Torque Summer 2013

Torque Issue 21 Summer 2013

DAKAR RALLY 2013 13 wins for Hino

HINO ROADSIDE ASSIST Peace of mind at no extra cost

HYBRID SAVINGS Coles trial confirms Hino Hybrid

Hino Maintenance agreements Minimise your operational costs

shift to a better class of truck.

Hino’s ProShift Automated Manual Transmission provides the ultimate choice.

Featuring state-of-the-art electronic control for swift gear changing it has the potential to not only improve driveability, but also increase fuel savings. Versatile, powerful and efficient, this is what makes Hino’s 500 Series a better class of truck.

HMS00200/PS

hino.com.au

In this issue 4

News

The latest Hino news from around the country

cover story

Inside line Welcome to the first edition of Hino Torque for 2013. All indications are it’s going to be a big year for our customers. Never in the history of the commercial vehicle market has so much attention been given to customer requirements. Last year we saw strong market growth, with a number of major operators who’d been delaying upgrading their trucks as a consequence of the GFC coming back into the market.

This year others are planning to follow – some of them after an absence of several years. And they’re entering a substantially different environment.

In just half a decade new trucks have become more efficient, even more driverfriendly and a lot safer. On top of that, customers will find a level of care which rivals, and in many cases betters, that offered in the passenger car sector.

Hino has led many of the changes. In 2012 we won the Power Torque Safety and Technology award in recognition of the many safety features, including standard fitment of lifesaving vehicle stability control, to our 300 Series models.

Talk to anyone who’s driven it. They love the security.

Additionally, since its launch in September, take-up of our new ProShift automated manual transmission in our FC and FD 500 Series has been strong, pointing toward the ever-changing interests of buyers in the medium duty market.

This driver-friendly powertrain is becoming a benchmark in the market.

The big news for Hino in 2013 is the increased levels of customer care which owners can expect. On January 1 Hino Australia inaugurated its national roadside assistance program – a service as good as any in the truck market.

Buyers of all 2013-plated Hinos will receive this comprehensive service. It covers everything from battery replacement, emergency start-up and ultimately towing, through to changing tyres.

New Hino owners are also able to invest in the just-launched Hino Maintenance Agreement program. On top of the three-year factory warranty it provides a suite of four maintenance packages – from standard scheduled servicing through to the most extensive servicing that may be required by Australia’s leading fleet operators.

Hino will work with its customers to choose a package that suits their long-term projections and allows them to budget for capped all-of-life maintenance.

The totally intended sidebar is that used Hinos remain incredibly reliable and continue to perform at their best – and that should mean better resale value.

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Dakar 2013

10

2012 PLATE CLEARANCE

11

FLEET CUSTOMERS GET UP TO SPEED

Steve Lotter President Hino Motor Sales Australia

The 2012-plate clearance applies across the Hino range

Hino Hybrid has the same service intervals and times as conventional trucks

12

TRAINING KEY TO CUSTOMER SATISFACTION The upgrade of Hino Australia’s national training centre reaffirms its commitment to customer satisfaction

13

Coles Fuel Trial Confirms Hybrid Savings The potential fuel savings of Hino Hybrid trucks have been confirmed by an independent fuel comparison test

14

FREE ROADSIDE ASSIST PROGRAM Take the hassle out of emergency repairs with Hino’s new Roadside Assist service

15

MAINTENANCE AGREEMENTS

16

SHIFTING TO AMT

18

CLUTCH PROMOTION

18

PHOTO COMPETITION

19

Hino dealer list

Last year, thanks to our customers’ faith in us, Hino pushed above 4,200 new truck deliveries. It’s impossible to overstate how much that trust means to us.

We’ll spend 2013 building on it.

Thorough preparation at the heart of Hino’s success at Dakar Rally 2013

Get the right level of servicing for your needs and budget

See what a trucking journalist thinks of the new Hino ProShift AMT

Hino’s replacement clutch kit promotion emphasises the value for money of all Hino Genuine parts

Check out this edition’s winning entry

Find your nearest Hino dealer

Torque

3

news

Prestige Supports Windermere golf day Prestige Hino in Melbourne has raised $12,300 for local charity Windermere during its annual golf day at the Sandhurst club in Victoria.

“Windermere is a charity supporting children and families in need across south-east Melbourne,” said Prestige Hino Dealer Principal Anthony Long.

Hino has Local Government Impact Hino Australia representatives attended the LOGOV (local government conference) Expo 2012 with dealers from Scifleet and Hi-Way1 in October.

A speaker from Windermere shared an insight into the valuable work that this charity does in the local community.

On the golf course there were ‘charity holes’ designed to raise some extra funds, which consisted of a chipping challenge

and magic rope that allowed competitors to get their ball six metres closer to the hole.

The competition followed an Ambrose format, with 102 players taking part on the day.

Event sponsors included Genuine Truck Bodies/VSE, Jeff Wignall Group, Ferntree Gully Toyota, STR, Prestige Truck Bodies, Hyva, Castrol, Toyota Finance, Trader Classifieds, 600 Cranes, Attards and Hino Australia.

There were also auction items and prizes donated by Coffey Ford, Hyva, Kingpin, 360 Degree Focus and Premium Warranties Australia.

Hino Australia Regional Sales Manager Karl Hancox said the LOGOV Expo remains the only show in Queensland that serves the entire Public Works industry.

Hino truck models on display included a 700 Series FS Tipper and an FM 2630 Auto water truck which generated positive feedback and interest.

“We also showed off the 300 Series Hybrid truck, 300 Series crew cab and the new ProShift 500 Series,” Mr Hancox said.

Queensland’s premier exposition of construction plant, materials, equipment and services to local government and the land development industry was held at Caboolture on Queensland’s Sunshine coast.

Over 5000 visitors and buyers from federal, state and local government bodies, engineers, planners, contractors, consultants and the general public attended the expo.

Exhibits ranged from heavy machinery, road safety and survey equipment through to turf, landscaping and playground equipment and water-wise innovations.

“This expo gave us the opportunity to catch up with lots of new contacts in regional councils and show them what we offer,” Mr Hancox said.

“Most of them live some distance away from our local dealers, so it is a good opportunity for them to see how much we have added to our product range.”

Hino expands genuine accessory range Hino has expanded its range of quality genuine accessories with the addition of a new range of headlamp protectors and dash mats to suit 300, 500 and 700 Series trucks.

Custom-formed in acrylic, the new headlamp protectors are specifically contoured to fit the headlamps of Hino 300 Series wide cab models to protect the truck’s headlamps from minor road damage. Importantly, they are fully compatible with vehicles fitted with a genuine Hino bull bar.

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issue 21 SUMMER 2013

All Hino Genuine headlamp protectors come as a kit, including instructions and all required fasteners.

The dash mats block harmful UV rays to prolong the appearance and life of the truck’s dashboard.

“Fitment of the headlamp protectors takes around 15 minutes, and for the added protection from stones and small impacts it’s well worth installing a set on your truck,” said Greg Bleasel, Hino Divisional Manager Product Support and Business Development.

“The dash mats prevent sun damage while also reducing glare,” said Mr Bleasel.

The new Hino Genuine dash mats are formed to neatly and securely fit the dashboards of 300, 500 and 700 Series trucks.

Hino Genuine dash mats and headlamp protectors are available now and ready to order through Hino’s national dealer network.

“Unlike some other dash mats, the Hino Genuine items are made from high-quality materials, and they are compatible with driver and passenger SRS air bags.”

news

Hino customers get up-close in Japan Hino Australia hosted a group of customers to Japan in December to visit the Hino Motors Limited (HML) facilities and familiarise them with the size and scale of the Hino operation.

and COO Steve Lotter said the trip was a great opportunity for their customers to gain an understanding of what lies behind the brand.

“Trips like this are a good way to give our customers an understanding of Hino’s commitment to quality, durability and reliability in every vehicle we make.

The group visited HML’s head office and factory at Hino City where Hino medium-duty 500 Series and heavy-duty 700 Series models are manufactured.

They also inspected Hino’s Hamura factory at Hamura City, which produces Hino’s lightduty 300 Series trucks and Toyota’s Prado and FJ Cruiser models.

Hino’s test track facility at Hamura provided the opportunity for the group to test-drive 300 Series Hybrid, 300 Series 4x4 and FC and FD ProShift models.

Discussions were also held with senior Hino

Hino’s test track facility. management, including Managing Officer in Charge of Product Development, Mr Kakizawa.

On the return trip they visited Hino’s manufacturing facility in Bangkok, where the FL model is produced for the Australian market.

Hino Motor Sales Australia (HMSA) President

FRM helps keep Tasmania on the move FRM Toyota was the major sponsor at the Tasmanian Transport Association (TTA) annual dinner for the first time in 2012.

Lesley Richardson for her work in running the successful “Careers on the Move” School Based Apprentiships program for the TTA in 2012.

Held on 27 October, the TTA dinner is a major event on the industry calendar in Tasmania and provides an opportunity for everyone involved in transport to network with their clients, customers and friends.

The TTA is an organisation of transport operators, freight forwarders and shippers operating in Tasmania, with close links to similar organisations in other states.

“With over 250 people in attendance it was also a great opportunity to showcase that the transport industry in Tasmania is as strong as ever,” said FRM general manager Peter Brown.

Dale Jenkins of SRT Logistics, who has completed 17 years of accident-free driving, was announced as the winner of the Driver of the Year Award.

The Most Valued Contribution to the Industry Award was won by

“It’s also a great opportunity for them to get to know us, and for both parties to build a strong business relationship,” he said.

The Association is committed to promoting efficient, effective transport to, from and within Tasmania by influencing the regulation of transport, the provision of transport infrastructure and the delivery of transport services.

FRM Toyota was formed in 1982 to provide specialist services to the material handling industry.

Today FRM’s product and service range has expanded to trucks, skid-steer loaders and excavators, with offices in Hobart, Launceston and Devonport.

The tour group consisted of representatives from key Hino customers and a number of Hino dealer principals.

Also in attendance were HMSA Chairman and CEO Ken Sekine, Executive Coordinator Shingo Sakai, Corporate Business Manager Mike Smith and National Fleet Sales Manager Warwick Rissler.

ProShift Perfect for the job

Tasmania’s Central Highlands Council recently took delivery of the state’s first Hino 500 Series FD 1124 ProShift automated manual transmission (AMT) truck.

The features of the ProShift AMT are ideally suited to the specific purpose required by the Council.

“We bought it for road repairs and pot-holing work, where the truck crawls at low speeds while council workers shovel gravel from the back of the truck,” said Central Highlands Council Manager, Works and Services, Jason Branch.

“It’s excellent for what we do: the driver doesn’t need to keep on and off the clutch pedal, and the ‘slow’ function means the truck can crawl along at walking speed while the guys work from the back.

“The height of the tray is ideal for this kind of work, and the reversing camera means the driver can keep an eye on the guys behind him.

So all up it’s a nice bit of kit,” he said.

It is the second Hino sold to the council by Luke Bennett from FRM Hino, having previously overseen the delivery of an FC 1022 factory tipper.

“A lot of the roads maintained by the Council are unsealed, and they appreciate the reliability and toughness of the Hino trucks in these conditions,” Mr Bennett said.

Torque

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cover feature

Preparation key for Dakar 2013

After winning the Dakar under 10-litre class for the last three years in a row, the pressure was on for father and son Hino factory team drivers Yoshimasa and Teruhito Sugawara to continue their winning streak in the lead-up to Dakar 2013.

Most of the pre-race activity was carried out by their team of hand-picked Hino dealer mechanics from around Japan.

They busied themselves perfecting the Sugawara’s two Hino 500 Series trucks, and brought some innovations to their vehicles in a bid to keep one step ahead of the competition from teams such as Autovaz, IVECO, MAN, DAF and Daimler.

The effort the team put in to preparing the trucks was understandable considering the extreme conditions faced by man and machine during an event like the Dakar Rally.

For the second time, this year’s rally began in Lima, Peru, then headed south to the Andes mountain range en route to Argentina.

From there Dakar 2013 crossed back over the Andes to finish in the Chilean capital of Santiago. The 8,000 kilometre-plus route took competitors through the driest desert in the world and to altitudes of above 7000 metres.

Hino Australia National Marketing Manager Paul Tuffy watched Team Sugawara’s preparations for the 2013 Dakar Rally with anticipation.

“Hino has the remarkable record of 22 consecutive starts and finishes at Dakar, and the results over the years have been nothing short of spectacular,” he says.

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issue 21 SUMMER 2013

“Team Sugawara has so much accumulated knowledge – there was some very stiff competition heading to the Lima starting line this year, so we were hoping the truck developments would be enough to keep them in the lead.”

It was an ideal opportunity to prove that the common-rail injection-equipped J08 engines can provide the durability and reliability of the mechanically injected version, while exceeding them in areas of driveability, fuel economy and lower emissions.

For 2013 Yoshimasa drove the newly-built Hino 500 Series production class truck, while Teruhito’s 500 Series truck, which won its class division in 2012, was given a rebuild and some revisions (including changes to the fuel system, engine cooling, suspension, wheels, brakes and body) to make it even more competitive.

The J08 engine has received multiple JD Power Awards for its capabilities in everyday applications, and a Dakar rally provided the opportunity for it to be proven under the most difficult conditions.

The biggest news for the team was the move to electronically controlled common-rail fuel injection for Teruhito Sugawara’s truck, making its J08 engine more representative of those powering vehicles currently being sold in Australia, the US and Europe.

Other changes extend to the suspension which gained longer-spanned leaf springs, upgraded brakes, body strengthening to help resist torsion stresses, and forged alloy wheels to reduce weight.

In September last year Team Sugawara had the opportunity to test one of its upgraded trucks in unforgiving conditions at Rally Mongolia 2012. While the environs of

“Hino has the remarkable record of 22 consecutive starts and finishes at Dakar, and the results over the years have been nothing short of spectacular”

cover feature

Dakar 2013 Facts 14 Stages 53 Nationalities represented 75 Truck category contestants 8,116 Total kilometres

travelled by

truck competitors

Hino’s Dakar Dominance 22 Consecutive finishes

Mongolia can’t fully replicate the extremes of South America, the biggest rainfalls in decades, coupled with the heat of the Mongolian summer, helped to make it a worthy test for the revised Hino 500 Series truck.

The conditions were so trying that three of the seven stages had to be cancelled.

Rally Mongolia was rewarding for the team, as the biggest unknown in the truck revisions, the common-rail fuel system, proved itself convincingly.

Teruhito Sugawara was pleased with their result of 5th overall in the four-wheel division, as well as the improvements brought by the

fuel system. “The torque response of this common-rail engine feels really good, and none of our concerns about engine problems materialised,” he said.

“Overall, the truck exceeded expectation and I had a feeling that we would have a good shot at achieving a high ranking in the Dakar.

“However, the Dakar Rally is known for forcing vehicles out of the race even as a result of minor problems, so we made the best of the time between the Mongolian rally and Dakar to make further improvements to the truck based on the important data we obtained in the race,” he said.

1st Japanese truck

maker to enter

Dakar (1991)

7 Consecutive victories (1996 2002) and 13 wins overall in 10-litre or smaller class

1st Team to make a

1-2-3 sweep in the

Truck category (1997)

Torque

7

cover feature

Hino 500 Series specs (Truck #1) Engine model

J08C-TI (with turbo intercooler)

Cylinder configuration

In-line six

Displacement

7,961cc

Max output

450ps at 2,700rpm

Max torque

138kgm at 1,600-2,300rpm

Transmission type

6-gear forward, direct drive

Transfer type

2-gear: Hi range: 1.000 / Lo range: 2.224

Axle type

Full-floating axle with hub differential lock with reduction mechanism from AxleTech

Suspension type

Multi-leaf springs front and rear with shock absorbers from Reiger

Vehicle size

Length: 6,150mm Width: 2,420mm Height: 3,100mm

Wheelbase

3,750mm

Tyre size

14.00R20 Michelin XS

Gross vehicle weight

6,700kg

Hino Dakar highlights in South America: 2009 Dakar Argentina-Chile: Two starters and two finishers in 14th and 26th positions out of 54 trucks (from an original field of 81) that made it to the finish.

(Second in under 10-litre category.)

2010 Dakar Argentina-Chile: Two starters and one finisher in 7th position out of 28 trucks (from an original field of 54) that finished. Winner of the Production Series truck category and under 10-litre engine capacity class. The second Hino Team Sugawara entry was disqualified for missing a checkpoint.

2011 Dakar Argentina-Chile: Two starters and two finishers in 9th and 13th positions out of 41 finishers from an original field of 66. Winner of the Production Series truck category and under 10-litre category.

2012 Dakar Argentina-Chile-Peru: Two starters and two finishers in 9th and 24th position out of 60 finishers from an original field of 73. Winner of the under 10-litre engine category.

2013 Dakar Peru-Argentina-Chile: Two starters and two finishers in 19th and 31st position overall out of 60 finishers from an original field of 74 starters.

Winner of the Dakar Challenge for trucks with an engine capacity under 10-litres.

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issue 21 SUMMER 2013

cover feature

2013 Dakar Results

Car 2

Car 1

Drivers: Teruhito Sugawara

Drivers: Yoshimasa Sugawara

Hiroyuki Sugiura

Katsumi Hamura

1st under 10-litre class, 19th overall

4th under 10-litre class, 31st overall

Hino Divisional Manager Product Strategy, Marketing and Dealer Development, Alex Stewart, was happy to see Team Sugawara completing Hino’s 13th Dakar win using vehicles that are related to those on the road in Australia.

“It is great to see the technology utilised by the Australian Defence Force, emergency services and the mining sector, with the Hino GT 4x4, at work in a competitive environment,” Mr Stewart said.

“And even though Yoshimasa’s luck wasn’t

good this year, he still put in some terrific driving and showed us all that the commonrail fuel injection used on Hino trucks in Australia really is worthy technology.

“We can’t wait for 2014. Congratulations to Team Sugawara,” he said.

Torque

9

plate clearance

2012 Plate clearance – great deals on top-performing trucks Hino’s range of safe, comfortable and top performing trucks is now even better value, with big savings available on all new 2012-plated trucks until the end of March.

From the class-leading 300 Series light duty truck, the proven quality of the medium duty 500 Series, to the reliability and comfort of the heavy duty 700 Series, Hino makes trucks for nearly all applications.

Hino Australia Divisional Manager Product Strategy, Marketing and Dealer Development, Alex Stewart, said Hino Australia’s 2012 Plate Clearance is the best opportunity for customers to get a great deal on a new Hino at last year’s prices.

“This is the best chance to enjoy the industry and class-leading features that are built into Hino’s 300 Series light duty trucks,” he said.

“It’s such a flexible package, there’s a total of 45 variants of the 300 Series: it can do so many things for so many people.”

Creature comforts such as a suspended driver’s seat and a state-of-the-art multimedia unit are combined with lifesaving technologies such as Vehicle Stability Control, dual front SRS airbags, four-wheel ventilated disc brakes and ABS, and Front Under-run Protection to offer the safest light duty truck on the market.

“The 2012 Plate Clearance is also a great chance to upgrade your medium duty truck to enjoy the latest in automated transmissions,” said Mr Stewart.

Hino’s ProShift 6 automated manual transmissions, available on FC and FD variants of the Hino 500 Series, combine

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issue 21 SUMMER 2013

“This is the best chance to enjoy the industry and class-leading features that are built into Hino’s 300 Series light duty trucks” favourable fuel economy and the durability of a manual transmission with the ease-ofoperation of an automatic.

“The ProShift 6 is a much more relaxing drive in heavy traffic than a manual transmission, and it still delivers fantastic fuel economy,” said Mr Stewart.

And for those in need of a heavy duty truck, the Hino 700 Series combines superior Japanese engineering and build quality with European levels of safety and technology.

As an added bonus, all new Hino 300 Series and 500 Series 2012-plated trucks (excluding GT models) include a free five-year extended manufacturer’s powertrain warranty.

This not only provides peace of mind after the standard warranty has expired, it is also fully transferable to a new owner, adding to its resale value.

Contact your nearest Hino dealer before all 2012-plated Hinos are sold out.

The sale ends 31 March.

training

Fleet customers get up to speed As part of its ongoing strategy to assist its fleet customers in maximising the performance of their Hino vehicles, Hino Australia conducts regular training programs that continue to receive the thumbs up from course participants.

Hino’s training staff carry out the product familiarisation training for its fleet customers to ensure their knowledge needs are met and that they are getting the most out of the Hinos in their fleet.

The training programs can be tailored to the needs of each fleet customer and are designed to introduce maintenance staff to the product and specialised service techniques. They include both theory sessions and hands-on training on Hino diesel engines.

Hino’s newly revamped training centre at its head office in southern Sydney recently hosted a product familiarisation day for wastemanagement specialist JJ Richards & Sons.

The training covered the range of Hino’s light, medium and heavy-duty trucks.

Hino Australia Technical Training Manager Sergio Bonvini heads the team of presenters and instructors.

“These sessions are a great opportunity for us to meet with our customers and get a good feel for where their knowledge and training needs are,” he said.

“We appreciate our customers taking the time out to really get to know the Hino product and make sure they’re getting the most out of their trucks.

“This includes learning how to maximise the performance from their Hino vehicles, minimising the operating costs and ultimately prolonging the life of the Hinos in their fleet.”

JJ Richards & Sons’ Gold Coast workshop manager Chris Roadnight took five staff to the product familiarisation day in Sydney and praised the initiative.

“We appreciate our customers taking the time out to really get to know the Hino product” The specialised training for JJ Richards & Sons staff focused on the latest-model light-duty Hino 300 Series Euro 5, the new-model medium-duty 500 Series Euro 5 ProShift and the heavy-duty 700 Series Euro 5 ProShift.

The JJ Richards & Sons training was followed by a trip to Brisbane by the Hino fleet training team to transport infrastructure solutions provider RoadTek to train its service staff, specifically on the new 300 Series Hybrid Euro 5 light-duty trucks.

“Hino is new to our fleet, so the day was very informative and all the guys gained a great deal of knowledge from it,” he said.

The one-day program began with an introduction to Hino Hybrid systems, Hybrid components, diesel particulate filter regeneration, and servicing and driving tips.

“We brought one diesel mechanic down from Emerald in Queensland – and that highlights the value we placed on this training and interaction with Hino staff.”

In the afternoon session the training participants were presented with two RoadTek Hybrid vehicles and put into practice the theory learned in the morning session.

Hino Australia Technical Training Manager Sergio Bonvini.

Hino fleet customers who would like to learn more about these training programs should contact Sergio Bonvini, Hino Australia Technical Training Manager, at sergio.bonvini@hino.com.au or phone (02) 9914 6633.

Torque 11

skills

‘Best of the best’ on show Hino dealerships Australia-wide were represented by the 16 finalists at the 2012 National Skills Contest, including Sci-Fleet Hino Brisbane, FRM Hino (Tasmania), City Hino Guildford (Sydney), Prestige Hino Dandenong South (Melbourne), WA Hino Welshpool (Perth), Ian Weigh Hino Rockhampton and CMI Hino Regency Park (Adelaide).

(L to R) Hino Australia’s Greg Bleasel, Steve Lotter and Ken Sekine officially open the new training facility with senior Hino Motors Limited representatives from Japan.

Training the key to customer satisfaction Hino Australia’s recent expansion and upgrade of its national training centre reaffirms its commitment to maintaining customer satisfaction by developing the skills of its service and parts staff.

More than $150,000 has been invested in recent years by Hino Australia to update the training centre and warehouse at its Caringbah head office in southern Sydney, providing more space and the latest in training and IT equipment for Hino technical and parts staff to give customers world-class levels of service.

The official reopening on 25 October coincided with the finals of the fourth Hino National Skills Contest in the refurbished facility.

Hino Australia Divisional Manager, Product Support and Business Development, Greg Bleasel, says Hino Australia is committed to ensuring the service and parts staff within the dealer network are trained to the highest global standards and have access to the best resources in order to maintain the reliability and performance of their customers’ vehicles.

“The benefits flow down to our customers in the form of timely and efficient service and support, carried out by highly trained and knowledgeable staff,” Mr Bleasel says.

“When a customer has their truck or bus in the workshop it is important to have it back on the road as soon as possible: any vehicle not running is losing money.

“The refurbishment and expansion of the national training facility only confirms our commitment to improving the customer experience, while helping to retain those customers in the future.”

The emphasis Hino Australia places on service quality is driven in part by the expectations of its customers.

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“Our dealer parts and service staff are on the front line and in many ways are the ‘face’ of the business,” National Training Centre Manager Sergio Bonvini says.

“The refurbished training centre has doubled in size and can now hold more vehicles as well as additional training equipment. This allows us to accommodate an increased number of students and to conduct longer training courses.”

“Our dealer parts and service staff are on the front line and in many ways are the ‘face’ of the business” The investment in skills and training also aims to provide staff with the opportunity to excel at maintaining the productivity of customers’ operations.

“We want them to feel good about working for Hino and reward them for their efforts,” Mr Bonvini says.

Senior Hino executives from Japan and senior members of the Australian management team attended the reopening along with divisional managers, Hino dealer principals, service managers and the 16 National Skills Contest participants from the dealer network.

“We want our people to be the best of the best, and we believe that providing first-rate training and assessment is vital to the future success of Hino in Australia,” Mr Bleasel says.

The national Parts award for 2012 was taken out by Matthew Preston of Sci-Fleet Hino in Brisbane, while the Service award was won

by John Elliot of Prestige Hino in Melbourne.

The finals consisted of two two-hour sessions: one comprised a series of practical exercises carried out in the newly refurbished National Training Centre, while the other was conducted in the centre’s training rooms in the form of a series of online questionnaires.

The practical component tested the parts contestants’ knowledge of the many engine and other truck components, requiring them to identify and order a range of parts.

The service finalists completed four diagnostic tests on trucks set up on the training centre floor. Each truck had a different fault, and contestants had to test, identify and fix the problem within the allotted 20 minutes for each task.

“All the participants should be very proud of their efforts. I’m sure they’ve all benefited greatly from the experience,” said National Training Centre Manager, Sergio Bonvini.

The 16 finalists at the 2012 contest were flown from their respective regions to attend the final in Sydney where they competed with each other for the title and a $3000 cash prize.

hybrid trial

Coles fuel trial confirms impressive Hybrid savings An independent fuel consumption test has confirmed the huge potential in fuel savings of Hino Hybrid trucks.

As another step in the evolution of their successful online grocery business, Coles initiated an independent trial to gauge the fuel savings that could be achieved with Hino’s new generation Hybrid truck.

Coles Online and the Green Truck Partnership conducted a fuel comparison on local delivery runs in the Sydney metropolitan area, using a Hino Hybrid 616 Short AMT and a Hino 616 Short Auto diesel truck.

The Green Truck Partnership is a New South Wales government initiative designed to provide real-world case studies for the Australian road-freight industry on the use of clean technologies and fuels.

The Coles study showed a 21 per cent saving in both fuel used and carbon-dioxide emissions in favour of the Hybrid vehicle.

Based on the trial results a fleet of 50 trucks, each covering 650km per week, could save nearly $160,000 a year in fuel costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 tonnes over 12 months.

Coles Online National Customer Delivery Manager Iain McLean said the Green Truck Partnership team fitted both wide-cab Hino trucks with data recorders and tested them for four weeks on like routes around metropolitan Sydney.

“Specific information was collected on the time spent idling, average speed and the number of stops per kilometres travelled,” he said.

“The data from the two trucks was validated daily and any data where the driving cycles of the two trucks was markedly dissimilar was excluded from the results.”

Hino Australia National Fleet Sales Manager Warwick Rissler said Coles Online used the results of the independent Green Truck Partnership study to make an informed purchase decision on Hino Hybrid trucks versus the Hino diesel automatic models the company operates nationally.

“Coles Online currently has a fleet of more than 250 Hino 300 Series diesel automatic trucks,” he said. “Therefore, the test comparison was Hybrid against the diesel automatic model.

Coles goes on the road

“Based on those results, there are huge potential fleet savings available in fuel costs and emissions.”

A Hino Hybrid truck was a starring feature of one of the stands at the Coles National Roadshow held in October at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.

Showcasing the successful Coles Online business, the stand displayed a Hino Hybrid truck as an integral part of its green strategy.

“The stand explained Coles’ green credentials and also showed the fuel savings achievable with the Hino Hybrid trucks, which was well received by the show attendees,” said Coles Online National Customer Delivery Manager Iain McLean.

The Coles study showed a 21 per cent saving in both fuel used and carbon-dioxide emissions in favour of the Hybrid vehicle

Mr Rissler said Coles Online has now commissioned its first batch of 12 Hino Hybrid 300 Series 616 Short AMT models.

The event was attended by approximately 2,000 employees including store, regional and zone managers, with the Coles board of directors also in attendance.

The roadshow was held to outline Coles’ online business direction and showcased a diverse range of products and services offered by the company.

Hino Australia Divisional Manager, Product Strategy, Marketing and Dealer Development, Alex Stewart, said Hino Hybrid trucks offer impressive fuel savings with no penalty in additional service costs.

“Hino’s new-generation 300 Series Hybrid trucks have exactly the same regular service intervals and service times as Hino’s conventional diesel trucks,” he said.

Torque 13

roadside assist

Roadside Assist gives peace of mind Hino’s truck range is even better value in 2013, with the addition of Hino Roadside Assist on all 300, 500 and 700 Series trucks* at no extra cost.

Roadside Assist is now included in Hino’s ‘Total Protection’ range of products and services and is available on all 2013plated models.

The roadside service is designed to get drivers back on the road as soon as possible in the event of a breakdown, flat tyre or simply running out of fuel.

Hino Australia President and Chief Operating Officer, Steve Lotter, said that the inclusion of roadside assistance is all about positioning Hino as the best value brand of truck to own, as well as being the best to drive.

“At Hino we’re always looking at ways to make truck ownership more affordable for our customers, and we believe the peace of mind that roadside assistance provides will be warmly received by new truck buyers,” said Mr Lotter.

to inform others of the driver’s situation and a language interpreting service for non-English speaking drivers.

The Hino Total Protection suite of products also includes Maintenance Agreements, extended warranty, a three-year unlimited kilometre parts and accessories warranty as well as Hino genuine oils and lubricants.

Hino Roadside Assist is available to all private and government purchasers of new 2013-plated Hino 300, 500 and 700 Series trucks with manual, automatic or automated manual transmissions.

The offer is also transferable to new owners within the 36-month warranty period. *To qualify for Hino Roadside Assist, vehicles must be roadworthy and registered within the first six months after purchase.

Hino Australia President and COO Steve Lotter.

“And while Hino trucks are renowned for their reliability and durability, batteries and tyres can go flat and keys can go missing.

“We understand that our customers have businesses to run and they can’t afford any downtime, which is why we’ve taken the initiative to provide roadside assistance as a no-cost inclusion.

“It’s always best to be prepared for whatever may happen, and Hino Roadside Assist takes the hassle out of arranging emergency repairs,” he said.

In addition to mechanical services, Hino Roadside Assist provides towing and recovery, a message relay service

“It’s always best to be prepared for whatever may happen, and Hino Roadside Assist takes the hassle out of arranging emergency repairs” Hino’s truck range is even better value in 2013, with the addition of Hino Roadside Assist on all 300, 500 and 700 Series trucks at no extra cost.

14

issue 21 SUMMER 2013

servicing

Hino launches maintenance agreements Hino Australia has announced the introduction of its comprehensive Maintenance Agreement program, newly-developed to provide truck owners with the correct level of mechanical servicing for their specific operational needs and budget.

The new Maintenance Agreement program began in January and provides customers with the choice of four distinct mechanical service regimes.

Maintenance Agreements are a part of Hino’s wider ‘Total Protection’ suite of products and services – linking a range of after-sales initiatives offered by Hino Australia, including the company’s new Roadside Assist program.

According to Hino Australia Divisional Manager, Product Support and Business Development, Greg Bleasel, Hino Maintenance Agreements are another way that Hino is making truck ownership more economical for business owners and managers.

“Hino Australia recognises that a one-size-fitsall approach isn’t the best way to deal with truck maintenance, and has developed the four-level program to satisfy all types of vehicle usage,” Mr Bleasel said.

“Not all trucks are used in the same way or under the same conditions. A truck covering large distances in the outback in extreme heat and dust will likely need a different maintenance schedule than a short-haul metro delivery truck.

“Hino Maintenance Agreements cater for these different customers by providing a level of service that suits their needs and budget.”

Level 1 provides standard scheduled servicing (as per the manufacturer’s recommendation), with all work performed by Hino factory-trained technicians using Hino genuine parts.

“Hino Australia recognises that a onesize-fits-all approach isn’t the best way to deal with truck maintenance”

The second level of maintenance adds the replacement of consumables (such as belts, hoses, globes and wiper blades) to those items included with the log book service.

Level 4 provides the most extensive servicing and covers all items available in levels 1 to 3, adding comprehensive repair of major mechanical components, including the engine and transmission.

Level 3 servicing additionally offers the replacement of brake and clutch parts, as well as selected fuel system, suspension and driveline parts.

A fixed monthly cost is charged for all four levels of service, meaning that owners can avoid unexpected repair costs and maintain tight control of their maintenance budgets.

Torque 15

Hino ProShift AMT

Shifting to AMT Matt Wood tests the AMT-equipped 500 FC and FD variants on a two-day run south of Sydney.

A Japanese truck once tried to kill me, maybe not directly but to be clearer, I nearly died in it. I was driving this rather innocent looking five-tonner after a busy day running around Melbourne and I rummaged around in my esky for an apple.

I grabbed the piece of fruit as I barrelled through the traffic heading down Melbourne’s Punt Road and went to take a bite; it was then I found myself in a dilemma — I needed to change gears. So I sunk my teeth into the apple leaving it in my mouth while I reached for the gear lever. As I bounced across a bridge over the Yarra River, the large chunk of apple I’d bitten into came adrift and shot down my throat.

With the apple now blocking off my airway, I found myself trying to steer, breathe through my ears, and not die. By now I was looking like one of those egg-eating snakes you see on the Discovery Channel.

Still mobile as my vision started to waver, I kind of gave myself the Heimlich manoeuvre with the steering wheel and I managed to dislodge the offending chunk of fruit.

So that is how I came to the conclusion that fruit and small white Japanese trucks with manual gearboxes are bad for your health.

Luckily for me, Hino has just introduced its new ProShift 6 automated manual transmission (AMT) in selected 500 series FC and FD models. I recently had a chance to drive the new automated cog swapper to see how the latest two-pedal AMT to come out of Japan performed, both on the open road and around town.

I hadn’t had a chance to slide behind the wheel of a Hino for a very long time, so the launch of the new ProShift 6 gearbox proved to be a great opportunity to catch up with the slightly boxy-looking 500 and get a little familiar.

Inside the simple, practical interior, the instrumentation was very easy to read at a glance and everything was within close reach for the driver.

Stubby shift At the outset it seemed the stubby little transmission shift was quite intuitive in both placement and design. More to the point, it was pretty much the same sort of layout you’d find in any relatively recent passenger car – ‘D’ for drive, ‘N’ for neutral, across and through a gate to the left for reverse, and a gate to the right for the manual sequential shift mode.

16

issue 21 SUMMER 2013

Just to keep me happy, Hino has installed some buttons to push. The first is a power mode button which tells the transmission to hold off on gear changes a bit longer, giving the engine another 500-600rpm to play with before attempting another gear change.

But where the ProShift differs is the use of a standard dry plate clutch as used in the manual version, rather than a viscous fluid coupling that other AMTs on the market use.

This is hydraulically actuated and is controlled by the gearbox ECU.

When you engage the ‘slow’ button, engine revs are limited to 550rpm with the clutch fully disengaged. This takes care of the ‘on or off’ uncertainty that can sometimes affect AMT boxes at low speed due to uncertain clutch engagement, especially when backing onto docks or into loading bays.

Hino claims a gain in driveline performance and efficiency as a direct result of using a direct mechanical method of driveline engagement.

Hino also claims a possible 10–15 per cent advantage in fuel economy over rival AMTs and torque converter transmissions.

With the slow button engaged, the truck should just idle along forwards or in reverse without any gritted teeth and bunny hopping on the driver’s part.

The gearbox itself is the same six-speed LX transmission that Hino has been using across the range in manual guise. However, like any other AMT on the market, the cogs are swapped by a servo shift that is told what to do by an electrical control unit (ECU) which in turn is told what to do by the engine ECU.

Of course this all remains purely academic, until you get behind the wheel and see how Hino’s medium-duty five cylinder slugger performs out in the hustle and bustle of everyday traffic.

Hino ProShift AMT So as the little AMT convoy headed south out of Sydney, I settled into the nicely suspended ISRI seat for the drive.

The fact of the matter is that most of us will just jump into a truck of this size and plant the foot, regardless of what gearbox happens to be bolted to the engine. And that’s pretty much exactly what I did.

It may be an AMT but it actually behaved more like a torque converter auto. I mean that in a good way – clutch engagement from standstill was smooth enough and, if you kept your right foot nailed to the floor, the transmission just climbed through the gears without a great deal of engine noise or bother. It just … went.

The trucks were also equipped with Hino’s ‘Easy Start’ hill hold function which was the icing on the cake for the AMT in stop-start traffic. The long flat torque curve of the JO7 engine, which develops close to peak torque from 1,200rpm all the way to 2,200rpm but peaking at 1,500rpm, suited this rather proactive approach to driving as the little five cylinder did a mighty job of feeding power to the transmission.

Huffing, no puffing My first truck for the day was the 220hp (164kW) FC and it was in this trusty steed I rolled down Mt Ousley towards Wollongong, New South Wales. I knocked the gear selector across into manual, held onto fourth gear and let the little FC chug down the hill with the exhaust brake huffing, which it handled easily.

The next truck I jumped into was the 240hp (179kW) FD on leaf springs, and with a couple more ponies underfoot, the package had a whole lot more boogie going on.

Light- and medium-duty trucks tend to cop more than their fair share of use and abuse, and they get no thanks for it. So once out on the Princes Highway heading for the NSW south coast, I have to admit to (legally) driving the FD like I stole it.

“By using a gear stick as a selector, Hino has made manual shifts seem more intuitive”

The AMT, however, almost seems to make the truck unthrashable. With all that torque available so low in the rev range, wringing its neck seems pointless.

The transmission, like most AMTs, would try and select the highest possible gear at all times, but on the undulating, winding coastal road, keeping the box in manual made it easy to keep the FD’s momentum up.

By using a gear stick as a selector, Hino has made manual shifts seem more intuitive rather than using a dial or T-bar, and it seemed to provide the best results rather than simply pushing the power button to hold a gear or lengthen the time between gear changes.

Mountain climber The following day I found myself at the wheel of the 240hp FD on airbags, and this was the pick of the AMT bunch, with the best road manners.

The 6.4-litre engine provided a surprising amount of punch as we scaled Brown Mountain heading inland towards Canberra. As with the previous day, I found the drivetrain as a whole performed best when driven in manual mode on the tight winding mountain road.

With the tacho needle kept at around 2,000rpm, the FD was content to haul itself up the mountain in either third or fourth gear. This of course is not really the kind of environment where this kind of truck is most likely to be found and I’d imagine that in most urban settings the AMT selector would stay in ‘D’ for drive.

Overall the ProShift 6 behind the punchy JO7E engine proved to be a great performing AMT that will be equally at home inching through the daily grind or belting down a freeway.

I even think it might be safe to consume fruit while behind the wheel.

This is an edited version of a story by Matt Wood originally published in the October 2012 edition of Owner/Driver magazine.

Torque 17

parts & photo competition

Clutch promotion keeps Hinos shifting smoothly Hino Australia is running a Hino Genuine replacement clutch kit promotion that emphasises the value for money of all Hino Genuine parts.

An average discount of 15 per cent is available on clutch kits and 22 per cent on flywheels for models from 2000-build onwards, including the 300, 500 and 700 Series, Ranger and Ranger Pro, Dutro and assorted Hino buses.

Five critical performance factors differentiate a Hino Genuine clutch from non-genuine items: smooth engagement, perfect disengagement, easy shifting, shock and noise absorption, and durability.

In comparison, non-genuine clutches and flywheels can be a lottery.

A ‘good’ non-genuine clutch may just lack the built-in shock absorption of a Hino Genuine clutch, transferring shudder back to the cabin while accelerating wear on other drivetrain components. Or it may just wear out quickly, creating additional down-time and more frequent overhaul expenses. A bad example will be even worse.

“We’ve seen non-genuine clutch facings completely disintegrate after a bit of heat

build-up. This usually destroys the flywheel, and often the bellhousing too,” said Hino Australia Assistant Manager Parts and Accessories, Kirk Harrison.

“It makes for a very expensive repair – it’s definitely the more costly option in the long-run.”

Hino Genuine clutch components are specifically designed to function in harmony with each other for optimum performance.

They are manufactured using Hino’s stringent processes, including furnace tempering and extensive heat treating, to produce the strongest parts possible.

Hino Genuine clutches provide excellent heat and wear resistance, good fade recovery, low vibration and noise, and strong rigidity in continuous high-speed rotation.

Hino Genuine clutch kits and flywheels are available now and ready to order through Hino’s national dealer network.

The Hino Genuine clutch kit promotion runs until 31 March 2013.

ENTER YOUR HINO PHOTOS TO WIN! This edition’s winning entry comes from Kennedy Drilling in WA. This trusty Hino “Birds of Prey” series GT has ferried specialist drilling equipment to some of the most remote locations in the country – proof of the long-term durability and reliability that Hino owners enjoy!

For your chance to win a Hino prize pack send your photos (hi-res JPEG via email, or prints via post), along with your contact details and brief description to: • torque@hino.com.au, or • Hino Australia – Torque photo competition 6-10 Parraweena Road, Caringbah NSW 2229

18

issue 21 SUMMER 2013

SEE YOUR LOCAL HINO DEALER TODAY NEW SOUTH WALES

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