Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 306 i Owner Driver

THERE’S SOMETHING warm and fuzzy about rural truck shows, especially those that raise much-needed funds for charity. The Alexandra Truck, Ute & Rod Show is one of Victoria’s most prominent of such events. The hundreds of vehicles of all shapes and sizes transform the town’s streets into a fantastic, colourful atmosphere. The drivers, their families and friends, plus interested onlookers, flock to Alexandra each year. And don’t the local businesses embrace it. Hotels, motels and coffee shops are chock full of happy and contented customers. It’s a big payday for Alexandra, and for the local charities that benefit from events such as these. Unfortunately, it’s also a big opportunistic payday for the Victorian Government. A large number of comments and complaints on the Alexandra Truck, Ute and Rod Show’s Facebook…

“I can think of no one worthier and more deserving.” TWO TRUCKING IDENTITIES have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. Truck driving Burrumbuttock Hayrunners’ founder Brendan Farrell picked up a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his service to primary industry, while long-serving transport industry representative Trevor Martyn also received an OAM for his service to the transport industry and the community. “Trevor has made an enormous and selfless contribution to the Australian transport industry over a highly decorated career spanning more than 50 years,” Victorian Transport Association president Cameron Dunn says on behalf of the executive council and secretariat. “He served on the executive council of the VTA from 1998-2005, including four years as president from 2002-2005. “I can think of no one worthier and…

APPARENTLY trucking was a lot better back in the 1970s and ’80s. These decades are often referred to as a golden age in Australian transport by many a misty-eyed driver. I come across this view quite a lot. I’m a little young to have really lived it (I was still collecting Weet-Bix cards with trucks on them and drawing pictures of road trains), but if the tales are to believed, 30 years ago trucks didn’t break down and crashes rarely happened. Selective hindsight is a wonderful thing. It seems to skip over the delights of wrestling with a wet tarp on a windy day for example and dragging big weights over bad roads with very little horsepower. The reality is that trucks are not only safer these days, they’re also…

“There are major safety issues throughout the ports.” PALPABLE ANGER and a resolve to take action are growing among the nation’s truck drivers. This action will take place on July 15 when convoys will run in cities across the country to highlight the problems in the transport industry. The convoys will call for Safe Rates to be put in place to ensure fairness for owner-drivers, employee drivers and transport companies and for wealthy economic employers to be held to account. Anyone who has ever worked as a driver will recognise many of the problems in our industry. But people who clearly have never worked as drivers are insisting these problems don’t even exist. This is further fuelling anger in the trucking community – and ensuring that the July convoys will…

IN MY PREVIOUS ARTICLE I went on at some length about hypocrisy and also my delight in doing a run to the northwest of Western Australia. Bless me if the WA thing has not happened again. In the Courier-Mail of May 24, a comment attributed to Ben Maguire, the Australian Trucking Association’s (ATA) CEO, was printed. Good one, Mr Maguire. Another has appeared since. It looks to me like the ATA might have turned over a new leaf. Mr Maguire was reported as saying the lack of basic facilities for truckies showed a lack of respect and a disregard for drivers’ safety by closing rest areas to store road works material and, in addition, “general access to toilets, lighting and water are a basic human right”. I have a T-shirt…

Darren Hingston travelled from Launceston, Tasmania, to launch his new book about TNT at the ARTHC dinner on Saturday, June 9. He wrote ‘TNT: Anything, Anywhere, Anytime – Sure We Can’ with René Buron of Canada. The title is a combination of slogans used by TNT. Darren says René’s contribution was analytical, “looking at the business side of things”. And Darren wrote about the company’s history. A passionate collector of trucking memorabilia, Darren has been fascinated with TNT’s history since his boss, Doug Paton, asked him to research the origins of one of the trucks in his fleet – a Kenworth SAR formerly owned by Kwikasair, a division of TNT. “He bought the truck directly off TNT,” Darren says. “He still owns it, and he’s only the second owner.” The…

"YOU MUST STRIVE to find your own voice because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it all,” says Robin Williams in the movie Dead Poets Society, where he is playing the character of John Keating. The importance of getting your voice heard is something that many people often don’t realise. As members of an industry we have the right to speak our minds and talk freely about topics that concern and interest us. Speaking your mind is very important, but many people don’t understand why. It is crucial to participate in whatever way that means to you. Get your voice heard by participating in an industry association and join by sharing your point of view. You can make a difference with the power…

DAWN OF THE DARK Tori Forsyth Lost Highway/Universal www.toriforsyth.com Tori Forsyth, who grew up around the NSW Central Coast and Hunter Valley regions, whetted appetites with the 2016 EP Black Bird, leading to her signing with alternate country label Lost Highway Records. Dawn Of The Dark, Forsyth’s debut album, contains 12 impressive self-penned songs, ranging from the social commentary on the banjo-backed folk-country ‘Grave Robber’s Daughter’, to the lively twangy country rock sound of ‘Redemption’. Forsyth hints at one-night stands on ‘In The Morning’, and she embraces traditional country on ‘Hearts On The Ground’. Produced by ARIA winner Shane Nicholson, Dawn Of The Dark also boasts a classy bunch of musicians, including US steel guitar player Dan Dugmore. Forsyth is showcasing her new songs now on tour across Australia. OUR…

THE MAN XXL CAB was unveiled for Owner//Driver at the Penske Commercial Vehicles facility in Brisbane on May 30, with the very first being handed over to an eager customer. Initially, the XXL cab looks much the same, but step inside and you’d need to be seven-foot tall to have headroom issues – this is a true walk-through cab. The XXL cab offers 2,030mm of in-cab height, 210mm more than the XLX cab and 490mm more than the standard XL cab within the TGX range. A plus for the new model, perhaps even bigger than the cab itself, is an increase in engine power, with the proven D38 now offered in Euro 6c 640hp (477kW) guise. The 640hp variant produces its peak torque of 3,000Nm from a low 930rpm, up…

FORD RANGER XLT 4X4 DUAL CAB Engine:3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo diesel Max power:147kW (211hp) @ 3,000rpm Max torque:470Nm @ 1,500-2,750rpm Gearbox: Six-speed automatic 4X4 System: Dual-range part-time Crawl ratio:42.3:1 Construction: Separate-chassis Frontsuspension: Independent/ coil springs Rear suspension: Live axle/leaf springs Kerb weight:2,159kg GVM:3,200kg Payload:1,041kg Towing capacity:3,500kg Towball download (max): 350kg GCM:6,000kg Overall length:5,351mm Width:1,850mm Height:1,848mm Wheelbase:3,220mm Turning circle:12.7m Fuel tank capacity:80 litres ADR fuel claim:9.2 litres/100km Test fuel use:12.0 litres/100km Touring range:616km* *Based on test fuel use, claimed fuel capacity and a 50km ‘safety’ margin.…

MITSUBISHI 4X4 DUAL-CAB EXCEED Engine:2.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel Max power:133kW (178hp) @ 3,500rpm Max torque:430Nm @ 2,500rpm Gearbox: Five-speed automatic 4X4 System: Dual-range full-time (+2WD) Crawl ratio:35.4:1 Construction: Separate-chassis Frontsuspension: Independent/ coil springs Rear suspension: Live axle/leaf springs Kerb weight:1,955kg GVM:2,900kg Payload:945kg Towing capacity:3,100kg Towball download (max): 310kg GCM:5,885kg Overall length:5,280mm Width:1,815mm Height:1,780mm Wheelbase:3,000mm Turning circle:11.8m Fuel tank capacity:75 litres ADR fuel claim:7.0 litres/100km Test fuel use:10.5 litres/100km Touring range:664km* *Based on test fuel use, claimed fuel capacity and a 50km ‘safety’ margin.…

NISSAN NAVARA 4X4 DUAL-CAB ST-X Engine:2.3-litre 4-cylinder bi-turbo diesel Max power:140kW (188hp) @ 3,750rpm Max power:450Nm @ 1,500-2,500rpm Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic 4X4 System: Dual-range part-time Crawl ratio:44.6:1 Construction: Separate-chassis Frontsuspension: Independent/ coil springs Rear suspension: Live axle/coil springs Kerb weight:1,980kg GVM:2,910kg Payload:930kg Towing capacity:3,500kg Towball download (max): 300kg GCM:5,910kg Overall length:5,255mm Width:1,850mm Height:1,840mm Wheelbase:3,150mm Turning circle:12.4m Fuel tank capacity:80 litres ADR fuel claim:7.0 litres/100km Test fuel use:11.0 litres/100km Touring range:677km* *Based on test fuel use, claimed fuel capacity and a 50km ‘safety’ margin.…

TOYOTA HILUX 4X4 DUAL-CAB SR+ Engine:2.8-litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel Max power:130kW (174hp) @ 3,400rpm Max torque:450Nm @ 1,600-2,400rpm Gearbox: Six-speed automatic 4X4 System: Dual-range part-time Crawl ratio:36.1:1 Construction: Separate-chassis Frontsuspension: Independent/ coil springs Rear suspension: Live axle/leaf springs Kerb weight:1,955kg GVM:3,000kg Payload:1,045kg Towing capacity:3,200kg Towball download (max): 320kg GCM:5,650kg Overall length:5,330mm Width:1,855mm Height:1,815mm Wheelbase:3,085mm Turning circle:11.8m Fuel tank capacity:80 litres ADR fuel claim:8.5 litres/100km Test fuel use:10.9 litres/100km Touring range:684km* *Based on test fuel use, claimed fuel capacity and a 50km ‘safety’ margin.…

VOLKSWAGEN AMAROK V6 SPORTLINE Engine:3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel Max power:165kW+ (221hp+) @ 2,500-4,500rpm* Max torque:550Nm @ 1,500-2,500rpm Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic 4X4 System: Single-range full-time Crawl ratio:17.4:1 Construction: Separate-chassis Frontsuspension: Independent/ coil springs Rear suspension: Live axle/leaf springs Kerb weight:2,078kg GVM:3,080kg Payload:1,002kg Towing capacity:3,500kg Towball download (max): 350kg GCM:6,000kg Overall length:5,254mm Width:1,954mm Height:1,878mm Wheelbase:3,095mm Turning circle:12.95m Fuel tank capacity:80 litres ADR fuel claim:7.8 litres/100km Test fuel use:11.2 litres/100km Touring range:664km** *180kW on over-boost (see text). **Based on test fuel use, claimed fuel capacity and a 50km ‘safety’ margin.…

Ranking these utes is made difficult by the fact that 4x4 dual cabs can be many different things to different people: family car, recreational 4x4, work or farm truck, load carrier or tow tug. The fact that they are so versatile is what makes them so popular. Most people probably buy them to fulfil more than one of the roles, if not most or all of them. How you prioritise these roles and balance driving enjoyment, role fulfilment and functionality, and practicality of ownership, will determine your winner. However, for us, the ranking looks like the following. Volkswagen Amarok V6 Class of its own in: performance, handling, refinement, cabin space Leader in power and torque Excellent off-road ability Top load-hauling and towing ability Tray fits full-size pallet between wheel arches…

SOUTH AUSTRALIA’S MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT, Infrastructure and Local Government Stephan Knoll says temporary throw screens to be installed on remaining bridges over the Southern Expressway will serve to prevent rock throwing until a permanent solution is rolled out. “The State Government takes this issue extremely seriously and the installation of temporary throw screens will help keep motorists safe until permanent screens are installed,” Knoll says. “The installation of these temporary throw screens will begin in three weeks and will take around two months to complete, weather permitting.” Knoll calls the rock throwing behaviour ‘disgusting’ and says the current Government is committed to stamping it out. “The Marshall Government is getting on with the job and delivering a broad range of measures to help prevent this disgusting behaviour and keep South…

Q: Hi Matt, I’ve been trying to get a perfect 100 driver’s score on my Dynafleet phone app but can’t get it above 98, what am I doing wrong? I drive an FH16 double road train tipper. Thanks. Warren, WA A: Hi Warren, after getting a bit more info from you about the job you do I’m afraid you’ve reached peak Dynafleet score mate! The fact that your job requires you to idle while being loaded so you can get weight readings on your air bag scales means that you won’t be able to score 100. The Dynafleet app will always mark you down for excessive idling, but in this case it has nothing to do with your abilities as a driver. You clearly know what you are doing! Maybe…

AS DEMAND for freight services increases in coming years, road transport operators – large and small – have the opportunity to strengthen and grow their businesses, but they must be prepared. A major contributor to the economy, the road freight transport industry employs nearly half a million Australians, has an estimated annual revenue of $96.65 billion and is predicted to grow by around 75 per cent between 2011 and 2031. This presents a great opportunity for new businesses to emerge and for our existing operators to begin to look at their sustainability, how they might work more efficiently and productively, and the potential for expansion. However, it takes a huge mix of skills from marketing, to finance, to legal and compliance, to run a business, whether it has one employee…

Retired interstate truck driver Viv Ireland from the Central Coast, NSW, reminisced about his early trucking years while enjoying Sylvia’s Gap Truck Run. The 80-year-old was a passenger in Dave Homburg’s 1974 Kenworth K125. “It was very interesting to realise the narrowness of the road,” Viv says. He spent most of his career north of Sydney but remembers occasionally travelling the Sylvia’s Gap section of the old Hume Highway back in the 1960s and 1970s. Viv joined the Army in 1956. “Part of my job was driving trucks of all various sizes.” One night he hitchhiked from Puckapunyal to Sydney and a truckie let Viv drive the truck for a while. “From that time on, I was hooked.” So Viv left the Army in 1962 and spent the next 50…

EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT road access is essential for transporting goods and passengers. It is the cornerstone of ongoing economic competitiveness. Regulators must find ways to improve not only access to the road network but the efficiency by which goods and passengers are transported. Vehicles access the road network according to prescribed limits which nominally reflect the road’s capability to handle the mass and dimension of prescribed vehicles. These limits in many cases do not reflect the network’s true capability or that of the vehicle. There are many requests for access denied simply on the basis that road owners don’t want certain types of vehicles on their roads. It has nothing to do with the road network or the vehicle's inherent performance characteristics but that the vehicle is called a B-double…

SKI SEASON’S here and shortly tonnes of resorts will be loaded with snow, so it’s time to dig out your snow pants and get ready for your ski trip. But while this trip can sound like a holiday away from the hustle and bustle of the daily grind, it’s certainly not one for your body. Think of the workouts you do (or don’t do) that work the same muscles and require the same effort as you would on the slopes? Do you even work out? If the answer is no or even sometimes, then don’t panic, you still have time to prepare. If you already exercise, you may need to tweak your workouts to make them more effective. The last thing you’ll want from your holiday is a ruptured cruciate…

“Many of our sites now are dirt with a bin.” I HAVE LISTED THREE THINGS that I want to see changed in the transport industry. These are the first items the Truck That Australia Drivers Club is aiming for. These requests will be sent to all who have authority or interest in these issues to seek their help and support to achieve change. We will follow up with a list of those who reply and/or offer support. OVER-THE-TOP FINES Firstly, the fines and penalties for Safe-T-Cam avoidance or following too closely at these sites, which was to also be deemed as avoidance, have no justification for road safety and the level of those fines. If a driver gets the photo saying they have crossed the fog-line or were too close,…

BT-50 GT 4X4 DUAL CAB Engine:3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo diesel Max power:147kW (197hp) @ 3,000rpm Max torque:470Nm @ 1,750-2,500rpm Gearbox: Six-speed automatic 4X4 System: Dual-range part-time Crawl ratio:42.3:1 Construction: Separate-chassis Frontsuspension: Independent/ coil springs Rear suspension: Live axle/leaf springs Kerb weight:2,118kg GVM:3,200kg Payload:1,082kg Towing capacity:3,500kg Towball download (max): 350kg GCM:6,000kg Overall length:5,365mm Width:1,850mm Height:1,821mm Wheelbase:3,220mm Turning circle:12.4m Fuel tank capacity:80 litres ADR fuel claim:9.2 litres/100km Test fuel use:12.2 litres/100km Touring range:605km* *Based on test fuel use, claimed fuel capacity and a 50km ‘safety’ margin.…

MERCEDES-BENZ X250D PROGRESSIVE 4X4 Engine:2.3-litre 4-cylinder bi-turbo diesel Max power:140kW (188hp) @ 3,750rpm Max torque:450Nm @ 1,500-2,500rpm Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic 4X4 System: Dual-range part-time Crawl ratio:44.6:1 Construction: Separate-chassis Frontsuspension: Independent/ coil springs Rear suspension: Live axle/coil springs Kerb weight:2,137kg GVM:3,250kg Payload:1,113kg Towing capacity:3,500kg Towball download (max): 350kg GCM:6,130kg Overall length:5,340mm Width:1,920mm Height:1,819mm Wheelbase:3,150mm Turning circle:13.4m Fuel tank capacity:73 litres ADR fuel claim:7.9 litres/100km Test fuel use:10.4 litres/100km Touring range:621km* *Based on test fuel use, claimed fuel capacity and a 50km ‘safety’ margin.…

TWO GREY GHOST KENWORTHS were among about 80 trucks taking part in the 2018 Sylvia’s Gap Truck Run on Sunday, June 10. This year, the Australian Road Transport Heritage Centre (ARTHC) chose ‘Express Freight of Yesteryear’ as the theme of its annual fundraising weekend at Gundagai, New South Wales, and encouraged former express freight drivers to attend. Among those who answered the call were Viv Ireland, 80, Colin Southwell, 74, and Ted Scarfe, 78, from the Port Macquarie region on the NSW Central Coast. They were guest speakers at the ARTHC’s Saturday night dinner, which attracted almost 200 people. Viv, Colin and Ted all took part in the Sylvia’s Gap Road Run on Sunday morning. The event traces a notorious section of the old Hume Highway near Tumblong. Sylvia’s Gap…

Make/model:2018 International ProStar 6x4 Engine:Cummins X15 Power:600hp (447kW) Torque:2050ft-lb (2,780Nm) Transmission:Eaton UltraShift-Plus 18-speed automated Rear Axle:Meritor RT46-160GP Rear Suspension: Hendrickson Primaax-EX air suspension Front Axle:Meritor MFS wide-track Front Suspension:Parabolic leaf Brakes: Drums GVM:24,500kg GCM:90,000kg Tare:8,540kg Wheel Base:4.6 to 4.8 metres BBC:3,585mm Tyre Size:Steer 295/80R22.5; Drive11R22.5 Wheel Type:10-stud alloy disc Emission Control Type:SCR Emission Control Standard: Euro 5…

THE BLUES IS ALIVE AND WELL Buddy Guy Sony/RCA www.buddyguy.com Buddy Guy, like many veteran bluesmen, sounds better than ever as the years roll by. Approaching his 82nd birthday, Guy’s new album The Blues Is Alive And Well has the singer-guitarist in fine form. Songwriter and producer Tom Hambridge, a regular Guy collaborator, assisted with track selection, including the slow, forceful ‘Nine Below Zero’, a Sonny Boy Williamson tale of lost love and money. New song ‘Cognac’ is a triple treat of guitar solos, with evergreen rock guitarists Jeff Beck and Keith Richards trading licks with Guy. The mood is more laid back when Mick Jagger adds harmonica to ‘You Did The Crime’, and big-voiced English singer-songwriter James Bay channels his inner blues when he adds vocals to ‘Blue No…

CASINO TRUCK SHOW August 4, 2018. Casino, NSW Sponsored by North Coast Petroleum. Truck Parade will roll through Johnston and Centre Sts from 10am. Live music, family entertainment, face painters, food stalls, markets, amusement rides. Plus plenty of blinged up trucks from all across Australia will be parked in the CBD. For further info email info@casinotruckshow.com.au or see the website at www.casinotruckshow.com.au and Facebook page, or phone 02 6662 8181 or show president Stuart George on 0428 621 477. DUBBO VINTAGE TRUCK, TRACTOR & QUILT SHOW August 11, 2018. Dubbo Showground, NSW Includes vintage trucks and trailers, vintage tractors, vintage and classic cars, vintage motor bikes, stationary engines, steam traction engines, grand parade, quilt display, competitions, entertainment, memorabilia plus food and refreshments. Run by the Golden Oldies Truck Club Inc.…

In total, 22 drivers battled it out to represent Australia in the global final. Six of these spots were won by drivers representing their states. These six finalists will battle it out in the Australian Volvo Truck Drivers’ Fuel Challenge at Mt Cotton in south-east Queensland on July 16 and 17. The winner will then compete against contestants from around the globe for a place in the final. THE SIX FINALISTS ARE: • Craig Mengel from Exodas, representing Queensland • Brad Kennedy from Western Freight Management, representing New South Wales • John Bowden from De Bruyn Transport, representing Tasmania • Eric Christie from Visy Logistics, representing Victoria • Peter Karger from Bordertown Haulage, representing South Australia • Kris Venema from K Venema P/L, representing Western Australia…

HOLDEN COLORADO LTZ DUAL-CAB 4X4 Engine:2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel Max power:147kW (197hp) @ 3,600rpm Max torque:500Nm @ 2,000rpm Gearbox: Six-speed automatic 4X4 System: Dual-range part-time Crawl ratio:36.4:1 Construction: Separate-chassis Frontsuspension: Independent/ coil springs Rear suspension: Live axle/leaf springs Kerb weight:2,121kg GVM:3,150kg Payload:1,029kg Towing capacity:3,500kg Towball download (max): 350kg GCM:6,000kg Overall length:5,361mm Width:1,872mm Height:5,361mm Wheelbase:3,096mm Turning circle:12.7m Fuel tank capacity:76 litres ADR fuel claim:8.7 litres/100km Test fuel use:9.9 litres/100km Touring range:718km* *Based on test fuel use, claimed fuel capacity and a 50km ‘safety’ margin.…

ISUZU D-MAX LS-T DUAL-CAB 4X4 Engine:3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel Max power:130kW (174hp) @ 3,600rpm Max torque:430Nm @ 2,000rpm Gearbox: Six-speed automatic 4X4 System: Dual-range part-time Crawl ratio:33.3:1 Construction: Separate-chassis Frontsuspension: Independent/ coil springs Rear suspension: Live axle/leaf springs Kerb weight:2,026kg GVM:3,050kg Payload:1,024kg Towing capacity:3,500kg Towball download (max): 350kg GCM:5,950kg Overall length:5,295mm Width:1,860mm Height:1,855mm Wheelbase:3,095mm Turning circle:12.6m Fuel tank capacity:76 litres ADR fuel claim:7.9 litres/100km Test fuel use:9.3 litres/100km Touring range:767km* *Based on test fuel use, claimed fuel capacity and a 50km ‘safety’ margin.…