Family foundations and Kobelco reliability have helped power a half-century of growth for TRN Group.
Success in the earthmoving and civil construction industry isn’t just about shifting dirt — it’s about reliability, trust and building legacies with the right equipment.
For more than 50 years, New South Wales-based TRN Group has embodied these qualities, leveraging its fleet and a deep-rooted family ethos to become one of the sector’s most respected names.
Earthmoving Equipment Magazine visited the site of one of TRN’s projects recently and found out more about the secrets of the company’s success from Director and General Manager (Operations) David Fordham.
“TRN is well known and respected for our work on many residential and industrial subdivisions and quarry operations, and is highly regarded for our rigorous commitment to delivering quality and reliable service,” he said.
“This has made us a trusted provider of choice for leading development companies, including DartWest Developments, AV Jennings, Mirvac Homes (NSW), Crownland Developments, Dahua Group, Landcom, Cornish Group and Greenfield Developments, to name a few. We’ve completed high-profile jobs throughout Sydney, like Oran Park, Spring Farm, Gregory Hills and Emerald Hills.”
Family ties
TRN Group started life in 1966 as TJ & RF Fordham, run by David’s father Terry and his brother Ron.
“It was just them and two trucks, based in Camden in Sydney’s south west,” David said.
“They focused on haulage of coal out of the Burragorang Valley, and then plant hire, and then into subdivisions.
“When another brother, Neil, joined them, TRN Haulage was formed — a name based on the brothers’ initials and reflecting the strong family ethos which underpins the business.
“At first hauling road-building materials, TRN soon won a 10-year contract with a local earthmoving company and then bought three local cartage contractors to become one of the area’s largest coal-hauling subcontractors.”
In 1989, TRN and two other companies formed Bulkhaul Limited and won the major contract for coal cartage rights in the Burragorang Valley.
In 2000, by then TRN Group, the company moved to larger premises at Spring Farm and now supports numerous commercial and residential developers in Sydney’s booming south west.
“Terry is still working as a director. Ron passed away and Neil has retired,” David said.
“I am a second-generation Fordham, with a background as a boilermaker. Maintaining the family traditions, Ron’s sons also work in the business: Glenn is a Civil Engineer, Trent is the Transport Maintenance Manager and Nathan is the Workshop Manager. Neil also had two sons: Richard is Plant Maintenance Manager and Malcolm is Site Manager.”
David is proud of this familial link.
“As a family business, TRN has a true DNA that drives our entire team to deliver in ways other companies don’t,” he said.
“Machines and capabilities are something all companies offer — but the way in which they are provided is what truly lets you know you’re in good company.
“TRN’s renowned ability to powerfully assist developers in building and supporting communities comes in great part from the firm, family-based foundations we have established in building and supporting our own strong and diverse company culture.
“Our long-serving workforce is made up of several generations of family and employees who are passionate in delivering on TRN’s mission to provide superior service, equipment and support for our clients.
“This highly skilled and stable base of long-term employees ensures a seamless understanding of all project needs, while the ability to deal directly with family business owners and directors only one management tier removed from those on site means every project need will be met swiftly and effectively by the tight-knit TRN team.”
Fleet-footed
David said that TRN fielded a line-up of high-specification vehicles made up of more than 400 items of plant and equipment.
“These are expertly serviced and maintained by our highly trained and experienced team of mechanics, with the additional resource of an in-house rapid response team available to service on-site plant and equipment in the event of breakdowns,” he said.
“Staffed by our team of skilled and experienced personnel and offering integrated civil, haulage, quarrying and plant hire businesses, TRN has the capabilities to satisfy the most comprehensive requirements on any project.
“We are also a member of the Civil Contractors Federation, the peak body representing Australia’s civil construction industry.”
The fleet consists of excavators, dump trucks, graders, scrapers, loaders, crushers and rollers.
“We currently have about 380 pieces of earthmoving gear and about 80 trucks ranging from heavy haulage to tippers, water carts and agi tilt trays,” he said.
Taking pride of place is a number of Kobelco excavators.
“Our success heavily relies on the use of reliable, high-performance machinery, with a key part of the fleet being Kobelco,” David said.
“We’ve been using Kobelco machines for over a decade due to their consistent reliability, efficiency and operator comfort.”
“We currently have 12 Kobelco diggers, ranging from seven-tonners to the big 38t models.
“This includes the SK135SR excavator, prized for its manoeuvrability in confined subdivision sites. Along with the larger models, such as the SK330-10 and new SK135SR-7 units, we can address a range of project sizes with precision and power, while maintaining fuel efficiency and reliability.”
Even as we spoke, an SK300LC-10 was demonstrating its nimbleness at the project site at Cobbitty, preparing housing development sites for Mirvac.
“I could sum up Kobelco’s best features in a few words: reliability, robustness, operator comfort and fuel economy,” David said.
“The spacious, ROPS-compliant cabs are a joy to work in, along with advanced features like GEOSCAN remote monitoring, which helps with maintenance and operational efficiency.”
Remote monitoring enables TRN to identify potential issues before they escalate into major breakdowns. Alerts about engine performance, hydraulic pressures and other critical systems help schedule maintenance proactively, reducing unplanned downtime.
“By analysing actual machine usage and condition, TRN can optimise service schedules based on real operational needs rather than fixed intervals. This leads to cost savings and extends the lifespan of components,” David said.
He also likes Kobelco’s offset boom design — available on SK75SR and SK135SR — which enhances access in tight spaces, critical for TRN’s work on housing developments and pipeline trenching.
“This allows the excavator boom to move well to the side of the machine while the cab remains outside the digging trench, enabling TRN’s operators to work safely and precisely in narrow or restricted areas,” he said.
David said the Kobelco models used by TRN incorporate engine technologies and hydraulic systems that optimise fuel use without sacrificing power.
“This directly lowers fuel expenses, an important consideration given the high operating hours typical in civil engineering projects,” he said.
“Reduced fuel consumption translates into significant savings over the lifespan of the machines, helping TRN control operational costs and improve profitability.
“And of course, by using fuel-efficient machinery, TRN contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and complies with increasingly stringent environmental regulations.”
The trusted source
TRN Group has been sourcing various trucks and machinery from STM Trucks and Machinery Centre for about 50 years, forging a partnership that supports its civil engineering operations. The first Kobelco was bought in 2010.
STM itself is, like TRN, a family business with a work ethos and principles that the contractor can clearly relate to.
“I can’t fault STM and the team. They listen to our questions and always have time for us,” David said.
“I appreciate their responsive and thorough aftersales support. They provide timely maintenance, technical assistance and parts supply, which minimises downtime and ensures TRN’s Kobelco fleet remains reliable and productive.
“The strong service relationship has contributed to TRN’s preference for Kobelco machines, knowing that local backing will support our demanding project schedules.
“This partnership has grown into a cornerstone of our fleet strategy, with STM’s exceptional service playing a vital role in the company’s operational success. We’ll keep coming back.”
STM Western Sydney Territory Manager, Matt Dench, said the connection with TRN represented a long and valued partnership.
“Personally, I’ve sold them five Kobelco machines, but in total, they’ve bought more than 20 from STM since the start,” he said.
“They know they are looked after well. Our customers have access to a dedicated breakdown service line and a fully equipped fleet of field service vehicles, ready to respond across Sydney and regional NSW.
“When you buy Kobelco through STM, you’re not just getting a great machine, you’re getting a team that knows these diggers inside out, keeps parts on the shelf, and actually answers the phone when you call. That’s how we do things here.”
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