Dobson’s celebrating 50 years of business in Palmerston

PALMERSTON – Fifty years ago, Al Dobson bought a small fuel business with one simple goal in mind.

“I didn’t want to work for somebody else anymore,” Dobson said. “I wanted to be on my own.”  

That decision, made in August 1976, laid the foundation for what has become one of Palmerston’s longest-running family businesses.

A&B Dobson Sales Ltd., known to many simply as Dobson’s, has grown from selling fuel and coal, into a heavy truck, trailer and storage business serving customers across Ontario, Canada and beyond.

Along the way it has expanded its facilities, diversified services, weathered changing markets and welcomed a third generation of the Dobson family into the business.

The company will celebrate its 50th anniversary with an open house on Aug. 6 from 11am to 3pm, at its 335 Main St. location in Palmerston.

The event will feature a barbecue, giveaways, door prizes and company merchandise, as the Dobson family welcomes customers, suppliers and community members to celebrate five decades in business.

“We’d just like to thank all our customers over the last 50 years,” said Dobson.  

Though the company is marking the milestone this summer, the Dobson’s story began much earlier.

Raised in nearby Ethel, Al developed an interest in business at a young age, selling fishing equipment in his community before eventually working in truck sales and transportation.

Dobson worked as both a truck driver and vehicle salesman, experiences that gave him a strong understanding of the trucking industry.

After he and his wife Barb moved to Palmerston in 1970, Al continued building experience while looking for an opportunity to work for himself.

That opportunity came in August 1976 when he purchased a local fuel business from John and Gladys Murphy.

The operation employed four people at the time, primarily serving local customers with fuel and coal deliveries. Soon after, Al began selling used trucks on the side.

The side business quickly grew as demand for heavy trucks and trailers increased, particularly among farmers and commercial operators.

Dobson gradually shifted gears away from fuel sales and toward truck sales and services.

Building something bigger

As the business evolved through the late ’70s and early ’80s, so too did its Palmerston footprint.

Additional properties were acquired, including the former Palmerston Creamery property, a lumber yard and the former Husky Farm Equipment property on King Street.

In April 1980, A&B Dobson Sales Ltd. was officially incorporated, creating the foundation for future growth.  

Like many small businesses, expansion wasn’t without its challenges. Securing financing, hiring employees and adapting to changing regulations all came with obstacles, but the company continued moving forward.

Today, the business operates from several locations around Palmerston, maintaining inventories of trucks, trailers, storage containers and equipment while providing sales, rentals, repairs and custom fabrication.  

Vehicle customization helped distinguish Dobson’s from the competition.

Beyond truck sales, Dobson’s became known for modifying and outfitting trucks to meet customers’ specific needs.

Whether it was grain bodies, flat decks, utility bodies or hydraulic systems, much of the fabrication could be done in-house.

The company also developed a reputation as a one-stop shop, allowing customers to purchase a truck, choose a body style and have it customized at a single location.  

Although agriculture remains a major customer base, the company’s work has extended well beyond rural Ontario. 

Over the decades, Dobson’s has completed projects reaching some of Canada’s largest venues.

Among the most memorable was helping transport equipment for a Rolling Stones concert at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Dobson said.

“There were 26 tractor-trailer loads of equipment” that arrived for the concert, but the large trailers couldn’t access the stadium interior, Dobson told the Community News.

Instead, the equipment was transferred onto trucks supplied by Dobson’s and moved inside. The process was reversed following the show.

The company also built specialized stair trucks for use at the Toronto International Airport.

Dobson said the trucks were outfitted with aircraft boarding stairs, allowing passengers to board planes directly on airport tarmacs where passenger boarding bridges were not available.  

Other notable projects include manufacturing fertilizer trucks and specialized equipment for customers in the agricultural sector, demonstrating the company’s willingness and ability to tackle unique jobs beyond traditional truck sales.

Over the years, Dobson’s also launched several related ventures, including Dobson Brothers, Dobson Fuels, Classic Autobody, the Mack franchise and Rent-A-Wreck.

Mike Dobson, Al’s son who now oversees much of the day-to-day operations, said many of those ventures have since been sold or discontinued. 

Today, the company’s legacy is carried forward through A&B Dobson Sales and Dobson Storage Solutions. 

Mike said Dobson Storage Solutions now focuses on trailer, container and storage sales and rentals, while A&B Dobson Sales handles truck sales, service and mechanical work.  

Though Mike now manages the business, Al remains actively involved.

The next generation has also joined the company, with several family members now working in both the office and yard.  

Giving back

Beyond trucks and trailers, Dobson’s has maintained a long history of supporting community organizations throughout Palmerston.

Over the years, the company has donated to numerous local groups, including the Palmerston Lions Club, Palmerston Firefighters Association, Big Brothers Big Sisters Wellington County, the Palmerston Legion Poppy Fund, Palmerston Agricultural Society, Palmerston Minor Ball, the Palmerston Curling Club and the Palmerston and District Hospital Foundation.

The business has also sponsored local events, participated in parades and community celebrations, and supported other projects. 

As Dobson’s prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary, the Aug. 6 open house is intended to not only mark a milestone for the business, but to thank customers, employees and community members who have supported it along the way.