By Guy Broderick, Special to Today’s Trucking

It takes a lot to make a trucking company run smooth. Management, drivers, dispatch, mechanics — all contribute to the success of a company, but so does the work and dedication of staff behind the scenes.

Robert McDonald (Rab) has been working with APPS Transport Group for 16 years in the accounts receivable department, and today he’ll hang up his hat and let someone else take over.

Rab began his career with APPS after working for Liberty Furniture. In his role at APPS, he and Sue Avarell worked together for a number of years, handling many accounts at APPS. As the business grew, so did the department, and Rab was joined by more people to manage the ever-growing workload.

Rab transitioned to part-time work 10 years ago, where he was responsible for daily cheque pickups and putting a smile on the faces of customers. Now, at the age of 82, he says goodbye to his co-workers and customers.

Sue McDonald described her father-in-law as a “quiet, eloquent soul with a beautiful inner strength accompanied by a wealth of knowledge that would put most scholars to shame.”

Rab is not only an accomplished businessman, but also a musician and fluent in his native tongue — Gaelic.