Stepping back after forty-four years

HVIA Director Ken Cowell has sold his road transport consultancy business but has stopped short of retiring from the heavy vehicle industry just yet.

The new owner is Kenndel Pty Ltd, whose proprietor Ken Stirling has been working with and contracting to K D Cowell & Associates for the past thirteen years.

On the back of a 29 year career as a heavy vehicle engineer with Volvo Trucks Australia, Ken Cowell formed the consultancy in 2008.

K D Cowell & Associates soon became prominent in PBS project management and certifying, investigating and resolving truck and trailer in-service issues, training and vehicle application investigations for property developments.

“I’m stepping back from operating the company my wife Helen and I started, but I’ll continue to ‘get my hands dirty’ as a special-projects contractor to Kenndel,” Ken (Cowell) said.

“I’ve enjoyed almost every minute of my 44-year involvement in the Australian road transport business – the best industry in the country – and I’m not ready to retire fully yet!”

Ken Stirling’s experience in the road transport industry is from ten years in manufacturing and service, followed by seventeen years in engineering.

Kenndel was formed 8.5 years ago to provide PBS certifying services and help operators, big and small, with PBS in general, both from a certifying and advice perspective.

“Ken Cowell has been a mentor and friend over many years and when Ken shared he wanted to initiate a change of pace in his life, the opportunity to purchase the business arose,” Ken Stirling said. 

“The established business aligns very well with my plans for the future of my business.

“The onset of performance-based standards raised productivity and efficiency, and coupled with the introduction of high strength materials has led to interesting developments from an engineering perspective within the industry.”

Kenndel will also offer trailer design, AVE and ADR services.