Doug retired from owning and driving his own transport with Trans-Provincial Freight Carriers and dedicated his time to the new business. With his background in trucking, Doug expanded the fuels division, adding the first keylock diesel facility in the area, attracting a number of his former trucking friends. At the re-named Rankin Fuels location in Thessalon, he began to branch out into truck par
ts, filters, tires, and batteries and expanded the store hours. By the time Doug passed away in 1987, he had purchased the property next door to the fuel agency and added an addition to the building, and expanded the business name to "Rankin Fuels and Supply". Following Doug's passing, the company took many twists and turns, with up to 25 staff at one point, including The North Shore Sentinel, Rankin Service Centre, The File Folder, Hometown Rentals, and Thessalon Excavating and Contracting. For a time, the business also operated a summer ice cream parlour, a flea market, and the Thessalon Centennial Trade Show. Over the past 40 years, the business has supported countless local good causes and over 120 different people have worked in one division or the other at different times.
