Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 302 i Owner Driver

EVERY SO OFTEN the subject of Australia’s ageing truck fleet rears its old head. Despite Steve Brooks’s report in February’s edition of 36,825 new trucks and heavy vans being sold in 2017, the question of safety comes to the forefront whenever an accident takes place involving a commercial vehicle, or to be more precise, a heavy vehicle. Putting the case to passionate truck owners to upgrade from their classic models to a new whizz-bang space-age prime mover can be an arduous task. As an example, taking a look at the four-page feature on central Victorian farmer Adrian O’Connell’s two classic Kenworths on page 78 of this month’s issue. The Kenworths in question – a 1980 W9234 model and a 1982 S2 – are still out there making a mile. Meanwhile…

THE METRO DELIVERY MARKET is a competitive market, both for companies and vehicle manufacturers. It’s also tough for the owner-drivers out there making those time-sensitive deliveries. However, Darius Moldovan has spent more than a decade in that market, and his latest ’round town truck is so far beyond the standard that he has not only lifted the bar, he has launched it out of sight. Born and bred in Brisbane, Darius only entered the transport industry to fund his musical career. No, you won’t see him spinning any chairs on The Voice, and he swears his dancing skills won’t make the first round of X-Factor. His composing and musical creations, however, can – and have – been heard on many movie and movie trailer soundtracks. To help fund his creative…

EGREGIOUS EXAMPLES of noncompliance dot the results of the most recent New South Wales heavy vehicle compliance action – Operation Shield, according to the New South Wales Roads and Maritime Services (RMS). The agency says those who find themselves on the wrong side of authorities remain a small, if infuriating, minority. During the week-long operation, RMS inspected 10,302 heavy vehicle units and detected 119 fatigue law breaches in NSW. Officers also issued 926 defect and 257 infringement notices. RMS director of compliance Roger Weeks says the results are a reminder that while most operators are doing the right thing, some are willing to risk the lives of people on our roads. “The number of fatigue law breaches as well as the defects detected and other infringements issued means there is…

“IF YOU’RE going to offer a service, you’ve got to give 120 per cent. If you do that, you’re guaranteed to get a second beer out of your client,” Mick Smith of Milin Transport says. This comment from the family-owned company founder pretty much sums up the type of bloke Mick is – hard-working, honest and, as cliché as it sounds, ‘true blue’. So what better place to check out a couple of the new Aussie-designed Kenworth T610s at work than at a true Aussie transport company. I say a ‘true’ Aussie transport company because, after a sit down with Mick, it’s obvious that his work ethic and attitude couldn’t be more Australian than if he was wearing a cork-swinging Akubra, eating a vegemite sandwich and telling me “that’s not…

A NEW BRIDGESTONE SERVICE CENTRE in the Barossa Valley is the second under what the company says is its new ‘green-truck’ focus following the opening of Bridgestone Service Centre Hume in the ACT last year. A similar outlet is due to be opened in Western Australia later this year. Located on the Old Sturt Highway in Nuriootpa, the Bridgestone Service Centre Barossa is said to incorporate sustainable features such as a solar panel array, energy-efficient lighting and recycled rubber flooring. It is also one of the few outlets in the greater Barossa region to boast full B-double drive-through bays. Bridgestone Australia and New Zealand managing director, Andrew Moffatt, says the new outlet was developed with a focus on environmentally friendly features as well as meeting the demands of the fast-moving…

ADRIAN O’CONNELL wants me to choose – goddamit! I’m torn. I mentally hop from one foot to the other as I try and make a decision. Parked before me sit a pair of iconic trucks – and I can only drive one, which I think is a little unfair. I mean, how am I meant to choose between a Cummins-powered 1980 model W924 Kenworth and a Detroit-powered 1982 S2 Kenworth for a drive? Not only that, behind me in the shed also sits a 1968 Flintstone Mack tipper that looks like it could use a run. The expression on my face probably looks a little like one of those Facebook videos where people tease a kitten with a laser pointer. Of course, I should be thankful Adrian is giving me…

THE NEW GENERATION of Mercedes-Benz light commercial vehicles is headed for Australia in the fourth quarter of this year, already a market leader down under but with even more to offer this time. Since the Sprinter was first launched in 1995, 3.4 million units have been sold, but Benz isn’t complacent, aiming to deliver the most technologically advanced light commercial vehicles to market. With a focus on connectivity, user experience and efficiency, Mercedes-Benz showcased its updated range of powertrains, interior technology and an all-electric offering. The holistic systems approach taken for the new Sprinter saw the introduction of the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) and telematics functionality, better equipping the vehicle for commercial fleet use. A high level of vehicle customisability is available, with a total of 1734 different variants offered…

ISUZU AUSTRALIA (IAL) has announced updates to its F-series heavy duty trucks, promising an increase in towing capacity combined with advanced technology and engineering features. The moves see eight new models added to the FX range and an additional three to the FY range. “With a range of wheelbases and suspension configurations in both model ranges, as well as the availability of the Allison 4430 automatic transmission in most models, Isuzu has responded to the demands of the market by ensuring the specification options are targeted to key heavy-duty applications,” IAL says. Some of the broad improvements include new coolant temperature gauges, relocated height sensors, uprated alternator, to 90A, and standardising tail lamp connectors and ABS connectors for towing across various models. Other changes include the FYJ, FXZ, and FXY…

>> Quick Search To find these products online go to OwnerDriver.com.au/Search and enter the TA or DIY code show below in the keyword search panel. 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ ACTROS 2651 Prime Mover. 8 cyl Turbo Diesel. Automatic. Sleeper Cab. Bull Bar. ABS. Aluminium Body. Air Conditioning. Power Steering. GVM:26000KG. GCM:90000 Road Train. GCM:70000 B Double. Odometer 105,744km Showing. 1800 049 814 $100,738 2014 MERCEDESBENZ ACTROS 2648 Low km just 210,951km 6x4, airbag suspension, auto shift 16 speed gearbox viesa air con still has factory driveline warranty october 2019 or 1 million km ready for work. 02 6171 3422 $140,000 2010 MERCEDESBENZ ACTROS 2648 2648 This prime mover has been fuel rated, has had one owner, and is ready to go to work. 0488 332 113 $45,000 2013 MERCEDESBENZ ACTROS 2648 480hp,…

THERE’S THIS YOUNG truck driver on the road, nine hours into a 12-hour shift. His eyelids are heavy, drooping regularly over bloodshot eyes. His concentration is waning noticeably. And then his truck veers off the road – safely, of course – courtesy of a prompt from an artificial intelligence (AI) computer system that’s been watching his eyes for signs of fatigue the entire shift. “This is a revolutionary technology,” Zurich Australia head of motor underwriting Nick Dendrinos says. “It monitors your eyes the whole time – their shape, your pupils, where you’re focusing – even if you’re wearing sunglasses. “And when it detects you’re fatigued, it buzzes the chair or sends out a beep saying ‘slow down, you need to pull over’.” Dendrinos believes the telematic-based technology has already saved…

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY, which was held on March 8, was a day of celebration for all those days and months before that you have strived to be the best at what you can be. To encourage and inspire all those who will walk in your shoes in the future, it’s a day to celebrate what makes women wonderful and all things beautiful that is women. We are fortunate that for all of us who work within the transport industry, we have the support of some terrific industry associations. The Queensland Trucking Association (QTA) is the leading supporter of programs and initiatives throughout the state to promote gender diversity in the road freight/trucking industry. For all the women out there in our industry (8.9 per cent in 2012: Australian Bureau of…

TRUCK SHOWS are not all about winning trophies, but for several attendees of the Tooradin Tractor Pull and Truck Show on January 20 it was an added bonus. Kelly Durkin rolled up at Tooradin with three of his seven Kenworths, including a 2017 Kenworth 900 Legend. When he left later that day, he not only picked up the Best Prime Mover under 1 year award with a T909 but also the Rig of the Show trophy with the 900 Legend. “We operated two T900s 25 years ago and a T900 was the first truck I drove, so buying another Legend has some sentimental reasons,” Kelly says of his new rig. David Craig, who now owns one of the old T900s, had the honour of driving the 900 Legend to Tooradin.…

THE PORTABLE FRIDGE market is getting pretty crowded these days. For a long time, if you wanted a proper compressor-equipped fridge freezer, there were only a couple of brands to really consider: Engel or Waeco. However, in recent times, plenty of cheaper options have swarmed onto the market, and you may find yourself wondering why you would fork out your hard-earned for a big lump of Engel when you can pick up a no-name at your local camping-fishing-shooting-off-roading and awesome-all-round-bloke-supplies shop. So I thought I’d put the new Engel MT45 Fridge Freezer Combi to the test to see if forking out for a premium brand was worth the extra coin. I had a big trip planned that involved taking a little Renault Kangoo van places where a Renault Kangoo should…

THEY EACH CONTROL the executive keys and corporate expectations of the two most prominent and successful brands in Australia’s heavy truck business. They are also two of the most disparate, contrasting individuals you’re likely to find anywhere. One, the carefully considered, gentle-mannered, quietly confident, and calmly deliberate son of proud immigrant parents who tolerates rather than seeks the occasional glare of the spotlight. The other, a perpetually upbeat, inherently animated, and unequivocally ambitious Dutchman with a natural flair for life in the limelight. The former is Paccar Australia managing director Andrew Hadjikakou, or, just ‘Hadge’ to those in the inner circle. The latter is Volvo Group Australia (VGA) president and chief executive officer Peter Voorhoeve. Or Peter V to just about everyone. Different as they are, though, there’s much about…

MERCEDES-BENZ TRUCKS is putting 10 all-electric eActros rigs on European roads within the next month for testing, with the long-term aim of offering a competitive range of electric heavy vehicles by 2021. The news comes as Daimler announces it will invest 2.6 billion euros into its truck division by 2019, with a focus on developing electric mobility, connectivity and automated driving technology for commercial vehicles. Ten vehicles in two variants, with a gross vehicle weight of 18 or 25 tonnes and a range of up to 200km, are currently being handed over to customers who will be testing them in real-world operating conditions. The trial fleet will be on the road until at least mid-2020 with the aim of establishing the energy requirements and economic efficiency of the electric trucks.…

SCANIA HAS CLAIMED bragging rights in Europe’s truck comparison, the 1000 Point Test, for the second year in succession. “This exhaustive test once again confirms not only the excellent fuel performance of our new-generation trucks but also the many other attractive features that sets Scania apart,” Scania head of trucks Alexander Vlaskamp says. “We have now introduced the full range of new-generation trucks in Europe and the response has been overwhelming.” This year’s test focused on mid-sized cabs with power ratings in the 450hp range, with the Scania R 450 pitted against the Mercedes Actros 1845 and the Volvo FH 460. The 1000 Point Test involves an international team of truck journalists who score the trucks subjectively in combination with objective measuring. The test runs along a 180km route in…

QUEENSLAND-BASED Bundaberg Refrigerated Transport faces legal action following complaints of employment obligation non-compliance. The case follows a Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) investigation that concluded the company underpaid a worker $11,000 over a period of nine months. The employee lodged a request for assistance with the FWO, which found that the company paid the employee a flat hourly rate of $23. This was despite the employee’s entitlement to ordinary hourly rates of up to $26.09 as a casual employee, up to $41.74 for overtime and weekend work, and up to $52.18 on public holidays under the company’s enterprise agreement. As a result, the employee was short-changed $11,451 between October 2014 and July 2015. Following the investigation, the company back-paid the employee in full. The FWO also found that the company allegedly…

“TRUCK DRIVERS are very welcome in Wagga – just leave your bloody truck at home.” Truck driving businessman Leigh Campbell jokes that truckies stopping in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, should bring their own portable toilets. “And you’d better bring some deodorant because there ain’t no showers in the place.” The 72-year-old lives 20km from Wagga at Oura, and he’s disgusted that no single location in Wagga provides adequate safe truck parking, fuel, meals and showers. In a letter to Owner//Driver, Campbell urges other concerned truckies to join his campaign to have a 24-hour truck stop built at Wagga. He suggests a truck convoy through the city might raise awareness. Campbell believes crown land at the intersection of the Sturt and Olympic Highways would be an ideal location for a…

IT IS GREAT disappointment and a definite sense of deja vu that I come away with from reading this article. It prompted a very famous quote to come to mind: “Any man can make mistakes, but only an idiot persists in his error.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero. For decades, enforcement agencies have espoused intelligence-led policing. I see none of it being applied in the heavy vehicle enforcement space. Without any understanding of the causal factors behind the recent spate of tragic incidents, NSW enforcement agencies plan to repeat what has clearly failed to work in the past. What did NSW glean from the half a million vehicles it inspected the previous year? Surely, an analysis of the vast amount of data collected during these inspections, let alone collected in previous…

THIS YEAR MARKS 35 years since Kevin Bakewell of Wingham, New South Wales, bought his first truck, a Nissan UD. The UD is long gone, but one of his first clients – Saxby’s Soft Drinks in Taree – remains a loyal customer. Kevin has fond memories of the 14 years he spent as a one-truck owner-driver. “Back in those days, everyone was your mate,” he says. He enjoyed the freedom of being on the road, and the interesting people he met along the way. In 1997, Kevin stopped driving trucks so he could concentrate on growing the business. “The days of the owner-driver are coming to an end, and I was realistic to know that back in ’97 when I made a decision to give up driving. “It was either…

“Twenty years later, here I am today and I love it” LENNY TURNER does a regular run in an ABC Towing Western Star south to Brisbane from his Townsville home base, pulling a road train through Charters Towers, Roma and Toowoomba. Even with the extra distance covered, mainly from Toowoomba to Brisbane, Lenny finds it an easy two-day run. “I try not to bring both trailers in at the same time,” Lenny says. “It saves an extra run up to the range but sometimes it just happens. You have to have them in at the same time – it’s just the way it goes.” It was at the BP Archerfield in Brisbane on a Friday where Owner//Driver caught up with Lenny. He wasn’t in any hurry to return home, however,…

FREIGHTLINER AND ALLIANCE TRUCK PARTS have put their support behind South Australia V8 Supercar star Tim Slade and the Brad Jones Racing team for the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Alliance Truck Parts has previously sponsored fellow Brad Jones Racing driver Andrew Jones in the Super2 Series over the last three years, combining forces with fellow Daimler Truck and Bus company Freightliner to give car #14 a distinctive yellow and black look for 2018. “The Freightliner Racing Commodore will be pretty bold on track this year,” Slade says. “We did a one-off black and yellow livery for Alliance Truck Parts at Townsville in ’16.” Slade says teammate Nick Percat was also in similar colours for Freightliner at Winton last year. “The 2018 design is simple, and with the bright Alliance Truck…

IN DECEMBER 2017, Daimler Trucks announced the upcoming departure of Marc Llistosella, head of Daimler Trucks Asia, CEO of Mitsubishi Fuso Trucks and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) and also Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV). According to Daimler, Llistosella is departing on “his own accord”, his last day with the company being March 31. His successor, Hartmut Schick, is head of the Daimler Buses division and CEO of EvoBus GMBH, a position he has held since 2009. One of Llistosella’s final duties was to make a flying visit to Australia and New Zealand in February, but not before he said his goodbyes to the 3500-strong Indian DICV workforce, where he received a standing ovation. Known for his passion regarding electric commercial vehicles, and with both eyes on transport’s future, Llistosella joined the…

IN A BID to clear the decks, Iveco Australia is serving up 2017 plate deals on its Daily, Eurocargo and International ProStar models. Iveco says the offers are available until April 30 this year or while stocks last. According to Iveco, 2017-plated Daily models will receive an additional two years’ extended warranty, which adds up to a total of five years and 200,000 kilometres. Buyers of 2017 Eurocargo models will get an additional two years and 50,000 kilometres of extended warranty for total coverage of five years and 300,000 kilometres. In addition, those who purchase a 2017-plated ProStar will receive a five-year/1,200,000km extended engine warranty plus a $5000 Iveco-branded Visa card. Iveco marketing manager Darren Swenson says the plate deals provided prospective buyers with an even greater incentive to put…