Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 314 i Owner Driver

PROFESSIONAL TRUCK driver and road safety advocate Rod Hannifey has called for a national strategy to be implemented to reverse the dwindling number of truck rest areas and safe changeover sites. Hannifey, who has decades of truck driving experience under his belt, says for every new site opened, 10 are shut down. He says the only study done on the topic in the last few years showed that not one of Australia’s major highways met the minimum number of truck rest areas necessary. More to the point, Hannifey says the trucking industry is a thousand rest areas short. “The biggest omission must be the lack of a designated changeover facility on the Pacific Highway,” he says. “We waited 30-plus years for one on the Hume and drivers died waiting and…

TICKETS TO AUSTRALIA’S favourite road transport business event, the Brisbane Truck Show, are a highly sought-after commodity. They are treated like gold, but the fact is they’re actually incredibly cheap. Online tickets are cheaper still; concessions cheaper again and under 18s are free (provided they’re accompanied by an adult). This will be the fifth Brisbane Truck Show to be held the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, but organisers are still finding ways to expand it. With over 300 exhibitors showcasing all the latest trucks, trailers, equipment, components and technology there really is plenty of bang for your buck. There’s a whole range of new trucks set for unveiling on opening day, and all the big names are there this year. There’s even some new guys on the block for the…

IT’S BEEN ALMOST EIGHT YEARS since Australian country music artist Travis Sinclair released his third album, Diesel Boy, and he’s often asked why he hasn’t quit trucking to spend more time on stage and in the recording studio. “People say, ‘Get out of the trucks and go singing. It’d be a lot easier,’” Travis says. But he’s spent enough time on stage to know it’s just as hard as being behind the wheel: “When you’re on tour, some nights you might only get four hours’ sleep.” Last year Travis took six weeks’ leave from truck driving to tour with Carter & Carter, Felicity Urquhart, Anthony Taylor and Jetty Road. The Taste of Tamworth Tour included venues in Victoria and Southern New South Wales. “The bit we all live for, I…

THE UPCOMING Penrith Working Truck Show, already a highly anticipated event, has been made more appealing due to the outcome of the Country Music Awards of Australia, held in Tamworth on January 26. Country-rock band The Wolfe Brothers walked away with four Golden Guitars on the night on the back of their latest album Country Heart. The hard-working trio had already signed up to be the headline entertainment at the 2019 Penrith Working Truck Show, to be held on March 31 in the grounds of Penrith’s Museum of Fire. However, with their big bounty of gold, The Wolfe Brothers can now boast star status and are almost certain to attract a larger audience than the predicted 20,000 for the big western Sydney truck show. Also on the Penrith bill will…

GIVEN the unprecedented investment, planning and testing, plus the fact lunar eclipses tend to come around considerably more often than entirely new Kenworth cabs, was there ever any doubt the T610 would be a stunning success from the get-go? Probably not! Indeed, with expanded sleeper options and the constant evolution of engineering for diverse demands since its launch two years ago, Kenworth’s latest and arguably greatest conventional now vies with the seemingly unassailable K200 cab-over as the most popular model rolling out of the Bayswater (Vic) bunker. But the 610, of course, was never destined to be the only model to sport the new 2.1-metre wide cab. Again given the size of the investment – said to be a hefty $20 million, easily making it the biggest new model outlay…

NARVA HAS RELEASED it new Model 49 large rear combination lamp for commercial trucks and trailers. The new lamp fits the same footprint as its predecessor Model 48, commonly referred to as the ‘jumbo’, a lamp that Narva says has dominated the transport industry in Australasia for more than two decades. According to Narva, extensive development and testing preceded the launch of the new lamp, which is available in various function and colour configurations. The Model 49 meets the ADR performance regulation for tail lamps and features a continuous ‘neon’-like LED light-pipe framing the lamp’s border, creating a modern signature appearance for the truck or trailer similar to many prestigious cars. Narva says the LED light pipe stays illuminated when the other functions are off and the high quality optics…

THE LIVESTOCK industry and local communities are facing an uncertain and challenging future, according to John Rogers, Queensland operations manager of Road Trains of Australia (RTA), about the impact of the floods in far north Queensland. Rogers was speaking to Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) project officer, Sue Davies, about the impact of the floods in far north Queensland. John, aka JR, calls Longreach home. RTA’s transport business operates throughout Queensland, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory. In response to the floods in north Queensland, JR has been able to move his trucks into work in the dry areas of the Northern Territory. “When the rain started we had two loads of cattle at Cloncurry that were held up there, waiting 10 days for the roads to re-open,”…

AS ISUZU AUSTRALIA CEO PHIL TAYLOR bade farewell to his employer of 28 years at the end of February and entered the world of retirement, he bowed out on a winning note. Isuzu Australia had clocked up 30 consecutive years as the nation’s top truck seller. Isuzu Australia accounted for over 24 per cent of total trucks sold in 2018, helped by its dominance in the medium duty (40.3 per cent) and light duty (37 per cent) markets. The Japanese manufacturer was also no slouch in the heavy duty market, running third behind Kenworth and Volvo with 13 per cent of sales. Understandably, Taylor was pleased with the Isuzu’s strong showing in 2018 with sales of 10,027 trucks, beating the brand’s previous high water mark of 9,223 units in 2008.…

THERE’S NO OTHER PLACE in Australia where you can check out the latest and greatest in earthmoving equipment in the one place, at the same time. In its fourth year, the National Diesel Dirt & Turf Expo is the only place to be if you want to experience all the buzz and excitement of big earthmoving machinery, attachments, GPS and digital management systems, accessories, finance and much more. If you are a project manager or contractor in site preparation, excavation, landscapes, infrastructure and public spaces, there is the latest technology for excavators, loaders, mowers, grounds maintenance equipment, trailers, trucks and associated services. Last year more than 76,000 people attended this great Expo and in 2019, even bigger numbers are expected. It’s on Friday, May 3 to Sunday, May 5 at…

STEVE SHAW and his son James were picking up a load of bullocks from a Comdain-owned property at Ancona near Mansfield in their International Eagle 9900i when Owner//Driver caught up with them. Operating as Shaw’s Transport, their small fleet is based in Mansfield, where Steve has 800 acres and 200 head of cattle, as well as his original property in Gobur. Most of Steve’ business comes from stock agents in Mansfield but the Shaws also have a number of private clients such as Comdain. Although primarily hauling livestock, James says during the low times they will cart anything. James has been with the business for a couple of years now, firstly obtaining a medium rigid licence at age 19, and then his heavy rigid 10 months later. His semi licence…

IT’S EASY ENOUGH to see why, in 2007, the ever-ambitious Volvo Group bought the Japanese company then known as Nissan Diesel. With the Swedish corporation’s unreserved determination to dominate global truck charts, the Japanese truck maker was the Swedes’ express pass to Japan and the vast markets of Asia. Putting the group stamp on the brand, the name was formally changed in 2010 to simply UD, an acronym from Nissan Diesel’s ‘Uniflow-scavenging Diesel’ days of the mid’50s. But ‘scavenging diesel’ doesn’t quite mirror the modern message, so marketing maestros now insist it stands for ‘Ultimate Dependability’. Whatever! Anyway, UD was not then and is by no means now the biggest Japanese brand in the business. Not by a long shot. And true enough, in the lead-up to 2007 it may…

FREIGHTLINER AUSTRALIA has introduced a new general access Coronado 114 short wheelbase tipper. According to Freightliner, demand from the local market led it to working with a local body builder to develop a tipper and dog combination that falls within a crucial design envelope of 19 metres. This means the Coronado tipper can run as a general access vehicle at 50.5 tonnes and enables PBS level 2 route access running at 57.5 tonnes. Freightliner has launched the new model after it performed well in a local evaluation program. Freightliner Australia Director, Stephen Downes, says the Coronado 114 short wheelbase tipper will lift productivity. “The Coronado 114 short wheelbase truck is a great example of Freightliner Australia working to develop a truck that is just right for the needs of our…

EVERYBODY KNOWS the old saying, ‘Don’t put all your eggs in one basket’. It also appears to be very sound advice. However, before this adage became ingrained in our society, a very rich man by the name of Andrew Carnegie was quoted as saying, “Concentrate your energies, your thoughts and your capital. The wise man puts all his eggs in one basket and watches the basket.” What he was saying also makes perfect sense – specialise in one area and focus on doing it well. Lenssec Transport in Tamworth has been doing that for over 30 years, and the funny part is their success has relied almost entirely on eggs. The operation literally has put all its eggs in one basket. Sure, Lenssec Transport has had its share of ups…

THREE OF AUSTRALIA’S most promising young truck operators came together in Griffith for the annual Livestock, Bulk & Rural Carriers Association (LBRCA) conference, where only one would be crowned Young Driver of the Year. Despite the fact only one would take out the title of LBRCA Young Driver of the Year , scoring the winner a $5,000 trip to the United States, the camaraderie between the finalists was inspiring in the lead-up to the announcement as the men shook hands and wished each other luck. Owner of one of Australian transport’s most impressive mullets and proud operator of a Kenworth T909, 23-year-old Steven Richardson took out the title just two years into his professional driving career. In his acceptance speech, Richardson said he was honoured to get the recognition so…

SITTING DOWN with Michael and Megan Mahon from MJ Mahon Transport in Brisbane and looking at their setup I automatically assumed that they both had grown up in transport families. The success of MJ Mahon Transport and the approach the company takes to maximising its efficiency and productivity gives the impression of generations of hard earnt experience. For the second time this year I was very wrong (the other time involved Valentine’s Day’s ‘No Gift policy’, boy did I get that seriously wrong). Back on point, neither Michael nor his wife Megan have trucking in their blood. However, what they do have is a head for business and a tenacity that has seen them succeed in a very competitive marketplace. Now, 21 years after Michael hit the road, MJ Mahon…

DARYL BEATTIE is a bit of a legend in the 500cc MotoGP arena. Since retiring from the track, he’s maintained his zest for life with Daryl Beattie Adventures, which gives trail motorbike riders the opportunity to explore Australia’s outback in a group situation. Beattie also runs concurrent passenger tours with a couple of Iveco Daily 4x4s. Shortly before his current escapade, Iveco was keen to hand me the opportunity to take one of Beattie’s well-specced Daily 4x4s for a weekend spin. This was not your regular Sunday drive vehicle however. I picked up the twin-cab Daily 4x4 from Iveco Trucks Brisbane at Rocklea on a Friday afternoon, politely barging my way through the peak hour traffic. This ‘monster’ has the height of a truck, easily dwarfing the regular 4WD vehicles,…

Volvo Group Australia (VGA) has announced its 2018 Dealers of the Year, with VCV Sydney crowned Metropolitan Dealer of the Year and CMV Traralgon taking out the Regional Dealer of the Year award. The Dealer of the Year Awards recognises the achievements of Volvo Group’s dealer network for the Volvo, Mack and UD brands. The winners were announced during the annual Retail Handshake Conference on the Gold Coast recently. The awards are based on factors including customer satisfaction and market share. VGA president and CEO Martin Merrick congratulated VCV Sydney and CMV Traralgon for delivering incredible results during 2018. “The competition was intense and shows the strength of Volvo’s comprehensive dealer network across Australia,” Merrick says. VCV Sydney dealer principal Greg Sargeant accepted the metropolitan award on behalf of the…

TO SAFEGUARD AGAINST excessive unplanned downtime, numerous operators have moved over to using Alcoa Ultra ONE forged aluminium wheels. Not only incredibly strong, light and built to withstand Australia’s harsh environment, they tick all the boxes when it comes to cost efficient business performance. ‘Trucks take a beating in the mining industry – they require wheels that can handle the load. With increasing production demands to improve operational efficiency in areas such as fuel consumption, payloads, OH&S and maintenance costs, it becomes essential to fit transport vehicles with heavy duty wheels. This is especially true when it comes to the mining industry. To meet the demands of reducing running costs without compromising on functionality and efficiency, Arconic Wheels, regional distributor for Alcoa Wheels, designed and manufactured the Ultra ONE wheel…

A PARTNERSHIP between Iveco and construction material company Boral has led to the creation of the Forward Moving Aggregate Spreader (FMAS), a new road surfacing truck concept. Based on the Stralis AD 8x4, the front may resemble a Transformers character but it is specifically designed to “revolutionise the method of spray seal road construction in Australia” by making the task safer for workers, increasing product quality and helping to reduce infrastructure costs to road agencies, Boral says. Previously, the process involved road crews working with reversing trucks that applied the aggregate through an elevated tipper body, increasing the safety risks to workers. For the purpose of improving safety and maximising visibility, the FMAS disperses aggregate from the front of the truck via a conveyor belt and spreader box. It is…