ISSUE No.14 Summer 2011
WAY OUT WEST Hino cleans up the Pilbara
LEADING THE HERD Micro brewery chooses Hybrid
HINO’S NEW AUTOMATIC HYBRID
HELPS YOU CLEAN UP IN MORE WAYS
THAN ONE. As you’d expect, Hino’s outstanding Hybrid 714 produces significantly reduced emissions. Better still, thanks to its combination of diesel engine and electric motor this truck can deliver brilliant fuel economy, especially in stop-start driving. And when it comes to driver comfort, Hino now has a fully automatic model which makes it the only truck in Australia with such a feature. Like all Hino trucks, the new Hybrid 714 is as tough as nails and works as hard as anything on the road - it’s just a lot smarter than anything else on the road. For the full story on how the Hino Hybrid can help you visit hino.com.au
hino.com.au
A TOYOTA GROUP COMPANY
Hello, and welcome to 2011 – and what is surely going to be a landmark year for Hino. Before I go into what will make this year such a significant one for Hino, I would like to take a moment to reflect on 2010. Last year the transport industry began to recover from the tough times of the recent past. Confidence was up and the market grew versus the year before. Here at Hino, we welcomed another four dealer locations to our network to expand our market representation. We also launched a number of new models – the first automatic dump truck in the country, the market leading Hybrid automatic and the highly regarded 700 Series AMT (automated manual transmission). The 700 Series AMT continues to receive very positive reviews from industry journalists and we believe this model will be integral to growing our market share in the heavy-duty segment. But this year our attention turns to a raft of updates across the range, the first of which sees all our 500 Series medium-duty and 700 Series heavy-duty trucks comply with Australian Design Rule (ADR) 80/03 – a strict new emissions standard. To many of you, this is best known as Euro 5: to us, it means another significant step for Hino in its quest for environmentally sustainable transport. By the numbers, it means more than 60 Hino models and variants in the medium and heavy-duty segments will be better for the environment. A significant shift by anyone’s standards. These new models join our industry-leading 300 Series light-duty range, which was compliant with the new emissions standard last year, months ahead of our competition.
The Australian automotive regulators adopted the tough stance of ADR 80/03 in order to reduce the emissions of trucks and other heavy vehicles. Hino supports the push and sees it as another opportunity to showcase our world-leading engine technology. Under the regulation, all 500 Series now feature Hino’s Diesel Particulate Active Reduction System (DPR) in combination with Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR). The DPR substantially reduces particulates (black soot), while the EGR significantly lessens NOx emissions. Even with these cleaner and more efficient engine technologies Hino trucks will remain as powerful, durable and reliable as they have always been. In fact, most Hino 500 Series will have increased power and torque under ADR 80/03. The new models will not just reduce emissions – they will come with a range of upgraded internal and external features. This year also promises a host of other fresh products, but more to come on that later in the year. The year ahead will be a busy one for everyone at Hino, but our challenges will be made more enjoyable by the exciting new products we have on offer. Speaking of challenges. Hino has just finished competing in the gruelling Dakar off-road rally in South America with a pair of 500 Series. A full report on Hino’s 20th Dakar participation will feature in the autumn edition of Torque. I wish you all the best for 2011. Steve Lotter President Hino Motor Sales Australia
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PARALYMPIAN INSPIRES INDUSTRY LEADERS The 2010 Technical and Maintenance Conference held at Phillip Island in Victoria drew a large gathering of professionals employed in the trucking industry – and Hino Australia once again had a strong presence. Monday Luncheon sponsor Hino organised as guest speaker Paralympian Kahi Puru, who shared some inspiring thoughts about overcoming adversity. The 46-year-old not only survived being given up for dead 17 years ago after an horrific forklift accident at work – he came back to compete at the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games in powerlifting before turning his attention to hand-cycling. Having contested numerous New York marathons, the father-of-four
is now training hard for the 2012 Paralympics in London with the help of sponsorship from WorkCover. The WorkCover connection means he can spread the word about workplace safety and inspire people all over Australia. Hino national government sales manager Tom Ayrton also spoke at the conference, focusing on the new 700 Series with AMT (automated manual transmission) which was joined on display by a Hino Hybrid Automatic and a 716 Crew Cab. Hino was further represented at the conference by corporate business manager Mike Smith, regional service manager Wayne Millsteed and product engineering and support manager Barry Noble. The Australian Trucking Association organised the November 14-16
New Zealand Paralympian Kahi Puru was the guest speaker at the Hino-sponsored lunch
conference in collaboration with the Australian Road Transport Suppliers Association. It is the only annual
gathering for fleet managers, industry suppliers and professionals who work in trucking workshops.
RURAL DEALERS ON SHOW New South Wales Hino dealers Wagga Hino and Mavin Hino have continued the brand’s support of agricultural shows with displays at two prominent Field Days. Wagga Hino attended Henty Field Days for the first time in late September last year, showcasing the benefits of Hino to an estimated crowd of more than 50,000 people. Dealer principal Matthew Shaw was pleased with the interest Hino received at Henty. “It was a great way of raising consumer awareness of our dealership and the Hino brand. We’ve had a strong amount of follow-up business,” Mr Shaw said.
Wagga Hino voted its first trip to Henty Field Days a success
Wagga Hino is particularly strong in the heavy-duty vehicle segment and benefited from displaying Hino’s new 700 Series SS 2848 AMT (automated manual transmission).
Mavin Hino flew the Hino flag at Pro-Ag in October, where it displayed a pair of 500 Series trucks including a crowd-favourite FG 1527 model fitted with a stock crate.
The cattle truck generated a lot of interest during Mavin Hino’s second appearance at the show. “Mavin Hino was the only truck dealership at Pro-Ag and as such we received great support,” Mavin Hino sales manager Darren Collins said. “Despite the extremely wet weather, which affected crowd numbers, we took a good number of enquiries and since the show we’ve been working with a number of followup customers.” Mr Collins echoed the comments of Wagga Hino’s Matthew Shaw, saying attending agricultural shows is key to gaining the support of local businesses.
FREE BRAKE INSPECTION Hino is offering its customers a free brake inspection at participating authorised Hino dealers. The visual inspection can be arranged by making an appointment at an authorised Hino dealer. Hino Motor Sales Australia is making the offer to ensure 4 | Torque
its customers have the best safety protection. Hino Australia parts manager Peter Michetti said the free brake inspection only takes about 15 minutes to complete, but suggested owners should call ahead to make a booking with their local Hino Service Centre.
"It is important for safety and peace of mind for owners and drivers to have their brakes in top working order. We think the free inspection is a worthwhile initiative that will benefit all of our customers," said Mr Michetti.
For further details and terms and conditions of the free brake inspection offer, or to find your nearest dealer, visit www.hino.com. au or call 1300 014 466.
JAPAN TRIP REWARDS TOP DEALER STAFF Hino Australia rewarded the top parts and service managers from its dealer network with a trip to Japan in November to visit key Hino sites and take in some of the country’s culture. The top 10 parts and service managers won the five-day trip based on sales results in the months leading up to the tour – the prize a fitting reward for their hard work. Hino’s acting manager technical and service support Gus Belanszky, along with colleagues Peter Michetti, Ben Chamberlain and Kirk Harrison, led the group. Mr Belanszky said the trip included a visit to Hino Motor Limited’s global head office, plus tours of the light and medium-duty truck factories where the 300 Series, Hybrid 300 Series and 500 Series trucks are built. The dealer staff got to see firsthand the process of how a Hino truck is built,
Hino's top service and parts managers were rewarded with a trip to Japan
from bare chassis rails to the finished product coming off the assembly line. Vanderfield Hino Nerang’s service manager Cameron O’Neill was part of the touring party and enjoyed the experience of interacting with colleagues from other dealerships. “The trip was just fantastic. It was good to get so much time with our peers to share stories and develop new
ideas in an informal atmosphere,” Mr O’Neill said. “Our visit to the manufacturing plants was eye-opening. I was particularly impressed with the organisation and cleanliness. The processes and procedures were something to behold. “Hino has done a great thing by giving service and parts
managers a personal incentive to strive towards getting a place on such a trip. I can only say a big thank you to Gus and his colleagues for organising it.” The Hino tour also took in cultural elements including a trip to Mount Fuji, a Bullet Train ride and visits to numerous temples and shrines in Tokyo.
PALLET SALE HINO STRIKES GOLD SWEETENS THE DEAL IN KALGOORLIE
Hi-Way 1’s pallet sales will become an annual event after the first three proved an ideal way to interact with its customer network
Queensland-based dealer Hi-Way 1 Truck and Tractor has used a bulkitem sale at three of its dealerships to build stronger relationships with its customer base. Hi-Way 1 ran a ‘pallet’ sale at its branches in Gympie, Kunda Park (Sunshine Coast) and Maryborough from October to December last year. More than 50 pallets of items including spare parts, lubricants and coolants at heavily-discounted prices were up for grabs at the sale, attracting a large number of new and existing customers to the three dealerships. Each sale was held on a Friday, followed by a customer trade evening where long-term customers met dealer staff and transport industry vendors, including Hino.
Hino’s 500 Series 4x4 bus (right) proved popular with mining companies
Hi-Way 1 group general manager Mark Dobson said the pallet sales proved a great way for the company to strengthen ties with its customer base while also offering big savings. “Every business is keen to save a dollar. These types of events help us get closer to our customers, better understand their needs and also take feedback from them on how we can improve,” Mr Dobson said. Mr Dobson said the event at Kunda Park was particularly important as it allowed staff to remind customers of the dealership’s imminent relocation to new premises on the Bruce Highway at Forest Glen from 1 February, 2011. The Kunda Park evening also acted as a fundraising event for the Kawana Waters Surf Life Saving Club which raised $1000 from the night.
WA Hino highlighted Hino’s growing popularity in the mining industry at the Goldfield’s Mining Expo where it recorded double-figure sales and showcased a host of new technologies. The biennial event was held in late October in Kalgoorlie. WA Hino account manager Mark Webster said Hino’s new 700 Series SS 2848 AMT (automated manual transmission) heavy-duty model proved particularly popular. “We were pleased with the strong response our product received during the three-day show,” Mr Webster said. “Hino recorded a number of sales and we also sold one of the new 700 Series SS 2848 AMT models. The sale was our first (of the model) to a private company and came after
a number of sales to government departments. “Show-goers were really interested in a 23-seater bus we displayed which featured a custom-built body mounted to a 500 Series 4x4 truck. “The bus is designed to ferry mining staff to remote locations. It is a one-off at this stage but it certainly sparked a lot of interest.” The AMT model WA Hino sold at the show was purchased by Kalgoorliebased Dewatering Services Australia (DSA), which chose the truck for the convenience of its automatic transmission. DSA, which runs a fleet of Hino 700 Series trucks for its mining applications, intends to gradually replace its existing manual transmission models with the new AMT. Torque | 5
s r e i l e Hino D for ternet revolution in an of re nt ce e th at e Hino trucks ar we buy groceries. ay w e th ng gi an ch is at th
Retail giant Coles has taken delivery of 32 Hino trucks in the vital first step of rolling out a dedicated fleet to handle its rapidly growing online grocery sales. The first batch of Hino 300 Series trucks hit the road in Western Australia during early November in the first stage of a rollout of Coles’ new in-house fleet. Coles national customer delivery manager Peter Dixon said the online grocery business was growing rapidly. “Our online business is almost doubling every year and we are now delivering tens of thousands of orders a week,” he said. “The drivers are our only face-toface contact with our customers, so they are very important. We actually call them customer service agents. “We want to have Coles team members serving Coles customers so that we can improve the quality of our home delivery service, which is why we are rolling out our own transport program.”
6 | Torque
The new Hinos on the Coles fleet will be 614 Short Auto models, powered by a 4.0-litre common-rail direct-injection turbo-diesel engine developing 100kW of power and 353Nm of torque. They are fitted with refrigerated bodies produced in Sydney by TRS (Transport Refrigeration Services). Mr Dixon said Coles chose Hino’s advanced six-speed automatic transmission because it wanted trucks that were easy to drive, manage and maintain. The ‘intelligent’ automatic has learning characteristics and can comfortably adapt to the driving style of the driver. It also has fuelsaving torque converter
lock-up in five ratios – from second to sixth gear – and offers significant fuel savings by electronically switching the transmission to neutral when the truck is stationary and the brakes are applied. The Hino 614 model also comes with car-like features such as ABS
anti-skid brakes, a driver’s SRS airbag and corner-turning lamps. The trucks have an 1100kg payload and can therefore be driven with a regular car licence, as the gross vehicle mass is under 4500kg. “We are looking to develop a good relationship with Hino and look forward to working on developments to create an even more efficient operation,” Mr Dixon said. “The Hino Hybrid vehicle is an attractive option for the future that we’d love to trial once we get the main rollout under our belts.”
Hino drives
a new age of brew ng One of Australia’s most innovative breweries is moving ahead with a new Hino Hybrid truck that was chosen for its point of difference as much as its environmental credentials. Moo Brew is Tasmania’s leading micro-brewery and is planning to expand with a far greater reach on the Australian mainland. The company kicked into top gear in October when it took delivery of a Hino Hybrid 714 Manual to streamline deliveries. The truck is turned out in an eyecatching all-black colour scheme with subtle gold lettering, which reflects the premium nature and different approach of Moo Brew to the beer market. It even produces the most expensive beer in Tasmania – a barrelaged Vintage Release Imperial Stout that costs $25 for a 330ml bottle, if you can find one. Businesses across Australia and governments at all levels are turning to hybrid-powered Hino trucks for their proven economic and environmental benefits over conventional diesel engines. With reduced fuel consumption and reduced emissions, the Hino Hybrid provides cleaner, more efficient transport. Moo Brew sales and marketing manager Jon Burridge said the company wants to be different to other brewers by bringing together brewing, art and even new age thinking. “The Hino Hybrid fits in with the new age side of things as it brings in exciting new technology,” said Mr Burridge. “Hybrid is the way of the future and that’s how we see ourselves, so there is a natural synergy there. “We’re not as environmentally active as some, but we believe the future of the earth is important and hybrid technology is growing, so we’d like to be a part of
Unique Tasmanian brewer Moo Brew has cho sen a Hino Hybrid 300 Series to help deli ver its premium produc t around the Apple Isle
that and encourage others to do likewise. “The Hino truck goes brilliantly and it gets lots of comments from the many people who see it.” Mr Burridge said there are plans to make the Hino even more eye-catching with some artwork on the black side curtains, but the truck has been working hard seven days a week since it was commissioned in early October. Art is important to the company, which commissioned noted Australian artist John Kelly to produce a series of paintings for the beer labels. Moo Brew produces about 130,000 litres of beer a year from its brewery at the Moorilla Estate winery, which was established in 1958 on a private peninsula on the Derwent River at Berriedale, 15 minutes north-west of Hobart.
Capacity will almost double from early February with the opening of a second brewing facility at nearby Bridgewater, which will help Moo Brew meet growing demand. Moo Brew’s four beers – Pilsner, Pale Ale, Hefeweizen and Dark
Ale – contain no additives or preservatives and are unpasteurised. That means the distinctive flavours are best enjoyed cold and fresh – so it is hardly surprising the new Hino Hybrid is constantly on the road making deliveries. Torque | 7
HINO SETS
THE STANDARD Hino has long been championing the move to more environmentally-sustainable transport. In 2011, the company and the local industry take the next step.
When Hino Australia announced in August last year that its 300 Series light-duty truck was compliant with Australian Design Rule (ADR) 80/03, it became one of the earlier manufacturers to make the switch to the new emissions standard. The move, nearly six months ahead of the regulatory requirements, further highlighted Hino’s commitment to cleaner transport. This commitment has continued. Now Hino’s 500 Series mediumduty and 700 Series heavy-duty trucks comply with ADR 80/03 – meaning all the models in its truck line-up meet Australia’s new emissions standards. The fact Hino was ahead of the game with its light-duty range and quickly followed with its medium-duty 8 | Torque
and heavy-duty trucks should come as no surprise. Having developed trucks for the Japanese emissions regulations of the 1990s and 2000s, the company was well-drilled in the need to make its vehicles cleaner and more efficient. However, it was not only government regulations that drove Hino to lower its exhaust emissions standards. The company itself has long been a proactive campaigner for tighter emissions controls and has developed technology accordingly. The undoubted world-leader in commercial vehicle hybrid technology, Hino keeps itself one step ahead of the pack. As in Hino’s native Japan, emissions regulations have been tightening around the world. Europe has had
exhaust emissions standards in force for many years and, as the Continent’s regulations have become stricter, carbon and nitrous oxide emissions
The updated interiors Hino introduced in 2010 will carry over to the new ADR 80/03-compliant 500 and 700 Series models
levels emitted by vehicles have dropped more than five-fold. The current European regulations, known as Euro 5, are widely regarded as
*Overseas model shown
*Overseas model shown
The new
Range Hino’s entire range of light, medium and heavy-duty trucks is now Australian Design Rule (ADR) 80/03-compliant. The medium-duty 500 Series and heavy-duty 700 Series now meet Australia’s strict new emissions standard, joining the already compliant light-duty 300 Series. Hino has taken the opportunity to introduce all-new models to both the medium and heavy-duty line-ups. New models include:
500 Series
• 1 022 Compact and 1022 Medium Long: ADR 80/03-compliant, J07 5-cylinder engine with DPR, immobiliser, long-range keyless entry, ASR, ABS, Bridgestone tyres, multi-information display, ES start and individual electric mirrors • 1 728 Short Nine: ADR 80/03-compliant, J08 6-cylinder engine with increased power and torque and DPR, immobiliser, longrange keyless entry, ABS, Bridgestone tyres (Front: R295 / 80R 22.5; Drive: 11R 22.5), multi-information display, ES start, individual electric mirrors, four-point cabin suspension, hydroelectric cabin tilt
700 Series
among the most stringent in the world and, after coming into effect in Europe a little more than 12 months ago, they are now mandatory in Australia. Locally they are known as ADR 80/03 and, though slightly different to the pure Euro 5 regulations, they are now mandatory for all new trucks sold in Australia, meaning the push to lower emissions is right at our front door. The new regulation means Hino’s 500 and 700 Series trucks, like its 300 Series, are cleaner and more efficient. Hino can now showcase the technology it has spent decades refining across its entire range. Both light and medium-duty truck ranges take advantage of DPR and EGR technology to meet the ADR 80/03 emissions standard.
DPR translates to Diesel Particulate Active Reduction System, which significantly reduces particulates (black soot) produced by the engine. EGR stands for Exhaust Gas Recirculation and considerably lessens Nitrous Oxide (NOx) emissions. The 700 Series uses Selective Catalytic Reduction, or SCR, which permits NOx reduction reactions to take place in an oxidising atmosphere. The ‘selective’ element of the SCR title is used because NOx levels drop when using ammonia as a reducing agent within a catalyst system. The reducing agent reacts with NOx to convert the pollutants into nitrogen, water and tiny amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) – natural elements common to the air we breathe.
• S H 2045 AMT, FS 2844, FS 2848, FS 2848 AMT, FY 3248 and FY 3248 AMT: ADR 80/03-compliant, E13C 6-cylinder engine with DPR and SCR, long-range keyless entry, ABS, individual electric mirrors, hydro-electric cabin tilt, SRS driver’s airbag, ISRI 6800 driver’s seat, FUP, Bridgestone tyres (Front: R295 / 80R 22.5; Drive: 11R 22.5)
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SCR technology alone can achieve NOx reductions in excess of 90 per cent. The new engines that incorporate these technologies have not taken anything away from the performance of Hino’s truck range. While the 700 Series retains its current power ratings, most of the 500 Series range produces more power and torque – up to 18 per cent more in some models. In the 500 Series standard cab range, the FC, FD and FE models have a new engine fitted, the 5-cylinder J07E. This is the latest in engine development from Hino and represents the best in market-leading technology, generating additional power and torque. The J08E engine has been retained for the (500 Series) wide cab FG, GH, FL and FM8J Euro 5 models and offers an additional 16kW of power. These new and more powerful engines are not only more efficient but meet the new stringent ADR80/03 emissions regulation. This means the engines produce no more than 0.02 grams per kilowatt hour (g/kWh) of particulate matter and 2.0g/kWh of nitrogen oxides (NOx).
While the emissions-reducing and more efficient engines are the biggest upgrade to the range, Hino has also taken the opportunity to further improve the overall quality, handling and safety of many of its models. The interior and exterior feature updates that took place late last year remain and are now joined by a host of new features. FG, GH, FL and FM models from the 500 Series range, like all 700 Series models, now feature larger Bridgestone steer tyres for improved handling. The FG and GH models now come standard with four-point cab suspension for improved comfort as well as hydraulic cab tilt. All 500 Series models now have an improved keyless entry system with better range and an immobiliser, while the model range has a new driver display that incorporates a DPR indicator as well as additional features such as fuel consumption and trip and engine running times. Hino Australia’s divisional manager product strategy, Alex Stewart, said the
Euro 5 trucks represent much more than a new emission standard. “The Euro 5 range is the culmination of a lot of development work over the last few years,” said Mr Stewart. “Apart from the cleaner and more efficient engines that are now a key selling feature, we have also increased the power and torque in many models. “We have also taken the opportunity to introduce a number of new models that will allow us to compete in new
market segments. On top of that, we have improved the safety features in many models. “The introduction of the new ADR 80/03-compliant Hinos is yet another chapter in the company’s unrelenting quest to provide sustainable transport. Even though the new models meet the very latest emissions standards, Hino is already developing its next generation of engines. “It’s what will keep Hino one step ahead of the pack.”
Hino’s 300 Series light-duty truck was an early adopter in the move to ADR 80/03
Australian Design Rule (ADR) 80/03-compliant engines in the 500 Series all feature: • The latest in engine and emissions control management technology with enhanced cooled Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) to reduce exhaust gas temperature and reduce NOx emissions • A new fuel system including integrated fuel cooler for better management of fuel temperature • Increased common rail injection pressures • A new piston design for improved combustion • Refined Variable Nozzle Turbochargers (VNT) for improved efficiency and ease of maintenance • An insulated Diesel Particulate active Reduction system (DPR) that incorporates a diesel oxidation catalyst and particulate filter for the exhaust after treatment. *Overseas model shown 10 | Torque
s e h c n u a L o n Hi S E I R E S 0 0 5 C F 4 .0 M D U M P
A new Hino Dump is adding to the popularity of the company’s Built-to-Go range. Hino has expanded its successful 500 Series FC Dump range by adding a four-metre internal length tipper. The new Australian Design Rule (ADR) 80/03 emission-compliant FC 1022 Dump with the 4.0-metre tipper offers all the safety and comfort features of the two 3.6-metre tipper models that continue in the new Euro 5 Hino 500 Series range. The longer load area of the new FC 4.0-metre Dump makes it ideal for skidsteer operators and for customers using the truck to transport plant machinery.
An added automatic body-lock function promotes operating safety by locking the body in the downposition, preventing it from tipping when plant equipment is being loaded from the rear. Hino’s two-piece ‘swinging barndoor’ tailgate – a unique feature for a factory tipper – provides the convenience of needing only half the space to open in, compared to traditional one-piece swinging tailgates. The three-way barn doors can also be used like a regular tip-truck, with
the tailgate opening from the top hinges as the tray is tilted. Extending the tipper length has not come at the expense of Hino’s ‘toolbox gap’ design feature that, as the name suggests, provides a convenient location for mounting a toolbox, or even a compact crane, between the cabin and tipper body. A unique safety feature on all ADR 80/03-compliant Hino 500 Series FC models is a brake-lock system that mechanically locks all four wheels at the push of a button when the engine is on and the handbrake is applied. This provides extra safety for operators when tipping – by preventing the vehicle from rolling forward or backward. Other safety features of the Euro 5 Hino 500 Series FC Dump range include ABS anti-skid brakes with ASR (antislip regulator), a driver’s airbag, and
the Easy Start take-off assist function that prevents the truck from rolling backwards when taking off from a slope. “We’ve added the four-metre tipper model in response to customer feedback, particularly from skid-steer operators and customers needing to move plant machinery around,” said Hino Australia product planner Daniel Petrovski. “At the same time, it will also provide additional load capacity and length for landscapers, sand and soil outlets, nurseries and tradespeople such as builders, plumbers and concreters. “Drivers love the FC tippers because of all the safety and convenience features such as cruise control, and they will really appreciate the addition of heated and electrically-adjustable side mirrors,” Mr Petrovski said. All three ADR 80/03-compliant Hino FC 1022 Dump models have a GVM rating of 10,400kg.
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Lovatt Transport 's Hino 70 0 Serie s fleet has grown sin ce the company firs t tes ted the tru ck in 20 06
LOVATT
FIRST SIGHT Hino’s 700 Series SS 2848 heavy-duty truck has been a favourite for Lovatt Transport since the company first tested it in 2006 – and the freight-hauling business has just kept steadily adding more Hino heavy-duty trucks ever since.
Bill Lovatt has worked for more than three decades in the transport industry, at the helm of Lovatt Transport – so he’s run a lot of different trucks in his fleet. This included both European and American brands during the earlier years of his business. Hino Japan, meanwhile, was keen to make sure its Hinos met Australian needs and conditions. It sent a survey team to Australia during development and testing of the 700 Series heavyduty in 2003-04 to seek the opinion of industry captains, including Sydneybased Lovatt Transport. “Hino’s Japanese engineers came to our yard and asked us what we thought they should be doing with their trucks to be competitive in the 12 | Torque
Australian market,” Bill Lovatt said. “We suggested some changes to the engine and cab. They must have been listening because all those things were in the 700 Series they brought out and we put our first Hino into operation in 2006.” It was the beginning of what has proven to be an extremely successful relationship. Nine 700 Series SS 2848 trucks now pull 20-foot and 40-foot shipping containers to state ports for Lovatt Transport’s clients. Mr Lovatt says the 353kW of power produced by the 700 Series’ intercooled 12.9-litre common rail turbo diesel engine is entirely sufficient for his business’ needs. “A lot of freight companies go for more horsepower but we find the
700 Series heavy-duty is more than adequate for the job,” he said. Driver feedback has been positive. It didn’t take long for acceptance to kick in. “I’ve got drivers who used to drive other truck brands interstate for me who originally didn’t want to get in the Hinos. Now you can’t get them out,” Mr Lovatt continued. “They really like the European-style comfort, the visibility and the turning circle. Our drivers take a lot of pride in the 700 Series SS 2848 because we make an effort to dress them up and we paint them in a colour specially made for our company called Lovatt Green. We believe they’re pretty sharplooking trucks.” Bill received a welcome surprise when he crunched the numbers on his
Hino 700 Series’ maintenance costs. “I looked at the servicing costs of other fleets that I bought in 2007 compared with the 700 Series heavyduty I bought at the same time. I worked out that over 12 months we saved $10,000 using the Hino 700 Series.” With Hino now comprising 50 per cent of Lovatt Transport’s fleet, and with plans to take on another two 700 Series heavy-duty trucks in 2011, does Bill Lovatt envisage a day when his fleet could be pure Hino? “Responding to our customers’ needs is the key to our business’ success. Having the most reliable trucks for the job is integral to that, so we will continue to upgrade our fleet. It’s an impressive product so I wouldn’t rule out us having a Hino majority one day.”
s e i r e S 0 0 5 O N HI T C E T O PR
A R R E B CAN
The ACT government is taking full advantage of Hino’s reliability and durability with the recent delivery of 11 new 500 Series 1322 4x4 crewcab fire-tankers to bolster the ranks of Canberra’s Emergency Services. Hino and the ACT Emergency Services Authority (ESA) have strengthened their relationship with the delivery of 11 new tankers, to be deployed at both rural and urban fire stations across Canberra. The new purpose-built trucks provide a significant boost to
Canberra’s fire-fighting capability, and are a $3.3 million investment by the ACT Government as part of its vehicle replacement program. The tankers were formally presented to the ACT Rural Fire Service and ACT Fire Brigade by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services Simon Corbell,
tankers The first of 11 Hino 500 Serie s 4x4 t in commissioned by the ACT gover nmen fire season bush -2011 2010 the for ration prepa
with the fleet entering service in time for the 2010-2011 fire season. Each Hino 500 Series 1322 4x4 is fitted with a 3600-litre water storage tank, coupled to a newdesign high-capacity auxiliary pump, which the ESA says will provide fire-fighters with improved fire suppression capability. Significantly, the tankers are also fitted with a low-water-level warning system, fire-retardant safety curtains, and a state-of-the-art integrated crew protection system, making each vehicle safer for fire-fighters in an emergency situation. “These new large fire-fighting tankers provide the ACT with an improved ability to protect our city from the threat of bushfire this summer,” said the ACT Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Simon Corbell. “It is essential that both our rural and urban fire brigades are resourced with the best possible equipment to ensure the safety of
the crew and the community,” he said. Tom Ayrton, Hino Australia national government sales manager, said a number of the trucks were fitted with Allison six-speed automatic transmissions. “The new automatic transmission greatly simplifies driving the truck, allowing drivers to focus on the job at hand without worrying about missing gears or possibly stalling the vehicle at a critical time. The auto provides precise vehicle control in all terrains, therefore improving safety for drivers and their crew,” Mr Ayrton said. Minister Corbell said the government had consulted closely with both full-time and volunteer fire fighters to ensure the new Hino tankers satisfied their frontline needs. “The new Hino trucks are state-ofthe-art and have been designed with significant input from operational firefighters. They will assist in the ongoing protection of Canberra 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.” Torque | 13
HOW
THE WEST WAS WON
Leading waste management company Veolia has again put its faith in Hino with a fleet of 500 Series-based road sweepers that are cleaning up in the Pilbara. Hino 500 Series trucks that have been converted into industrial-strength road sweepers are being used to control iron ore dust at Australia’s highest tonnage shipping port. Veolia Environmental Services is operating a fleet of eight Hino 500 Series trucks to ensure a clean site at Port Hedland in the north-west. Last financial year, a record 173.9 million tonnes of iron ore came into Port Hedland by train for processing and loading onto ships for export to steel mills in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, Europe and Australia. Dust control is a major environmental issue for the biggest 14 | Torque
town in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, which has a population of 14,000 and is now one of the busiest commodity ports in the world. Veolia Environmental Services technical manager Clay South said the sweeper fleet runs all day, every day keeping the bitumen roads clean on the site where the trains unload massive amounts of iron ore daily. “The trucks are running 24/7 in a hot and dusty environment, so keeping on top of maintenance is probably our big challenge,” said Mr South. “The Hino chassis has proven to be very reliable, and that’s the measure of success for us because we
can’t afford to have them off the road. “Of course, the vehicles travel very slowly when they are working, so they are not racking up hard kilometres, but they have to go all day and all night and the Hinos have been very reliable in that environment.” Each truck records up to 4000 engine hours a year. They are regularly rotated for training purposes and for maintenance, mainly to the hardworking sweeper equipment that is required to constantly run flat-out. Veolia has progressively renewed its Port Hedland fleet since winning the contract a little over two years ago, when it started using trucks
previously engaged in street-sweeping duties in Bunbury, south of Perth. The company purchased two trucks in 2008, then bought three more the following year and added a further three last year. The Hino 500 Series trucks are converted into road sweepers by specialist engineering company MacDonald Johnston, which has been building and selling road sweepers for more than 50 years. Although Melbourne-based, MacDonald Johnston also has a facility in Western Australia that provides Veolia Environmental Services with a range of equipment
for its various operations in the west. The company started out as JD MacDonald Engineering in 1951 and began distributing Johnston Sweepers in 1959, then officially became MacDonald Johnston in 1973. In 2005, it became part of the Swiss company Bucher Industries, but the Australian operation remains largely autonomous and funds its own capital investment for facility developments and R&D programs,
Waldron. “Just about everything happens without people noticing. We don’t get much recognition because people generally look at the truck.” Veolia Environmental Services, which was previously known as Collex and has been operating in Australia for more than 30 years, worked closely with MacDonald Johnston to heavily modify the regular road sweepers for the industrial application.
“The Hino chassis has proven to be very reliable, and that’s the measure of success for us because we can’t afford to have them off the road” including electronic control systems. MacDonald Johnston is recognised around the world for its rubbish compactors and road sweepers, exporting models to European countries such as Holland and Germany where stricter environmental controls have led to improved designs for all its machinery. “It’s not a glamourous business, but it is interesting,” said MacDonald Johnston managing director David
However, little work was required to adapt the Hino trucks other than fitting an extra air-conditioning unit to cope with the extremely hot weather in the north-west. Hino provided the 500 Series FG model trucks with dual steering controls so they can be driven in either left-hand drive or right-hand drive, as required for road sweeping. Iron ore has risen to become one of Australia’s largest export earners
since the first shipment left the Pilbara from Port Hedland in 1966, rising to 107 million tonnes in the year to 30 June, 2007, according to figures supplied by the Port Hedland Port Authority. However, exports have increased by some 62.6 per cent in just three years since then, illustrating the extent of the minerals boom in WA. The iron ore arrives from the mines by train at Port Hedland, where it is unloaded into dumpers and stacked into stockpiles of about 200,000 tonnes each, which are 200 metres long and 15 metres high. Dust is controlled during these operations by giant water cannons. Giant bucket-wheel reclaimers scoop up the ore from these stockpiles and transfer it to a conveyor system, which carries it to the shiploaders. Each ship carries as much as 300,000 tonnes of ore and is up to 335 metres long – about the length of three football pitches. This extraordinary operation is a vital driver of the Australian economy – and Veolia’s dependable Hinos are in the thick of the action, working flat-out around the clock.
Each 500 Series FG racks up about 4000 engine hours per year
MacDonald Johnston supplied the road sweeper units
Dusty work in the Pilbara
Torque | 15
Rob Roy Earthmoving h as ingeniously combine d Hino’s heavy-duty 700 Series with a tanker to double the carrying capacity of its previous water cart.
Prior to recently purchasing its first Hino 700 Series FS 2844, Rob Roy Earthmoving in Weipa North Queensland used body trucks to supply water for road building. As managing director Rob Roy explained: “They were only good for around 15,000 litres, which meant we could only do short little sections of road at a time – and that used to frustrate our drivers. “We thought to ourselves, ‘how can we improve our efficiency?’, and we came up with this solution which has basically pioneered semi-trailer water carts for road maintenance in the Cape York area.” With an entire tanker in tow, the 700 Series has nearly doubled the previously available water-carrying capacity. “This gives us the option of doing much longer stretches of road – a kilometre or more at a time – so it’s a lot more productive,” says Mr Roy. Starting out with his first truck in 1980, Rob Roy has successfully grown his business, in part by selecting the right trucks for the right jobs. Hino has been a steady part of his ‘road gang’. 16 | Torque
“We had a Hino camp truck that used to carry our fuel and water. And we had a Hino chuck wagon which had an industrial kitchen and sleeping quarters – sort of like a gypsy thing. Because we carried our camp with us, we could go further and work out on the road for longer. “Then we started using Hinos for water pump trucks, mounting our sixinch water pumps on them with overhead delivery. We found we could fill our semitankers in about 10 minutes.” The smaller Hinos proved themselves to be an extremely important part of the fleet and eventually led Rob Roy to Hino’s largest truck, which carts water used to wet-down dirt roads prior to grading. Working hugely in the 700 Series’ favour was that it was one of the few trucks that met a crucial requirement for Rob Roy. “It’s very difficult to buy a prime mover configuration with anything but airbag suspension,” Mr Roy says. “We wanted a cab-over configuration with six-rod suspension – and the 700 Series prime mover with a tipper wheel base has six-rod – so we were sold on it.
The fact that we were given a generous quotation to purchase it didn’t hurt either,” he says laughingly. Mr Roy used to do the majority of his driving but increasingly finds himself in the office. He has handed the reigns to his son, Gavan, who at only 21 is one of the youngest semi-trailer drivers in the country. Mr Roy says Gavan is very happy with the 700 Series and especially appreciates its comfort and usability. “He likes all its mod cons and the easily reachable controls. “The 700 Series has so far performed excellently for us. It has good power, the
differential set-up is robust and it has the proven Hino Ranger gearbox in it. So there’s a lot to like about it.” The business – which specialises in earthworks, bulk cartage, road construction and reconstruction, and bitumen sealing – now has 18 trucks of varying size to haul a multitude of earthmoving and plant units. With continued growth it is expected more heavy-duty trucks will be added to the fleet. Will he be turning to the Hino 700 Series again? “Certainly. The next time we’re looking for a Hino cab-over, it will be at the top of our list.” Hino has helped make Rob Roy’s business operate more efficiently
Competitors in Hino's national skills contest were overseen by company senior management including (L-R) divisional manager – product support and business development, Greg Bleasel, Chairman and CEO Kenichi Sekine, Hino Japan’s deputy general manager overseas service department, Mamoru Katano and Hino Australia President and COO Steve Lotter
Hino Australia put its top service technicians through their paces at the National Skills Contest – and the winners have been announced. Hino Australia crowned its top three service technicians for 2010 at the National Skills Contest in Sydney during October. Steve Easton from Sci-Fleet Hino in Coopers Plains, Queensland placed first, Kevin Tait from Adtrans Hino in Mascot, New South Wales second, and Steve Browitt from Sci-Fleet Hino in Coopers Plains was third. The eight finalist service technicians came from dealerships right across the country. They were tested on a number of real-world service situations to measure how accurately and quickly they could diagnose and fix problems. Dealerships participating in the final event included Adtrans Hino, Mascot; Vanderfield Hino, Toowoomba; Sci-Fleet Hino, Coopers Plains; ISR Truck City, Geelong; Primemovers, Townsville, and WA Hino in Welshpool. The one-day event, held at Hino’s
Technical Training Centre in Sydney, was broken into two different assessment tasks – a diagnostics assessment and a technical reporting assessment.
during the year,” Mr Bonvini said. “It gives us a really good indication of the skill levels the technicians have, and also that of their dealership.”
“The skills contest is a gauge that allows us to see if the technicians have learned what we wanted them to learn during the year” Technicians worked under the watchful eye of Hino Australia Chairman and CEO Ken Sekine and President and COO Steve Lotter. Also in attendance was Hino Japan’s deputy general manager for the company’s overseas service department, Mamoru Katano. Training centre manager Sergio Bonvini believes the Skills Contest plays a vital role in the development and training of the service technicians. “The skills contest is a gauge that allows us to see if the technicians have learned what we wanted them to learn
During the Diagnostics Skills assessment contestants were asked to perform nine tasks, testing electrical skills, ABS and mechanical skills, engine-management skills and workplace safety. “We try to base the assessments on real-life situations that simulate the kinds of problems the technicians might see when a customer comes in with a problem,” Mr Bonvini said. “For instance, during the enginemanagement skills assessment we put a fault into the engine management, and
the technicians had to find and diagnose the problem. “The more efficiently our technicians are able to diagnose a problem, the faster our customers can get back out onto the road.” The Hino Australia National Skills Contest was originally based on the Skills Contest held by Hino in Japan for the last 39 years. Insights gained from the Australian contest are used to improve training. Contestants were not just competing for the chance to be crowned this year’s top technician: there were cash prizes on offer. At the end of the full-day event Steve Easton from Sci-Fleet Hino in Coopers Plains was awarded $3000 for his firstplace finish. Kevin Tait won $1500 and Steve Browitt took home $750 for placing third. All other participants received $200 for their efforts. Torque | 17
n o s r Deale MOVE
THE
The addition of two new dealerships in key growth areas of the market has Hino well placed to continue its assault on the local market in 2011 and beyond. Hino has moved into two of Australia’s growth areas with new dealerships at Narellan in New South Wales and Warrnambool in Victoria. The new state-of-the-art dealership near Narellan on the south-western outskirts of Sydney has been built on a 15,000 square-metre site by Adtrans. Narellan is one of NSW’s fastestgrowing areas and is expected to quadruple in population over the next two decades. “We previously had a dealership at Camden, which had just one office, two workstations, one service bay and no wash bay,” said Jeff Morgan from Adtrans, which also operates Hino branches at Mascot in Sydney and West Gosford on the NSW Central Coast. “In today’s market, that facility was nowhere near good enough, so we spent two-and-a-half years finding a suitable site.” The Narellan dealership comes with state-of-the-art facilities including five sales offices, a 22-metre wash bay and four double-sized service bays that can handle up to eight prime movers at once or, if required, service a prime mover and its trailer at the same time.
Customers waiting for their vehicles to be serviced can use the new drivers’ recreational lounge, which is equipped with a 47-inch LCD television, DVD player, Sony Playstation, bed, table and chairs. The new dealership also features a modern parts showroom and a yard with space for up to 60 trucks – big enough to host a recent two-day trade expo of Hino vehicles, vehicle body builders and accessory suppliers. The first day of the expo targeted fleet operators and attracted representatives from 24 councils and seven major corporate fleets. The second day was aimed at private operators and featured celebrity TV carpenter Scott Cam as special guest with his own Hino 616 Dump. “The expo was a huge hit with commercial vehicle operators who were able to see everything in a one-stopshop atmosphere,” said Mr Morgan. It was a huge hit for Adtrans Hino as well, which sold 21 Hinos and gained two large fleet customers at the expo. “The results of the expo point to the demand from truck operators for a better standard of
Barry Maney Group has opened a new truck dealership in the Victorian coastal town of Warrnambool
sales and service,” said Mr Morgan. Meanwhile, Hino dealer Barry Maney has broken new ground with the establishment of the first new truck dealership in the developing Victorian town of Warrnambool. Barry Maney Group Warrnambool officially opened for business on November 18 with about 150 guests inspecting the new facility, which is situated on Princes Highway. Barry Maney Group director and truck sales manager Jim Cornolo said
there had never previously been a dedicated new truck dealership in Warrnambool. “We saw a need to provide a higher level of customer service for truck sales and parts in the Warrnambool region. This is what we needed to do to make that happen,” said Mr Cornolo at the opening. “Not only will we be able to better service our existing clientele, but we believe our presence will create incremental sales.”
Narellan is home to a new 15,000sqm Hino dealership thanks to Adtrans
18 | Torque
NEW SOUTH WALES
QUEENSLAND
Albion Park Rail Illawarra Hino ���������������������(02) 4256 7111
Ayr Don West Toyota ����������������������������������������(07) 4783 1600
Beresfield Newcastle Hino ����������������������������(02) 4974 7800
Brisbane Sci Fleet Hino (Coopers Plains) ������������(07) 3722 2888
Fairfield City Hino �������������������������������������������(02) 9681 8196
Brisbane Sci-Fleet Hino (Kedron) ������������������������(07) 3361 0000
Grafton Black Hino ������������������������������������������(02) 6642 3000
Cairns Pacific Hino ������������������������������������������(07) 4052 4777
Kempsey Mavin Truck Centre Pty Ltd ��������������(02) 6562 6211
Goondiwindi Tait Hino�������������������������������������(07) 4671 7300
Lismore Vanderfield Hino ��������������������������������(02) 6626 2828
Gympie Hi-Way 1 Truck & Tractor ��������������������(07) 5480 5000
Mascot Adtrans Hino ���������������������������������������(02) 9700 9554
Kunda Park Hi-Way 1 Truck & Tractor �������������(07) 5453 5000
Muswellbrook Muswellbrook City Hino ����������(02) 6543 3066
Mackay Carlisle Hino���������������������������������������(07) 4952 1088
Narellan Adtrans Hino �������������������������������������(02) 4655 5755
Maryborough Hi-Way 1 Truck & Tractor ����������(07) 4190 4190
Orange West Orange Motors����������������������������(02) 6361 1000
Mt Isa Bell & Moir��������������������������������������������(07) 4743 3066
Tamworth City Hino ����������������������������������������(02) 6765 5552
Nerang Vanderfield Hino ����������������������������������(07) 5596 3599
Queanbeyan Southern Truck Centre����������������(02) 6299 6433
Rockhampton Ian Weigh Motors���������������������(07) 4924 5200
Wagga Trucks Hino������������������������������������������(02) 6971 8000
Toowoomba Vanderfield Hino��������������������������(07) 4633 4822
VICTORIA
Townsville Primemovers NQ ���������������������������(07) 4779 5200
Bendigo Bendigo Truck Centre ������������������������(03) 5440 9111
NORTHERN TERRITORY
Dandenong Prestige Hino �������������������������������(03) 9212 5555 Melbourne CMI Hino (Laverton) ����������������������(03) 9931 6500 Mildura Sunraysia Auto Group �������������������������(03) 5021 2999
Alice Springs Peter Kittle Motor Co ����������������(08) 8952 5500 Darwin Vanderfield Hino (Pinelands) ����������������(08) 8932 4200
North Geelong ISR Hino ����������������������������������(03) 5278 9844
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Wodonga Jacob Hino ��������������������������������������(02) 6055 9800
Perth WA Hino (Welshpool)�������������������������������(08) 9351 2000
TASMANIA
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Devonport FRM Hino���������������������������������������(03) 6424 9855
Adelaide CMI Hino (Regency Park) ������������������(08) 8243 8100
Hobart FRM Hino (Derwent Park) ���������������������(03) 6272 3822
Mt Gambier Barry Maney Sales ����������������������(08) 8721 3400
Launceston FRM Hino (Invermay) �������������������(03) 6334 5877
Port Augusta Northpoint Hino �������������������������(08) 8642 3433
hino.com.au HMS00019
Torque | 19
ANOTHER REASON WHY GENUINE HINO PARTS & SERVICE ARE
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IN THE LONG RUN. Your Hino truck is a key part of your business. Our business is to help you make as much money with it as possible. So in order to help you do so, we offer an industry leading warranty. Buy any Genuine Hino Part or Accessory fitted by an authorised Hino dealer and we’ll give you a three year warranty with unlimited kilometres during this period. And since it applies both to the parts and labour it makes brilliant business
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The 3 year / unlimited kilometre warranty applies to defects in workmanship and materials only, and does not cover fair wear or tear of the part / accessory. The 1 year / 100,000 kilometre warranty applies to defects in materials only, and does not cover defects in workmanship or fair wear or tear of the part / accessory. If the genuine Hino part or accessory is modified in any way, any Hino warranty that may have been applicable to that genuine Hino part or accessory, including but not limited to the 3 year / unlimited kilometre warranty and the 1 year / 100,000 kilometre warranty is voided. HMS07232