Owner Driver 372 January 2024

JANUARY 2024 #372 $3.00 inc. GST

DEDICATED TO THE SUCCESS OF THE PERSON BEHIND THE WHEEL

OWNERDRIVER.COM.AU

BATHURST’S A BEAUTY

Trucks shine at Dane Ballinger Memorial event Page 20

ISUZU’S BIG PLAN

Generational upswing on the horizon Page 58

THE X FACTOR

Western Star 48X toughs it out in tall timber country

20

42

58

UNIQUELY

FOR DRIVERS... THERE’S ONLY ONE CHOICE kenworth.com.au

OWD_372_001_COVER_PAID_GB.indd 1

20/12/2023 11:59 am

Superior construction and performance; now with intelligent control.

Unlock your Ultima light bar’s full potential with a revolutionary new Ultima Connect+ Controller.* Featuring 3 customisable driving modes, boost mode and the ability to connect multiple lights, Connect+ gives you total beam control.

Ultima High Performance Light Bars are the first in Narva’s innovative Ultima Connect+ range.

BRAWN: Ultima Light Bars

• Market-leading beam performance • 2 beam pattern options available • Unprecedented 10-year warranty BRAINS: Connect+ Controller

• Adjustable brightness • Boost mode – 15% more power for 30 seconds

• Single unit to control all Connect+ enabled products *Sold separately

ULTRA-WIDE FLOOD BEAM PATTERN

LONG & WIDE HYBRID BEAM PATTERN

YEAR WARRANTY

CONNECT+

IP68 IP69K

CUSTOM TRIMS

SCAN TO SEE THEM IN ACTION

narva.com.au/Ultima

J005635 NRV-UL FP Ad Owner Diver Dec FINAL.indd 2 OWD_372_002-3_Brown&Watson & Isuzu ADs.indd 2

8/11/2023 4:23 pm 20/12/2023 12:17 pm

ISUZU N SERIES

It’s Australia’s No.1 light truck for a reason. *

Isuzu N Series is Australia’s best-selling light truck range. And no wonder. They come loaded with smart safety features designed to protect both the driver and other road users. You also get six years’ warranty and roadside assist. And for a limited time, you can score an NLR Traypack from just $57,990, with a three-year Essentials Service Agreement† package included.

To get behind the wheel of a winner, get into your nearest Isuzu Dealer now or visit isuzu.com.au

N L R 4 5 - 1 5 0 S W B M T T R AY P A C K

$57,990

DRIVE AWAY

3 YE A R E S S E NT I A LS S E RV I C E A G R E E M E N T P A C K A G E I N C L U D E D†

*According to T-Mark industry statistics. †The NLR 45-150 SWB Manual Traypack Truck Drive away promotion is available only on new NLR 45-150 SWB Manual Traypack Trucks sold between 1 January 2024 – 31 March 2024 (Promotion Period). This offer is not available in conjunction with any other offer. Fleet and Government purchasers are not eligible. Drive away promotion includes a 3-year Isuzu Essentials Service Agreement package and is only available on new NLR 45-150 SWB Manual Traypack Trucks sold during 1 January 2024 – 31 March 2024 (Promotion Period). Featured drive away price $57,990 includes GST, 12 months registration, government and statutory charges, and dealer delivery costs. Drive away price excludes any parts and accessories that are not supplied as standard. The NLR 45-150 SWB Manual Traypack comes standard with 6 year, 24-hour roadside assistance program and 6-year factory warranty, covering the cab and chassis only and 3-year factory warranty on the body itself. Offer available while stocks last. Visit isuzu.com.au for full terms and conditions. FSA/ISZS1921

4:23 pm

OWD_372_002-3_Brown&Watson & Isuzu ADs.indd 3

20/12/2023 12:17 pm

JANUARY 2024

Contents #372

32 20

50

“Because of how well the White had gone we went 32 X SERIES HITS THE SPOT with a 4900 Western Star.”

20 BRED TO WIN AT BATHURST

Trucks came from as far afield as Brisbane for the annual Dane Ballinger Memorial Truck Show at Bathurst

When Cornwall Logging ordered a new day cab Western Series 48X, there was no one more excited than driver Luke Josefski

8 CALL FOR TRAFFIC JAM SURCHARGE

Queensland road transport companies are considering the introduction of a congestion tax for clients

16 TAKING A PUNT ON KENWORTH

Well before the close of 2023, Kenworth appeared a shortpriced favourite for heavyduty market leadership

18 TRUCK OF THE YEAR

Put your vote in for a chance to win a big package of synthetic engine oil and engine gear oil, courtesy of Eiffel Lubricants

4 JANUARY 2024

OWD_372_004-5_Contents_GB.indd 4

42 ACES OF TURF

Adelaide-based David and Sharon Rogers owe much of their success to their two Hino 500 Series trucks

50 TRUCKS CELEBRATED AT CASTLEMAINE The main street of the quiet Victorian town of Castlemaine played host to hundreds of heavy vehicles last November

58 PLAN OF ATTACK

Isuzu Australia has outlined new product details while talking of the prospect of a genuinely competitive prime mover

ownerdriver.com.au

20/12/2023 1:54 pm

VOT039

Heavy loads All-electric Our heavy-duty electric truck range is designed to minimise CO2, noise and air pollution. It’s a new driveline, but with the same high standards for quality, safety and flexibility that come with every Volvo truck. So, if you are looking for ways to lower your environmental footprint, we have a solution for you.

Volvo Trucks. Driving Progress

VOT0391 Heavy Loads All Electric_Owner OWD_372_004-5_Contents_GB.indd 5 Driver.indd 1

6/12/2023 12:01 2:50 pm 20/12/2023 pm

EDITORIAL Editor Greg Bush E-mail Greg.Bush@primecreative.com.au Journalist Alex Catalano E-mail Alex.Catalano@primecreative.com.au Technical Editor Steve Brooks E-mail sbrooks.trucktalk@gmail.com Contributors Warren Aitken, Robert Bell, Frank Black, Warren Clark, Geoff Crockett, Rod Hannifey, Michael Kaine, Sal Petroccitto, Chris Roe, Ken Wilkie Cartoonist John Allison

PRODUCTION Art Director Bea Barthelson Print IVE Print

ADVERTISING Business Development Manager Hollie Tinker Ph 0466 466 945 E-mail Hollie.Tinker@primecreative.com.au

SUBSCRIPTIONS www.ownerdriver.com.au/subscribe Phone +61 (0)3 9690 8766 Mon-Fri 8am-4.30pm (EST) Email subscriptions@primecreative.com.au Mail 379 Docklands Drive, Docklands, VIC 3008 Australia

EXECUTIVE GROUP CEO John Murphy COO Christine Clancy Operations Manager Regina Fellner Trader Group Sales Director Brad Buchanan

Owner Driver is published by Prime Creative Media 379 Docklands Drive, Docklands Melbourne VIC 3008 Telephone: (+61) 03 9690 8766 www.primecreative.com.au ISSN 1321-6279

OwnerDriver magazine is owned by Prime Creative Media. All material in OwnerDriver is copyright and no part may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic or mechanical including information and retrieval systems) without written permission of the publisher. The Editor welcomes contributions but reserves the right to accept or reject any material. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information Prime Creative Media will not accept responsibility for errors or omissions or for any consequences arising from reliance on information published.

Opinions expressed in OwnerDriver are not necessarily the opinions of, or endorsed by the publisher unless otherwise stated.

BEHIND THE WHEEL Greg Bush

Fuelling the debate

W

elcome to the new year – a year that will hopefully bring changes in the right direction for the Australian road transport industry. Owner-drivers and owners of small f leets could do well to stop the rot of diminishing profit

margins.

A contributing factor here is the price of diesel, depending on when you fill up, what brand you use or whether you’re in the city and country. The price can also be widely different between a truck stop on the highway or motorway. Sometimes it’s even worth driving around the corner to pick up a saving.

Of course, for those carrying fuel cards, there’s little option for going in search of a lesser price.

But the upward trend is likely to continue for the short term at least, due to Vladimir Putin’s “special military operation” in Ukraine and the subsequent sanctions being taken by the west against Russia, a major supplier of diesel to Europe.

In Australia, it seems we’re not as close-knit as the countries in Western Europe. Depending on which state you live or fill up in, you could be looking at up to a 30c a litre price difference.

Remember the days when the Queensland State Government cut 8 cents a litre of the price?

Transport companies heading over the Tweed would strategically time their fuel usage so that their trucks were bordering on empty on arrival.

Nowadays the 8 cents off would make little difference. You’d still be paying more at the Shell Nudgee truck stop on the Gateway Arterial Road in Brisbane than the BP at Laverton North in Melbourne.

If you’re filling up in Adelaide, you’d be faring better still, around 20 cents a litre less at the BP Wingfield than the forementioned Brisbane servo. Even Ceduna, at the eastern end of the Nullarbor, was also cheaper than most in south-east Queensland.

In Perth, the BP Kewdale truck stop, as at December 17 last year, was charging around $1.93, despite it being labelled the “second most isolated western city in the world”. (The top spot there goes

to Honolulu). There’s cheaper outlets nearby, but perhaps not B-double friendly.

Driving further out of Perth and it’s a different story. In Kalgoorlie expect to pay upwards of 15 cents a litre more than the WA capital, while in Broome you’re looking at around 40 cents a litre more.

In the Northern Territory, Darwin’s diesel price is competitive against most of the state capitals (except Brisbane), although once you venture south expect to pay 30 cents a litre more, notably Tennant Creek.

In NSW, it’s a case of what highway. A Marulan truck stop can be 13 cents a litre cheaper than the Pacific Motorway between Sydney and Newcastle.

It’s unlikely you’ll get a cheap deal in Sydney’s transport hubs either, or along the M5 at Eastern Creek for that matter.

Tasmania is pretty well on par with Queensland, with prices over the $2 a litre mark in midDecember.

It appears these state diesel price differences will mysteriously continue into the future, as will the disparities between heavy vehicle enforcement rules once you cross a state border.

Here’s hoping 2024 will bring a year of peace in the northern hemisphere. We could certainly welcome some relief in high diesel prices.

The OwnerDriver team would like to wish a Happy New Year to all our readers.

MOORE

Moore

trailer for you

r money! TRAILERS

 07 4693 1088 www.mooretrailers.com.au 6 JANUARY 2024

OWD_372_006-7_COL_Greg_GB.indd 6

ownerdriver.com.au

20/12/2023 12:03 pm

Est. 1944

27 BRANCHES ACROSS

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND With 27 branches across Australia and New Zealand and being the largest commercial vehicle accident repairer, Royans offer customers a range of branches to choose from.

Royans’ highly skilled technicians specialise in everything from vans, rigid trucks weighing just 3.5 tonnes to prime movers, earthmoving and mining equipment, specialised harvesters and farming equipment, buses and coaches, and the full range of trailers.

Branches across Australia & New Zealand When back on the road means back to business. Choose Royans.

24/7 ACCIDENT RESPONSE CALL 1800 ROYANS (769 267) AUSTRALIA WIDE

Specialists in commercial vehicle accident repairs | www.royans.com.au

OWD_372_006-7_COL_Greg_GB.indd 7

20/12/2023 12:03 pm

The Goods

NEWS FROM THE HIGHWAY AND BEYOND

Traffic jams spur calls for surcharge Faced with growing city congestion, Queensland road transport companies are considering the introduction of a congestion tax for clients Rising fuel prices and steadily increasing congestion in Brisbane and surrounds has major transport companies considering charging ‘congestion taxes’ to their clients. In an industry run on “tight margins”, sitting stuck in traffic and burning fuel is becoming a bigger issue than ever, says Queensland Trucking Association (QTA) CEO Gary Mahon.

While it is a move that has been brought up time and time again for the better part of the past 15 years in ‘Australia’s most congested city’, the signs are pointing to a more cohesive, industry-backed push this time around.

Reports have emerged of at least one Queensland-based company seriously considering the tax, as Mahon says the QTA has entered discussions with several.

“Larger companies are giving us the feedback that they’re only able to do two trips across a particular section of the capital city versus where they might have been able to give four journeys in more recent times,” he tells OwnerDriver.

“We’ve got additional costs in fuel burn and a range of other costs to do with drivers sitting in congested roads.

“One way or the other, we’ve got to do something about these increasing costs, particularly with the everincreasing cost of fuel.”

As of November, the Australian The busy Bruce Highway near the Burpengary weigh station, just north of Brisbane. Photo by Greg Bush

8 JANUARY 2024

OWD_372_008-9_News_GB.indd 8

Institute of Petroleum estimates that the national average price per litre has risen to 217.7c for diesel, and 200.9c for unleaded.

Industry forecasters warn of even greater spikes, according to Mahon, as global oil prices continue to rise.

“There’s no sign of any relief coming with fuel,” he says.

The calls for the congestion tax come amid a major shift in the transport, with the federal government releasing the Infrastructure Policy Statement on November 14.

Setting out parliament’s ‘strategic themes’ for its transport infrastructure, there has already been hot debate over what it means for the industry.

Industry association NatRoad says that the statement shows the government heading in the right direction, while warning of the implications of further taxing of the road transport industry.

They believe that if it is implemented correctly, Australia can ‘reap a national dividend from strategic investment in infrastructure’.

But Mahon disagrees, saying that the transport industry could be negatively affected by the government’s shift in focus towards what it says is firmly on productivity, sustainability, and liveability.

“We’re substantially disappointed

in the announcement by the federal government minister for transport and infrastructure about changing the priorities of road investment around the country,” he says.

“We would argue that there’s a dire need in this country for a much more progressive investment in the road freight network so we can develop a more efficient supply chain around this country.

“We’re a very large country by geography, we’re highly dependent on road freight.

“Rail provides a solution to parts of the economy, but as a country we’re going to be highly dependent on road freight for a long time yet to come. We don’t see any progressive thinking to link substantial freight network investment to low-carbon replenishment.”

Mahon says that one of the areas aside from congestion that is contributing to the consideration of taxing companies harder is how the government utilises toll roads.

It is a major cost for drivers, he says, that could be avoided with the implementation of a different system.

“Most toll roads are relatively empty after about 9 or 10 at night,” Mahon says. “Why are we paying full price during the night for many of these distribution centres or other places that require reasonably large distribution of loads?

“Maybe you could consider utilising

Above: Queensland Trucking Association CEO Gary Mahon. Photo courtesy of QTA

some of that technology during the late hours.

“I’m not necessarily professing that we should work 24/7, but if you can make some of these opportunities available, various fleets might consider the benefits of using different parts of the network at different times and capturing that in their logistics.”

More than anything however, the QTA would like to see greater investments in the country’s roads with the trucking industry in mind.

Mahon believes the growth of the industry will see the demands for transport outweigh what is possible to deliver on Australia’s road network.

“One way or the other we’re going to need to either invest differently in our roads, start to think differently about how trucks are utilised within the network,” he says.

“We would argue that one of the problems in this country over the last 100 years is that principally we design roads for cars, and we let trucks use them.

“We’ve got competent forecasters in this space suggesting that we’ll have 26 per cent growth in road freight over the next three years. That exceeds population growth. We’re looking at 40 per cent growth by the end of the decade. One way or the other we’ve got to deliver that freight.

“We need to be ready, and we’re not seeing evidence of progressive and strategic investment and decision-making being made to make those roads efficient and as safe as possible.”

– Alex Catalano

ownerdriver.com.au

20/12/2023 1:53 pm

AD-5

ESTABLISHED 57 YEARS ESTABLISHED 57 YEARS

Unit 1/71 Axis Place, Larapinta, Unit 1/71 Axis4110, Place, Larapinta, Brisbane, QLD, Australia Brisbane, 4110, Australia Ph:QLD, (07) 3276 9300 (07) 32769301 9300 Fax:Ph: (07) 3276 Fax: (07) 3276 9301 Email: mattc@gibbsparts.com Email: sales@ggd.net.au davids@gibbsparts.com davids@ggd.net.au Web: www.gibbsparts.com Web: www.gibbsparts.com

ZF ASTRONIC ZF Clutch Actuators For DAF, Iveco And Man Trucks. S37. TA950479.

POA

ZF DAF, IVECO & MAN Modulator ZF Astronic For DAF, Iveco & Man. S38. TA952388.

POA

ZF DAF, IVECO & MAN ZF Ecolite powerpacks. S40. TA952390.

POA

MERCEDES-BENZ G85-G280 Reconditioned Mercedes-Benz Transmissions.

Most Makes and Models G100, G131, GO210, G240,G280, G330available. S3. TA431566.

POA

MERCEDES EPS Gear cylinder. S39. TA952389.

POA

VOLVO/MACK I-SHIFT/M-DRIVE AT2512C, AT2612D & ATO3112D. S44. TA952399.

POA

SCANIA TRANSMISSIONS All makes and models available. S11. TA431615.

POA

ZF ASTRONIC For DAF, Iveco & Man S43. TA952397.

POA

ZF TRANSMISSIONS ALL MODELS All makes and models available. S10. TA431606.

POA

Diesel Mechanics Needed - Call us to find out more

FULL WORKSHOP FACILITIES FULL WORKSHOP FACILITIES SPARES, REPAIRS, RECONDITIONED & NEW EXCHANGE UNITS AVAILABLE SPARES, REPAIRS, RECONDITIONED & NEW EXCHANGE UNITS AVAILABLE

AD-587676734.als - Base Edition 54

OWD_372_008-9_News_GB.indd 9

DOW-FP-5013553-C DOW-FP-5013553-C

SPECIALISING AND SPECIALISING IN IN TRANSMISSIONS TRANSMISSIONS AND DIFFERENTIALS DIFFERENTIALS FOR TRUCKS & BUSES

24/6/21 8:30 am

20/12/2023 12:05 pm

THE GOODS NEWS FROM THE HIGHWAY AND BEYOND

Win for waste workers, TWU says Government job security protections are expected to bring industry harmony to essential waste workers The Transport Workers Union (TWU) says it welcomes the NSW Government’s announcement to provide job security and protection of terms and conditions for essential waste workers after months of industrial unrest at Cleanaway sites across the state.

The new legislation ensures workers will keep their jobs and won’t lose any existing terms and conditions if waste contracts change hands.

It means essential waste workers’ jobs, pay and conditions can no longer be traded off by companies seeking to undercut existing contracts to win work.

The TWU states that the announcement comes after a year of tumultuous negotiations and protected industrial action at several Cleanaway sites in the state and more across the country.

The union says has lodged two intractable bargaining disputes against Cleanaway in the Fair Work Commission after long

stalemates over the waste services provider’s attempts to worsen conditions and force workers onto gruelling seven-day rosters to secure contracts over competitors.

TWU NSW/Qld secretary Richard Olsen says the changes will bring industrial harmony to an essential

industry for our communities.

“This is a great win for waste workers who’ve battled months of hostile negotiations and called on local councils and the State Government to act to protect their jobs and conditions.

“Waste removal is an essential

TWU NSW/Qld secretary Richard Olsen.

Photo by Greg Bush

service for our communities.

It’s a tough job which is made even harder by the fear of job insecurity as contracts can be transferred from an employer to a new provider with no guarantees for workers or their families.

“This is sensible and impactful legislation from the NSW Government. Waste workers will have peace of mind that their jobs, pay and conditions are secure.

“NSW communities will have the protection of smooth transition when essential waste contracts change hands, without the disruption of experienced waste workers disappearing from their streets.

“The changes create a level playing field for waste companies which can no longer be undercut by a competitor using workers’ livelihoods as a bargaining chip.

This will make a difference to homes, businesses and hardworking families across NSW,” Olsen says.

FINANCE IS YOUR BANK GIVING YOU THE RUN AROUND? NOTE SURE WHO TO TURN TO? GIVE US A CALL.

 Absolute Competence

PROUD SPONSORS OF 2023 AUSTRALIAN SUPER TRUCKS RACING SERIES

 Genuine care of your business

OVER

20

YEARS IN EXPERIENCE

10 JANUARY 2024

OWD_372_010-11_News_GB.indd 10

• EQUIPMENT FINANCE • RAISING WORKING CAPITAL • OVERDRAFTS • PRIVATE SALE EXPERTS

 The Easiest process to obtain finance

Deal with one Broker, Simple!

Free Assessment Available on our website at www.allfreightfinance.com.au Or call one of our qualified brokers for an assessment over the phone

Melbourne (03) 9305 9400

Ainsley Cutts 0413 111 511 Donella Cutts 0433 002 211 Patrick O’Keefe 0433 002 204 Richard O’Keeffe 0410 667 523

ownerdriver.com.au

20/12/2023 12:13 pm

NTC asked to extend fatigue laws The Australian Trucking Association tells NTC that fatigue regulations should include all trucks, not just long-distance heavies The fatigue laws should be extended to cover trucks weighing between 4.5 and 12 tonnes, the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) says in its submission to the National Transport Commission on the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) reforms.

At present, the drivers and operators of vehicles weighing between 4.5 tonnes and 12 tonnes are subject to the safety duties in the HVNL but have no work and rest hour or record keeping obligations.

ATA Chair David Smith said the extension would improve safety for the drivers of these trucks and everyone else using the road.

“When the fatigue laws were developed, it was decided to exclude the drivers of smaller trucks. It was assumed that long working hours and fatigue were less of a problem for these drivers,” Smith says.

“This assumption was wrong.

More drivers of vehicles weighing less than 12 tonnes doing local work report fatigue as a substantial or major problem than drivers of long distance heavy vehicles.

“As a result, there is a strong case for extending fatigue regulation to cover all trucks.

“Local drivers would need to comply with the work and rest hour rules but would not need to fill in a work diary. Their record keeper or business would need to keep the same local work records that are required now.

“This approach would deliver increased safety at the lowest cost of all the options that the NTC considered. It would reflect the reality that local work involves regular changes in activity and as a result carries a lower fatigue risk,” Smith says.

Graph courtesy of ATA. Source: Friswell, Williamson and Dunn, 2006 Photo: Isuzu Australia Ltd

BEARING MASTER KITS AND WORKSHOP SOLUTIONS AIR BRAKE TUBE STAND Tube Stand Suitable for: •

Truck Trailer Air Brake Tube

•

Nylon Tubing

•

Corrugated Split Tube

•

Rubber Hose

TUBE CUTTERS

Install and remove bearing cups safely & precisely without damaging hubs with GP BEARINGMASTER KITS. INSTALLATION KIT Part #GP-TBS-100

REMOVAL KIT Part #GP-TBS-200

GREASE PACKER Part# GP-T13-BP1

GP TRUCK PRODUCTS available from Truck & Trailer parts outlets Australia wide.

ownerdriver.com.au

OWD_372_010-11_News_GB.indd 11

2215 (H) x 1112 (W) x 740 (D) mm

SCAN CODE FIND OUT MORE

UNCOMPROMISING PERFORMANCE

Pho n e +61 3 9580 1811 sales@gptruckproducts.com.au www.gptruckproducts.com.au

JANUARY 2024 11

20/12/2023 12:13 pm

THE GOODS NEWS FROM THE HIGHWAY AND BEYOND

Reform needed quickly, says TWU TWU national secretary Michael Kaine has urged opponents to the Closing Loophole Bill to “get out of the way” The Transport Workers Union’s (TWU) national weekend convoy last November was one of its biggest yet. After descending on Canberra, the TWU says the transport industry was more united than ever in its renewed push for legislative reform.

Industry associations, transport operators, small fleet owners, owner drivers, and ‘gig-work’ companies and employees came together across the country to launch their protests in the majority of Australia’s capitals last November.

TWU national secretary Michael Kaine says the message this time around was loud and clear industry-wide that the Closing Loopholes Bill should be passed as quickly as possible.

The first part of the Closing Loopholes Bill was passed by the Senate in December, however the second part of the bill has been delayed until February.

With aims to change the Fair Work Act 2009 to ease supply chain pressures industry-wide, the convoy participants remonstrated with the motion that the government should act sooner rather than later.

“Everyone that’s been involved in this and on the convoy wanted to make the point to the federal opposition that if you’re not in support of this you need to get out of the way,” Kaine tells OwnerDriver.

“The bill is the result of a Senate enquiry that took two or three years. There’s nothing surprising about it. And now you’ve had months and months to get across National convoys of transport workers were on the move in November. Photo courtesy of TWU

12 JANUARY 2024

OWD_372_012-13_News_GB.indd 12

the details.

“We applaud you for your diligence in making sure you get it right, but this convoy was saying you can have the confidence that the entire industry believes it’s right. It was a deliberate approach from everyone involved to send a very, very clear message. Here’s the united front saying we’re confident about this.”

Kaine says that the current reform push dates all the way back to the abolishment of the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal in 2016, which functioned from 2012 to set pay and conditions for transport workers.

This was compounded by the industry moving more towards gig work, with drivers working as sub-contractors and companies like Uber, Doordash and Menulog growing in size in a new wave of transport workers.

With the support of those gig companies, as well as industry associations including the National Road Freighters Association (NRFA) and the Australian Trucking Association (ATA), the TWU believes the transport world has never been more united.

“From peak bodies to state associations, NatRoad was out there doing joint media with the rest of us,” Kaine says.

“In addition to that we had the gig companies too. We have Uber, Doordash and Menulog at a Senate committee two or three weeks ago.

We had Uber in particular saying they welcomed reform.

TWU national secretary Michael Kaine. Photo by Greg Bush

“With one voice on the weekend, we have the entirety of the industry from the largest truck driver to gig workers to industry associations supported by gig companies, major retailers saying this should be done.

It was unanimous, but also there was a fair amount of anger about the delay.”

Ultimately, Kaine says the point of the convoy was to make it clear that the industry wants reform passed urgently.

“From a transport workers perspective, I think there would be a pretty broad support to this approach,” he says.

“We want to make sure the supply

chain pressures and the commercial contractual pressures that are placed on transport operators and owner drivers and small fleets from the customers that reap the benefits, we want to see them in a much better place.

“We need to make sure there’s no money flowing down the contract chain, and we need to make sure commercial power isn’t used to squeeze contracts and squeeze conditions. The very powerful thing about this legislation is that in a world first it has the capacity to attack those contract chain pressures.”

– Alex Catalano

NatRoad says NSW toll rebate a good start The National Road Transport Association (NatRoad) says the New South Wales Government is giving much-needed toll relief to heavy vehicle operators using Sydney’s overpriced toll road with its toll rebate program.

As on January 1, the Minns Government has honoured its election commitment by delivering toll relief for users of the M5 East and M8 motorways.

“This is exactly what was needed for trucks using the city’s busiest motorways,” says NatRoad Chief Executive Officer Warren Clark.

“The good thing is that operators don’t have to do a thing.

“Provided you have a valid toll account, and operate a Class B vehicle, one-third of the cost of your toll will be automatically rebated to your account,” Clark says NSW and interstate registered trucks will qualify, provided they have a valid E-Toll, Linkt, or Eastlink account.

Toll rebates were one of several measures NatRoad called for in its submission to the NSW Tolls Inquiry.

Sydney’s M8 motorway. Photo by Greg Bush

“We want the Government to ask the tollway operator to go further and introduce more incentives such as time-based discounts but we’re grateful for what’s being delivered,” Clark says.

The scheme is a trial and will run for two years at a cost to government of $53.8 million.

ownerdriver.com.au

20/12/2023 12:11 pm

NHVR to chase CoR offenders Regulator’s new team to encourage confidential tip-offs to investigate directors who contribute to serious safety offences The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) announced on December 14 the establishment of a dedicated team focused on investigating allegations of offending by off-road parties.

The NHVR says the team will investigate offences committed by off-road parties who do not safely manage their transport activities, or who make prohibited commercial requests that cause drivers to speed or drive tired.

NHVR executive director Raymond Hassall says the NHVR has worked to enforce significant offences by parties in the Chain of Responsibility (CoR) more effectively and equitably.

“Our priority is ensuring everyone who works with heavy vehicles, including the parties who contract with transport operators, are accountable for safety,” Hassall says.

“Since the 2018 introduction of safety duties in the Heavy

Vehicle National Law, more than 40 primary duty prosecutions have commenced with a focus on director level activities that contribute to serious safety offences.

“We know it is critical that we increase our efforts to focus more directly on the other parties in the chain and their role in ensuring safety.”

The NHVR says the investigative team will particularly rely on data gathered through the Heavy Vehicle Confidential Reporting Line (HVCRL).

According to the NHVR, it also utilises an Analysis and Risk team to analyse transport intelligence to target the greatest safety risks.

The Chain of Responsibility team at the NHVR now include a dedicated off-road investigative team, a major investigations unit tasked with responding to allegations of serious and

systemic noncompliance, and a national prosecution team to litigate Heavy Vehicle National Law matters in metropolitan and regional courts.

“The NHVR has established advisory material to ensure all parties are aware of key safety risks associated with the use of heavy vehicles and their controls,” Hassall continues.

“The success of our new off-road investigative team will depend, in part, on the quality of information we obtain suggesting non-compliance.

“If you are a transport operator, a driver or a loved one who is aware of dangerous commercial pressures or safety practices arising from the activities of off-road parties, we encourage you to contact the HVCRL and talk to our trained assessment staff.”

NHVR executive director Raymond Hassall.

Photo by NHVR

Toll Toll Free: Free: 1800 1800 044 044 909 909 || www.mooretruckparts.com.au www.mooretruckparts.com.au || Unit Unit 3/10 3/10 Bluett Bluett Drive, Drive, Smeaton Smeaton Grange Grange NSW NSW 2567 2567 Moore Truck Parts has NO connections, sponsorships or affiliations with Original parts or Truck Manufacturers (OEM) products or companies. We supply an alternative, high-quality aftermarket products which we back with a lifetime replacement warranty guarantee on all new aftermarket body panels. *T&C’s Apply.

ownerdriver.com.au

OWD_372_012-13_News_GB.indd 13

JANUARY 2024 13

20/12/2023 12:11 pm

EYES ON THE ROAD Rod Hannifey

Roads in disrepair The impact on trucks from substandard roads is not only unsafe but adds higher repair costs

H

appy trucking New Year to all.

Let’s start positive. This could be the year things change, we have the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) review to be released. It has taken a long time but it could and should (if they listened and you did your part contributing) make some meaningful change. Let’s hope.

Then there is reality. I got stuck in Sydney last month, not because I had done too many hours. I had certainly had more than enough breaks and rest, but it was due to the 14-day rule. Even though I had enough hours to get home in every other way, but going to the Castlemaine Truck Show and leaving there on the Saturday afternoon two weeks before, I ran up against the two days off in 14.

I only needed five hours to get home and then could have had two and a half days there but ended up, with all

ROADWORK WASTAGE

Now to roadworks. I have had so many calls about wrong, bad, unsafe or simply stupid signage when there is no one there working on a side road and still 60km/h signs on the highway at night and other bits. I said last month and stand by this, I want roads fixed (we will get back to this) and I don’t want anyone working on the road to be hurt, but …

Coming home down the Bruce Highway towards evening and both traffic directions sitting and looking at each other. I asked why? The bloke on site says they are changing over to timers for the night hours and it is deemed too dangerous for them to control them, yet they get paid to sit there all night in case they fail. I put in a complaint about the Cunningham Highway and they came back to me.

They were to check delay times, but again, we can pay people to sit all

ROD HANNIFEY, a transport safety advocate, has been involved in raising the profile of the industry, conducting highway truck audits, the Blue Reflector Trial for informal parking bays on the Newell, the ‘Truckies on Road Code’, the national 1800 number for road repairs proposal, and the Better Roadside Rest Areas Group. Rod is the current president of the NRFA. Contact Rod on 0428 120 560, e-mail rod.hannifey@bigpond. com or visit www.truckright.com.au

trucks when the roads are not ‘truckworthy’? And who will do something about it? Then there’s the costs. Some say over 50 per cent now is safety. We all want safety but do we need five bumper trucks one after the other in Melbourne on roadworks at $500 an hour or more so their drivers too can sit on their phones all night?

Too many stop-go people have been telling stories of the phenomenal pay they get, to watch traffic and still be on their phone with vehicles waiting.

If you are a crew out in this heat, patching the road with hopefully hot asphalt (cold does not take, it seems) that would be a back breaking job.

However, you do have people’s lives in your hands and simply throwing a bit in here and there does not save lives but risks them. Doing one patchup job and leaving the next three doesn’t help either.

Trucks cop the biggest damage, but what about motorcycles? It must be nearly a Lotto chance of not hitting a pothole somewhere and having the wheel wrenched and throwing you into another lane. It’s dangerous, could cost a life, but it will when there is someone coming the other way, car or truck.

Then what about the driver coming the other way, will their lives be ended or simply just destroyed by the event? If it is a truck, we will be blamed first and then maybe later the truth will come out, but after we are hanged first.

How many have been in this situation? I do support and recommend the idea of first aid training for us, but what about the roads?

“Why must we have roadworthy trucks when the roads are not ‘truckworthy’?” the cameras, tracking, weighbridges etc, having to sit in the Sydney depot for 24 hours and then drive five hours home. Those ‘experts’ who come up with all this obviously spend most of their nights in their own bed or, if not, in a better hotel with all the facilities than we do living in a truck. In truth, with a normal logbook I would’ve probably driven home without really knowing about it unless I got pulled up and someone went hard to find it.

Most can keep track of a week, but counting and watching hours over two weeks with all that goes on – good luck! The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is changing and pushing AFM. For some it will help, but you cannot get it as an employee driver. Their view – and this is the legislative take thus far – that as an employee I do not have control over my job. Yes, we have BFM and I have tried to even get a trial on AFM, submitting an application previously, but until the NHVR gains some more power to change minor things like this without going to the government to get it changed, I can’t get it.

14 JANUARY 2024

OWD_372_014_COL_Rod Hannifey_GB.indd 14

night but not let them manage and deal with traffic, and we can’t require the use of traffic lights that detect traffic and then deal with it.

Again, I’m happy to stop and/or slow down when work is in progress, but not sit and wait while the non-existent traffic coming from the other direction gets their turn. It’s the same just south of Wagga Wagga. For weeks on end blokes are sitting at each end all night when they could have yelled to one another. One could have controlled the lights or sensor lights so it would be more efficient and less costly.

UNWORTHY ROADS

Then we get to the costs for roadworks.

The road transport industry generally operates on thin margins. Damage from roads does not get included when even the government will not recognise them, so we just have to keep fixing the trucks. Then of course, you get pulled in, defected and/or fined or another cross against you or your company for bad maintenance, while the roads remain buggered.

Why must we have roadworthy

Photo by Steve Skinner

ownerdriver.com.au

20/12/2023 1:52 pm

NHVR Sal Petroccitto

The year in review A look back at the NHVR’s projects, initiatives and milestones over the past 12 months

A

n exciting new year has kicked off and with the start of 2024, comes a wave of new ambitions for the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR). But before we set out on our journey to achieve new milestones, it’s important to ref lect on the year that has been.

The year kicked off with a series of emergency situations across the country which saw the NHVR partner with AFAC, the National Council for Fire and Emergency Services, to deliver a fatigue exemption notice enabling emergency service agencies to manage vehicle operations more effectively while preparing for emergencies.

We continued to roll out a suite of new Road Management tools, enabling each council and jurisdiction road manager use these self-service tools help to increase transparency and ensure permits are consented correctly. This will be an important tool as our National Network Map develops.

In April, the NHVR, in partnership with the Australian Government, made $1.7 million in once-off funding available to support the development and delivery of Chain of Responsibility (CoR) training and education projects.

Another notable project has been the Strategic Local Government Asset Assessment Project – an Australian Government-funded initiative to optimise heavy vehicle access on the local road networks across Australia and I look forward to providing updates on this as Phase 2 progresses.

We launched our ‘Don’t Truck it Up’ videos in April, the second phase of our major road safety campaign, Don’t

ownerdriver.com.au

OWD_372_015_COL_NHVR_GB.indd 15

#uck With A Truck. The campaign is targeted at Learner (L) and Provisional (P) licence holders and utilises a combination of humour and shockfactor designed to grab the attention of young drivers, to help push the message of road safety and awareness around heavy vehicles.

In June, the NHVR launched our We ALL Need Space road safety campaign, teaming up with five Aussie icons to spread the message of truck safety on our roads. I encourage you all to review the materials on the NHVR website.

In August, the NHVR announced $3.8 million would be invested into 12 heavy vehicle safety initiatives through Round 8 of the Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVSI) program, including for roadside health and wellness screening, driver training and increasing vulnerable road user safety. The new projects address key issues in the transport and logistic sector and provide workable solutions, to reduce road trauma and save lives.

The NHVR launched a new interactive tool – Freight PASS – in October, to help industry and road managers make more informed safety, productivity, and sustainability decisions about the benefits of heavy vehicle combinations on Australia’s road network.

SAL PETROCCITTO OAM became CEO of the NHVR in May 2014, bringing extensive knowledge of heavy vehicle policy, strategy and regulation to the role. Over the past seven years, Sal has led a significant program of reform across Australia’s heavy vehicle industry, including transitioning functions from participating jurisdictions to deliver a single national heavy vehicle regulator, harmonising heavy vehicle regulations across more than 400 road managers, and modernising safety and productivity laws for heavy vehicle operators and the supply chain.

Below: Photo supplied by NHVR

In November, the NHVR was named Customer Service Organisation of the Year at the CSIA awards. It’s not often that you hear the words ‘regulator’ and ‘customer service’ in the same sentence, but our customer first approach and modern regulatory stance demonstrates that we are committed to exceeding the standard of excellence in informing and educating our customers.

This award is in recognition of the hard work and dedication of everyone at the NHVR to ensure that our customers receive the best service possible, on the roadside, in the office, online and through every interaction with our people.

Also in November, we opened submissions for Round 9 of the HVSI program, offering funding to new projects that will boost heavy vehicle safety and deliver tangible improvements for industry.

Applications close on February 19, 2024, and I encourage any business or association involved in the heavy vehicle industry looking to address a safety gap or issue, to apply.

As of December 1, 2023, the NHVR had launched a total of 104 operations across our Southern and Central Regions throughout the year. This is inclusive of 12 jurisdictional operations, 55 local operations and 37 police-led operations.

Our operations are part of our regulatory strategy to inform, educate and enforce – whether via on-road compliance or industry engagement.

They involve our Safety and Compliance Officers focusing on heavy vehicle driver fatigue, work diary and heavy vehicle speed compliance for all fatigue regulated heavy vehicles.

On ref lection, it is clear 2023 has been a big year for the NHVR and this wouldn’t have been possible without all involved. I look forward to another proactive year, where we continue delivering outcomes that improve safety, productivity, and efficiency in the heavy vehicle industry right across the country.

“We are committed to exceeding the standard of excellence in informing and educating our customers.”

JANUARY 2024 15

20/12/2023 10:50 am

truck market Predictions and assumptions are fraught with danger at any time but well before the close of 2023, Kenworth appeared a short-priced favourite to once again dash Volvo’s craving for heavy-duty market leadership. Steve Brooks studied the form guide

TAKING A PUNT ON KENWORTH 16 JANUARY 2024

OWD_372_016-17_FEA_Truck Market_GB.indd 16

A

s a naïve first-year cadet journalist whose many and varied tasks included coverage of Sydney’s harness racing events and occasionally placing quiet bets for peers with anonymity issues, the pleasure and pain of ‘the punt’ were learned early.

Chiselled into the memory bank, for instance, is arriving home late one Friday night to tell Mum that for the second time in a month, her supposedly clever son fresh out of high school had donated his entire weekly wage of $16 to bookmakers.

That meant I’d also squandered the $5 a week board she regularly relied on. And worse, “Could you spot me $5 till next week Mum?” Perhaps worse still, in between lost wages there had been also a welcome win of more than $60, almost a month’s wage, but that soon went back into the bookie’s bag as well. I don’t recall ever telling Mum that bit.

Different days indeed, but perhaps making it easy to understand why ‘the punt’ has never had much appeal in the many intervening years.

Still, every now and then the spectre of a certainty slides into view and with it, the temptation to take a punt, only this time it’s a punt to predict the winner of the heavy-duty truck sales race for 2023 well before the final figures are in. Like all punts though, there’s risk involved but in this case, it’s the risk to reputation rather than the train fare home or Mum’s board.

Anyway, you’ll get the drift soon enough, so here goes: It’s Tuesday, December 5, and the Truck Industry Council (TIC) yesterday released truck sales figures for the year up to the end of November. Accordingly, it’s almost four weeks before the end of 2023 and probably six weeks or so before this article appears in print.

As TIC’s numbers showed, the biggest battle of all continued to be the slug-fest for heavy-duty market leadership between long-term leader Kenworth and aggressive aspirant Volvo.

At the end of November, Kenworth had delivered a breathtaking 3244 trucks for the year so far, clawing back to heavy-duty domination after being bettered by the Swedish brand at the half-way point of the year.

That’s not to say Volvo had fallen off the perch in the second half of 2023. Not at all, because the Swedish powerhouse was also having a spectacularly strong year with 3137 deliveries to the end of November, maintaining a brilliant recovery after a few difficult years.

Nonetheless, Volvo’s 107 truck deficit at the penultimate month of the year would take some reining in, particularly given Kenworth’s historic ability to produce healthy end-of-year deliveries.

Consequently, it was easy to back the Bayswater (Vic) builder as the red hot favourite to retain its seemingly entrenched leadership of the heavy-duty domain.

Odds-on, in fact.

Even so, there was still the best part of a month to run before TIC’s end-of-year figures were reported in the first few days of the New Year and obviously enough, the danger of writing this article so far ahead

ownerdriver.com.au

20/12/2023 11:43 am

of the final figures was that an inventive Volvo may have a stunning sales surge up its sleeve. Unlikely perhaps, but certainly not impossible in a booming market and in light of the intense desire expressed by many of Volvo’s senior people to finally end a year on the top rung of the heavy-duty ladder.

Indeed, there was the strong belief throughout the year that the stars were aligning for Volvo and come the end of December, 2023 would provide the Swedish brand’s first victory lap in Australia. What’s more, the overall 2023 truck market had been firing on all cylinders with no segment stronger or more resilient than the heavy-duty sector, producing the platform for a neck ’n neck contest between the two biggest players.

As the Truck Industry Council commented following the release of November’s figures, ‘it is not difficult to predict that in a month’s time we will be chalking up a new annual milestone for Australian truck sales … the market will comfortably exceed the market record set in 2022’.

However, it was the heavy-duty sector’s year-to-date figures to the end of November that had TIC enthusing about the inevitability of new records. ‘The heavy-duty segment was up again in November, continuing a year-long trend (and) this November result was a new sales record.

‘Year-to-date the result is even stronger, with heavy sales tracking up 17.3 per cent over those of the same period last year (2022), with total heavy truck sales to the end of November reaching 15,817 units.

‘This is a new record for heavy-duty truck sales in Australia, eclipsing the 2022 record when 14,966 heavies were sold. This is before we count any December 2023 sales for heavy-duty trucks.’

Thus, in a world of few certainties, November’s numbers seemed certain to make 2023 a record year for Australian truck sales, with the heavy-duty category the statistical star.

Likewise, Kenworth’s place at the head of the pack seemed assured with 20.5 per cent of the heavy-duty business to the end of November and Volvo on 19.8 per cent.

Meantime, if there’s disappointment in the Volvo camp at the end result of 2023, there’s deserved solace to be had in the certainty that Volvo Group Australia’s trio of Volvo, Mack and UD commanded 31.7 per cent of the heavy-duty business to the end

“There was the strong belief throughout the year that the stars were aligning for Volvo.” of November, with Paccar’s Kenworth and DAF combining for 25.2 per cent.

Effectively, well over half of all the heavy-duty trucks sold in the booming market of 2023 will come from these two titans of Australian truck manufacturing.

Whatever, the placegetters will be well and truly past the post by the time you read this and more to the point, I’ll bet this punt has been more of a sure thing than anything backed as a young bloke at the trots. Eh, Mum!

Above: With high expectations and a strong recovery, Volvo was hoping 2023 would be the year of finally notching heavy-duty leadership Opposite bottom: A record 2023 market and huge demand has seen Kenworth’s Bayswater (Vic) factory running at full steam

Never polish your wheels again Superchrome wheels wash clean in just 41 seconds. So, stop wasting time on wheel maintenance and get that Superchrome shine all year long.

Longer wheel life | No polishing costs | Quality presentation Call Superchrome on 02 9060 1610 or visit us at www.superchrome.com.au

ownerdriver.com.au

OWD_372_016-17_FEA_Truck Market_GB.indd 17

Scan me

JANUARY 2024 17

20/12/2023 11:43 am

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE AND YOU

COULD WIN BIG!

30 litres of 15W-40 CJ4/SN fully synthetic engine oil and 30 litres of 85-140 GL-5 Mineral Gear Oil HOW IT WORKS

To be eligible, trucks must have appeared as a Truck of the Month in OwnerDriver magazine over the past 12 months.

The outright winner will be decided by popular vote – with the winner featured in the March 2024 issue of OwnerDriver magazine as well as online at OwnerDriver.com.au!

YOU CAN WIN TOO

HERE ARE THE 12 FINALISTS FOR THE 2023 OWNERDRIVER TRUCK OF THE YEAR

T

he 2023 Truck of the Year Award marks the latest instalment of the highly-popular Truck of the Month feature in OwnerDriver.

The team here at OwnerDriver has chosen the 12 finalists, but the responsibility of selecting the winner is now turned over to you – our valued readers. Among the nominees are some amazing trucks – so we don’t envy the job ahead of you! Read on to find out how to vote, and what you can win for your efforts!

Not only does your vote count towards your favourite truck getting the gong, but it also puts you in the counting vote to win 30 litres of 15W-40 CJ4/SN fully synthetic engine oil and 30 litres of 85-140 GL-5 Mineral Gear Oil, courtesy of Eiffel Lubricants.

HOW TO VOTE

Simply jump online and head to OwnerDriver.com.au/TOTY, follow the prompts to the promotion entry page and complete the entry form (including your full name, mailing address, telephone number and valid email address), and vote for your favourite truck.

Voting commences on December 1, 2023 and closes at 11:59PM on January 31, 2024.

To help you make your choice, you’ll also be able to view the original feature stories on all 12 finalists on the site. You can only vote once, so make it count!

Conditions apply: read at www.ownerdriver.com.au/toty21. Open to AU residents 18+. Starts: 01/12/2024. Ends: 23:59 (AEDST) on 31/01/2024. Limit 1 entry per person. Draw: at Prime Creative Media, 379 Docklands Drive, Docklands, Vic 3008 on 8/02/2024 at 11:00 (AEDST). Prize: 30 litres of 15W-40 CJ4/SN fully synthetic engine oil and 30 litres of 85-140 GL-5 mineral gear oil, valued at more than $1000 (excl. GST). Winner published on www.ownerdriver.com.au from 15/02/2024. Promoter: Prime Creative Media (ABN 51 127 239 212) of 379 Docklands Drive, Docklands, Vic 3008.

THE CONTENDERS - VOTE NOW

01 02 03 04

18 JANUARY 2024

OWD_372_018-19_TOTY_GB.indd 18

LJ and Mary Qureshi’s 2021 Freightliner Coronado JLJ and Mary Qureshi were intent on staying “under the radar” with their plain white trucks. That all changed with the arrival of the couple’s daughter Zara and signing up for the last Freightliner Coronado to be sold in Australia. With its black and yellow livery on the prime mover and its TopStart B-double trailers, this rig is a fitting farewell to the Coronado name.

Mactrains’ 100-year anniversary Mack Super-Liner What better way to celebrate 20 years in business than the purchase of a big Mack Super-Liner. Not any Super-Liner mind you, but a 100 Years Mack Anniversary model nicknamed ‘King Pin’, specced up to the max, including specially manufactured King Bar bull bars, reverse cycle air-con, slide-out barbecue, outdoor shower and loads of airbrushing.

Clint and Robyn Whitaker’s 2021 Kenworth T410 SAR After soldering on in an ’81 Isuzu for more than a decade, Clint and Robyn Whitaker decided to look for truck with more grunt, more space and a little easier on the eye. The couple’s prized cattle are now travelling in style, riding comfortably in a custom crate on the back of a brand new maroon-coloured Kenworth T410 SAR powered by a 510hp Paccar motor and 18-speed gearbox.

Simon and Jamie McMahon’s Kenworth T909 A desire to move away from second-hand gear ultimately led Simon and Jamie McMahon to a small fleet of new Kenworths, the standout being their new bright blue T909. It’s a rig with a personal message about mental health. With its custom Robuk A-double behind it, this remarkable Kenworth T909 is earning its keep, hauling whatever product is needed to wherever it needs to go throughout Queensland and New South Wales.

ownerdriver.com.au

20/12/2023 11:40 am

THE CONTENDERS - VOTE NOW

05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12

ownerdriver.com.au

OWD_372_018-19_TOTY_GB.indd 19

Ricky Blinco’s 1990 Mack Super-Liner Ricky Blinco always had eyes for a classic Super-Liner, not a show truck but a plain workhorse. But one thing led to another and what started as a bunk upsize led to a fully blown makeover. The Blinco’s superb 1990-model Mack Super-Liner boasts a stretched chassis with 72 inch sleeper, 2600 litre fuel tanks, Road Ranger gearbox and a replacement E9 engine sourced from the US.

QS Commodities’ Mercedes-Benz Actros 2663 Grain haulage rigs are generally of the bonneted variety, but QS Commodities on Queensland’s Darling Downs has changed tact, opting for Mercedes-Benz trucks, including the pride of the small fleet – a stunning black Actros 2663. With its black Kings bull bar, black tanks and Solostar interior containing sleeper air system, TV microwave and dual fridges, the big black Benz has all the comforts of home.

Rick and Eve Hay’s 1985 Ford LTL It’s been through a few owners, written-off and retired, but Rick and Eve Hay’s treasured 1985 Ford LTL has been given a new lease on life, returning home to the Hay’s Ballarat property and sent back to work..With a big Cat under its bonnet, the old Ford is still an intimidating workhorse despite its many kilometres, scrubbing up like a million dollars under the Ballarat sun.

SRH Milk Haulage’s Volvo FH 700 After driving the new Volvo FH 700 quad-axle combination on its maiden voyage, SRH principal Scott Harvey knew he’d made the correct decision, especially the 700’s road handling and performance with 3150Nm of torque on tap. It’s not only Western Australia’s largest dedicated milk tanker combination, but almost certainly the biggest in Australia.

Norm Bransgrove’s 1969 Diamond Reo Memories of a Diamond Reo leaving his 185hp ACCO in its wake came flooding back 50 years later when Norm Bransgrove discovered the 1969 classic was up for sale. But instead of using it as a showpiece, Norm chose to work the truck, but not just on local runs. Now fitted with a low line sleeper, an interior tidy up and two extra fuel tanks, the old Diamond Reo is back on interstate duty.

Tim McCarthy’s 2021 Scania P320 Tim McCarthy’s choice of this 2021 Scania P320 has proven to be a godsend. It may not be the biggest truck out there, but it’s a perfect fit for the young owner-driver, being able to manoeuvre it into interesting locations..The Scania’s 9.3 litre engine produces nearly 1200lb-ft of torque at around 1200rpm, and with its bespoke body from Custom Truck Bodies, it makes tank hauling an easy task.

Land Transport’s Western Star 6900 Constellation The Western Star brand is no stranger to the Land Transport fleet, but the company’s blue 6900 Constellation known as ‘Sunrise Ruby’ well and truly stands out from the crowd. Boasting a 68-inch bunk, the 6900 has maintained the ‘old school’ look thanks to Masterart Designs, without going overboard on bling. Regarded as too big for east coast runs, the Star is a regular sight across the paddock.

Api Jawanda’s Kenworth T909 Former nurse Api Jawanda’s admiration for big triucks, and in particular the Kenworth brand, led him to the purchase of this Kenworth T909. With his custom-built 34 pallet B-double combination in tow, the 909 fits perfectly within the overall length restrictions, hauling for Mainfreight The former Leon Thorpe-owned 909 has Dynoflex Chino stacks, Hogebuilt guards, wrapped tanks and a custom front bar.

JANUARY 2024 19

20/12/2023 11:40 am

truck events

BRED TO WIN AT BATHURST Trucks came from as far afield as Brisbane for the annual Dane Ballinger Memorial Truck Show at Bathurst, this year’s event highlighted with a historic vehicle display. Warren Aitken reports

20 JANUARY 2024

OWD_372_020-27_FEA_Bathurst Truck Show_GB.indd 20

ownerdriver.com.au

20/12/2023 11:36 am

T

he Dane Ballinger Memorial Truck Show – what a perfect way to spend your weekend. Sure, I could have stayed in Brisbane and sweltered in the heat and humidity while dancing between the lightning strikes and hailstones. But who would choose to do that when the sweltering sun was also shining on a racetrack packed with some of the coolest, definitely the shiniest, and arguably the cleanest trucks this country has to offer? I for one much preferred the latter option. That’s why on November 18 I found myself and my cameras getting an epic workout in the small country town of Bathurst, attending the Dane Ballinger Memorial Truck Show … again.

Obviously, this is not a new show to me and, hopefully, many of you will have read my summations of the past shows I have been to. Every time I attend this show I am blown away by nearly every facet of it and this year has been no exception.

Every year this show finds new ways to evolve and new ways to impress.

This year saw the addition of a historic truck element and, although they may not have been endowed with the same level of stainless as the new trucks, they brought a whole new level of interest to a show already bursting at the seams with awesomeness. Is that a word? I’m not sure, if not then it should be, as it’s exactly what this small-town show is packed with.

Awesomeness! And a damn mean mini donut food truck. But that’s not relevant to the story.

This year I wanted to share a bit more about the background of this country truck show and try and get beneath the carnauba wax that shines on this amazing event. In order to do that I needed a bit of time with the ladies from Designer Events

ownerdriver.com.au

OWD_372_020-27_FEA_Bathurst Truck Show_GB.indd 21

Above: My eyes rarely left Bernie Learson’s stunning rebuilt old Ford which unsurprisingly took out best paint job in the historic awards Bottom, left to right: The 2023 Peoples Choice award went to TDH Bulk Haulage and their stunning C509; One of my favourite trucks of the show was Paddy Ward’s old Ford 100; Another of the major sponsors, Inland Petroleum, was on hand with one of their new SAR Legends, picking up Best Painted Tanker along the way

JANUARY 2024 21

20/12/2023 11:36 am

– Debbie Campbell and Hayley Osbourne. Pinning these two ladies down was an extremely difficult task and required me to chase them around waiting for a break in their hectic schedules.

However, it’s not just the truck show that Designer Events is running. It is also the Christmas markets and a huge swap meet that takes place the day after the truck show. It is an extremely busy weekend on the Bathurst social calendar. I did track the ladies down though and got the rundown and a bit of a road map as to how we have landed here.

“What it was is the Christmas market has been running for about 23 years, and on a Sunday we always had a swap meet car and bike show,” Debbie Campbell explains.

“And Hayley and I were saying we need something for the Sunday.”

Both Debbie and Hayley were already heavily involved in the transport industry. Debbie’s son Dean runs a couple of pretty tidy trucks himself (there’s a huge level of understatement in that sentence). If you don’t know the Campbell fleet, just look up ‘outstanding’ in the dictionary.

They are simply stunning.

Hayley is married into the industry with her husband Lachlan. So when they looked for something to fill in the Saturday, they had the likes of Dane Ballinger and Dean Campbell recommending a truck show.

“Dane had been talking about a truck show in Bathurst for years,” Debbie continues. “He said we used to have one

22 JANUARY 2024

OWD_372_020-27_FEA_Bathurst Truck Show_GB.indd 22

ownerdriver.com.au

20/12/2023 11:36 am

Top, left to right: I can’t wait to catch up with Jessica Murphy and Johnny Edwards down the track because this impressive K200 was a real eye opener – the judges agreed, giving the big bright Kenworth the Best Kenworth trophy; The Campbell fleet all parked up on Friday night, ready for detailing before the show starts; The 2023 Dane Ballinger Memorial Truck Show winners, Adrian and Aymie Fenech with daughter Elouise and their 2013 K200 Far left and left: It’s all hands-on deck on the Friday – find a tap, plug in the hose and go. Cameron Floyd, Asha Santas, Riley Santas and Jye Hayes were all working hard to get the old K104 ready; It’s not often you see the Dawsons Haulage 509 with just a single trailer in tow Bottom, left to right: The Cranston B-triple was assembled inside the showgrounds before moving into prime position; Lawrence Transport presented an amazing array of Kenworths; Ronan Baker and Noah Soetens were up early Saturday ensuring the Campbells fleet were fully detailed for the show

ownerdriver.com.au

OWD_372_020-27_FEA_Bathurst Truck Show_GB.indd 23

JANUARY 2024 23

20/12/2023 11:36 am

Top, left to right: Aaron and Emma Fuller, with their little one Henley and the young owneroperators 1994 Kenworth; Winston Express Haulage, which took out several trophies this year, is regular sight at the Dane Ballinger Memorial Show; First time attendees to the Dane Ballinger Memorial Show were the Edson Tilt-Tray and Heavy Haulage team and their impressive fleet Right and far right: Plantation Pine Products had a couple of their trucks on show, but more importantly they were showing of the locally designed and built trailer behind their new Volvo; Steve Allen and Lachlan Melcher were making sure the Melcher Transport T609 was in award-winning condition before the judges arrived Bottom, left to right: Some classic American iron keeping a close eye on a classic Aussie heavy haulage combination; Another big sponsor for this year’s event was the team from Alpha Towing, who turned up in force and with some very cool tow trucks to display; They take their cleaning seriously with the old trucks as well, as Tony Kent shows by scrubbing down the deck below his White 9000

24 JANUARY 2024

OWD_372_020-27_FEA_Bathurst Truck Show_GB.indd 24

ownerdriver.com.au

20/12/2023 11:37 am

ages ago. So, when it was suggested we just said, ‘Yeah, let’s do a truck show’.”

Hence, the inaugural show ran started 2016 with backing from the likes of Gilbert & Roach and Vawdry Trailers who, it is worth noting, are still major sponsors now. The show was an immediate success.

Tragic loss

Then in September 2019 tragedy struck the town of Bathurst and the trucking industry as a whole. Dane Ballinger was killed on the road. The rural community really felt the loss of one of their own. When November rolled around it was decided to rename the event as the Dane Ballinger Memorial Truck Show.

As tough as it was to restage the event in the wake of the family and community’s loss, it was something everyone felt they needed to do for Dane.

“Dane’s thing was he always said we need the show as a way to get the boys all together to have time to talk,” Debbie says. “They need to talk about the industry, the struggles and themselves. It’s a camaraderie, bonding thing. That’s what he thought was really important.”

Along with the emotional and reflective side of the show, another thing that makes this event a little more unique is the fact that trailer combinations are involved. There’s everything from complete road train setups and heavy haulage combinations to elite-level tarp jobs and working stock trucks

ownerdriver.com.au

OWD_372_020-27_FEA_Bathurst Truck Show_GB.indd 25

JANUARY 2024 25

20/12/2023 11:37 am

that somehow do not smell like working stock trucks.

Most trucks get staged up on Friday night, meaning swags and soft drinks are going all night as guys catch up and polish on until Saturday morning. It brings with it a great feeling of mateship to the whole weekend.

As mentioned, this year (with a little pushing from Hayley’s hubby Lachlan), there was the added contingent of historic trucks. “Lachlan loves the old gear, and we needed something a little bit different, and adding them just hit the nail on the head,” Hayley says.

This year saw a total of 174 official entries, however with a few roll-ins on Saturday morning the display numbers were closer to 200. I am still awaiting the official gate score but the estimate is around 10,000 people who came into the truck show and markets.

A big congratulations to Debbie and Hayley for their efforts, as well as a huge thankyou to their team behind the scenes who keep it all rolling. Also, massive credit must go to the judging team who have to judge such an elite level of competition, so I think the final shout-out needs to go to all those that entered.

The level of commitment shown by drivers and families to get these trucks, with the emphasis on working trucks, to such a high-quality standard is amazing. After long work hours, the passion is still there to shine up and show up. Thank you to all those who attended.

26 JANUARY 2024

OWD_372_020-27_FEA_Bathurst Truck Show_GB.indd 26

ownerdriver.com.au

20/12/2023 11:37 am

Top, left to right: It wasn’t all big bonnets at Bathurst – I caught Dave Allen finishing off the detailing on his Express Transport Isuzu that he uses for newspaper deliveries around Sydney; I caught up with Hayden Reed from New Zealand who had whisked the lovely Jessie Sime away for a romantic weekend … at a truck show – true story; Rick and Kirsty Ford brought their Kenworth up from Sydney for the historic segment of the show, which also provided a nice shady spot Left and far left: McSweeney Transport had their All-American custom trailer on site doing a roaring trade, and their Peterbilt managed to pick up the Best Large Car trophy as well; This is where the trucking apprenticeship should be starting – Sonny, Ziggy, Archer, Corbin, Ruben and Wyatt were having a ball as they raced around all the trucks Bottom, left to right: Another local company, BA & NA Cranston, were out in force with a few of their impressive trucks; The Brisbane-based Bondwoods team put on a great show with their collection of Kenworths

ownerdriver.com.au

OWD_372_020-27_FEA_Bathurst Truck Show_GB.indd 27

JANUARY 2024 27

20/12/2023 11:37 am

WILKIE’S WATCH Ken Wilkie

Lack of logic rife When are we going to get serious about proper driver training for the general population?

I

’m so frustrated with the effort to achieve a better road safety outcome. There just seems to be no limit to the number of people using the word ‘safety’ to enhance their ego, or because of their status in life they can make grandiose statements that lack the substance of correctness.

Or they are selling a product using the word safety as an inducement to buy?

The Transport Workers Union is a case in point. I believe in fair pay, but I consider that the union tying rate of renumeration to safety outcomes is both f lawed and dishonest. Firstly, a person’s desire for renumeration is dependent on their ambition in life. Even with that, it then depends on their ability to manage their financial affairs.

Probably the most lacking aspect in our road safety performance is competency. Just recently I was engaged in an oversize shift from Brisbane to the lower Gold Coast. Obviously, a daylight (5am) start and, as the loads were for a school, it was timed for a Saturday morning for the safety of kids. The volume of traffic both ways was light to negligible. How does one account for there being two accidents at that time of day under those conditions – both northbound? One was a single vehicle at Oxenford and the other a multiple vehicle pileup at Mudgeeraba.

The lack of honesty in creating a safer driving environment is appalling. I note a spokesman person for the Transport

Workers Union in calling for better renumeration for truckies has quoted figures for truckies killed in the course of their work. None of us should be blasé about any death by accident – road related or otherwise. But until the true cause of accidents is promptly available as an education tool, we are to a large degree f lying blind and in the hands of those with motives outside the best interest better road safety outcomes.

And talking of honest endeavours to address the road toll – electronic logbooks. I will accept that they are probably an asset when being compliant with eastern states’ draconian fatigue management legislation is considered.

But, and I stress but, managing fatigue and managing fatigue regulations are two different things.

And it does tickle my fancy when bureaucracy states that electronic logbooks will not be made mandatory but almost become agents for the electronic companies by allowing more relaxed requirements for those opting to go down the electronic road. Sort of distorts the level playing field, me thinks.

That is the sort of dishonesty that is rife in our community.

KEN WILKIE has been an owner-driver since 1974, after first getting behind the wheel at 11. He’s on his eighth truck, and is a long-time Owner//Driver contributor. He covers Rockhampton to Adelaide and any point in between.

His current ambition is to see the world, and to see more respect for the nation’s truckies. Contact Ken at ken@rwstransport.com.au

UNNATURAL ACTIVITY

Slow down, road safety advocates advocate. How poorly thought out. All driving is speeding and, essentially, it’s not a natural human activity. I cannot

Below: Along the Warrego.

Photo by Shutterstock

see a situation where there will never be accidents. Even those sticking to the natural means of travel – being walking – are known to go a cropper and get a bloody nose or knee or more from time to time.

Those people calling for us to slow down are so incompetent in the role of driving that they fail to acknowledge the impact of friction in the f low of traffic. They are too ignorant to acknowledge that many road speed indicators (commonly called speedos) are deliberately set to read optimistic.

That combined with the ill-advised call to slow down and the brain-dead statement that ‘every K over is a killer’ just adds to the complexity of achieving a safer road safety outcome.

When are we going to get serious regarding the training of people to drive?

The word I heard was of a blitz on complying with the f lawed Easter states’ fatigue regulations on the run up to Christmas. It may have been more appropriate to blitz all drivers given this nation’s preoccupation with illicit substances if the all-too-common media reports are anything to go by.

Is this rational logical? Main Roads Queensland has discovered that the westbound bridge for the Warrego Highway over the Bremer River near Ipswich is suffering metal fatigue and has instituted weight restrictions for oversize and over mass vehicles. A Queensland Transport officer advised me that singles beyond 42.5 tonnes were required to use alternative routes – B-doubles were acceptable to 68 tonnes.

Those limits don’t seem to add up to me. Surely a 68 tonne B-double would be running beyond 42.5 on the lead portion of the combination. As a service to fully informing transport operators of issues and requirements for this situation, could Queensland transport use OwnerDriver and similar industry publications to give informed advice on such subjects?

Queensland seems to have an issue with the engineering of its road projects.

Recently there was an issue with the bridge crossing the Bruce Highway for northbound Deagon Deviation traffic.

There is currently speed restrictions in place on the Tim Fischer Bridge over the Burnet River. And not to mention the fiasco in place for east bound traffic on the ‘new’ detour around Toowoomba.

Lastly, Roy of South Australia sent a note to me commenting on my November effort. Thanks for your support, Roy.

“Managing fatigue and managing fatigue regulations are two different things.”

28 JANUARY 2024

OWD_372_028_COL_Ken Wilke_GB.indd 28

ownerdriver.com.au

20/12/2023 1:52 pm

HIGHWAY ADVOCATES Robert Bell

The never-ending story An insignificant over height NSW tunnel offence can see your licence and truck rego suspended

A

s we reflect upon the year just past, most of you will have experienced in one way or another, the usual end of year ‘operation this or that’ targeting heavy vehicles. It is a familiar story and the enforcement authorities around the country appear to show little discretion towards drivers and operators of heavy vehicles.

Apart from the usual blitz on fatigue, another type of offence is gaining some heavy attention from several angles. The issue of over height vehicles triggering alarms has garnered some attention from media, but more importantly, from enforcement authorities who apply punitive sanctions. In In an article in another transport publication dated June 9, 2023, it was stated in an emergency meeting around on the same date that the NSW Minister for Roads John Graham, NHVR chairman Duncan Gay and acting chief executive Ray Hassall, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator has agreed to refer all over height breaches at tunnels as “aggravated” events.

What this means, in effect, is that when a heavy vehicle triggers an alarm at a tunnel or bridge, it initiates a process of some savagery. The combined enforcement authorities decided: “In future all tunnel over height incidents will be deemed aggravated no matter what the level of the breach and Transport for NSW will be able to take action against owners and operators more often.”

This may be viewed alike to mandatory sentencing and the process that swings into places imposes sanctions at several levels.

For example, if an over height vehicle triggers the alarm without impacting the tunnel infrastructure, it initiates a process whereby several authorities issue extra curial penalties and sanctions. Suppose a truck driver inadvertently exceeds the maximum height for the Eastern Distributor Tunnel at Moore Park in Sydney without actually damaging or impacting upon the tunnel?

penalties and demerit points weren’t enough on their own, Transport for NSW will then chime in with their own special brand of punishment. They will apply a discretionary suspension in accordance with clause 66(1)(d) of the Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Regulation 2017 (NSW).

This suspension may be appealed within 28 days of receiving the suspension notice but unlike typical licence suspensions, the application to the Local Court to appeal the suspension does not stay the suspension.

This means a separate application must be made to The Court, and normally that means a driver will suffer a period of suspension before the appeal is heard.

But wait, there’s more. Transport for NSW will also suspend the registration of the relevant heavy vehicle for six months, which is subject to the same appeal process. Remember also, we have that penalty notice with an eye wateringly 12 demerit points. That will be treated as a conviction unless it is court elected, to be dealt with by a court.

We believe these combined sanctions are manifestly excessive, especially as they do not consider potentially extenuating circumstances. If this happens to you or one of your drivers, contact us here at Highway Advocates, we have dealt with several of these matters already and know the process inside and out. Fatigue offences are our bread and butter here at Highway Advocates, our outcomes with these matters are unparalleled.

FATIGUE LAWS

We note that the Safe-T-Cam at Bargo, NSW has recent been relocated to another site north of the Pheasant’s Nest parking bay.

The Hume Highway between Sydney and Melbourne is the busiest freight corridor

ROBERT BELL and his team of legal professionals are Highway Advocates, a focused legal practice dealing with heavy vehicle offences throughout Australia. Robert is an ‘industry insider’ with a wealth of transport sector experience. He is the guiding force behind the successful outcomes that Highway Advocates consistently achieve. Contact Highway Advocates at admin@ highwayadvocates.com. au or 0488 01 01 01. Visit their website at www. highwayadvocates.com.au

Below: The Hume Highway, Australia’s busiest freight corridor. Photo by Greg Bush

in Australia. It is traditionally an overnight journey for most truck drivers, and drivers are aware that they are being monitored by the Safe-T-Cam network.

A driver travelling overnight from Melbourne to Sydney is, therefore, put in a position created by very prescriptive fatigue laws, which prevent them from having shorter fatigue breaks along the way.

Drivers are then placed in the invidious position of having to drive on through the night, possibly tired, so that they may get to rest area past the last Safe-T-Cam gantry at Bargo. The problem for truck drivers in NSW is that the large parking area at Pheasant’s Nest is undergoing extensive renovations and is mostly unavailable for the purpose of parking large, heavy vehicles.

Even when it was in full operation, most truck drivers relate that if you weren’t there by midnight, you had no hope of finding a parking space suitable for a fatigue-related heavy vehicle. A driver is then placed with the unenviable prospect of trying to find a suitable parking space in the metropolis of Sydney.

A driver might head to the BP at Eastern Creek in the vain hope that a space may be available. Almost certainly, once a driver arrives there, they will find any available spaces taken up by rigid vehicles using the space as a quasi-depot. The driver then might try and find a street with a verge in what may be termed as an industrial area or estate. Of course, there will be no facilities such as toilets. However, if a driver was to find a space off the roadway in an industrial estate, they would find themselves parked in what is defined as a built-up area.

In short, we say this is akin to shooting fish in a barrel. If you are caught in the net, the maximum penalty for a critical risk breach is now approaching $20,000 and 4 demerit points.

At Highway Advocates, we only deal with offences directed towards heavy vehicle drivers and operators. Look for our billboards up down major highways, we have that ‘industry insider’ advantage that sets us apart from the rest. Highway Advocates, keeping you on the road where you belong.

“The maximum penalty for a critical risk breach is now approaching $20,000.”

MULTIPLE PENALTIES

The penalties and sanctions applied are as follows: A penalty notice for the offence of Disobey Clearance/Low Clearance Sign Tunnel/Bridge etc will be issued for the staggering amount of $4,376 and 12 demerit points, which amounts to a demerit point suspension for most drivers. In most cases, another penalty notice for $758 will be issued for the offence of Driver Heavy Vehicle Contravene Condition of Exemption.

Now here’s the real kick. As if those

ownerdriver.com.au

OWD_372_029_COL_Highway Advocates_GB.indd 29

JANUARY 2024 29

20/12/2023 8:54 am

opinion

LOCAL SAFETY TESTING HITS HOME

Isuzu Australia conducted a rigorous round of electronic stability control testing with Knorr-Bremse earlier this year.

Isuzu’s Simon Humphries reveals the devil in the detail Photos by Isuzu Australia Ltd

30 JANUARY 2024

OWD_372_030-31_FEA_Isuzu comment_GB.indd 30

A

ustralia’s road transport industry is under great pressure to support a growing population, from the on-road logistics of moving products and produce across the country to truck-reliant businesses that work in all manner of applications.

Great improvements have been made recently in the comfort and efficiency of heavy vehicles used across the industry. But by far, some of the greatest and arguably most important advancements have come in the evolution of our safety technology, this is with regard to the technology that assists with the safety of vehicle occupants and the safety of other road users.

Australian operators have a unique combination of factors and challenges to tackle that include operating conditions, climate and the roads themselves. This is of course across a vast landscape that covers greater kilometres and a much greater range of road conditions compared to most other countries on the planet.

With this in mind, government regulatory bodies stipulate a range of safety requirements under Australian Design Rules, more commonly referred to as

ADRs. ADRs are applied to Isuzu trucks manufactured in Japan but Isuzu Australia Limited (IAL) takes further steps by conducting our own testing program on Australian home turf to ensure we are capturing our unique conditions and the requirements of local operators during the development, proving and calibration stages.

Active versus passive safety

We look at vehicle safety in two broader forms – active and passive safety.

In past years ‘passive’ safety features were a key focus, namely the development of components such as seat belts and airbags and improving the overall construction of cabins and running gear to protect occupants.

Since the late 1990s, IAL and many other OEMs have put a much greater emphasis on, expended more resources to conduct extensive research and testing into improving ‘active’ safety features to prevent incidents from happening in the first instance.

This is of particular importance in our arena in the development of heavy vehicles, where even low speed accidents can have catastrophic consequences to not

ownerdriver.com.au

20/12/2023 11:26 am

System kicks in

Above: Isuzu Australia product manager Simon Humphries Bottom Testing was conducted at the DECA (Wodonga TAFE) testing and training facility in Shepparton

only driver and passengers, but other users on the road.

Even in recent times and with improved safety measures in place, heavy trucks and buses have been involved in high-profile crashes that have ended with fatalities. The tragic event which unfolded in the Hunter Valley recently springs to mind.

This hammers home to us at IAL – as Australia’s largest volume seller of commercial heavy vehicles – that we have an obligation to take truck safety very seriously.

Australian first

Isuzu has collaborated with commercial vehicle braking and control systems specialists KnorrBremse for many years, conducting extensive Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system testing in Japan.

In a first for us here at Isuzu Australia and a first

ownerdriver.com.au

OWD_372_030-31_FEA_Isuzu comment_GB.indd 31

for any Japanese-made truck on Australian soil, we recently conducted a rigorous round of ESC testing and calibration exercises in conjunction with KnorrBremse Australia.

This was conducted at the DECA (Wodonga TAFE) testing and training facility in Shepparton in Central Victoria on a medium-duty Isuzu FTR 150-260, fitted with a test body customised for Knorr-Bremse.

This test body features flexible loading racks and extended outrigger wheels attached to the body subframe to enable a safe testing environment and assist with development of a new calibration for the EBS-5 control unit.

This control unit is factory-fitted to Australianmarket MY22 Isuzu FTR 150-260 models and all MY22 FV models in the range, providing for an advanced ESC system. What was unique about this particular FTR model was an extended wheelbase of 7.2 metres, which is a dimension beyond that available from the factory in Japan.

It’s significant too in that this wheelbase length is the longest possible while remaining within the ADR turning circle limit of 25 metres.

To determine the new calibration, we put the truck through a series of specific manoeuvres within the controlled environment of the DECA facility.

Specialised Knorr-Bremse equipment on board the truck recorded and sent data back to the team throughout the manoeuvres.

It’s important to note the types of manoeuvres undertaken by the test truck were tailored to the way in which trucks are deployed within Australian industries and applications. That’s not to say we believe all Aussie drivers knock along at breakneck speeds but these specific manoeuvres on the DECA skid pan helped us to simulate what a possible roll-over situation would look like on the bitumen, being operated by an Australian driver in Australian conditions.

The ESC system being tested and calibrated would then intervene automatically for the test driver and help to prevent those incidences of rollover or loss of directional control. The system works by firstly removing the throttle from the driver’s control and then automatically applying appropriate braking to individual wheels to slow the truck down to a safe speed.

As is the case with any development or proving work, especially in the road safety space, the devil is in the detail. The data collected throughout the testing was critically analysed and fed back into the programming of the EBS-5 control unit.

The use of outriggers during this testing phase prevented any rollovers and determined the exact point at which it would happen on the test truck – but unfortunately you don’t get that type of back-up out on the open road.

That’s why we conduct further extensive on-road testing to ensure calibrations are correct and the systems are working as they should in an everyday situation.

Ongoing development

While the bulk of Isuzu’s braking componentry, development and set-up is conducted in Japan by Isuzu Motors Limited (IML) and Knorr-Bremse, our local calibration and testing program at Isuzu Australia allows for a fine tuning that’s bespoke for our road conditions, wheelbase modifications and prevailing application use.

As you can appreciate, it is important that we apply our local knowledge and engineering rigour to help refine the safety technology on the trucks which we sell here in the Australian market.

It is a continued process as technology evolves, with our end goal to deliver the safest driving environment and the most fit-for-purpose on-road product to Australian businesses.

SIMON HUMPHRIES is the product manager, medium-duty and heavy-duty/chief engineer at Isuzu Australia Limited

JANUARY 2024 31

20/12/2023 11:26 am

truck of the month

X-SERIES HITS

32 JANUARY 2024

OWD_372_032-41_TOTM_Cornwalls Western Star 48X_GB.indd 32

ownerdriver.com.au

20/12/2023 11:34 am

THE SPOT

When Cornwall Logging ordered a new day cab Western Series 48X, there was no one more excited than driver Luke Josefski. With camera in hand, Warren Aitken hops in the passenger seat for a spin through the logging areas around Queensland’s Fraser Coast

T

oday’s story is a great example of what can happen when you let nine-year-olds play with chainsaws.

You read that right, the stunning truck before you, beaming in black and breaking ground for a new breed of Western Star, is working hard because way back in the early ’70s one family let their nine-year-old boy play with chainsaws. Before anyone starts complaining that I am endorsing kids juggling with Stihls and Husqvarnas. Or chucking a Baumr at the neighbour’s cat, I definitely am not (depending on the cat).

The nine-year-old I am referring to is Rafe Cornwall and the ‘playing’ with chainsaws was actually him helping his old man cut down the roadside stacks of long logs, ready to be loaded onto the family truck and ­t ransported to the mill. That nine-year-old lumberjacks afterschool antics have led us here, to one of the coolest new Western Star X-Series trucks and to a family company that has grown alongside the very product it carts.

While this story was my chance to get up close and personal with one of the coolest looking new X-Series Western Stars, it also gave me an opportunity to meet a man who has quite literally grown with the trees.

Rafe Cornwall grew up surrounded by trees, trucks and chainsaws. His first four years of existence were spent on Queensland’s Fraser Island where his dad and grandad were logging. It was only because of the requirement for school that Rafe left Fraser, otherwise I assume he may have had a chainsaw in his hands by the age of five.

He may have departed Fraser in order to attend school, however school really was just somewhere Rafe would go to eat his lunch.

Every opportunity he had he was helping his dad and learning the logging ropes, or should I say chains. By the time he was a teenager his dad was logging back on the mainland and all of Rafe’s afterschool and holiday hours were all spent alongside his dad heading into the bush to load trailers that they would then haul to the mill in the family’s White 9000.

If he was handling chainsaws at nine, then I’m sure you could imagine what his skill level was like at say 14. I’d guess he would already be able to drive a truck, even load a trailer on his own and drive it through the bush back out to meet his old man on

ownerdriver.com.au

OWD_372_032-41_TOTM_Cornwalls Western Star 48X_GB.indd 33

JANUARY 2024 33

20/12/2023 11:34 am

“Because of how well the White had gone we went with a 4900 Western Star.”

Above: Rafe Cornwall and his wife Jean with the second freshly delivered X-Series Star From opposite top: The new X-Series cuts an imposing figure, the twin stacks and painted bull bar really sets the Cornwall logger off; One of my favourite features of the new X-Series are the vents – Western Star fans will know exactly what I mean; The truck is all plumbed up to allow Luke to unstack his Kennedy trailer from the comfort of his cab. The truck is also fitted with driver safety cameras, onboard scales and everything else Luke needs

the roadside. Obviously, officially that wouldn’t have happened though, even on private roads. But the skill level was there.

All this afterschool work for young Rafe wasn’t seen as a chore though, he loved it. Loved the trucks, loved the trees and loved the work. The same couldn’t be said for school so once he hit Year 10 and was allowed to leave, he was out of there quicker than a felled 20 metre pine. He went to work alongside his dad.

Different ’Star

The family company was officially registered in 1975.

This is the part I found amusing, bureaucracy at its best. Back in those days when you went to register a ­proprietary business you were allocated a name, like designating a cyclone. The family company was trading under Cornwall Logging, the name now synonymous with beautiful black trucks. But it was registered under Regis Pty Ltd. It doesn’t have the same aura to it.

34 JANUARY 2024

OWD_372_032-41_TOTM_Cornwalls Western Star 48X_GB.indd 34

Once Rafe was old enough to get his licence, his dad purchased a second truck for Rafe to pilot himself. “Dad had the White 9000 with a 671GM in it. It cost him a fortune back then, about $34,000,” Rafe recalls. “Once I got my licence, we bought a second-hand International 4200 TranStar. It was a good truck; it had a Detroit 871T in it.”

Right from the get-go the Cornwall Logging name built a solid reputation around not just the Maryborough area, but throughout Queensland. It saw the company pick up more and more work, adding trucks as were needed and staff to go with them.

Rafe was working both behind the wheel, in the bush and helping run the family company. “I had people working for me from when I was about 18,” Rafe says.

“I was driving and helping run the place. It was tough because people don’t like listening to a young fella.”

There are very few of us that get the privilege of being able to work alongside their parents and I asked Rafe if he enjoyed that time working with his dad. “Well yes and no,” Rafe laughs. “We got along really well once I bought him out. We butted heads a lot. Because of me being young I knew everything. He was right most of the time. I was right all of the time and wouldn’t be told different.”

In 1994 Cornwall Logging picked up a major contract which saw the f leet expand up to a dozen trucks, taking on more drivers and more employees. Since that contract the company has kept growing, as has Rafe.

ownerdriver.com.au

20/12/2023 11:34 am

“I ended up coming off the road fulltime around 1996,” Rafe says. “It was tough trying to drive, the phone was going non-stop. So I ended up going into the office fulltime instead.”

After so many years working the trucks and the forestry it was a huge decision, but one that ultimately was necessary. “At first I missed the driving, but I get in now and I don’t miss it at all,” Rafe admits. “Mind you, I’m not a great lover of the office either.”

This is where we need to put our hands together for Rafe’s wife, Jean. For she is one of the office staff who keeps everything ticking over and allows Rafe to concentrate on doing what he does best, which is look after his clients.

“I am very hands-on with our customers.

They know if there is a problem, they can make one call to me and we will get it sorted,” he says. “That’s why we have some contracts that have been going for 30 years. We take care of our customers.”

That small family approach and respect for staff and customers is what has seen this father and son team turn into one of the biggest players in the forestry game. The company now has around 25 trucks. However, these days the logging trucks are the odd ones out.

“We have about six logging trucks, and the rest are mainly bulk trucks with walking f loor trailers doing chip and pulp,” Rafe says.

Brand variety

Bulk and logs are the two main commodities hauled by Cornwall Logging but when it comes to the manufacturers hauling said commodities, there are more than just a couple of brands in the Cornwall black.

“The problem these days is it is so hard to get gear,” Rafe explains. “We will take what we can get.” This has seen the f leet comprised of Western Star, Mack, Kenworth, Scania, Volvo

ownerdriver.com.au

OWD_372_032-41_TOTM_Cornwalls Western Star 48X_GB.indd 35

JANUARY 2024 35

20/12/2023 11:34 am

OWD_372_032-41_TOTM_Cornwalls Western Star 48X_GB.indd 36

20/12/2023 11:34 am

Proudly brought to you by

OWD_372_032-41_TOTM_Cornwalls Western Star 48X_GB.indd 37

20/12/2023 11:34 am

and even their first MAN due to arrive soon. Brand loyalty will get you a foot in the door, but availability is also a driving factor, although history will show there is an affiliation for certain big names.

“The first truck I really got to spec out for myself was back in 1988 and because of how well the White had gone we went with a 4900 Western Star,” Rafe says. That truck was huge back then, kitted out with all the bells and whistles. And with the Cornwall’s silver and black paint scheme it really got noticed.

Since that first Western Star, there have ­continually been several Stars running in Cornwall colours. Hence when the all-new X-Series was launched by Penske Australia, Rafe was one of the first to contact his salesman and get his name down for one. Well for three, actually.

“Yeah, I needed a couple of new loggers so I rang Errol (Errol Weber, long-time Penske salesman) and got my name down. We have two delivered at the moment, the

“When I heard the new Stars were coming I was rapt.”

Above: Driver Luke Josefski is pretty impressed and extremely happy to be back in a Western Star Below: The big 48X handles the off-road pickups with ease

second being the 48X with the sleeper, and we have another one coming,” Rafe says. “The day cab is only about a month old but the driver seems to love it.”

Here is the part where I was probably a bit premature in chasing down the new Cornwall X-Series. It has hardly been on the road long enough for Rafe and the team to form any real opinions. But it was too cool a looking truck for me to show any sort of patience with. My workaround was to go over management’s head and spend a bit of time with the driver of this stunning star. I mean, who is going to be able to offer a better insight than the man behind the wheel? Meet Luke Josefski.

Cool hand Luke

Luke is one of those guys that you automatically find yourself looking up to. Not just because of his résumé behind the wheel. From several years doing general interstate for Richers Transport, a company where you can and do cart everything, to his half a decade spent carting livestock around the country. But you also find yourself looking up to him because the man is 6ft 10, so you literally have to look up to him.

Luke grew up with one side of his family entrenched in farming and the other side entrenched in transport. It should come as no surprise to find his working life began on a dairy farm and is now consumed by trucks.

His truck driving apprenticeship was spent doing general freight with and then into interstate, before combining his farming and trucking past and getting into livestock haulage. Though he loved the stock work it did take a toll on family life and, with young kids at home, he went looking for a job that would have him home more than he was away. Enter Cornwall Logging.

“I’ve been with Cornwall about six years now,” says Luke. It’s worth noting that in the Cornwall’s employee roster, that’s only a short stay. They have employees that have been there longer than most of the trees they cart.

38 JANUARY 2024

OWD_372_032-41_TOTM_Cornwalls Western Star 48X_GB.indd 38

ownerdriver.com.au

20/12/2023 11:34 am

OWD_372_032-41_TOTM_Cornwalls Western Star 48X_GB.indd 39

20/12/2023 11:34 am

“I hadn’t done logs before I started but they gave me a chance and I love it. I started when they’d just bought the new Macks, so I got one of those.”

While Luke was a fan of his Trident, he was extremely excited when he found out early in 2023 that he was in line to get one of the new Western Stars. “I had a brand new 4800 Western Star when I was doing linehaul and I loved it,” Luke says. “So when I heard the new Stars were coming I was rapt.”

Again, the truck has only been on the road for a few weeks, but it is enough time for Luke to already form a pretty strong opinion. “I do two loads south out of Gympie a day, with maybe a quarter to a third of my work being off road. The Western Star is very smooth and ­comfortable; seriously it is on par with our Volvos,” Luke says.

With Cornwall running max weights on its log trucks, normally sitting around the 66.5 tonne mark, the 48X is sporting the big boy Detroit DD16 engine and Luke admits he is blown away by the grunt.

“It is very powerful, goes bloody well,” he exclaims.

Although many of the Cornwall trucks are manuals, including the newest 48X, Luke’s

40 JANUARY 2024

OWD_372_032-41_TOTM_Cornwalls Western Star 48X_GB.indd 40

ownerdriver.com.au

20/12/2023 11:34 am

“I haven’t once even looked like getting bogged.” the big Star travels, both empty and loaded.

I haven’t spent a lot of time in the passenger seat of a truck, but I have to agree with Luke, there is tons of room for a day cab. And it was a damn comfy ride, even once we got off road.

It seems that, although the new 48X is still in its early days, it is ticking all the right boxes.

It has the power and driveline to handle the toughest off-road conditions. It has the comfort and quietness to drown out the toughest off-road conditions and most importantly for truck fans like me, it has the looks to impress in all road conditions.

Above: The 48X has the big boy DD16 under the hood, making light work of the 66 tonne loads Left: Driver Luke has been extremely impressed by the turning circle on his new logging truck, even with super singles the big Star handles well Opposite below: A quick stop before we got on-site allows Luke to unchain the trailer set up, then when needed he can unpack the trailer from the comfort of the cab Below: All loaded up and ready to be chained down

one came fitted with the 12-speed auto. “When I first got it I was hoping it would have an 18-speed auto,” says Luke, who had had a 12-speed auto in his last truck. “But you don’t need it with this one, the 12 is plenty, it works really well.”

With so much time being spent in the bush, and wet weather also being a major player in a logging truck’s day, traction and ­m anoeuvrability are another couple of major issues. To which once again Luke has been impressed.

“Considering we have the super single on this as well, it has a really great turning circle. And so far, it has been great for traction, I haven’t once even looked like getting bogged.”

Another big selling point for Luke is the space inside the day cab Western Star. “I’m a pretty tall bloke and I have plenty of room, heaps of space above my head and lots of leg room,” he says. He also commends the build quality of the new Stars, pointing out how solid the interior is, especially with the hammering it gets once he steps off the tar seal.

It was definitely worth going over ­m anagement’s head and getting the low down from the driver himself. Plus, it gave me the opportunity to ride along with Luke to see how

ownerdriver.com.au

OWD_372_032-41_TOTM_Cornwalls Western Star 48X_GB.indd 41

JANUARY 2024 41

20/12/2023 11:34 am

owner-operator profile

ACES OF TURF

David and Sharon Rogers, owneroperators of Glenelg Turf Ace in Adelaide, put the success of their 20 year-old business down to passion, maintaining a firstrate reputation and the quality and reliability of their two Hino 500 Series trucks. Greg Bush chats with the former farmers Photos by Mark Walker

D

avid and Sharon Rogers undertook a major livelihood change 20 years ago, entering into the world of turf and lawn installation, and repair and maintenance with their small company Glenelg Turf Ace. The couple now boast one of the best businesses of its type in Adelaide, with a host of regular clients and a variety of sparkling clean machines, including a couple of tidy 500 Series Hino trucks.

However, it’s the accidental lead-up up to the business’ origins that could only be classified as one of those ‘sliding door’ moments.

Originally David and Sharon were farmers on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula where the crops included barley, wheat and peas. They sold up in 1999 and headed west to Streaky Bay where David became a general manager for Wesfarmers. Next stop was another Wesfarmers branch in the northern Adelaide suburb of Gepps Cross.

42 JANUARY 2024

OWD_372_042-45_FEA_Glenelg_GB.indd 42

ownerdriver.com.au

20/12/2023 11:22 am

“We hang on to things and they always look like they’re brand new.”

To keep fitness levels up in the city, David and Sharon decided to join a running club. “For whatever reason a lot of those runners were greenkeepers, and I got familiar with them and eventually became mates,” David recalls.

“Then one time one of these guys said, ‘do you want to come down to Southern Park Bowling Club and do a bit of rolling on a bowling green?’.”

David arrived at the club one Saturday and began cutting. “I fell in love with it,” he admits.

Over a few beers at the local with one of his new mates, he was told about a job on offer at the Adelaide Bowling Club, an opportunity he took up. That led to work at the Sacred Heart College. It was the beginning of a serious full-time business venture.

Meanwhile, Sharon had what she described as “very cushy job” at Kooyonga Golf Club doing membership and admin. But with Glenelg Turf Ace quickly becoming a growing enterprise, she quit her job to work full time in their burgeoning business.

From ute to Hino

“We started with one ute, one trailer, one small tractor and a Verti-Drain,” Sharon says. But it soon became apparent that the one ute just wasn’t going to cut it, so they started looking at trucks.

David had experience driving ACCOs Back on the farm.

However, his liking for the Toyota brand was enough to turn him

ownerdriver.com.au

OWD_372_042-45_FEA_Glenelg_GB.indd 43

into the direction of stablemate Hino, buying a second-hand 500 Series FD. However, after putting in many years of hard work, the old Hino began to develop a few faults.

“The fuel gauge had stopped working, we ran out of fuel once over 60km out of Whyalla,” Sharon says. It also needed a gearbox rebuild, so rather than forking out for repairs, in 2014 the Rogers went to CMI Hino at Regency Park and traded it in on another Hino FD 500, their first brand new truck.

A light duty Isuzu was bought specifically for Sharon to drive, but it soon became apparent that another “big one” was needed, so in 2021 they become proud owners of their second new truck,

Above: The Hino FD may be 10 years old, but still looks as young as yesterday Opposite bottom: Sharon and David Rogers entered the world of turf maintenance 20 years ago

JANUARY 2024 43

20/12/2023 11:23 am

“We could drive on and get fined or we can turn around and get a logbook.”

a Hino FC. Planning ahead, Sharon had her licence upgraded to heavy rigid.

“As we got more and more equipment, we needed the two larger size trucks, otherwise we had to make multiple trips to the same location to deliver the gear to do the work for the day,” Sharon explains. “And if you’ve got to drive too far, then it’d be impossible to do the work.”

Despite the age difference between the two Hino 500s, both are presented in showroom condition, exemplifying Glenelg Turf Ace’s high standards.

“We hang on to things and they always look like they’re brand new,” Sharon says. “And people think we’ve been trading up, even with our tractors and everything else, but we haven’t actually been trading up. It’s just that we look after everything. They look new, but they’re not new.”

It’s that philosophy that has helped Glenelg Turf Ace grow to the highly respected business to what it is today, with clients ranging from schools to sports arenas, including jobs such as turf replacement at the Adelaide Oval and Coopers Stadium.

“We treat every job the same, whether it’s Adelaide Oval or another small thing somewhere, and we do a lot of private schools,” Sharon says. “We still treat everyone as important as everyone else; the job still has to be done the same.”

And they don’t bother advertising, relying totally on reputation and word of mouth.

“We have bookings 12 months in advance, so when we drive out of one place they book us again for the next year,” Sharon

Above: With a flat-tops out back, the Hinos have proved perfect for hauling the Glenelg Turf Ace gear around Top right: The two Glenelg Turf Ace Hinos are a regular sight around Adelaide, although they also do country runs now and then Right: Sharon Rogers loves getting behind the wheel, especially when it’s the wheel of the new FC Hino

44 JANUARY 2024

OWD_372_042-45_FEA_Glenelg_GB.indd 44

ownerdriver.com.au

20/12/2023 11:23 am

says. “We’ve been in it for so long now that people refer us and they ring up and say, ‘such and such has told us about you’.

“We’re also very low key on social media because, number one, I don’t have time to sit on social media and we don’t really like to. We’re not the era of really putting ourselves out there a whole lot.”

It’s not just the Rogers show though. They’ve employed a couple of workers, plus an apprentice, to haul the gear around, although David and Sharon both still put in the long hours, which can be seven days a week.

“We’re up early and we work late. We’re reloading trucks, unloading trucks, decontaminating trucks … we’ve got pressure washers, we’re always decontaminating because we’re going into different turf species,” David says.

The big jobs, such as the aftermath of live outdoor events with foot traffic and trucks pounding the grassy surface, can bring their own particular problems.

Damage to the turf can be further impacted after rain, David says.

“When things get moist, and you put weight on it, then you get big ruts,” he explains.

“The other thing is generally with concerts, we generally put down a big floor, so when the floor goes over it, there’s no sunlight and so it immediately just about kills it.

“So when it deteriorates you’ve got two options – you can either be patient and allow it to come back with water and nutrients and other renovation

ownerdriver.com.au

OWD_372_042-45_FEA_Glenelg_GB.indd 45

practices. Or with Adelaide Oval and Cooper Stadium concerts, they might have a cricket game next week or at the end of the week. You cut it out and replace it.

“We use a big profiler, we put that on the track there and that mills it out, and we can mill it out for 50mm deep and bring in turf from interstate.”

David says the new turf arrives in refrigerated pantechs, generally through Linfox. “When you roll it up it will combust because it’s hot, it will sweat, so they put it in a fridge and it just keeps it at a bit more of a constant temperature.

“Generally, it’ll travel overnight and so we’ll cut at night at the turf farm, it will travel during the day or late at night and it starts to settle virtually immediately,” David says.

“For example, we’ll cut it out, we’ll laser grade it, level it, so we’ll put the turf in on Wednesday, Thursday they’ll have a captain’s AFL run on it on Friday and they’ll play on AFL on Saturday. So it’s immediate.”

The work, however, is not confined to Adelaide.

They occasionally travel throughout rural South Australia, and they’ve done one trip to Murrayville just over the Victorian border. However, It was during one lengthy drive, over 100km carrying more than 12 tonne GCM, that they received a warning from a South Australian police officer.

“We weren’t actually aware when we got pulled over,” David explains. “He said we could drive on and get fined or we can turn around and get a logbook. So we went back and got a logbook.”

For those long runs of anywhere between 1000 and 3000km, it’s not uncommon for David and Sharon to take one of the Hinos plus the LandCruiser hauling a caravan. It removes the problem of trying to find suitable overnight accommodation.

Pride and passion

As Sharon says, it’s a full-on business, but they wouldn’t be doing it if they didn’t enjoy it.

“We are extremely passionate, so I guess that’s why we do go over and above. And that’s why we have a reputation we have.”

Sharon believes whether they grow the business further, or stick with what they have, they see themselves as putting in quite a few more years yet.

That’s despite David occasionally taking a longing look at the caravan parked in their shed.

If the time does come for another truck purchase, they’re both adamant that it will be a Hino, not only due to its quality, but because of the good rapport they enjoy with CMI Hino, in particular sales consultant Mario Menechella and sales manager Dani Brown.

“I’m old fashioned, I’m a brand person,” David says.

“And I’m massive on relationships and service. We’ve got a good relationship with the CMV group, whether it be Toyota at West Terrace or whether it be CMI Hino at Regency Park.

“Mario Menechella has sold both of these to us.

I love the way they do their business, they don’t cut a corner and deliver on quality. And it’s similar principles of what we do with our business.”

JANUARY 2024 45

20/12/2023 11:23 am

NRFA Chris Roe

Chain’s missing links The length of the NHVR’s Chain of Responsibility prosecutions appear to be stalled at owner-drivers

S

ince its inception in the early 2000s and its absorption into National Heavy Vehicle Law (NHVL) in 2014, the concept of Chain of Responsibility (CoR) has hung over sectors of the transport industry like a sword of Damocles, creating emotions ranging from dread and fear in sections of the industry who are often most willing to operate compliantly to disbelief, denial and scepticism from sections of the industry who have built business models based on operations at the edges and beyond of compliance.

As the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) in recent years has gradually expanded and spread its tentacles through the States, one by one it has begun to test its ability to prosecute CoR offences when the opportunity arises. Unfortunately, in many of these cases the “chain” is very short indeed and, while the intent of the legislation was that prosecutions could proceed along the chain to the very top, it appears all too often that once the driver and transport company have been dealt with the chain comes to an abrupt end.

Long time OwnerDriver magazine columnist Ken Wilkie has in recent times developed a dialogue with a now retired former high ranking transport task force police officer, who from time to time contributes anonymously to the Your Say pages of OwnerDriver. The former officer often laments the lack of commitment from police hierarchy to advance these

46 JANUARY 2024

OWD_372_046_COL_NRFA_GB.indd 46

prosecutions further along the chain.

Recently another Prime Creative Media industry publication carried the story of NSW police being ordered by a Magistrate in the Wagga Wagga court to compensate transport company Mainfreight for costs in the sum of $47,391 after a failed CoR case was launched against them following the interception of a subcontractor at Gillenbah, NSW with a load significantly oversized by 750mm due to a load shift.

Two charges were brought against Mainfreight under CoR legislation which they were successfully able to defend at a total cost of $85,968.

The outcome of this prosecution probably raises more questions than it answers. According to the report, Mainfreight were able to defend the allegations based on the fact that the vehicle had been loaded at a client’s premises in Perth and was enroute to Sydney. Mainfreight had played no role in loading the vehicle or securing the load and as the vehicle was operated by a subcontractor, Mainfreight had no way of knowing who would be driving the vehicle on the day of interception.

The judgement accepted that Mainfreight had merely been a “matchmaker” or conduit between the despatching client and the subcontractor.

Contrast that defence to the paranoia of some of the major freight forwarders with whom we deal, who insist on micromanagement of subcontractors to the

CHRIS ROE has been involved in the road transport industry for almost five decades.

He is currently a board member and Victorian delegate of the National Road Freighters Association. Contact the NRFA at nrfa.com.au

point where we are required to undertake online training on how to wash a truck and how to handle a bomb threat phone call to be compliant with their systems.

While many industry commentators, including Ken Wilkie’s confidant, are justifiably critical of enforcement agencies for not advancing CoR prosecutions, outcomes like the one described will obviously weigh heavily when deciding with which case to next proceed.

LOW HANGING FRUIT

In 2019 at the National Road Freighters Association (NRFA) conference in Dubbo during a presentation from the NHVR on Chain of Responsibility, the presenting official stated that the NHVR would not undertake a prosecution unless they were certain they would win. He became somewhat defensive when I suggested that this meant they were targeting low hanging fruit and that an owner-driver or small fleet owner was more likely to be targeted for prosecution than a large corporation who would be more likely to have the funds available to finance a defence of the litigation.

The outcome of the case involving Mainfreight, while not supporting my hypothesis on likely candidates for prosecution, also makes the reluctance of enforcement agencies to advance prosecutions along the chain somewhat understandable.

At the same time as our industry is contemplating the potential implementation of the Closing Loopholes Bill and its impact on setting standards in the industrial relations sphere, a review of National Heavy Vehicle Law is being undertaken which has taken submissions from the industry at large which will be the basis on which CoR will be administered into the future.

I well remember being at one of the Industry Standard Forums conducted by Senator Glenn Sterle in 2019 when former ARTIO NSW secretary Hugh McMaster suggested that we needed an Economic Chain of Responsibility. I have often reflected on what a magnificent mix of interpretations that would involve.

NRFA CONFERENCE

To get some clarity on the reform process of NHVL and the potential for future CoR prosecutions to go well past the driver and operator links in the chain, at the NRFA conference in Shepparton on February 10, a panel session will be conducted in the afternoon with representatives from the National Transport Commission and the NHVR along with transport industry participants to take questions and inform on the progress of the HVNL review.

Your attendance and involvement would give you the opportunity to gain an understanding of the thoughts of the legislators and regulators as to how this review will affect our industry in the future.

With industry and politician involvement, the morning panel sessions will also be an opportunity for the grassroots and coalface of our great industry to have an influence before the final Senate vote on the Closing Loopholes Reform Bill is taken in February.

Go to www.nrfa.com.au to secure your tickets or call Collette Forsyth on 0493 564 467 for more information. The NRFA look forward to seeing you there.

ownerdriver.com.au

20/12/2023 1:51 pm

one on the eve of an inquiry into the very legislation that seeks to make this industry better.

TWU Michael Kaine

CONVOY ENERGY

Running on fumes Without minimum standards, transport will fail to attract new entrants to the industry

T

HE YEAR 2024 is here, the bridge to it marked by the usual frenetic festive time for transport workers. While others may be returning to work well-rested, drivers and operators have been keeping the show running. What we’ve seen for too long now in this industry is that everyone is running on fumes.

In 2023, over 200 people in this country were killed in Australia.

Almost a quarter of them were transport workers. Hundreds of transport businesses became insolvent. But we are on the precipice of real change in the road transport industry. That change has come off the back of the entire industry saying enough is enough.

Last year saw thousands of transport workers, employers, transport associations and gig companies ramping up the campaign for a safer, fairer, more sustainable industry.

That culminated in the biggest truck convoys we’ve ever seen across Australia, in capital cities and from Sydney to the steps of Parliament.

For hundreds of transport workers, backed by the rest of the industry, to show up and demand reform showed politicians that this has never been more urgent.

For the first time in 2023, gig transport workers also joined these convoys – some of the most exploited workers in this country, whose lack of any standards on pay and conditions have also meant a huge threat to the

The transport reform national convoys hit the road in November.

Photo by TWU

ownerdriver.com.au

OWD_372_047_COL_TWU_GB.indd 47

transport industry as a whole.

I joined transport workers – gig workers, bus drivers, owner drivers, employee drivers and more – in Goulburn in late November as we prepared to convoy to Canberra.

Some of the faces are ones I have seen many, many times over the years.

Some have left the industry—either they’ve retired after many exhausting years in the job, or they’ve been forced out of the industry from the pressures or from companies going insolvent.

Underlying these days is the sobering reminder of all the people we have lost in this industry. In the lead-up to November’s convoy, three truck drivers were killed in two days, and four others were killed in truck crashes.

Two of the truck driver deaths occurred in the NSW Riverina region.

The first was a horror crash between three trucks, with a 19-year-old driver killed and another in his 30s rushed to hospital with serious head and back injuries. The second occurred when a driver’s truck ran off the road.

The third truck driver is believed to have been struck and killed by his own truck after it broke down and he attempted to fix it himself.

What we know in this industry is that often truck drivers, even if they are employee drivers, are pressured to attempt repairs themselves because of razor-thin margins.

In the last few months of 2023, four gig transport workers were also killed,

MICHAEL KAINE is the national secretary of the Transport Workers Union of Australia. Contact Michael at: NSW Transport Workers Union, Transport House, 188-390 Sussex Street, Sydney, NSW 2000. twu@twu.com.au

“We are not just fighting for people not to die on our roads.”

It has become almost impossible to talk about this industry without also talking about death, but with one voice, we have stood up and demanded better. The position we are in now has been years in the making, with consultation that has involved every corner of road transport.

The national convoys in November again showed Federal Parliament our unity, and our strength. There is an energy to these convoys that is like no other, because these stories show us, and they show the rest of Australia, just what we are fighting for.

Many of the transport workers and operators who have been part of this fight would tell you that they wouldn’t recommend their job to their sons or daughters. But there is a hope now, once we win this, that this will be an industry people will want to be part of.

That’s why the objections of companies like Amazon will never ring true. These companies have long relied on crying wolf whenever governments make attempts at implementing better standards, not just in Australia but around the world.

The companies arguing against this legislation are the reasons we need it.

While they try to protect their obscene profits, the people in this industry just want to be able to make a decent living and get home to their families.

That should not be controversial. We are not just fighting for people not to die on our roads – this should be a bare minimum – but for the next generation to want to be part of this vibrant industry, which could be so much better with the right minimum standards in place.

We are almost there.

If the opposition had supported these life-saving measures late last year, the legislation would have already passed, and we’d be getting on with the task of making this industry better. When the whole industry is behind these laws, all that the opposition has done is stood in the way of broadly supported, practical, tangible change.

This is not a fight that has been measured in months or even years, but decades. So although the opposition’s move to stymie these laws has once again shown their true colours, it will only strengthen us.

The groundwork has been laid for years. The need for fair minimum standards in transport is obvious and urgent. We have talked around tables and smoothed out the points of dissent and we have legislation that has now passed one House of Parliament.

All that’s left is for it to pass the Senate. We will have to keep doing everything in our power to show the cross-bench why they must put the bill through.

As for what’s next if and when legislation passes? Well, we’ll celebrate.

And then we’ll get to work using those laws to make this industry better for all participants.

JANUARY 2024 47

20/12/2023 8:50 am

NATROAD Warren Clark

Challenging road ahead Many positives came to fruition in the last 12 months, but there is much more to do in 2024

A

s we draw a line under 2023 and look forward to the year ahead, in some ways “the more things change, the more they stay the same”. Despite apparent changes or advancements, certain fundamental aspects of the road transport industry remain unchanged over time.

This is true to an extent, however there’s also plenty of evidence that 2024 will be different.

Yes, the battle to stay financially viable will remain a fact of life for many operators. Those high diesel prices aren’t going anywhere in a downward direction soon.

Heavy Vehicle National Law reform – or the lack of it – is stubbornly entrenched and while that’s the case, a dizzying array of confusing and unfair regulations will remain.

And most of us can only see a decarbonised future … but it’s off in the distance. This is understandable when operators have so much on their plate just to remain afloat.

But ignoring change is a risk because fundamental shifts in how we all do business requires lots of preparation.

Change is coming – and fast.

In October last year, the High Court of Australia dramatically reduced the ability of states to make revenue through taxes by killing off the Victoria plan to impose a road user tax on electric vehicles (EVs). While the test case involved passenger vehicles, the impacts for the trucking sector could be profound.

How will governments make up the decline in revenue as fuel excise falls away and EVs become the norm?

The Road User Charge (RUC) is supposedly designed to recoup the cost of road upkeep from every truck. Therefore, the RUC will need a massive re-think.

There are other signs that 2024 will require big thinking on the policy front.

WARREN CLARK is the CEO of the National Road Transport Association.

NET ZERO

At the time of writing, the Federal Government was signalling that its ambitious goal of reducing its emissions by 43 per cent by 2030 (and achieving net zero by 2050) is becoming harder to reach.

When it comes to decarbonisation, the heavy transport sector has been largely left out of public discussions. Of course, inside industry that hasn’t been the case.

“The vast majority of road transport operators are small businesses with chronically low profit margins.”

Manufacturers have been working to trial electric and hydrogen cell vehicles in local conditions.

Changes to emissions and relaxation of truck width limits will make newer, more efficient trucks, more readily available, and may spark a new era in local manufacturing.

In November, following extensive work, NatRoad released its Decarbonisation white paper. Collaborating closely with stakeholders the white paper is one step in what will be a long journey. However, it also recognises that the time for action is now.

NatRoad also called on the Federal Government to commit $3.5 billion to a fund to kick start truck decarbonisation.

This fund would be a mix of financing and direct incentives- a hand-up, rather than a hand-out.

Included in the existing broader government funding, is the $500 million Driving the Nation Fund which would continue within this remit. This fund is focused on light vehicles and a small number of demonstration projects for heavy vehicles.

The reality is decarbonisation of heavy vehicles must be a co-investment by government as many of our road freight businesses are unable to meet the steep initial costs. The vast majority of road transport operators are small businesses with chronically low profit margins.

NatRoad will work towards establishing a forum of trucking industry, and government stakeholders, early in 2024 to discuss the white paper and build collaboration.

We will do it with support from industry and the International Road Transport Union (IRU), the world transport organisation, representing over 3.5 million transport and logistic companies in more than 100 countries.

The goal of everyone in road transport should be a cleaner, safer, more efficient, and financially viable industry but it’s going to take more than talk to turn this into a reality.

NatRoad wishes you and your families the best for a safe and successful 2024.

NatRoad communications are intended to provide commentary and general information. They should not be relied upon as legal advice. Our advisers are available to clarify any questions you have and provide the right advice for your business and workforce. Contact NatRoad on (02) 6295 3000.

Photo credit: Vadim Kozlovsky/Shutterstock.com

48 JANUARY 2024

OWD_372_048_COL_NatRoad_GB.indd 48

ownerdriver.com.au

20/12/2023 1:49 pm

THE GOODS NEWS FROM THE HIGHWAY AND BEYOND

Next stop Japan Top talent on show at Isuzu Trucks National Technical Skills comp

WHAT’SS ON upcoming events WHAT’ TOORADIN TRUCK SHOW & TRACTOR PULL January 20, 2024. Tooradin, Victoria

Held at Rutter Reserve, the Tooradin Truck Show & Tractor Pull has been an annual event since 1998. Includes car show. Full catering, kids amusements, helicopter rides. Strictly no BYO, no glass, no dogs. Truck show from 10am to 3pm, Tractors 3pm to 10pm. Adults $35, kids $10 (kids under 10 free), pensioner $15, family $65.

For further info email info@tooradintractorpull.com.au, see the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/tooradintractorpullandtruckshow, or phone 0438 568 604.

NATIONAL ROAD FREIGHTERS ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE The Isuzu National Technical Skills Competition (NTSC), held on November 29 last year, saw some of the best Isuzu Trucks technicians and apprentices in the country challenged in a series of tests against their colleagues, the clock, and ultimately, themselves.

Well-known for drawing the best and brightest into the spotlight, the annual competition forms part of Isuzu Australia Limited’s (IAL) full-circle approach of investing in and developing its greatest resource—its people.

IAL congratulated all participants and proudly announced the top two finalists, Jason Lee from Road Runner Mechanical Services and Connor Gillam from Major Motors, both hailing from Western Australia.

“I am so pleased to congratulate our two top finalists Jason and Connor, and to see the high calibre of apprentices and service technicians that have come through to the final stage of the National Technical Skills Competition,” says IAL head of aftersales, Brett Stewart.

“This competition encourages technicians to challenge themselves personally but also has a positive flow on effect for the dealerships and Isuzu customers who benefit from their expertise.”

After rigorous training and a qualifying round, eight apprentices and eight qualified technicians made up the field for the 2023 NTSC. The competition followed the format of previous years, involving a written examination and a series of high-pressure practical tests under the watchful eye of judges.

Stewart says he was impressed with the level of knowledge and rigour applied to solving these complex problems.

February 10, 2024. Shepparton, Vic. “These are the people who operate behind garage doors, behind the scenes, but there’s no other group within the business with more knowledge of the product and how it’s being used.

“From what I have seen with those participating in the competition—it leaves me with no doubt that the Isuzu Australia network has the right workforce, with the right skills to meet the challenges of the future,” Stewart says.

For the two finalists of the technician’s round, a more immediate challenges will be competing as Team Australia in the international I-1 Grand Prix, which will be held in Japan later this year.

Jason Lee says Road Runner Mechanical Services in Geraldton is a relative newcomer to the Isuzu network.

“I haven’t been to Japan before, so this is an amazing opportunity to visit and take part in the I-1 Grand Prix,” he says.

Connor Gillam echoed the sentiment. “It was my goal to reach Japan and compete in the I-1 Grand Prix, but I did not honestly expect to take out one of the top spots.

“Working with trucks is my thing and I want to stay in the game for as long as possible … this event has been really motivating and I am stoked to have the chance to compete,” he says.

The two top scoring contestants from the apprentice round were Matthew Dinola from Patterson Cheney Trucks in Victoria and Kim Coronacion from Bendigo Isuzu.

“Congratulations to all our apprentices who trained so hard and did us proud at the event,” Brett Stewart continues.

“As a former service technician myself, it always brings me great pleasure to see how events like this highlight the value of service techs and apprentices in this industry, while also providing a platform for our young people to network.”

Above: Jason Lee from Road Runner Mechanical Services in Geraldton Left: Isuzu tech comp finalist Connor Gillam

ownerdriver.com.au

OWD_372_049_What's On_GB.indd 49

Held at The Woolshed in Shepparton, the NRFA 2024 Annual Conference is a must-attend event for anyone in the road freight industry. Includes guest speakers from the National Transport Commission and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, as well as other representatives from Australia’s road transport industry.

For further information and tickets email admin@nrfa.com.au or phone Collette Forsyth on 0493 564 467.

LIVESTOCK BULK AND RURAL CARRIERS ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE February 23-24, 2024. Wagga Wagga, NSW

Held at the Range Clay Target Shooting Range and Function Centre. The annual LBRCA is a gathering of fellow truck owners and drivers, government, suppliers and industry representatives to focus on the needs of rural and regional heavy vehicle transporters.

Issues range from unfair infringements and regulation to unsafe loading and unloading facilities. Plus trade exhibition, the Young Driver of the Year Award presentation, Gala Dinner and Auction Spectacular.

For further info see the website www.lbrca.org.au or email office@lbrca.org.au

LOCKHART HERITAGE TRUCK SHOW March 2, 2024. Lockhart, NSW

Held at the Lockhart Showground, the 15th Lockhart Heritage Truck Show will incorporate the National Historic Truck and Commercial Vehicle Show. The 2024 focus will be on supporting the health and well-being of truck drivers, in conjunction with OzHelp Foundation.

In addition to the display of historic trucks and other vehicles, the show will continue into the evening with a Country Concert. There is no entry fee for exhibitors.

For registrations and further information, contact Peter Smith 0458 422 808 or Trevor Slater 0407 513 974.

KYABRAM MACK MUSTER 2024

March 16-17, 2024. Kyabram Showgrounds, Vic. Featuring all Mack models and associated brands. Also open to all truck makes. Free entry for exhibitors. Friday night barbecue offered at showgrounds and Saturday night meal available at the Kyabram Club with guest speaker.

For further details see the Facebook page or phone Dave Willis on 0428 692 753, John Laffan 0427 484 247 or Tim Daws 0458 868 988.

MID AMERICA TRUCKING SHOW

March 21-23, 2024. Louisville, Kentucky, USA The Mid America Trucking Show (MATS) is arguably the largest annual heavy-duty trucking industry event in the world. Held each year at the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville, KY, the show attracts 70,000-plus attendees and 1,000-plus exhibitors from throughout the United States and abroad. Includes the PKY Truck Beauty Championship.

For further info see the website at www.truckingshow.com

WA MACK MUSTER AND TRUCK SHOW

March 24, 2024. Byford, Western Australia Held at the stunning Quarry Farm, Byford, the WA Mack Muster and Truck Show is a grassroots family friendly muster experience that promises to be a fun day out at the Farm with a bunch of Macks and other makes and models on display. Food trucks and licensed bar, kids zone, competitions, exhibits, local trucking celebrities and more. Raising money for cancer research.

For further info see the website at www.mackmuster.com.au or the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/wamackmuster or email mackmuster@quarryfarm.com

TRUCKING AUSTRALIA 2024

April 17-19, 2024. Canberra, ACT Held at the National Convention Centre in Canberra, this event will feature presentations from leading industry practitioners, government agencies and peak/regulatory bodies to help shape solutions to the road transport industry’s most pressing challenges!. Includes the National Trucking Industry Awards, plus Kenworth Legends Lunch, Daimler Truck Local Showcase Dinner, and ATA Foundation Sponsors Gala Awards Dinner.

For further details see the website new.truck.net.au/ta or phone 02 6253 6900.

To have an event listed free, phone 0408 780 302 or e-mail greg.bush@primecreative.com.au JANUARY 2024 49

20/12/2023 11:19 am

truck events

The main street of the quiet Victorian town of Castlemaine played host to hundreds of heavy vehicles last November as truck show entrants took a lap of the town to show off their rigs. Geoff Crockett reports

TRUCKS CELEBRATED AT CASTLEMAINE 50 JANUARY 2024

OWD_372_050-53_FEA_Castlemaine_GB.indd 50

ownerdriver.com.au

20/12/2023 11:24 am

T

he rain stayed away and the trucking community came out to play at the HHA and Larsen’s Castlemaine Rotary Truck Show on the last weekend in November. The event marked the 35th time the show has been held in the Victorian town, bringing together truck enthusiasts from all over Australia for two days of family fun and truck spotting.

There was something for everyone on the truck side from classic Kenworths and Macks to slick looking Scanias and a brand new DAF. All up there were 265 trucks entered for judging, and about 40 more who came along to be part of the show, which was attended by a crowd of more than 3,000 people.

More than 30 trophies were handed out on the day across a wide array of categories, with Truck of the Show going to the Cornwill Transport team for a stunning 2022 Kenworth Legend SAR. The charity auction held on the Sunday raised $4670 to go towards to be added to the overall funds raised from the weekend that are put towards supporting welfare and community groups and youth scholarships.

The crowds were well looked after with an array of food stalls and live music from Craig Lloyd, Peter Coad & The Coad Sisters, The Jim Hermel Band, Sandee Facy and Robert Urban and Adey Jordan.

There was also a truck driving simulator, popular with the youngsters, and Latrobe Health were along offering free heart health checks to anyone interested in giving it a go.

Another first for the truck show was the collection of cans, stubbies and plastic bottles to raise money for the environment. With four cubic metres’ worth collected

Top, left to right: The Larsen’s team of Taylah, Georgia, Grace and Jesse were busy handing out caps and stubby coolers to the crowd; Gary Rose from Heavy Haulage Assets checking out the trucks on show. HHA was a major sponsor of this year’s event Middle, left to right: Jack William Membrey with the Kenworth SAR named in his honour; This stunning Peterbilt 379 took out the Best Paint trophy; The Cornwill boys, Zack, Troy, Rick and Wayne with their winning truck Left: Luci, Jack, Ben, Kelly and Nixon were checking out the fun on the oval

ownerdriver.com.au

OWD_372_050-53_FEA_Castlemaine_GB.indd 51

JANUARY 2024 51

20/12/2023 11:24 am

over two days, it’s likely to cover the cost of waste collection for the event with money left to support an environmental cause.

Handing out the Truck of the Show trophy on Sunday, HHA’s Jon Kelly paid tribute to all of the drivers who had brought their trucks along for the event. He said judging had been tough across all of the categories and the Truck of the Show had been won by just one vote from two other contenders.

Castlemaine Rotary president Kerry Anderson said the show had been a huge success, made possible by the contributions of more than 150 volunteers and strong support by its sponsors.

“We simply can’t run an event of this magnitude on our own. For every volunteer hour contributed we donate to the volunteer’s community group. It’s a wonderful example of how a community can come together to do good,” Kerry says.

The coveted Truck of the Show winner this year was crafted by the Cornwill brothers behind Cornwill Transport as a tribute to their grandfather. They took a 2022 Kenworth Legend SAR and added a range of retro touches including a stainless sun visor more in line with the ’80s look of the trucks. Inside it’s a work of art, with a custom f loor and a photo of their grandad nestled at the base of the centre console.

Ricky, who collected the trophy on behalf of his brothers Troy and Wayne, said the family, which is based out of Bannockburn near Geelong, had been coming to the Castlemaine Truck Show for nearly 30 years and it was great to be involved again and to go home with a trophy or two.

Castlemaine Rotary president and truck show director Kerry Anderson said the show had been a great family event with plenty of activities for everyone including live music, food, rides, and a truck driving simulator that was popular with the next generation of drivers.

She said the oldest truck entered this year was 97 years old, the average age of the trucks entered was 15 years and the average number of kilometres topped one million per truck.

“In total the trucks had travelled more than 240 million kilometres and there was 120,500hp on the ground – that’s a lot of trucks!”

“What I really love about this event is how it brings the trucking industry and community together,” Kerry says.

“Even during the COVID lockdowns we continued to celebrate the incredible service truckies provide to our community and the pride they have in their trucks.

“At the same time we also bring the community together, as volunteers and as spectators, to provide an enjoyable family day out.”

52 JANUARY 2024

OWD_372_050-53_FEA_Castlemaine_GB.indd 52

ownerdriver.com.au

20/12/2023 11:25 am

“It’s a wonderful example of how a community can come together to do good.”

Top: Navjot Singh and Naunihal Singh of Majha Transport with their new Kenworth T909 dressed in orange and black Above, left to right: Trevor Davis from Melbourne with his 1927 International, one of only five in the world; A Thompson’s Kenworth SAR arrives at the Campbells Creek Recreation Reserve Opposite from top: Darren Evans, Tony Whelan and Alan Taylor with their classic Kenworths; Chelsea Melville, Hank Meade, Vinnie Melville, Sophie Melville, Steve Melville; Will Peterson with the Thompson’s Kenworth SAR

ownerdriver.com.au

OWD_372_050-53_FEA_Castlemaine_GB.indd 53

JANUARY 2024 53

20/12/2023 11:25 am

industry focus

‘WHEELY’ GOOD HOLIDAYS WITH ISUZU

W

Isuzu’s N Series is proving to be a wise choice for recreational road trippers around Australia

hether it’s an interstate road trip or camping with family and friends before the school year kicks off, there are plenty of gorgeous locations across the country to enjoy.

Packing up for a holiday also means packing on weight, which can prove a tricky prospect when it comes ensuring the capacity of a vehicle and its towbar assembly is within legal limits to tow a weighty load—such as a fully loaded caravan, luggage, food, the family and extras onboard.

The least desirable outcome is copping a fine or demerits points for overloading, but unfortunately, it’s an all-too common occurrence for commercial passenger vehicle drivers when towing a holiday rig.

For those who want to sightsee stress-free, a truck with a GVM of 4,500kg that can be driven with a standard car licence presents an attractive option.

Isuzu’s light-duty N Series range, spanning Readyto-Work and cab chassis models, holds a significant payload advantage over many commercial utes and 4WDs, offering the power and capacity for optimal towing performance, and importantly, the reliability to get from A to B without issue.

The release of a new towbar package which allows an upgrade of the standard 3.5 tonne towbar assembly to 4.0 or 4.5 tonnes with a custom tongue

54 JANUARY 2024

OWD_372_054-55_Industry focus_Isuzu_GB.indd 54

(using a 50 or 70mm towball exclusive to Isuzu), also gives flexibility for owners to tailor a truck for their specific recreational needs.

Combine this with the assurance of genuine parts and accessories available from Isuzu Trucks’ National Distribution Centre through to any authorised dealership or ASPO across the country, and it’s a set-and-forget package that holiday-makers are finding hard to resist.

paces with camping excursions and road trips along the beautiful east coast. It’s become a valued part of the family’s social lives, serving as a mobile kitchen and hangout at sports games and events.

Tegan says there’s a lifetime of memories to be made in this unique family mover, which provides them with the space and capacity to go to whatever corner of Australia the family desire.

Family fun

For Stephen Larissey, retirement hasn’t dulled the wanderlust, and he finds himself constantly on the lookout for the next adventure.

Being taller than average, Stephen was finding that driving hundreds of kilometres in the cramped cab of the ute just wasn’t as enticing as it had once been. For someone who values the journey as much as the destination, it was high time to upgrade to an NLR 45-150 Traypack with TC-AMT which he secured from Webster Trucks in Tasmania.

A major advantage of the NLR 45-150 MWB Traypack is a GVM of 4,500kg, which complements a nominal payload of just over 2,000kg. This means it can be driven on a car licence and there’s no worries about loading up gear securely within legal limits.

Stephen has kitted out his truck to become what he describes as the ‘ultimate road trip vehicle’. This

After winning an Isuzu NNR 45-150 Crew Cab in a raffle held by Isuzu Australia in partnership with the Gotcha4Life Foundation (helping to raise awareness for mental fitness and supporting communities across Australia), Environmental Scientist Tegan Yasserie and her family had a thrilling festive season journeying from Sydney to Mackay to meet up with family and friends.

The truck came tricked-out with goodies including solar panels, a weatherproof Samsung TV, Bushman fridges, and a coffee machine all housed within a top quality, custom-built service body from Service Bodies Australia.

With a GVM of 4,500kg, the truck can be driven by both Tegan and her husband with a standard driver’s licence. The whole family have put it through its

Cross country traveller

ownerdriver.com.au

20/12/2023 8:40 am

includes a Palomino slide-on camper van and his trusty fishing boat, ‘Just Chips’ on the trailer following along behind, as well as unique touches like solar panels to create the perfect vehicle to criss-cross the continent.

He took the new truck on its maiden voyage, crossing to the mainland on the Spirit of Tasmania, driving clear across the southern states and over the vast Nullarbor Plain to visit his son in Perth.

Grey nomads

Helen and Greg Gault are no strangers to the value of caravan parks and motels across Australia, both having a background in accommodation management. Their retirement dream was to travel the country carrying everything they need to live selfsufficiently on the road.

After a thorough investigation into the towing capacity of popular 4WDs, the duo decided the best course of action was to enquire with Brisbane Isuzu about purchasing a light-duty truck. They settled on an NPR 45-155 AMT Tradepack for the task of towing their New Age Big Red 22ft caravan, which put Greg’s worry of exceeding weight limits into the rear-view mirror.

With a GVM of 4,500kg and nominal payload of 1,485kg, along with a powerful 5.2-litre, 16 valve 4HK1-TCN engine, the truck has the power and capability required to tow the considerable weight of their deluxe caravan and all the impressive extras the couple have added to make life on the road a comfortable adventure.

ownerdriver.com.au

OWD_372_054-55_Industry focus_Isuzu_GB.indd 55

TOP: The NNR 45-150 Crew Cab has proved to be an ideal camping excursion setup for Tegan Yasserie and her family ABOVE: Stephen Larissey’s NLR 45-150 MWB Traypack, his ultimate road trip vehicle BELOW: Greg and Helen Gault with their “retirement dream” – an NPR 45-155 AMT Tradepack towing a New Age Big Red 22ft caravan

JANUARY 2024 55

20/12/2023 8:40 am

YOUR NATIONAL STATION 24/7 Scan and LISTEN NOW

Visit us on www.australiantruckradio.com.au

For advertising opportunities contact melissa.beutel@primecreative.com.au or call +61 422 103 119 OWD_372_056-57_COL_Music_GB.indd 56

20/12/2023 12:41 pm

As well as being involved in road transport media for the past 23 years, GREG BUSH has strong links to the music industry. A former Golden Guitar judge for the Country Music Awards of Australia, Greg also had a threeyear stint as an ARIA Awards judge in the late 1990s and wrote for and edited several music magazines.

ROAD SOUNDS Greg Bush

Sweet summer sounds It's party and chill time with these eight new albums BACK TO MOON BEACH Kurt Vile

PHONING IT IN Gavin Bowles & The Distractions

BIG BIG LOVE Michael Franti & Spearhead

Verve/Virgin Music www.kurtvile.com

Independent www.gavinbowlesmusic.com

Thirty Tigers michaelfranti.com

Arguably the most nonchalant vocalist since Lou Reed, US singersongwriter Kurt Vile has done well since departing rock band The War On Drugs in 2008. The enigmatic Vile classes Back To Moon Beach as an EP, despite the fact that it runs for over 50 minutes.

The nine tracks (10 if you buy vinyl) are gathered from various sessions over the past four years. Vile meanders through ‘Touched Somethin (Caught A Virus)’, a song for the times, and recalls a famous country song ‘Another Good Year For The Roses’. He hits the wall on ‘Like A Wounded Bird Trying To Fly’, another “relaxing” song, its verses interspersed with tasteful guitar solos, then he laments the loss of legends on ‘Tom Petty's Gone (But Tell Him I Asked For Him)’. There’s a couple of covers too, including Wilco’s ‘Passenger Side’.

Sydney pop-rock quartet Gavin Bowles & The Distractions released three effervescent singles early in 2023 as a precursor to Phoning It In, the band’s debut album. Those singles are included here. ‘Here Comes The Heartache’ is, despite the subject, an excellent janglingguitar based track. ‘On The Telephone (I Used To Call You)’ ventures into punkrock territory, offset by a strong melody line, and ‘Break My Heart’ mixes ’60s pop with a contemporary arrangement.

Michael Crudgington’s guitar licks shine on ‘I Get Bored’, a song about mundane routines, but there’s none better than ‘The Kids Are All High’, a summer party anthem. Like a modern-day Elvis Costello, the bespectacled Gavin Bowles (who also produced Phoning It In) gives the band a distinctive sound. Well worth catching at live gigs.

Michael Franti is in a happy place, if the songs on Big Big Love are any indication.

The Californianborn musician, who now lives in Bali where he owns a boutique Ubud hotel, has immersed himself in the mantra of peace and love.

Big Big Love is his 13th studio album with band Spearhead. He celebrates his surroundings on ‘Good Life’, and embraces the summer party scene on ‘Meet Me When The Sun Goes Down’.

Franti raps on ‘Vibe Check (My Kinda Party)’ as he moves towards smooth jazz, and dons dancing shoes on ‘Happy Is The New Sexy’. There’s a Caribbean beat to ‘All Night Long Forever’ as Franti sings of Bob Marley, Dracula and Cheech & Chong, and he sounds enlightened on ‘Hands Up To The Sky’, an anthem for positivity. Big Big Love is an apt soundtrack to an endless summer.

THE JOURNEY – PART 2 The Kinks

ROLLER COASTER Checkerboard Lounge

WINNER TAKES NOTHING Jordan Merrick

BMG thekinks.info

Cheersquad Records checkerboardlounge.com.au

Independent jordanmerrick.com.au

One of the British invasion frontrunners in the ’60s, The Kinks have marked six decades since first hitting the charts with the release of two compilation double album sets.

The Journey – Part 2 follows the March 2023 release of Part 1. Rather than load all their hits onto the first instalment, this second release has its share of favourites such as the whimsical ‘A Well Respected Man’, ‘Sunny Afternoon’ and ‘Lola’. Also included are three previously unreleased live tracks under the banner of ‘New Victoria Suite’, plus there’s 2023 mixes of a number of tracks, including 1974 single ‘Money Talks’. While singer/ songwriter Ray Davies is The Kinks’ main man, younger brother Dave Davies sings lead on ‘Creeping Jean’, ‘Lincoln County’ and ’Susannah’s Still Alive’, the latter a 1968 top 20 UK hit. The Journey – Part 2 and The Journey – Part 1 are indispensable for music historians.

Cult Melbourne blues band Checkerboard Lounge has evolved over a 30-year period with an ever-changing line-up. One constant is drummervocalist Carl Pannuzzo who, along with the current members of bassist Zoë Frater, guitarist Shannon Bourne and Tim Neal on Hammond organ, have put their live energy into new album Roller Coaster. ‘Killing Time’ is a grungy, upbeat blues-rock track, while the organ takes centre stage on ‘Double Standard’ as Pannuzzo delivers a scat-style vocal.

‘King Of Nothing’ is a soulful jazz lament highlighted by Bourne’s subtle guitar licks. An organ intro on the 7-minute ‘I Wish I Knew’ evolves into gospel, that track gazumped length-wise by the 18-minute ‘Prodigal Son’, a track of many moods and styles. There’s a February 3 official album launch at the Brunswick Ballroom, and they’re also on stage at Blues on Broadbeach in May.

Storyteller Jordan Merrick received high praise for his second album Waiting Blues in 2021, written and recorded during COVID. The follow-up, Winner Takes Nothing, again lies somewhere between folk, blues and rock. Brisbanebased Merrick recalls the late, great folkie Woody Guthrie on ‘Song For A Room’, and he sings of basic human values on ‘I Need A Man’, a mid-paced track featuring guitarist Sarah Timson on duet vocals. Merrick is desperate and forthright on ‘I Want To Be With You’, a song of unrequited love, and sings of digging his own hole on ‘Grave Digging Blues’, a perfect vehicle for his earthy vocals. He opts for a quiet moment on ‘A Campfire Song’, a song of solitude, continuing the mood on ‘The Painting’, a track that wouldn’t be out of place in Bob Dylan’s catalogue. And the paredback ’Hangover Blues’ is certain to strike a chord with festive season strugglers.

ownerdriver.com.au

OWD_372_056-57_COL_Music_GB.indd 57

Country Corner STANDING ROOM ONLY Tim McGraw Big Machine Records/ Universal www.timmcgraw.com

US country superstar and multi Grammy winner Tim McGraw began working on Standing Room Only back in 2020, around the same time as his previous album Here On Earth, a US Billboard Country charttopper, was released. Standing Room Only, McGraw’s 17th studio album, is a strong follow-up. ‘Paper Umbrellas’ enters Jimmy Buffett territory as he drowns his sorrows with tequila, and follows suit on the quiet, acoustic guitar-backed ’Hey Whiskey’. McGraw sings of a big shot “mama’s boy” on ‘Small Town King’, a country rock track, maintaining the tempo on ‘Cowboy Junkie’. Singersongwriter Lori McKenna co-wrote and adds vocals to ‘Nashville CA/L.A. Tennessee’, a song of a long distance relationship, another excellent track.

It’s all quality on Standing Room Only, although the standout is arguably the powerful title track on this 13-song strong album.

THE NASHVILLE RECORD Catherine Traicos Independent catherinetraicos.com

The music of Australian singer-songwriter Catherine Traicos crosses a variety of genres, releasing eight albums along the way, including the latest, The Nashville Record. As the title suggests, Traicos travelled to Nashville, specifically The Dog House Studio and Studio Freda after writing the songs in pandemic isolation in Perth. Fortunately, the Nashville "accent" did not rub off on Traicos, her performance on ‘Sand On My Feet’ a delight. On ‘Sorry That I Fell’ she draws similarities to UK songstress Dido, and she sings of online dating on ‘Butterfly’, a waltztimed track sung in Traicos’ distinctive leisurely fashion. The lost love song ‘Raging’ is heavier in comparison, while ‘Anyone’s Girl’ is a catchy number with a big chorus, and ‘Better Send Your Love’ is a piano-backed ballad. There’s a certain innocence in Traicos’ vocals, which adds to The Nashville Record’s endearing qualities.

JANUARY 2024 57

20/12/2023 12:41 pm

new model preview

PLAN OF ATTACK

Signalling the start of a bold offensive stretching over the next two years and more, Isuzu Australia has outlined new product details which will not only see a generational upswing of its entire model range but also, the prospect of a genuinely competitive prime mover.

It all starts later this year with a few F-series models but have no doubt, the momentum will build, and build big. Steve Brooks reports after a whirlwind trip to Japan

58 JANUARY 2024

OWD_372_058-62_FEA_Isuzu Tokyo_GB.indd 58

ownerdriver.com.au

20/12/2023 1:44 pm

M

ost companies like to keep details of new product initiatives well under lock and key, desperately defending secrecy until the very last minute before the curtain goes up on their latest and presumably greatest creation. Isuzu, or rather Isuzu Australia, is not one of them.

In fact, the absolute leader of the overall Australian truck market for the past 35 years appears to have no interest whatsoever in concocting an element of surprise or more to the point, showing any trepidation that it may be giving competitors a free kick with advance details of upcoming new product.

Instead, local leaders of the Japanese leviathan have been historically entirely up front, openly revealing product plans well in advance and in the process, seemingly challenging competitors with a ‘catch us if you can’ credo. Thus, Isuzu Australia’s recent quick-fire trip to Japan to disclose first details of an upcoming generational change to its entire product line was, quite simply, nothing less than normal.

Even so, some might see such attitude as a somewhat arrogant, haughty approach, an almost insolent pride stemming from so much success over so many years and true, there may be a tinge of reality in such assertions. After all, in any industry anywhere, 35 years at the top of the tree is an achievement of stellar standing and self-ascribed sentiments of superiority are, well, not entirely unexpected.

Equally though, neither are they unjustified given the extent of the success.

Yet even if there is a hint, ever so slight, of such hubris, nothing defines Isuzu’s attitudes and aptitudes more than its underlying confidence. A confidence borne of a product range which has for decades satisfied a vast cross-section of Australia’s commercial vehicle applications, building an enviable reputation for reliability, sold and serviced through arguably the most expansive and experienced dealer network in the country, and all these elements glued together by a marketing exercise and budget unmatched in both consistency and content.

As its tenure at the top so plainly portrays, Isuzu hoisted the bar many years ago and hoisted it high. Very high.

Nonetheless, cynics and critics may fairly contend the brand’s long-term triumphs stem almost solely from absolute domination of light and medium-duty categories, the little truck league, where Japanese makers fight for favouritism among themselves rather than banging heads with the heavies of Europe and the US. That’s true up to a point, the point being that even without a dedicated prime mover model, Isuzu remains firmly fixed in third position on the heavy-duty ladder behind stalwarts Kenworth and Volvo, yet comfortably ahead of all other big name heavy hitters.

But what if Isuzu was to gain a genuine competitor in the prime mover class, a model with an advanced 13 litre European powertrain sporting 530hp or thereabouts, backed by the same dealer network and aggressive marketing that support its smaller siblings?

Worryingly for some, that prospect is now at least showing some signs of life due to Volvo’s cautious concession to allow its popular 13 litre engine and transmission package to be offered in both Isuzu’s Giga flagship and its relatively recent corporate counterpart, UD Quon. Right now though, those models are ‘Japan only’ and on the face of it, the odds appear stacked against Isuzu’s reborn Giga arriving here anytime soon with a 500-plus powertrain as Volvo strives to protect its local 13 litre line-up from such a fiercely aggressive and obviously aspirational player.

Still, a truly competitive prime mover has long been something of a Holy Grail pursuit for Isuzu’s local leadership and Isuzu Australia chief operating officer and director Andrew Harbison is no exception, anxious for the day when he will have the product to mount a determined challenge for top slot on the heavy-duty ladder. And make no mistake, Harbison’s outwardly mild mannerisms mask a fiercely competitive character, brazenly keen to take the trucking trifecta by adding heavy-duty leadership to Isuzu’s entrenched dominance of light and medium-duty markets.

As he is quick to acknowledge though, the Japanese play a patient game in corporate wrangling and it will take time and probably much high-level haggling before a suitably specified

“From start to finish, Isuzu’s complete range change will span the best part of two years.”

Opposite: Forward thinking. First of Isuzu’s next generation models for the Australian market will be the four cylinder F-series range, part of Isuzu Japan’s ‘Forward’ family. It will, however, be just the tip of the iceberg Above: Japanese version of the new four cylinder F-series. A totally redesigned grille easily differentiates the old from the new Left: Snapshot of the new N-series interior. Inside and out, all models in the fully revamped range have been significantly modernised

ownerdriver.com.au

OWD_372_058-62_FEA_Isuzu Tokyo_GB.indd 59

JANUARY 2024 59

20/12/2023 1:44 pm

rest assured, it is coming and in competitive terms, nothing will be left to chance.

Steady start

Giga (or Quon) arrives on the Australian market.

It is, however, an overtly optimistic Andrew Harbison who contends it will happen. Eventually!

Indeed, the modern Giga – sharing nothing more than a name in common with its massively mediocre and gratefully defunct predecessor – may ultimately prove to be the crowning pinnacle of a total refurbishment of Isuzu Australia’s entire product portfolio over the next few years.

Again though, this generational makeover of Isuzu’s entire range won’t happen all at once but

60 JANUARY 2024

OWD_372_058-62_FEA_Isuzu Tokyo_GB.indd 60

While exact timelines are still to be determined, the thin edge of the wedge marking the most complete change to Isuzu’s model range since 2008 will come in the second half of this year with 5.2 litre four cylinder F-series medium-duty trucks. Like all other models in the fully revised line-up, they’ll be easily recognised by a stylish, demonstrably different grille design.

After the four cylinder F-series, as Andrew Harbison explained in a press statement, “we’ll see the arrival of our ever-popular light-duty N-series and the workhorse six cylinder F-series, followed by heavy-duty FX-series releases and concluding with the FY twin-steer range.”

From start to finish, and excluding the possibility of a new Giga, Isuzu’s complete range change will span the best part of two years. It is, by any measure, a protracted timetable even for such a comprehensive model range but according to Harbison, “The launch and release of an entirely new product line-up represents a significant undertaking, and so staging the various range releases in Australia made sense.

“This, combined with the production timelines from the factory in Japan mean that we’ll see our full model line-up progressively rolled out leading into the ADR 80/04 heavy vehicle exhaust emissions in late 2025.”

Actually, the eight-wheeler range probably

won’t be seen until early 2026 but there’s no question that new Australian Design Rules (ADR) are a critical factor in launch schedules for the new models. On February 1, 2025, for instance, new ADRs mandating the inclusion of electronic stability control and advanced emergency braking will come into force for all new model introductions while in November the same year, ADR 80/04 will mandate significantly more stringent emissions standards for newly introduced models.

Meantime, while there were many design goals for all the new models, Isuzu cites carbon neutrality, driver comfort, safety and connectivity as the major points in an overall package developed through what it calls the Isuzu Modular Architecture and Component Standard, or I-MACS. As a company statement explains, I-MACS ‘encapsulates the idea of combining various components, parts and devices on an as-needs basis, thereby catering to the diverse requirements of Isuzu customers in today’s market and in the future’.

For Isuzu Australia’s head of product, Matt Sakhaie, I-MACS has been a boon for delivering a new line-up with the diversity to cater for a broad range of roles while enhancing the economic benefits of commonality between models.

“The execution of the design concepts and principles into the product is impressive,” he said in a statement. “Using the N-series EV (electric vehicle) and ICE (internal combustion engine) products as an example, the commonality of these platforms which offers a vast number of possible

ownerdriver.com.au

20/12/2023 1:44 pm

“Have no doubt, Isuzu Australia’s attack on the ‘tradie ute’ sector will only intensify with its latest light-duty workhorses.” configurations and variations to meet all manner of market and customer needs is quite remarkable.

“It is,” he continued, “this agile approach and broad thinking that is encouraging to us (and) we know we’ll have an even better product to offer our local customers.”

And on the new N-series (known in Japan as the ELF range), 4x2 versions won’t go on sale in Australia until the start of 2025, followed later in the year by 4x4 models.

Despite the seemingly long wait, Isuzu Australia’s upbeat light-duty product manager Jeff Gibson has no doubt whatsoever that the newcomers will simply reinforce N-series’ staggeringly tight and tireless grip on light-duty domination.

With Gibson describing the N-series as “a winner in so many ways”, the new line-up includes a significantly updated cab design, an enhanced suite of standard safety functions and in an undisguised bid to wrest an even greater slice of the light-duty category, an expanded tipper range and vitally, even more models able to be driven on a car licence.

“We also have some neat new model options,” he continued, citing a 6.5 tonne gross weight rating for the narrow cab NKR which excels in tight areas, and 150hp and 175hp versions of an updated four cylinder 4J engine. Have no doubt, Isuzu Australia’s attack on the ‘tradie ute’ sector will only intensify with its latest light-duty workhorses.

Notably though, the new generation N-series will see the introduction of a nine-speed dual-clutch automated transmission known as ISIM, or Isuzu Smooth Intelligent

ownerdriver.com.au

OWD_372_058-62_FEA_Isuzu Tokyo_GB.indd 61

Transmission. Specific details on ratios and models offering the new box are currently limited but with claims for seamless shifts and a ratio spread providing the versatility of low-speed manoeuvring and efficient cruising speeds, Isuzu has obvious confidence in the new shifter’s merits for a diverse range of roles.

Moreover, a typically positive Jeff Gibson was in no doubt of the new transmission’s potential despite the added complexity of a dual-clutch system, and along with all other aspects of the latest N-series stable, he admits to being keen to put upcoming pilot models through their final paces in Australian conditions.

Yet as Isuzu Australia demonstrated during last year’s Brisbane Truck Show, a battery electric (EV) version of the next generation N-series was on the cards from the outset.

Joining diesel-powered counterparts, local trials of the N-series EV will start later this year. “We also have several Japanese-spec N-series battery electric models due to arrive shortly,” Jeff Gibson explained, adding that the electric trucks will be rated at gross weight limits of 4.5 and 7.5 tonnes and obviously aimed at shorthaul roles.

The 4.5 tonne model known as the eNLR features a threebattery configuration with 60kWh capacity while the 7.5 tonne eNPR uses a five-battery configuration with 100kWh capacity.

Again though, launch of the new N-series will only come after the reshaped and rejuvenated four cylinder F-series family fires the first salvo later this year.

Top, left to right: Isuzu’s new ELF, set to continue its role as a staple of Japan’s light truck market. In Australia we know it as the allconquering light-duty N-series; On show in Tokyo, a battery-electric EV version of the new ELF range was on the cards from the start of the next generation program Opposite middle: Isuzu Australia’s head of product, Matt Sakhaie explains the virtues of the Isuzu Modular Architecture and Component Standard, or I-MACS. A boon for delivering “an even better product,” he asserts

JANUARY 2024 61

20/12/2023 1:44 pm

“A battery electric (EV) version of the next generation N-series was on the cards from the outset.”

First to fire

To the casual observer, the four cylinder F-series may seem something of a modest toiler in the overall Isuzu arsenal but the simple fact is that in the nine to 12 tonnes gross vehicle weight segment of the medium-duty market, these babies of the F-series family pack plenty of competitive clout.

Indeed, as Isuzu Australia’s pre-eminent ‘Prince of Powerpoint’, medium and heavy-duty product manager Simon Humphries asserts, the four cylinder F-series is a consistent contributor to the brand’s long dominance in medium-duty volumes, regularly achieving more than 50 percent of all sales in its class.

Voicing the virtues of these first arrivals in Isuzu’s next generation range, a typically bullish Simon Humphries states, “These all-new models deliver on the design premise, with best-in-class safety features, new cab design and improved

ergonomics, the latest exhaust emissions treatment and new cabin and engine combinations.”

Moreover, “We’ve retained and further enhanced our four cylinder, turbocharged and intercooled engine with lower exhaust emissions courtesy of the new selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system for lower NOx output.”

Furthermore, in on-road models the engine now produces sprightly outputs of 177kW (240hp) and 765Nm of torque, and 154kW (210hp) and 726Nm in the FSS 4x4 version.

Transmission choices are a six-speed automated box or a six-speed manual.

Safety has played a big part in all the new models and according to Simon Humphries, the four cylinder F-series variants feature, “… three new safety systems on top of what was already a class-leading package”.

In a press statement he explained, “We now have adaptive driving beam, full-speed adaptive cruise control and traffic sign recognition,” along with the inclusion in some models of an auto lighting system and rain sensing wipers. Additionally, the FSS 4x4 model gets advanced emergency braking and electronic stability control which, Humphries emphasises, is a first for Japanese vehicles in this category.

Furthermore, FRR and FRD versions receive a full air electronic braking system while electronic architecture has been boosted for better integration of ancillary systems from equipment suppliers and the like.

On the inside, Simon Humphries insists the interior is allnew with a comprehensively redesigned layout highlighted by a large full-colour information display screen between the speedo and tacho, Isri’s new driver’s suspension seat and a steering wheel with control buttons for various functions including cruise control and the information display screen.

Likewise, and without too much surprise, the exterior of all models has undergone a major rework with new lamp assemblies and what Isuzu describes as aerodynamically sculpted body panels. In short, inside and out, there will be no difficulty in differentiating the new from the old.

Of course, once the new four cylinder F-series and lightduty N-series models are entrenched in the market, Isuzu will concentrate on launching its super-successful six cylinder F-series models in 4x2, 6x4 and finally, 8x4 configurations.

A potent part of the six cylinder stable will be the popular FSR, FTS and FV models punched by the 6.7 litre Euro 6 engine derived from Isuzu’s alliance with engine powerhouse Cummins, and all coupled to an Allison automatic transmission.

Furthermore, Humphries continues, “We have upped the spec on our heavy-duty FV model (also powered by the 6.7 litre engine from Cummins) with a higher capacity steer axle, full-air disc brakes and an all-new chassis frame.”

Moving up the weight range, “In our heavy-duty FX and FY (twin-steer) models we’ll see the introduction of our 9.8 litre Euro 6 Isuzu engine and once again, a shift to auto only with Allison’s HD4430 transmission across all models.

“The trucks will also receive higher capacity Meritor steer axles and Meritor full-air disc brakes on all models, plus a comprehensive ADAS (advanced driver assistance system) package,” Simon Humphries concluded.

There are, of course, still many details of Isuzu’s next generation trucks yet to be presented, with little doubt that all will be revealed as each new model range is launched.

As for assessing the merits and manners of the new trucks, those things, too, will have to wait. Our quick trip to Japan was, after all, an intentionally broad insight rather than a hands-on experience, albeit with an entertaining excursion to the Tokyo Motor Show or as it’s known these days, the Japan Mobility Show.

In effect, Isuzu Australia was simply laying the platform for what’s to come and if history and first impressions are anything to go by, what’s coming is a continuation and perhaps even an expansion of a level of market domination which has no equal in the history of the Australian trucking industry.

Top: Isuzu Australia’s Holy Grail is to have a genuine prime mover on its books, namely the new Isuzu Giga now running in Japan with a Volvo 13 litre powertrain Above: Cut-away view of Isuzu’s new nine-speed dual-clutch automated transmission for the next generation N-series Left: Flashback to the 2023 Brisbane Truck Show where Isuzu Australia heralded a new era for its light-duty N-series, complete with a batteryelectric EV model

62 JANUARY 2024

OWD_372_058-62_FEA_Isuzu Tokyo_GB.indd 62

ownerdriver.com.au

20/12/2023 1:44 pm

interview

NEW LUBES ON THE TRANSPORT BLOCK Eiffel Lubricants’ director, Sayeed Aslam, is a keen scholar who recently completed his senior executive MBA at the University of Melbourne’s Business School. He chats with Alex Catalano on how he got his start in the oil and gas industry, and Eiffel Lubricants’ expansion into Australia.

Q: Tell me about how Eiffel Lubricants began?

“Eiffel Lubricants started as an extended family business 20 years ago in India. We’ve got three global manufacturing plants, one in India, one in the UAE and one in Kenya. As a brand we exist in 60 different countries. It’s a small family-owned business. In Australia, I’ve been working in the oil and gas sector for the past 20 years. I’m an instrument control engineer by qualification.

I also work in project management, team management, and I’ve worked on a number of major oil and gas projects in Australia. My family wanted me to take the reins of Eiffel in Australia.

I wasn’t so keen! COVID came in, and the project I was working on was complete and I had some time off. I started in that time thinking about introducing and launching Eiffel in Australia.

Immediately after that we started operations in 2022. There was an auto exhibition in Melbourne, the Australian Auto Aftermarket Expo, so we started there. That’s how we came into existence.

At this point in time, we are based in Melbourne.

We are aggressively expanding across the nation.

We’re looking for the right associate partners and resellers.”

Q: What were the challenges of launching the Australian division during the pandemic?

“I think we started in the most difficult of times.

A logistical nightmare was going on in the world, there were shipping delays, products were all over the place. There were massive costs in shipping. Because it was a family business and we our own manufacturing, we had control of all the products. We had to start somewhere. I was in Australia, but because of COVID we didn’t have any projects going on. Everything was at a standstill. That gave us an opportunity to seriously think about, so we said okay, let’s give it a crack.

We bought a few containers of finished product, and started introducing it in the local market.

We’re a premium product in terms of quality and approvals, very few manufacturers in Australia do that. We only do properly licensed engine oils. Our products are approved by some major companies like MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Volkswagen. That gave us a very credible product

ownerdriver.com.au

OWD_372_063_FEA_Eiffel Lubricants_GB.indd 63

Eiffel Lubricants’ director Sayeed Aslam. Photo supplied by Eiffel Lubricants

backing from the OEMs. We gave it to them to try, and performance was good. People started liking it and that’s when it started growing.”

Q: How has Eiffel grown since entering the Australian market?

“As a brand globally, Eiffel exists in 60 different countries and rapidly expanding. Across the world, we work in different fashions. In some countries we are distributors, and in others we keep Eiffel products to ourselves. We exist in every corner of the world. We’re in North America, South America, across Asia, we’re in Australia, in the Middle East and we’re very strong in Europe. We’ve got approvals from European manufacturers. We started very small in Australia, with baby steps. The initial approach was just to bring our products into the country and introduce it to customers here and prove the product performance. Once the product performance is proven, people will find value in it and it will improve the brand identity and credibility. In regards to that, we have identified a small geographical area and we focus on that area on various segment. At Eiffel, we do everything in lubricants right from industrial, commercial, automotive, two wheelers. We’ve identified a few transport companies, truck mechanics and auto mechanics. We supply products across the board, and we’ve improved the performance of our products. We are slowly expanding in terms of approving the products. We’ve taken the approach of educating people. We’ve got a strong social media presence. We’re educating on why it’s important to use the right materials in the oil, how you get approval and what’s the process on that.

We are also associated with credible bodies in the industry. We attend industry exhibitions, we were part of the Brisbane Truck Show. We also do some promotional activities in magazines and on social media. Internationally, we attend almost all the industry exhibitions which gives a lot of global presence. We are in exhibitions in Germany, China, the Philippines and Vietnam.”

Q: What’s the importance of continual education and personal development to you?

“My father has always said that the only thing

that is permanent is change. If you don’t change with time, you get lost with time. The nature of the industry that we are in is that it is moving at a rapid pace. We’ve gone from diesel to electric and now hydrogen and hybrid as well. We need to be a responsible manufacturer, who’s not just looking at dollars and cents, but also looking at what we are contributing back to the industry that we work in, what do we contribute to communities that we work in, what do we contribute to the economy. All these things matter a lot because all of these things align with our values. One of our values is that we need look after every asset that we lubricate as if it was our own. Asset protection is our highest priority. We need to get educated ethically. Being just technically sound doesn’t do the job. You need the right skills to do the job.

You need to have communication skills, know what language to speak in and when to speak. We enforce this across our organisation collectively, right from people who are researching and blending products, to our marketing team. We emphasise education for them to continuously learn in the market and how we are trying to contribute back to the industry.”

Q: What sets Eiffel Lubricants apart to manufacturers and consumers?

“Every person and every consumer is different.

Everyone looks at it from a different perspective, from a mechanic to a transport company to an industry client. Mechanics need to look after their margins, transport companies want to look after their assets while industry clients own the assets. At Eiffel, we offer value to each and every prospective customer we’re looking after.”

JANUARY 2024 63

20/12/2023 10:58 am

trailers

BRING ON THE NEXT 40 Maintaining relationships both within the company and its customers is a major factos behind Trailer Sales’ successful four decades in business. Alex Catalano writes

Q

ueensland-based MaxiTrans dealer Trailer Sales comes into 2024 fresh off its raucous 40th anniversary celebrations, reflecting on an incredible journey of growth from humble beginnings. “Raucous” is certainly overselling it, the way that dealer principal Mark Kelly describes it. They’re not the types to big-note themselves, even on such a special occasion.

The actual number they were celebrating was the biggest point of debate – the records could have gone two ways.

“There’s always been a bit of contention whether it was 1982 or ’83 that we were founded,” Kelly laughs.

Years aside, more has changed for Trailer Sales since then than just losing the mullets and leather jackets. The company as it exists now was formed in 1983 when industry stalwart Peter White took over Freighter, which had been around since pre-World War II. “Freighter used to manufacture Freighter trailers here in Brisbane on our site back in the 1970s up until 1982,” Kelly explains.

“They produced all their stuff for Queensland here on-site. We weren’t always here, but we ended up coming back here, rented it and then bought it. It was a bit before my time.

“So in 1983, Bill Judge and Tony Good formed Freighter Queensland with Freighter themselves, and they had this business. And that’s when it all kicked off.”

Kelly entered the world of Trailer Sales in 1996, as he and business partner Mark Sutcliffe took over the business seven years later. It was an initial period of major growth for the business, as it continued to expand.

White bought the MaxiCube dealer in Marsden when MaxiTrans, becoming Freighter MaxiCube Queensland. More purchases meant more names kept joining the fray, before a consolidation of the brand.

64 JANUARY 2024

OWD_372_064-65_FEA_Trailer Sales_GB.indd 64

“Buying the business was putting everything you’ve ever earnt on the line,” Kelly says.

“I had to mortgage my house again and everything.

Then you have to convince your wife it’s a good idea.

We got into business and then gradually built it up to what it is today.

“When I came here we used to sell 50-odd trailers, maybe 80 a year. Last year we did 875 new trailers out here. It’s a good business that’s grown and I’ve been lucky we’ve had really good products.

“As we went on we took on different franchises, but we said we can’t just keep adding names on!

In 2009 we bought Trailer Sales North Queensland and we thought why don’t we use that name as our corporate name?

“It’s a good domain name. If you’re looking for trailers, you search trailers and you get us. We changed our name in 2012. Same people, same place, but new name.”

Becoming a business owner was just the first step for Kelly though. He needed a team around him he could trust.

Front and centre of that was Sutcliffe, who works as the company’s general manager. Buying Trailer Sales together, Kelly manages the service division while Sutcliffe oversees parts.

With a long-term business relationship between them, Kelly says he couldn’t have imagined taking that first step without him.

“From an administration and all the background work, Mark Sutcliffe is a partner and a true partner in business,” he says.

“There’s also Scott Thiesfield, who’s my sales manager, he came from parts. He’s been with us 20 years. Great bloke and great following in the industry. He’s destined to take over from me when I retire. Succession planning, that’s what you’ve got to have!”

In a business sense, there’s two major factors that have kept contributing to the growth of Trailer Sales, Kelly explains.

Continuing to expand in new areas which adds to their offerings for customers is the first. Maintaining relationships with companies and people across the

ownerdriver.com.au

20/12/2023 10:52 am

“You’ve got to have good people and you’ve got to treat them well.”

industry in the other.

Kelly says that the reliability he and the Trailer Sales team offers is what has kept people coming back, and has also kept the company stable.

“I know it’s a bit of a cliché, but you’ve got to have good people and you’ve got to treat them well. We have very little staff turnover.

“In our sales department, just working for us we have 122 years of service. Nobody wants to leave. I must be too good to them!

“On the sales side, it’s doing what you say you’re going to do. If you say you’re going to do something and you do it, the customer has to feel comfortable doing business with you and

Above: The company prides itself on being a one-stop-shop for road transport operators, offering a broad range of products and services, as well as parts, that provides coverage here locally in Australia and various international markets Opposite top: MaxiTrans presents a commemorative plaque to Trailer Sales to mark its 40 years in business.

From left, Mark Sutcliffe, Mark Kelly, Kevin Manfield and Scott Thiesfield Opposite bottom: Part of the team at Trailer Sales’ Rocklea site

they’ve got to like you.

“We’ve got a few people that we try to keep close to. If you’re here long enough, there’s probably not a transport company in Queensland or Northern NSW that I couldn’t give a call and not know someone there.

“Not everyone wants to buy your product, but it’s been part of the ongoing business.”

As for what’s next for Trailer Sales as it enters its 41st year and beyond, expansion is always on the cards, but other priorities are becoming more important as the industry keeps evolving.

While trailers have less challenges when it comes to moving towards decarbonisation and zero emissions targets, Kelly says the refrigeration sector will be something they will have to look at.

Trailer Sales is working in conjunction with a cargo group in the MaxiTrans network to fulfill their emissions goals.

“The next thing is looking to get the emissions down in the refrigerated start of our business,” Kelly says.

“Schmitz Cargo brought a significant part of the ATS Duty Group. We build about 3000 trailers a year and they do 55,000.

Nice people, we’re learning a lot from them. They’re a big part of MaxiTrans’ automation to build trailers more efficiently. The next step will be refrigeration.

“We don’t create too much carbon, but I think there’ll be a big change in refrigeration in the way trailers are made.”

R

LEGAL SUPPORT FROM INDUSTRY INSIDERS

A dedicated law firm for heavy vehicle drivers and operators throughout Australia

CONTACT US 1300 ADV0C8 highwayadvocates.com.au 1300 238 028 info@highwayadvocates.com.au

ownerdriver.com.au

OWD_372_064-65_FEA_Trailer Sales_GB.indd 65

JANUARY 2024 65

20/12/2023 10:52 am

tech briefs

ELECTRIC VOLVO VOTED TRUCK OF THE YEAR The awardwinning Volvo FH Electric.

Photo by Volvo Trucks

PEARSON’S LAP UP BENZ TRUCK TRAINING The complimentary Truck Training that comes with every Mercedes-Benz Actros has been given the thumbs-up by Jim Pearson Transport.

“We find it very useful,” Jim Pearson says.

“There are so many features in these trucks that it is really worthwhile to have someone come and explain and

demonstrate them. Glen Lewis (one of the Mercedes-Benz Truck trainers) also points out where all the savings are,” he says.

This sentiment is also shared

by Jim Pearson Transport Grafton depot manager, Graeme Wood.

He explains that all Jim Pearson driver trainers complete the truck training program along with senior drivers. Many of them go out with other company drivers and pass on many of the tips and tricks.

Wood says the truck training program helps drivers to get the most out of the advanced MercedesBenz engines, which are claimed to have ample torque and do not need

to be revved hard.

“Glen is able to demonstrate how to drive it in the torque band, rather than revving it out, so the truck is better on fuel, the truck goes better and the driver feels better too,” Wood says.

“These trucks can be deceptive because they are so quiet and refined that you think they are going slowly when they aren’t revving hard, but that’s not the case.

“It is one thing to explain to a driver how they can save fuel, but it is much more effective to show them that they can also get over the next hill quicker.”

Jim Pearson Transport is based in Port Macquarie, in New South Wales, running mainly between Sydney and Brisbane. It operates modern trucks such as the MercedesBenz Actros, taking advantage of the truck’s advanced safety features and excellent fuel efficiency.

Mercedes-Benz Truck Training is available to single operators and f leets across Australia and is free of charge for new Actros customers.

Training programs are said to be tailored for specific f leets in order to be most effective.

LEFT: Jim Pearson drivers are taking advantage of Mercedes-Benz truck training program. Photo by Daimler Truck

66 JANUARY 2024

OWD_372_066-67_Tech Briefs_GB.indd 66

Volvo Trucks has won the prestigious International Truck of the Year industry award for its Volvo FH Electric. It’s the first time ever that an electric truck has won the award.

Volvo’s heavy electric truck, the Volvo FH Electric, has been selected as the International Truck of the Year 2024. It’s the first time ever that an electric truck has won the award.

In explaining their decision, the jury praised the electric truck’s performance, seamless acceleration, quietness, and vibration-free behaviour.

“With the introduction of the FH Electric, Volvo Trucks has delivered a state-of-the-art battery electric vehicle range, suitable for a wide array of transport operations. It’s proof that the energy transition is gaining strength even in today’s challenging business environment,” states Gianenrico Griffini, chairman, International Truck of the Year.

Volvo Trucks president Roger Alm accepted the prestigious award last November during the prize ceremony at the Solutrans Transport Exhibition in Lyon, France.

“The Volvo FH Electric represents a new era in trucking and winning this award clearly shows that the shift to zero emission transport is happening here and now,” Alm says.

“I sincerely want to thank everyone who has contributed to this success.

It’s based on great teamwork with passion and dedication among our fantastic colleagues within the Volvo Group, and close cooperation with our valued customers, partners and suppliers.”

This is the fourth time that Volvo’s FH model has been named Truck of the Year. The FH has sold close to 1.4 million sold around the world.

The Volvo FH Electric can operate at a total of 44 tonnes. Production of the Volvo FH Electric started in 2022 in Volvo’s factory in Gothenburg, Sweden, and production in the factory in Ghent, Belgium began in 2023.

Volvo commenced series production of electric trucks in 2019, making it the first global manufacturer to do so. It now boasts a 49 per cent market share for electric trucks in Europe.

The International Truck of the Year organisation was launched in 1977 and is made up of 24 commercial vehicle journalists from major trucking magazines throughout Europe. The annual award is given to the truck introduced in the market in the previous 12 months that has made the most significant contribution to road transport efficiency. Several key criteria are evaluated, including technological innovation, comfort, safety, driveability, energy efficiency, environmental ‘footprint’, and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

ownerdriver.com.au

20/12/2023 11:02 am

Iveco’s autonomous truck collaboration with Plus on show in Europe.

Photo by Iveco

IVECO IN AUTONOMOUS TRUCKS ADVANCEMENT Iveco will assist leading toll road operator Transurban and Silicon Valley-based autonomous driving software company Plus to explore how Iveco S-Way trucks integrated with Plus’s Level 4 autonomous driving technology, combined with smart road infrastructure, could help make trucking safer, more efficient, and more sustainable in Australia.

The partnership builds on Iveco’s partnership with Plus to develop highly automated trucking solutions for Europe. Two of Iveco’s latest S-Way AS 550 prime movers are being factory fitted with Plus’ latest autonomous driving technologies and integrated with smart motorway

infrastructure to enhance the perception and awareness capabilities of the autonomous trucks. The trucks will have capacity to carry up to 43 tonnes.

With road freight projected to grow steadily in the coming decades, self-driving trucks operating during off-peak periods have the potential to transform the freight industry by moving more goods, more quickly, and more sustainably. It is anticipated that this will also deliver positive economic and social outcomes for consumers, motorists and governments by reducing congestion and improving road safety.

Transurban is a global operator of

smart motorways across Australia and North America, and this partnership is said to leverage the benefits of smart road infrastructure and operations to complement truck technologies being developed by Iveco and Plus.

The Plus software uses advanced generative AI, machine learning, computer vision, and other stateof-the-art algorithms to empower vehicles with superhuman awareness and control.

Equipped with advanced lidar (light detection and ranging), radar and camera sensors, Plus’s autonomous driving software claims to detect and precisely track objects, predict their movement, and then safely

manoeuvre the vehicle. Additional features and capabilities are predicted to continuously add to the system through over-the-air updates.

The software builds on the Iveco S-Way’s suite of standard driver aids including Advanced Emergency Braking System, Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Departure Warning System.

The parties are seeking to understand the long-term opportunities for autonomous trucking to move freight, and the broad benefits this may deliver for transportation and our cities, which may include reduced congestion, improved road safety and traffic flow, and the more efficient and sustainable movement of freight.

In commenting on the project, head of Iveco ANZ, Michael May, says the company was excited to be chosen as the commercial vehicle partner for the ground-breaking activity.

“Iveco has a long history of innovation and has been at the forefront of the commercial vehicle industry for many years, particularly where new technologies and sustainability are concerned,” May says.

“Based in Melbourne, the Iveco Customer Innovation Centre is very excited to begin this collaborative project and support the next steps in creating sustainable and efficient ecosystems of freight movement.

“To be partnering with industry leaders like Transurban and Plus on this project is certainly exciting and we look forward to playing a role in contributing to the evolution of the road transport industry on its search for greater efficiency, safety and sustainability.”

On-road pilot testing activity is expected to commence shortly.

SCANIA BIOGAS ENGINE TO DELIVER FUEL SAVINGS New powertrains based on Scania’s 13-litre biogas engines are claimed to offer 5 per cent fuel savings and all the range needed for long-haul operations.

Scania first hinted about its new biogas engines at the 2022 IAA Fair in Germany, but when the state-ofthe-art engines arrived, they came with a twist – they are now paired with two-thirds of the Super-based powertrain. Scania says the wellcomposed and harmonised trio – the new biogas engines plus the G25 gearboxes and axles from the diesel sibling – work so well together that fuel savings of 5 per cent in longhaul are noted and confirmed.

“When we paired these components, it soon became obvious that we had a hit in the making,” says Ola Henriksson, senior product manager for renewable fuels at Scania Trucks.

“Just as the Super engine benefits from the increased spread in the G25 gearbox, so do the biogas engines. When paired with the

ownerdriver.com.au

OWD_372_066-67_Tech Briefs_GB.indd 67

Scania Opticruise gearbox and the new axles, the biogas engines can operate very close to their ‘sweet spot’ most of the time. Put together, it results in 5 per cent fuel savings from this powertrain.”

The interest in biomethane fuels for trucks (such as Bio-LNG or Bio-CNG) is rapidly increasing in Europe. It is said that many companies and transport buyers aim to decarbonise their road transport fleets here and now.

Biomethane-based solutions are readily available via rapidly growing fuel-station networks within Europe, and the CO2-emissions can be reduced by up to 90 per cent from a well-towheel perspective.

“Biomethane fuels are definitely the solution for those customers who want to start a decarbonisation journey without any delay,” Henriksson says.

“Our biogas engines cover a wide span of industries and applications.

A 40-tonne prime mover and single trailer combination can achieve ranges of up to 1,800km when specified with the biggest Bio-LNG tank solutions that we offer. Add the 460hp and the

2,300Nm our OC13 engine offers to the equation and you have a perfect tool for European long-haul.”

Networks of biogas filling stations are expanding rapidly across Europe, driven by increased demand and by major players in the fuel industry.

The new biogas engines are based on the 13-litre gas engine that Scania has offered for several years. By increasing engine power levels and preparing for future legal demands, Scania says it is demonstrating its intention to gain an even bigger market share in the quest for decarbonisation.

“With the CO2 reductions, the driveability and the ranges we offer now, I am convinced that more customers will recognise what a great solution this is,” Henriksson says.

“There are so many obvious pros and virtually no cons at all. And the driver also enjoys significantly lower noise levels in the cab.”

Scania Australia says local customers keen to know more about how this technology can assist in their carbon footprint reduction program should

ABOVE: A Scania Biogas 460 XT. Photo by Scania

contact their local Scania branch.

“We are open to providing these engines to Australian customers who express an interest,” says Benjamin Nye, director of truck sales for Scania Australia.

“We are always keen to assist customers who want to take a significant step towards reducing their emissions, and fuel burn, benefiting their operating costs without impacting uptime.”

JANUARY 2024 67

20/12/2023 11:02 am

A NEW ERA IN WRECKING WE RECONDITION CAT AND CUMMINS ENGINES AND ROAD RANGER GEARBOXES PLEASE CALL FOR STOCK AVAILABILITY AND DETAIL. CAT

CUMMINS EATON ROADRANGER GEARBOXES

E: SALES@EMTW.COM.AU P: 03 5480 0888 M: 0467 171 342 3 LAWRY STREET, MOAMA NSW 2731

ROCKWELL & EATON DIFFS

SEE WHAT’S WRECKING!

SUPPLIER OF NEW AFTERMARKET PARTS FOR EUROPEAN TRUCKS VOLVO • MERCEDES • DAF MAN • IVECO • RENAULT SECONDHAND PARTS FOR VOLVO TRUCKS

(03) 9357 7081 E: sales@volwreck.com.au

EXPANSION TANKS

68 JANUARY 2024

OWD_372_068-69_COL_No Bull_GB.indd 68

W: www.volwreck.com.au

AIR BAGS

4/55 Glenbarry Road, Campbellfield, VIC, 3061, Australia

BRAKE PADS & SHOES

PANELS, LIGHTS & MIRRORS

ownerdriver.com.au

20/12/2023 9:08 am

Matt and in memory of Terry, and all the extended family in their time of remembrance and ref lection.

NO BULL

NEW DATE FOR YESTERYEAR

VALE MAURICE CONSIDINE

The Victorian Transport Association (VTA) has advised that Secon Logistics co-founder Maurice ‘Maurie’ Considine was farewelled at a funeral service on December 6 attended by hundreds of family, friends, and transport industry representatives.

Maurie passed away peacefully at home on November 26, aged 91. Married to Maureen for 70 years, they were blessed with five sons, 16 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Maurie established a growing business in Secon based upon the values and principles that he always maintained in life. He was as active in his spare time as he was at work, playing 37 VFL games with Hawthorn and coaching Old Paradians, the Victorian State Team, and assisting coach John Kennedy at Hawthorn for five years.

The VTA says Maurie was always innovative in his thinking, hard working at everything he tackled, humble around others, generous to those less fortunate than himself and the epitome of a real gentleman. With five sons all starting their working lives within the transport industry, those values that he espoused throughout his life continue.

The VTA and all at OwnerDriver pass their condolences to Maureen, Brendon, Vin, Paul,

The Yesteryear Truck and Machinery Club (Wauchope, NSW) has announced that the Wauchope Yesteryear Truck and Machinery Show has moved to warmer weather from its usual July date.

The show will now be held on the Saturday and Sunday of October 5 and 6, which is also the Labour Day long weekend in NSW.

SUPPORT FOR OZHELP

The Lockhart Show Society in the NSW Riverina district is using this year’s big event to support the health and well-being of truck drivers in conjunction with the OzHelp Foundation.

The Lockhart National Historic Truck and Commercial Vehicle Show, held this year on March 2, will be the 15th running of the event.

Feature vehicles at this year’s event will be White and Western Star. So no doubt there’ll be a Road Boss or two on display.

As well as the trucks, a country music concert will take place in the evening.

There is no entry fee for exhibitors.

For registrations and further information, contact Peter Smith 0458 422 808 or Trevor Slater 0407 513 974

UNWORTHY ROADS

An interesting comment emerged around the debate on the impact to roadworthy vehicles from “un-truckworthy” roads on OwnerDriver’s Facebook page.

Shane says back in 1991 one of his mates had a very nice car that he had spent quite a bit of money on, particularly on the wheels. He hit a pothole on Parramatta Rd around Strathfield.

As a result it blew out his tyre and buckled his rim.

He took a photo of the pothole and the nearest cross streets, sent a letter to the then RTA (Roads and Traffic Authority) and they reimbursed him for the rim and tyre which came to approximately $1000 – a lot of money back then.

Further, the RTA even thanked him in the letter for letting them know where the pothole was as it was impossible for them to keep track of all the potholes.

Truck owners take note.

“ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS TODAY” Email hollie.tinker@primecreative.com.au or call 0466 466 945

1800 625 746 OWD-EP-5164923-CS-299

Phone: 03 9761 0595

FUEL TANK REPAIRS ~ CUSTOM MADE ~ FUEL, WATER & HYDRAULIC FUEL ~ HYDRAULIC CONVERSIONS HIGHEST QUALITY ALUMINIUM FABRICATION

CANFRED Engineering Pty Ltd - 48 Barry St, Bayswater, Vic

canfred@outlook.com

www.canfredengineering.com.au ownerdriver.com.au

OWD_372_068-69_COL_No Bull_GB.indd 69

OWD-SBC-5031723-TS-347

TANKS FOR TRUCKS CHECK OUT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE

SCAN THE QR CODE or go to www.facebook.com/ownerdriver JANUARY 2024 69

20/12/2023 9:08 am

FOR THE OWNER-DRIVER Frank Black

Laws to save lives The Closing Loopholes Bill has received a Lower House tick, but what does it means for truckies?

I

’ve spoken on many occasions now about how transport reform is needed, now more than ever, to fix the dangerous state of the trucking industry. With clients putting transport companies and owner-drivers under pressure, with tight deadlines and little time for truckies to rest, recuperate and have a decent healthy meal, life on the road is increasingly tougher.

Thankfully, I now feel that we have the ear of politicians after various committees and meetings about pressures on the road and most significantly, the recent passing of transport reform – as part of the Closing Loopholes Bill – through the Lower House.

At the time of writing this article, other aspects of the Closing Loopholes Bill, like industrial manslaughter, criminalising wage theft, and Same Job Same Pay legislation have passed the Senate, which is a promising start. This gives me cause for optimism that it won’t be too long that the section of the bill that gives the Fair Work Commission

(FWC) powers to set minimum standards for Road Transport is set to follow.

One of the best aspects of this reform is that the standards would be set after consultation with industry through an advisory group and subcommittees made up of people from the trucking sector. So the industry is closely involved in the legislation, not just a bunch of bureaucrats, which is what we want.

FRANK BLACK has been a long distance ownerdriver for more than 30 years. He is a former long-term owner-driver representative on the ATA Council.

QUALIFIED REPAIRS

Recently, I talked about a mate of mine who rang me to say he’d attempted to adjust his brakes but had botched it and they were in an even worse state afterwards. I told him to tell me what he had done and we quickly worked out he’d adjusted his trailer brakes the wrong way.

Luckily his truck brakes were still working fine, otherwise it could have been much worse. I was able to advise him to correctly adjust the trailer brakes, but this isn’t the way it should be. I have some training as a mechanic, but trucks shouldn’t be

“Fines for minor breaches that bear no relation to safety just squeeze our tight margins.”

70 JANUARY 2024

OWD_372_070-72_COL_Frank Black_GB.indd 70

repaired down the end of a phone with a mate. Truckies advising each other on cobbled together repair jobs is not safe for anyone on the roads.

Drivers should be paid well enough to be able to afford qualified mechanics.

It’s a simple proposition, but shockingly uncommon. We’re always seeing trucks pulled up on the side of the road with drivers scratching their heads trying to figure out what’s wrong. No one should be attempting to fix a heavy vehicle themselves. There are professionals for that. But if you don’t have the funds, there’s nothing you can do.

Transport reform can’t pass soon enough. The death toll for truck drivers has gone up this year, with 50 truckies killed and over 200 total truck crash deaths.

Rather than things getting safer with time, things have gone the other way. Other measures, like the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) that is meant to curb the truckrelated road toll, clearly haven’t worked. We need to go to the root cause of what is happening and I am optimistic that, if transport reform passes the Senate in the coming weeks and the FWC get more specialised powers to focus on our industry, we could have laws that actually save lives.

We frequently read about drivers affected by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) overregulation and fines. To me these things are about the symptoms, rather than the cause.

Again, I question the motives behind these sorts of crackdowns. It feels like a poor excuse to create the impression that action is being taken to improve road safety, but in real terms, it actually just adds to the pressures we’re under on the road.

Fines for minor breaches that bear no relation to safety just squeeze our tight margins.

A few months ago, I sent NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto a link to my OwnerDriver article on police nitpicking and asked him what he would do about it. I asked why he doesn’t engage with drivers about these fines and treat truckies more fairly. I’m yet to receive a reply.

We all want a safer industry, but these sorts of fines take us off track.

We need laws that regulate those causing the pressure that leads to fatigue, speeding, or staying on the road too long. Only then can we make working conditions safer. We need to reduce driver fatigue, not penalise fatigued drivers who are overworked.

I know politicians aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but with laws that could make a huge difference to our industry and safety on the roads, it’s worth paying attention.

Call your local MP or Senator and tell them how the laws could affect your life and also about the pressures of life on the road. That’s why you pay their salaries, their job is to improve the lives of all Australians, including truckies like you and me!

ownerdriver.com.au

20/12/2023 8:33 am

www.trucktools.com.au

TRUCK REPAIR TOOLS AND WORKSHOP EQUIPMENT

Australia’s Largest Specialty Tru

Huge Range - Best Prices - Best Service Quality Products Products-To Keep Your Investment On The Road

Austr Products Yo Ph: 1800 000 To 561Keep or 03 970

• TRUCK ENGINE TOOLS • DRIVELINE / TRANSMISSION TOOLS • WORKSHOP • AXLE HUB NUT SOCKETS • HAND TOOLS / TORQUE WRENCHES • a

1800 000 561 - AUSTRALIA WIDE SERVICE Warehouse Pick-up available subject to prior arrangement

• TRUCK ENGINE TOOLS • D • AXLE HUB NUT S

Australia’s Largest Speciality Truck Tool Supplier.

The Right Tool For The Right Job. Products To Keep Your Investment On The Road.

ONLINE CATALOGUE Warehouse location FREIGHT AUSTRALIA WIDE OWD_372_070-72_COL_Frank Black_GB.indd 71

a

Australian owned and operated

Ph: 1800

www.trucktools.com.au Phone 03 9703 2000 Freecall 1800 000 561 info@trucktools.com.au

20/12/2023 8:33 am

AUSTRALIA

TRUCK & 4WD WHEEL ALIGNMENT FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITIES contact@proaxle.com.au

 Specialist alignment parts  Truck, bus, 4WD & trailers  Alignment & balancing specialists  Suspension repairs  Heavy duty axle correction & laser wheel alignment centres

  pro-axle.com.au CAMPBELLFIELD (03) 9357 0200

OWD_372_070-72_COL_Frank Black_GB.indd 72

ENFIELD (02) 9642 3902

NARELLAN (02) 4648 2002

NEWCASTLE (02) 4914 3250

SMITHFIELD (02) 9725 5330

WOLLONGONG (02) 4276 2533

20/12/2023 8:33 am