's quality products, combined with excellent dealer support from dealers such as C-B Kenworth, contributed to Kenworth receiving the 2009 J.D. Power and Associates award for "Highest in Customer Satisfaction for Heavy Duty Dealer Service."*
 
Kenworth Truck Company is the manufacturer of The World's Best(R) heavy and medium duty trucks. Kenworth is an industry leader in providing fuel-saving technology solutions that help increase fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. The company's dedication to the green fleet includes aerodynamic trucks, medium duty diesel-electric hybrids, and liquefied natural gas trucks. This year, Kenworth became the first truck manufacturer to receive the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Air Excellence award in recognition of its environmentally friendly products. In addition, Kenworth is the recipient of the 2009 J.D. Power and Associates awards for Highest in Customer Satisfaction for both Over the Road Segment and Pickup and Delivery Segment Class 8 Trucks. Kenworth's Internet home page is at www.kenworth.com. Kenworth. A PACCAR Company.