Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 339 i Owner Driver

THE AUSTRALIAN TRUCKING ASSOCIATION (ATA) has taken aim at local truck dimension restrictions, saying the current rules prohibit the latest vehicle technology to enter Australian shores and must be overhauled. The call comes as the ATA releases a submission on heavy vehicle emission standards, Heavy Vehicle Emission Standards for Cleaner Air – Euro VI draft regulation impact statement, to the Department Of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications (DITRDC). The submission recommends increased width and mass for diesel trucks that meet the Euro 6 emission standard or equivalent, as well as electric and hydrogen trucks. “Australian trucks have a width of 2.5 metres, with extra allowances for equipment such as tautliner curtain buckles, lights and removable load restraint equipment,” ATA CEO Andrew McKellar says. “In contrast, trucks in Europe are…

A $2.3 million upgrade to heavy vehicle inspection station bays in the New South Wales central west will drive improved heavy vehicle safety along one of the state’s busiest freight corridors, the NSW government says. Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said work to upgrade heavy vehicle inspection bays on both sides of the Newell Highway near Back Yamma Road at Daroobalgie between Parkes and Forbes commenced in March. “The NSW government is already investing more than $720 million as part of the Newell Highway Upgrade Program to improve productivity right along the Newell, particularly for trucks – and it’s critical we also invest in safety as part of our vision for safer and stronger regions,” Toole says. “This upgrade to the heavy vehicle inspection bays at Daroobalgie…

“The engine delivers power to the wheels via a five-speed Spicer crash gearbox.” THE ONSET OF COVID-19 has no doubt driven a surge in the already booming historical truck movement over the past couple of years. The preference for staying at home and limiting social interactions on any sort of scale has undoubtedly led to much more ‘shed time’ for those mid-projects and resulted in some others previously relegated to the back burner for some time slowly but surely rolling their spider web-covered cabs out from their dusty caverns of ‘blokedom’. Even so, with so many projects on the go, I really don’t know where Charlie Borg, current custodian of this 1958 Kenworth, finds the time. Among Charlie’s other toys and projects are a White Road Commander named ‘Lizzy’, a…

STEPPING INTO the cab of a heavy-duty truck for the first time can be a daunting experience for anyone, but for people who have a genuine fear of driving it can seem like an impossible barrier to break through. Add to that if you are a woman trying to break into a male-dominated industry and the odds are stacked against you. Bobbi Lockyer is a Port Hedland-based artist, photographer and mother of four whose designs have appeared on the catwalk at New York Fashion Week, but until International Women’s Day (IWD) she had never been behind the wheel of a truck. Living in a situation of domestic violence for more than a decade, Lockyer had a very real fear of driving and has only had her driver’s licence for the…

AUSTRALIAN TRAILER MANUFACTURER and parts supplier to the road transport industry, MaxiTrans, says it is wholeheartedly supporting the 2021 Brisbane Truck Show to be held in May. MaxiTrans says it will use the show to flag the 75th anniversary of Freighter trailers, which is a major engineering milestone in Australia’s road transport history. Along with the latest in Freighter trailers, MaxiTrans will display the wide range of the company’s freight solutions across a full gambit of Australia’s transport requirements at the Brisbane Truck Show, which includes Maxi-Cube, Lusty EMS, Hamelex White, Trout River and AZMEB all being showcased at this year’s event. In addition, MaxiTrans says its national retail parts brand, MaxiParts, will showcase the wide range of truck and trailer parts. The manufacturer says this further demonstrates the aftermarket…

What you read here is an indulgence and I make no apology for it. It is the story of a close friend, who is totally blind, and his only son, and their abiding passion for trucks and family heritage. Nonetheless, it is a difficult story to tell because it mixes the inherently opposing loyalties of a strong personal relationship with the responsibility to report the challenges and pressures of an enterprising family business. But it is, above all else, a story of human spirit and the strength of family. My hope, and only hope, is to do it justice. ON MY OFFICE wall hangs a large framed photo of two little boys under broad-brimmed hats, their backs to the camera, sitting on a big log. One almost six years old,…

AMID A SHOWROOM backdrop of Volvo Group Australia’s (VGA) latest offerings, President and CEO Martin Merrick outlined VGA’s direction in the local market during the group’s 2021 press conference at it’s Wacol, Queensland headquarters, stating that its global aim is to have 35 per cent of Volvo trucks utilising electric drivetrains by 2030. While Merrick wouldn’t provide an estimate on the percentage of local electric trucks the company hoped to be shifting by the 2030 target, he set out a road map for the brand, which features electric and alternative fuel drivetrains. Another couple of future dates to keep in mind for Volvo are 2040, when the company says it will no longer be using fossil fuels, stating that liquid natural gas (LNG) and biodiesel will be the future drink…

SCANIA AUSTRALIA has announced its latest branch development, a second company-owned outlet in New South Wales, which will be operating from Wonderland Drive, Eastern Creek from later this year. “We’re adding a second company-owned sales and service location in Sydney to cope with the increasing demand for our products and services in NSW over the past five-to-eight years, and also to be able to accommodate the future growth that is pivotal to our continuing success in Australia,” says Sean Corby, Scania regional executive manager for NSW and Victoria. “The growing appeal of our New Truck Generation, the significant expansion of our contracted repair and maintenance agreements and ever-increasing customer loyalty requires us to develop additional capacity to service a much larger number of Scania vehicles than ever before. “Already at…

THE NATIONAL Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has welcomed the appointment of well-known trucking safety advocate Rod Hannifey as president of the National Road Freighters Association (NRFA). NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said Hannifey’s appointment would ensure smaller operators continued to have a strong voice when it comes to heavy vehicle safety reform. “Rod has shown he’s willing to tackle just about any issue that leads to a safer outcome for heavy vehicle drivers and it’s often a practical solution that’s born out of decades of experience,” Petroccitto says. “Rod is a well-respected voice across the industry and I look forward to continuing to work with him and the new board.” Petroccitto also thanked outgoing president Gordon Mackinlay. “Gordon has been a strong voice for drivers and owner-operators and I wish him…

THE NATIONAL HEAVY VEHICLE REGULATOR (NHVR) is to probe how fatigue technology can be recognised in regulatory frameworks, CEO Sal Petroccitto says, in an update to the Victorian Transport Association (VTA) conference. Petroccitto emphasises fatigue is a key area of focus for the regulator and technology will be one of the aspects to help it in this space. “There is widespread agreement across the industry that counting time is not an effective measure of managing fatigue, and fatigue is unique to each individual,” he says. “What makes you tired is something different to what might make me tired. “We know that to properly manage fatigue risk we need to collectively manage individual driver behaviour fatigue as well. “One of the key tools in helping to manage the individual driver fatigue…

A NATIONAL HEAVY VEHICLE REGULATOR (NHVR) investigation into a Sunshine Coast operator has produced evidence of engine tampering. The unnamed company is now subject to an improvement notice. A joint investigation between NHVR and Queensland Police Service officers confirmed the emissions control system on one of the company’s trucks had been switched off, while the control system on a second vehicle had been ‘remapped’ to allow increased emissions, the regulator explains. The parties entered the unnamed company’s premises earlier this year. NHVR executive director statutory compliance Ray Hassall says tampering with an engine control unit (ECU) is a serious breach of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL). “Engine remapping is a serious offence and a direct threat to public health, safety and the environment,” Hassall says. “The Improvement Notice compels…

The purchasing of a new truck can be a torturous ordeal. There can be 101 different reasons to choose a particular truck and 102 reasons to choose a different truck. It can come down to so many little things. However, sometimes you just buy a truck because, well, quite frankly, you just want it. I completely get that. I’m exactly the same when I hit the KFC drivethrough. I don’t really need it, it’s not doing anything for me, there are other smarter options but god damn if the Tower Burger isn’t exactly what I want. So, when Garry Leeson from Leeson’s Logging & Cartage piped up and informed his team “I want a Peterbilt”, I could fully empathise. In Garry’s case though, the Pete has been a lot better…

South Bank is Brisbane’s premier dining, lifestyle and cultural destination. The tourist brochures all rave about the world-class eateries, 17 acres of lush parklands and the stunning river and city views. Check, absolutely no arguments there. And they talk about the “epic line-up of eclectic events all year round”. Eclectic, fair enough. It is hard to disagree that a truck show set amongst the restaurants, cafes, bars and bougainvillea is eclectic. It is extra special when they close the streets for you to hold a festival in your honour. That is what the South Bank Truck Festival is. The locals are rolling out the red carpet in preparation for your arrival. And it is up to all of us to show the Brisbane community how much we appreciate their hospitality.…

ISUZU, HINO AND TOYOTA are to collaborate on commercial vehicles battery and fuel cell developments focused on the latter’s computer-aided software engineering (CASE) technologies, the Japanese trio reveal. Focused on light trucks, the trio plans to jointly work on the development of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), autonomous driving technologies, and electronic platforms. “While working together on BEVs and FCEVs to reduce vehicle costs, the three companies plan to advance infrastructure-coordinated societal implementation, such as by introducing FCEV trucks to hydrogen-based society demonstrations in Japan’s Fukushima Prefecture, and accelerate their dissemination initiatives,” they say. “Also, Isuzu, Hino, and Toyota plan to link their connected technology platforms to build a platform for commercial vehicles that can help solve customers’ problems. “Through this platform, they intend to…

IN A TIMELY MOVE before the 2021 Brisbane Truck Show, Daimler Truck and Bus has announced the Australian launch of the all-electric Fuso eCanter. The eCanter, which is the available now, is reportedly the first original equipment manufacturer (OEM) allelectric truck available in Australia and will be supported by select Fuso eMobility dealers. In 2017, the eCanter became the world’s first small series electric production truck. Fuso says it has been the subject of a rigorous testing regime around the world, including a sixmonth Australian test running with a maximum load, while global customers have covered more than three million kilometres of real world driving. Fuso Truck and Bus Australia director, Alex Müller, says he is excited to be able to offer the eCanter to Australian customers. “The eCanter is…

THE NEW SOUTH WALES GOVERNMENT reports that it is cracking down on rivalries between rogue tow truck companies that has seen anti-social behaviour spill onto the streets of western Sydney. Minister for Better Regulation Kevin Anderson said the turf war has drawn the attention of NSW Fair Trading and NSW Police, which recently issued notices to 35 trucks from the Blacktown, Mt Druitt and Penrith regions to present for inspection following an increase in anti-social incidents on Sydney streets. Several trucks were issued with breaches for offences under the Tow Truck Industry Act, while NSW Police identified issues relating to work diaries and vehicle defects, and NSW Transport issued 23 minor and two major defects for mechanical issues. “We have strong laws to regulate this industry and we won’t hesitate…

WORK TO PROVIDE more overtaking opportunities on the Newell Highway has taken another leap forward with two lanes recently completed at Redbank and Coobang. Federal transport minister Michael McCormack says the investment in new lanes is to improve the safety and the efficiency of this key freight and tourism corridor. “Road users on the Newell Highway are already experiencing improved safety and more efficient travel times with 17 new lanes now completed, including the northbound overtaking lane near Parkes and the southbound overtaking lane at Redbank, near Coonabarabran,” McCormack says. “We look forward to the remaining overtaking lanes being delivered, providing even greater freight productivity and safer and more enjoyable journeys on the Newell Highway.” NSW minister for regional transport and roads Paul Toole says the rollout of the overtaking…

WELCOME TO APRIL and, finally, the announcement of the 2020 Valvoline Owner//Driver Truck of the Year award. With the high calibre of Valvoline Truck of the Month winners it was a pretty tight race to the flag but, in the end, much like The Highlander, there can be only one. Owner//Driver magazine, along with Valvoline, are proud as punch to award the trophy to the entire Inverno family and their stunning Kenworth 900 Legend. With 2020 being such a strange, screwed-the-pooch kind of year, it seems almost poetic that it has taken us so long to be able to get down to surprise the Inverno family and hand over the Valvoline Owner//Driver Truck of the Year trophy. In truth, I had snuck down earlier but another quick-fire Victoria lockdown had…

OWNER//DRIVER: LET’S REWIND nearly 10 years. You had your own TV show, a fleet of flash trucks in your business Heavy Haulage Australia (HHA), and from the outside it looked like it was good to be Jon Kelly. What happened? Jon Kelly: At the end of the day a lot of people forget that I did sell the business (HHA). Unfortunately when McAleese bought in they didn’t have enough firepower to get through the downturn in the economy and it took out a lot of players in heavy haulage. We needed additional equipment and they had surplus capacity to assist us so it was good fit in theory but I don’t think anyone really saw the downturn in the market coming in 2014-15. We were the biggest privately owned heavy…

NATIONAL TRANSPORT INSURANCE (NTI) has announced tickets are now on sale for the electric blue 1946 Jailbar truck, known as ‘Jolene’, with one lucky punter able claim the truck when the winner is drawn live on the last day of this year’s Brisbane Truck Show, Sunday, May 16. The truck dubbed ‘Jolene’ took 1,500 hours to restore and was more difficult than the previous three vehicles because of the restrictions imposed under COVID-19, says NTI’s Don Geer. “I’m very proud of the result, which is a lovely mix of old and new technology, allowing for ‘Jolene’ to be driven every day,” Geer says. This is the third such model to be restored by the company and offered as a raffle prize to raise funds for motor neurone disease (MND) research.…

Troy Conley-Magnusson is very strong. Very, very strong. A quick search of his name online and you will see video and images of Troy pulling aeroplanes, semi-trailers and even a fleet of 16 cars. There is something incredibly likeable about the guy, and you don’t have to scratch the surface far to see what it is. It is what motivates him. Over the past couple of years Troy has had a lot of attention due to his many amazing exploits. He has had more than a fair go at a number of phenomenal records. A Guinness World Record is inevitably going to feature his name very soon, and it could very well be as a result of his next challenge, during the South Bank Truck Festival. But the question is…

MELBOURNE-BASED COMPANY SEA Electric has announced the commencement of volume commercial production of electric trucks. SEA states that the trucks will cost under $14 per day to charge from the grid, and even less if depot solar is used. SEA Electric expects to see company assembled and badged trucks based on Hino 500 Series Wide Cab GH, and Hino 300 Series 816 models. The company is placing its SEA-Drive battery electric power system into Semi-Knocked Down (SKD) chassis kits with a view to seeing retailed them through SEA Electric dealers. It notes that this is a progression from retrofitting vehicles designed for diesel engines, which is where the local link with Hino began. The move comes as traditional truck makers, notably Daimler and Volvo, are eyeing the Australian commercial electric-vehicle…

INDUSTRY AND POLITICIANS have lined up to highlight the significance of Paccar Australia’s 50 years of manufacturing in Australia. The half-century anniversary was celebrated in March when Paccar was lauded for supporting local jobs, industry productivity, and the Australian economy with truck production at its Bayswater plant in Melbourne. “Paccar built the Bayswater facility in 1971 to design, engineer and manufacture Kenworth trucks – a unique and high-quality product that has become an icon of Australian trucking,” Paccar Australia managing director Andrew Hadjikakou says. As part of the celebrations, federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg, assistant treasurer Michael Sukkar, assistant minister for freight transport Scott Buchholz, assistant minister to the deputy prime minister Kevin Hogan, Australian Trucking Association (ATA) chair David Smith and ATA CEO Andrew McKellar toured the facility. “During the…