Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 300 i Owner Driver

FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT minister Michaelia Cash has told Tip Top contractors that they must seek Federal Court action for any grievances they may have. The response came after sustained Opposition questioning on the issue in the Senate and the House of Representatives late last year, with Labor leader Bill Shorten focused on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Senator Glenn Sterle on Cash. Both Opposition members raised the abolition of the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT), in a coordinated action that followed a second look at Tip Top by ABC television’s 7.30 Report, though Sterle’s main line of questioning was on what Cash had done in response to the second story. After noting that “if there are any drivers who are concerned across Australia about the safety of their vehicle, they should…

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE, Australia’s trucking industry is asking where it will find enough drivers to meet the demands of the rapidly growing freight task. And yet young men and women often battle to find their first truck driving job. School leavers have to wait until they are eligible to obtain a truck licence. And many transport businesses complain it is too expensive to insure and train a young, inexperienced truck driver. Fortunately, many people in the industry are working to create more defined pathways from high school to trucking. Among the options available are a traineeship included in Wodonga TAFE’s Superior Heavy Vehicle Licensing (SHVL) course; internships through the federally funded Youth Jobs PaTH (Prepare-Trial-Hire) program; and work experience through Queensland’s school-based GenR8. ‘Superior’ traineeships A traineeship for truck…

PERHAPS NO OTHER NEW TRUCK has been more talked about over the last twelve months than the Kenworth T610. Launched in December 2016 at the Kenworth manufacturing plant in Bayswater, Victoria, the truck has met with widespread acclaim and driver satisfaction. It was always Kenworth’s intention the T610 would be here for the long-haul, both in terms of road kilometres and years spent in service. You’d want it to be, too, at $20 million it’s the biggest single investment in product development ever made by the company in Australia. The end result is a product that looks set to stand the test of time. As Kenworth Australia engineering project manager Ross Cureton puts it, “The leap this truck has taken over anything we’ve ever done is pretty remarkable. What I…

DARELL WILSON, who drives for SUEZ, has been praised by the transport community and general public for his actions to avoid a bus full of school children in June 2017. The bus pulled out in front of his truck on one of Sydney’s busiest arterial roads and Darell responded quickly by turning his semitrailer towards a concrete barrier, jack-knifing the truck to slow down and to avoid the bus entering oncoming traffic. The Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardian award recognises and honours the heroic actions of the Kurrajong resident for preventing what could have been a devastating accident. Bridgestone Australia and New Zealand managing director Andrew Moffatt admires Wilson’s selfless act to avoid endangering the lives of others. “Darell Wilson is a credit to SUEZ. His split-second decision prevented a major…

THE VIVID GRAPHICS adorning the trucks and trailers on the Gibbins Refrigerated Transport fleet would whet the appetite of anyone looking to wrap their choppers into a ripe banana, pineapple or any piece of fruit for that matter. “I don’t want to be over the top but we do handle fruit and veggies,” company owner Chris Gibbins smiles. Gibbins Refrigerated Transport runs from Coffs Harbour to Sydney and Brisbane. The fleet is made up of two Kenworth T409 SARs, a Kenworth T408 and an FH Volvo. There are also five Isuzu rigids, one Hino and a Fuso running out of Coffs’ cold stores and distribution centre. Chris explains that he had no desire to be a fleet operator, although he had a background in transport, spending nine years for the…

WITH ALL the talk of drone delivery and platooning trucks that won’t need a driver, will trailer combinations continue to push the envelope, or will technology take over? If you spend enough time on Australian roads, you will have noticed more and more trailer combinations popping up, many of them one-off concoctions built for a very specific task. The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s (NHVR) performance-based standards (PBS) scheme, and the 6200 approved vehicles it’s put on the roads, is a driving force behind the rapid influx of bold new combinations. According to NHVR chief engineer Les Bruzsa, also known as the ‘Quadfather’ in transport circles, it might be a while before we have PBS combinations that platoon autonomously. “I’m a little bit sceptical with platooning and interestingly we’ve done some…

I’ve been recently pondering some of the bigger corporate questions in life recently. Given that it was not so long ago that I thought Gross Domestic Product was actually farting on the couch while watching The Bachelorette, I’m starting from a pretty low base. However, there’s a human resources theory that management types rise to the level of their incompetence. The idea being that, over the course of your career, you keep getting promoted until you reach a position that is too much for you and that’s where you stay. No more promotions. You reach a point where you can barely keep your shit together at work, bumbling along and screwing up all over the place. The best bit is that, if you have staff working underneath you, you can…

OVER THE NEXT 25 YEARS, operators in the transport and logistics sectors will face significant structural changes. With the Australian population forecast to grow by almost 40 per cent, demand for transport and logistics services will grow substantially. The domestic freight task is expected to grow by 26 per cent over the next 10 years, more than double in 25 years, and triple by 2050 to service the expanding population. Road freight transporters dominate the Australian non-bulk freight market, benefiting from their advantages in price, speed, convenience and reliability. In cities, light commercial vehicles are the dominant form of transport for the final stage of delivery. The industry’s major markets span the entire economy, and efficient road freight transport is integral to the economy’s performance. Infrastructure investment by state and…

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA has mandated the use of electronic logging devices (ELD), with the order coming in to force on December 18. However, the American transport industry is still not fully prepared – or in some cases, willing – to handle the complexities of the new system, with reports suggesting that up to 25 per cent of operators are still not ready to implement the technology across their businesses. US-based specialised trucking company database CareerLists reports that, until October this year, only 50 per cent of operators were prepared to adopt the ELD system. By mid-December, the figure rose to 75 per cent. While this is a positive sign, smaller operators and owner-drivers have been voicing concerns about the system. There have also been protests by drivers, who…

“Our alliance with Volkswagen is allowing us to move much more quickly into electric propulsion” IT WAS THE STAUNCH ENGLISH statesman Winston Churchill who said, “The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see.” From another angle, it was my late and great friend Ray Gilbert who, with a shrewd grin, forewarned his much younger mate on the prospect of his first marriage: “If you want to know what she’ll be like in 30 or 40 years, just take a look at her mother.” Ever the politician, Mr Churchill’s penchant for the prophetic was legendary. Ever the pragmatist, Mr Gilbert’s advice on the inadvisable was ultimately inescapable. Yet despite the vastly differing contexts of two men poles apart, I feel both were right on the…

TRUCK DRIVERS might be using electronic work diaries (EWDs) as early as March this year, according to the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR). The NHVR released the Policy Framework and Standards for Electronic Work Diaries (EWDs) on December 18 last year, which it says puts the wheels in motion for an electronic fatigue management alternative. “The EWD policy framework and standards will allow the NHVR to approve electronic recording systems as an alternative to the traditional written work diary, which will be a win for the heavy vehicle industry and a boost for safety,” NHVR safety and productivity executive director Geoff Casey says. “Under the EWD policy framework and standards, an EWD records the work and rest activity declared by the driver and drivers can move between employers and record…

Owner-Driver Alby Twyford accompanied his truck-driving father and grandfather when he was a kid, so it seemed like a natural progression when he began driving trucks for a living. Years later, history repeated itself. His son Adam Twyford has also gone on to work in the trucking industry. “Adam was with me in the truck all the time. He grew up in them,” Twyford says. “But now with the OH&S rules there’s no kids allowed. “My grandsons love trucks but they’re not allowed in them. “It’s not like the olden days. We grew up with them. You’d just hop in [a truck] and away you went. You just knew what to do.” To meet the anticipated fright task, retaining experienced drivers like Twyford will be as important as recruiting new…

WHAT WILL LIFE FOR A TRUCK DRIVER look like in 2042? Well, crystal ball gazing is an imprecise art but I’ll have a crack at it anyway. The trouble is that it’s pretty hard to keep up with the pace of technological change at the best of times. It seems like not that long ago my old Blackberry (four phones ago!) was pretty swish. We are, however, at an unprecedented point in history. Many tech commentators are saying that the impact of this automated artificial-intelligence internet-of-things revolution will be as significant as the Industrial Revolution of the 1800s. And they may well be right. However, the Industrial Revolution also caused widespread social chaos. One good example was the invention of the mechanical weaving loom in the spinning mills of England.…

VOLVO FH540 2012 FH MK2 6x4 Prime Mover, fitted with Volvo 540hp Turbo Diesel engine, Ishift transmission, Volvo rear axles on 10 stud alloy wheels, Air suspension, turntable, plastic guards, Double bunk, alloy bulbar complete with driving lights. S/N: 3173 02 6171 3435 $99,000 inc-GST 2014 VOLVO FH540 D13 Turbo Diesel@540hp,12 spd I-shift Transmission,Meritor diffs on Airbag Suspension,Alloy Bullbar,Alcoa Alloy Rims,2xAlloy Tanks,Jost Fixed T/table,Viessa Cooler,Sold & Serviced by us from New. 02 8279 7054 $139,900 inc-GST 2013 VOLVO FH540 D13 Turbo Diesel@540hp Euro5,12spd I-shift Transmission, Meritor Diffs on Airbag Suspension, Jost Fixed T/table,2xAlloy Tanks, Alloy Bullbar, Alcoa Alloy Rims, Sold & Serviced by us From New. Ring Chris 0412 106498... 02 8279 7054 $129,900 inc-GST 2013 VOLVO FH540 D13 Turbo Diesel@540hp Euro5,12spd I-shift transmission,Meritor 2370 diffs on Airbag Suspension,2x Alloy…

DECKED OUT IN SIMS METAL BLUE, the MJ Freighter’s Kenworth T909 looked the goods as driver Trevor Carter fuelled it up at the BP Archerfield in Brisbane. The Kenworth is one of eight trucks in the MJ Freighters fleet, which includes three B-doubles and five singles, all of which haul scrap metal. It’s also one of three Kenworths; the other five trucks are Western Stars. The T909 is six years old. Its 600hp Cummins engine has exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) with a diesel particulate filer (DPF). “I do two return trips a day to Toowoomba with scrap metal, five days a week,” Trevor explains. “At the Brisbane depot it is shredded or compacted and then shipped to China.” Although it was only 3pm, Trevor was on his way to MJ’s…

This year’s Adtrans-sponsored Rotary Castlemaine Truck Show saw a big increase in the number of trucks on display with 200 on site despite Victoria’s unpredictable weather. The 2017 event was held on the last weekend in November at Campbell’s Creek Recreation Reserve, with trucks rolling up as early as Friday night and the numbers increasing markedly on Saturday. Sunday, however, was the big day with a convoy rolling through Castlemaine, the town’s streets lined with waving crowds. The auction was held during the afternoon and then under sunny skies the winners were announced and trophies presented. On Sunday, the Rig of the Show award went to Paul Richards and his Kenworth W925 SAR, while Lindsay Binder drove Kenny Easter’s stunning Volvo FH16, which won the Best Custom trophy. Saturday’s Rig…

“Vehicle connectivity will make transport safer and do much to decrease congestion” RM: How real is the threat of artificial intelligence and what impact do you see it having on the Australian transport industry? BR: It’s easy to get swept away by the hype surrounding artificial intelligence, and it’s fair to say that things are nowhere near as developed as many of the tech evangelists would have you believe. But it is equally fair to say that artificial intelligence and personalisation are behind several transformational trends in the world of logistics, and intelligent supply chains that use self-learning systems are likely to make an impact in under five years. Logistics is a data-driven function. Data is at the core of all of the logistics challenges – managing…

THE MASSIVE 2017 i98FM Illawarra Convoy held on November 19 raised a record-setting $1,928,492, topping 2016’s record of $1,805,306. The final tally for i98FM’s 2017 Illawarra Convoy was announced on November 22 on Radio i98FM’s breakfast show with hosts Marty Haynes, Christie Hayes and Ryan Cram. In its 13th year, the Convoy’s 714 trucks and 927 motorbikes travelled 70 kilometres from Illawarra Coal’s West Cliff Colliery at Appin, through the streets of the Illawarra and onto the Croome Road Sporting Complex. The opportunity to take the coveted position as the lead truck in the Convoy was fought out live on air with ‘Marty’, ‘Fairlie’ and ‘Crammy’. Winning top spot with a bid of $302,000 was the ‘Dandaloo Boys’, a group consisting of local businesses, The Dandaloo Hotel, Coastal Windows &…

While Cummins is obviously intent on being a major provider of electric powertrains, it is certainly not signalling the end of the diesel engine. At least, not for many years to come. Somewhat overshadowed by the presentation of its Aeos fully electric demonstrator at Cummins’ technical centre in Columbus, Indiana, in September last year, the company announced plans to introduce a revolutionary heavy-duty diesel engine design in 2022. For now, details of the new diesel plant are being kept close to the corporate chest, though the company insists diesel engines will remain the best solution for years to come. As a Cummins statement confirmed: ‘Cummins is determined to be the supplier of choice for whatever powertrain technologies customers demand – conventional diesel, alternative fuels and various electric architectures.” Even so,…

It wasn’t all about electric trucks, and Daimler Trucks Asia boss Marc Llistosella didn’t pull any punches in citing Fuso’s fall from the premier position it held in the Japanese heavy truck business up to the late 1990s. “Fuso lost its glory,” he said bluntly, adding that the road back hasn’t been easy despite a strong desire to “fix the ship” since Daimler’s takeover and subsequent formation in 2003 of the Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation. Nonetheless, it was an adamant Llistosella who predicted that Daimler’s global powertrain and driveline advances of recent years are now poised to drive Fuso to a far greater strength in the heavy-duty sector than it has known for many years. Spearheading the charge is the flagship model range known ambitiously in Japan as…

TRAFFIC CONGESTION is increasing in almost all Australian state capitals, with Sydney settling in to a top-30 position globally, according to the TomTom Traffic Index report. Melbourne was next worst at 58, with Brisbane and Adelaide making it into the world top 100 at 96 and 100 respectively. Only Perth failed to see its ‘congestion level’ rise, staying more or less level, with Sydney up 3 per cent, Melbourne 4 per cent, Brisbane 3 per cent and Adelaide 2 per cent The report found traffic in Australia’s 10 busiest cities is increasing overall travel times by 28 per cent, up 3 per cent from 2016. This is extending the time spent on the road by an average of 27 minutes per day across Australia’s major metros, costing those businesses an…

2013 KENWORTH T909 Cummins EGR 550 hpr- Eaton RTLO20918Br-Meritor RT46-160 diffsr-4.56 ratior- KW A/G 460 suspensionr- Jost JSK 37 turntabler- Will come with new paint STK # 300312... 07 3171 1770 $208,000 inc-GST 2012 KENWORTH T909 12 KENWORTH T909 PRIME MOVER 18 Speed Manual 15.0 Litre Engine 5.82 Wheelbase 6x4 UHF Groeneveld Auto Grease Jost T.T Suzicoils Ice Pack 50 Sleeper Cab Air Conditioning Power Steering Cummins Engine 02 8279 7004 $239,900 inc-GST KENWORTH T909 05/2015, 465,000kms, Cummins E5 @ 550hp, RTLO20918B 18 speed transmission, Meritor RT-160GP drive axles @ 4.10 ratio on Kenworth Airglide 460 airbag suspension, cross lock on rear axle, FG941 steer axle. 03 5831 7007 $245,000 inc-GST 2012 KENWORTH T909 04/2012 Compliance, Cummins ISX at 550HP,Fuller RTLO 22918B Transmission, Meritor 52/185G Diffs 4.89 RAR on Kenworth…

The world has imagined self-driving vehicles for more than 60 years. As with any technology, legislation takes time to catch up. Just over 100 years ago, legislation in the United States and the United Kingdom required ‘self-propelled’ vehicles to have a flag bearer walk in front to ensure public safety. Faced with an increasing freight task and a shrinking and ageing driver workforce, the logistics industry needs to consider autonomous vehicles if it is to meet demand in the future. But what are the benefits for supply chains? And what needs to be done to realise them? Positive outcomes The first potential benefit is safety. Ninety per cent of all road traffic accidents are caused by driver error. In theory, self-driving vehicles equipped with advanced sensors, spatial imaging software and…

IF EVOLUTION IS SIMPLY development doing its thing, and revolution is possibilities made real, where does Fuso’s remarkable ‘Vision One’ electric truck fit? Personally, and at the distinct risk of acquiring a butt full of splinters from sitting on the fence, I think it straddles both doctrines. On one hand, as development of electric vehicles continues at an unrelenting pace, evolution is everywhere as designers and engineers around the world pursue more-advanced batteries and motorised powertrains to facilitate the seemingly unstoppable march of electrically powered vehicles. On the other, revolution will only happen when big corporates decide time and technology are right for factory production of those vehicles and, most critical of all, their acceptance and application by the consumer masses. Until very recently, and in the commercial vehicle world…

Over the past decade-and-a-half, European truck manufacturers have had little choice but to continually reduce emissions in their commercial vehicles. However, while the current vogue is for all things electric, FPT Industrial, a division of the giant CNH Industrial group, has upped the ante with its new natural gas engine. Launched during a “magical” Tech Day at FPT Industrial headquarters in Turin, Italy on October 30 last year, the Cursor 13 NG engine boasts up to 460hp (343kW) at 1900rpm and torque up to 2000Nm at 1100rpm. Its obvious home for long-haul runs is the Iveco Stralis, in which it has already undergone extensive trials. FPT unleashed its first NG heavy-duty engine in the 1990s. It was a time when “ecology was not so trendy as it is today”, according…

IVECO AUSTRALIA launched its new Daily range in 2015 but, despite already strong sales, it has been proactive in adding a number of changes to its van and cab-chassis models, making them an even more attractive proposition. For starters, Iveco has revised its front grille, adopting a horizontal and louvered style in favour of the previous ‘honeycomb’ appearance. However, it’s much more than a cosmetic change according to Iveco, with the new shape allowing for lifting the cooling performance by enabling improved air flow to the radiator and engine bay area. Inside, the added two-tone seating is a nice touch, giving both cab-chassis and van models a car-like appearance. There’s also a central extra storage area equipped with USB sockets. Buyers opting to pay extra for the Hi-Matic 8-speed auto…

SCANIA AUSTRALIA has revealed the launch and upcoming sales of its New Truck Generation (NTG) range will take place during 2018. Scania says following a launch preview event on March 14, sales will commence when the first of the new vehicles arrive in Australia in the second half of 2018. “We are delighted to announce that the 2017 International Truck of the Year, the New Truck Generation Scania, will begin to arrive in Australia during 2018,” Scania Australia director of sales Martin Toomey says. “The New Truck Generation has been much anticipated in Australia following its international launch in the third quarter of 2016 in Europe, and subsequent success in sales, as well as garnering many positive reviews and successful comparisons with direct rivals, and of course being awarded International…