A recently opened Hino dealership is sharing a number of key values with the brand it represents to help achieve its ambitious environmental and social objectives.
Hino Geelong has set itself the goal of being Australia’s most environmentally friendly truck dealer by 2015, and has listed over 100 practices on its website and in social media it employs to help achieve its goal.
This ties in with Hino’s global initiatives aimed at reducing the impact of climate change, recycling resources whenever possible, conserving the natural environment and supporting local communities.
Hino Geelong Dealer Principal Richard Furnari has over 20 years’ experience in running dealerships for well-known truck and agricultural equipment brands. He said he was attracted to Hino because of its sound corporate responsibility policies, ever-strengthening product lines, its Toyota Group alliance and environmental emphasis, which matches Hino Geelong’s own values.
“With our new Hino dealership we’ve gone down the path of environmental sustainability – we do over 100 things specifically designed to help with continuous improvement of our performance in reducing environmental impacts,” Mr Furnari said.
“This includes using the most environmentally friendly printing and photocopying equipment to using solar power, driving hybrid sales cars, using VoIP telephones for less power drain, and a myriad of other measures that you can read about on our dedicated environment website.”
In addition to its environmental values Hino Geelong is moving in the same direction as Hino Australia in terms of aiming to provide a complete transport solution, with an emphasis on maximising the safety of drivers and other road users.
“We genuinely think Hino makes an exceptionally high quality product, and we’ve tried to underpin that with giving customers more reasons to buy from us,” Mr Furnari said.
“For example, we’ve chosen to focus on safety because we believe in building a business based not just on product and price, but the wellbeing of drivers and the general public too.
“We’ve developed a smartphone app that allows drivers to check the safety of their trucks every day and instantly notifies the fleet manager and a designated service centre if there’s a problem; so rather than drivers having to report any problems, it guarantees that someone will get in touch with the driver straight away,” he said.
“We’ve also got an app that we use to provide driver training. It includes all the handbooks and service manuals just in case a driver experiences any trouble in an area that doesn’t have a Hino facility.
“So we’ve taken a more holistic approach to dealing with our customers, rather than just selling a truck.”
Mr Furnari is also a firm believer in supporting the local community.
“We have a great passion for the community we live in, and we believe in helping out wherever we can,” Mr Furnari said.
“We’re involved in the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, Project C – which helps improve the basic nutrition of children, Scope, and a number of others.
“Our support of the community through these appeals is another way that we try to make a difference, and make the world a better place,” he said.
For more information about Geelong Hino go to hinogeelong.com.au, and for more information on its environmental initiatives visit greenertomorrow.com.au.