Owner Driver issue 388 - May 2025

A future without compromise

Contents #388

19 MOVING FORWARD

While the election may be done, the trucking industry still has a long list of priorities for the next federal government to address

22 BRISBANE TRUCK SHOW GUIDE

Various leading OEMs give OwnerDriver the lowdown on what they’ll be showing at the Brisbane Truck Show

30

BRAND NEW BEAUTY

Warren Aitken catches up with the family at the heart of Schaeffer’s Transport to learn the interesting tale of the operator’s first brand new truck

49 PERSONAL TOUCH

Allfreight Finance’s family origins allows it to provide tailored and in-depth financial services to a wide range of Australian transport businesses

52

TRUSTING IN TELEMATICS

Geotab’s latest Connect event in Florida reiterated its global commitment to building on its Australian heavy vehicle telematics capabilities

59

TREADING NEW WATERS

Over the past year, Automotive Distribution Group has been teasing a new tyre option that has found a sweet spot in the local market

62

REALIGNING THE WHEEL

The team behind Pro-Axle Australia’s recent evolution is continuing to forge forward in servicing a variety of vehicle markets

68 AMAZING JANE

While out and about, Warren Aitken caught up with the lovely Jane Savage to learn more about her intricate role at Victoria’s Hallam Truck Centre

ON THE UNLEASHNIGHT FURY

Great Whites new light kits, with Adjustable Beam Technology, allow you to fully control the

SCAN

EDITORIAL

Editor Sean Mortell

E-mail Sean.Mortell@primecreative.com.au

Journalist Tiarna Condren

E-mail Tiarna.Condren@primecreative.com.au

Contributors Warren Aitken, Frank Black, Sarah Marinovic, Rod Hannifey, Michael Kaine, Glyn Castanelli, Robert Bell, Geoff Crockett

Cartoonist John Allison

PRODUCTION

Art Director Bea Barthelson

Print IVE Print

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Tosan Popo Ph 0481 260 352

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EXECUTIVE GROUP

CEO John Murphy

COO Christine Clancy

Publisher Sarah Baker

Operations Manager Regina Fellner

Sales Manager – South Danny Hernandez

BEHIND THE WHEEL Sean Mortell

It’s show time

For the trucking industry, the federal election isn’t the biggest moment for May. Instead, all eyes turn to the latest iteration of the Brisbane Truck Show

It’s finally upon us. By the time this edition of OwnerDriver hits the shelves and your hands, the Brisbane Truck Show will be all but there, with the industry descending on the Queensland capital for the massive industry event.

By then, the latest federal government will have been decided, and the way forward for the industry will look somewhat clearer. As what often happens around the Brisbane Truck Show, the sector has prepared its latest updates for the event, with this jampacked edition of OwnerDriver reflecting a wide range of new technology that is set to be unveiled within the Brisbane Convention Centre.

To finish on the election front, OwnerDriver got on the front foot ahead of the May 3 date, reaching out to various industry stakeholders and associations to ascertain what they want to see from the next federal government. From page 18, there’s no surprises that the industry has a long list of priorities it wants the elected government to address in 2025 and beyond.

be on display to help you navigate the massive event space. From page 23, check out some of the more exciting reveals that are being planned by OEMs in Brisbane so that you know which stands to visit when you descend on the Convention & Exhibition Centre. Whether it be Scania’s evolving truck technology or the massive display of Isuzu Australia’s first all-new model line-up in nearly two decades, we’re helping attendees work out the best spaces to visit while in Brisbane.

This preview extends well beyond the vehicle manufacturing space, with the array of prime movers and trailers soon being followed by a raft of truck parts and technology within our Brisbane Truck Show preview. Ranging from financiers like All Freight Finance on page 49 to parts suppliers in Tranzmile (page 50), Volwreck (page 54) and TruckTools (page 61), we have you covered when it comes to the best technology on display at the truck show.

Owner Driver is published by

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Telephone: (+61) 03 9690 8766

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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.

Heading to the Truck Show, OwnerDriver has compiled a preview of the latest technology that will

The preview also includes international technology, with the likes of Geotab (page 52) and Hubfleet (page 56) preparing to showcase their nifty tools for truck

“To finish on the election front, OwnerDriver got on the front foot ahead of the May 3 date, reaching out to various industry stakeholders and associations to ascertain what they want to see from the next federal government.”

drivers around the country. While in Brisbane, other important industry members such as Automotive Distribution Group, the Iceman Group and Pro-Axle will also have plenty on offer for the sector.

Don’t be afraid to check out this extensive preview of what will be shown in Brisbane this month. In between this crucial information, enjoy our usual array of columns and features. It’s been a busy month for Warren Aitken, who came across a stunning K200 for the May truck of the month. In the meantime, he also headed over to the USA for the Mid-America Trucking Show, capturing some of the more impressive rigs at the event. Surrounding his contributions are a variety of columns from some of Australia’s leading transport associations, politicians and drivers, capturing the feel of an industry that has been quickly preparing for this event and the election. Whether you’re reading this in Brisbane or anywhere around the country, we hope you enjoy all of the latest technology that is being unveiled at the truck show. Drive safe and we hope you enjoy the read!

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The Goods NEWS FROM THE HIGHWAY AND BEYOND

What’s new on the roads

Safety seems to be talk of the month, with critical upgrades coming to highways across the country

Billions of dollars have been promised this month to fix highways and roads in need of safety upgrades. The first works are set to begin on Queensland’s Bruce Highway, as part of a $9 billion safety package. Safety fencing is set to be installed along the median strip of the Hume Highway to increase safety on the freight route while the Beef Roads are set to receive $38 million for critical works.

GOVERNMENTS TO BEGIN FIRST SET OF $9B BRUCE SAFETY UPGRADES

The federal and Queensland governments have announced that the first works are set to begin on the $9 billion Bruce Highway safety upgrade package.

In January, the two governments committed to funding to fix Queensland’s Bruce Highway, with the governments now vowing to begin working on the job through an initial $300 million to be invested in early works.

The 16 new projects announced will occur between Gympie and Innisfail and will entail wide centre line treatments between Rungoo and Mourilyan, overtaking lanes between Ayr and Brandon and a new heavy vehicle rest area in Gin Gin.

Construction will begin immediately, with a further seven projects to then progress preconstruction and design activities for future safety works.

On top of this, the federal government has announced it will provide an additional $200 million to ensure the full delivery of the Rockhampton Ring Road, taking its contribution to almost $1.4 billion.

“Queenslanders deserve a long-term plan for essential infrastructure, and the Albanese government is delivering that certainty as we build Australia’s future,” federal transport minister Catherine King says.

“Enough is enough, and it’s time to fix this road which is why we’re coming together with the Queensland government to get it done.

“These projects are in high-risk areas north of Gympie, where conditions are poor and safety upgrades will go a long way.”

The federal government says Rockhampton Ring Road is a transformative project for Central Queensland, and this additional contribution will ensure the necessary funds are available to deliver the project, which will reduce travel times, improve road safety and flood resilience and open up new travel

Bruce Highway. Image: Robert/stock.adobe.com

routes to key leisure, retail and education facilities.

The two governments will also focus on transport infrastructure in Central Queensland, including $38 million to begin early works for the critical Beef Roads, $188 million to get started on the Bruce Highway between Gladstone and Rockhampton and $37 million to begin upgrading sections of the Capricorn Highway.

“Queensland deserves better than a second-class highway and that is why we are focused on delivering a safer and more reliable Bruce,” Queensland transport and main roads minister

Brent Mickelberg says.

“Additional funding from the Australian government towards the Bruce Highway is a welcomed.

“We are getting to work with a focus on improving wide centreline treatment, narrow bridges, flood resilience, intersection upgrades and multi-use rest areas.

“The Bruce Highway is the spine of Queensland’s road network and we have worked with the Australian government to unlock funding and fast-track key safety improvements on priority sections of the highway.

“Our newly formed Bruce Highway Advisory Council will continue to play a crucial role in advising the Queensland government on investment priority and sequencing of key upgrades along the Bruce Highway.”

HUME HIGHWAY TO GET SAFETY FENCING

The New South Wales government has announced fencing will be installed along the median strip of the Hume Highway to increase safety on the freight route.

The fencing will be installed near De Meyrick Avenue, Casula. The project was identified through the Federal Road Safety Program and encourages pedestrians to use safe crossing zones at nearby traffic signals.

The particular section of the Hume was selected for safety fencing to reduce incidences of people crossing the six lanes of highway away from safe traffic signal crossings, including local high school children.

The fencing will run along the median strip on both sides of the lights for around 140 metres.

Installation will take place over five night-shifts, with road users warned to be aware of delays before the permanent fencing is fully installed.

BEEF ROADS RECEIVE CRITICAL ROAD UPGRADE FUNDING

The federal and Queensland governments have announced funding to revitalise the state’s Beef Roads.

Alongside an announcement that the Bruce Highway’s $9 billion of

work would soon get underway, the federal government also revealed early works on the critical Beef Roads would begin.

The $38 million works will provide safety and productivity upgrades to the roads, with the Beef Roads to be upgraded simultaneously alongside the Bruce Highway between Gladstone and Rockhampton.

Alongside these announcements, the government will also provide an extra $200 million to deliver the Rockhampton Ring Road in Central Queensland and $37 million to begin upgrading sections of the Capricorn Highway.

The federal government says the Rockhampton Ring Road is a transformative project for Central Queensland, and this additional contribution will ensure the necessary funds are available to deliver the project, which will reduce travel times, improve road safety and flood resilience and open up new travel routes to key leisure, retail and education facilities.

On top of these announcements, the Australian and Queensland governments are getting on with delivering transport infrastructure for Central Queensland. This includes announcing the release of Commonwealth funding to kick off work on essential projects in the region such as the Beef Roads.

Queensland ramps up work on improving the

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has announced its new CEO, with Nicole Rosie named as the successor to Sal Petroccitto.

NHVR chairperson Duncan Gay AM announced the appointment, saying Rosie brings “a wealth of knowledge and experience” to the role.

Rosie starts in her role at the NHVR on June 30 this year.

“I am pleased to announce Ms Rosie was selected as the new NHVR CEO following an extensive and rigorous recruitment process,” Gay says.

“With over 20 years of leadership experience in both the public and private sectors, most recently Ms Rosie was the CEO at New Zealand Transport Agency following her role as CEO of WorkSafe New Zealand. Nicole has also held senior executive roles at Fonterra, KiwiRail, Vector and Toll NZ.

“Ms Rosie’s strong background in governance, law and public policy, combined with a deep understanding of transport and infrastructure, made her the ideal candidate to lead the NHVR into its next chapter of harmonisation and innovation.”

Gay has also extended his sincere thank you to interim CEO Janelle van de Velde.

“I would like to thank Janelle for her outstanding leadership during this transition period and for ensuring business continuity following former CEO Sal Petroccitto OAM’s departure in January,” he says.

Gay says van de Velde will remain as the Interim CEO until Rosie commences with the NHVR on June 30.

The new CEO has over 20 years of leadership experience. Image: NHVR

NatRoad says Coalition fuel excise cut “must include road freight operators”

The association has warned the fuel excise cut plan must protect the Fuel Tax Credit scheme to have any benefit for operators

The National Road Transport Association (NatRoad) has called for the Coalition’s plan to halve the fuel excise to include the road freight sector.

NatRoad says the Coalition must protect Fuel Tax Credits (FTCs) in its proposal to lower fuel excise for 12 months, with CEO Warren Clark saying FTCs must remain during any temporary reduction to the fuel excise so that the benefits are felt by all road users.

“Under the former Coalition government, the decision to halve fuel excise also meant the suspension of Fuel Tax Credits.

“This wiped out the benefits of the tax cut, throwing cashflow for small road freight businesses into crisis,” Clark says.

“We welcomed the restoration of Fuel Tax Credits under Labor back in 2022. The Coalition must now commit to protecting Fuel Tax Credits in full.”

Clark says the road freight industry is under significant cost pressure and can’t afford another

hit to Fuel Tax Credits.

“Diesel, maintenance, vehicles and wages all continue to climb while major transport customers continue to push for lower freight rates,” he says.

“About 98 per cent of the road freight industry consists of small businesses. Average profit margins are just two per cent.

“Small trucking businesses lack the economic bargaining power to simply pass on higher costs. Fuel Tax Credits have a heavy impact on cashflow management.

“Unless Fuel Tax Credits are protected for the duration of the policy, the benefits of lower excise will not flow on to small trucking businesses. Instead, many in the industry that keeps Australia’s shelves supplied could face financial ruin.”

The current Fuel Tax Credit rate for heavy vehicles on public roads is 20.3 cents per litre (until 30 June 2025). NatRoad says a 25.4 cents per litre reduction in fuel excise will result in a reduction of just 5.1 cents per litre for heavy vehicles (alongside the suspension of Fuel Tax Credits).

Safety issues uncovered in SA

75 targeted intercepts saw 38 defect notices issued, with faulty brakes, steering issues and migrant worker exploitation all in the spotlight

A major multi-agency operation has looked at key heavy vehicle safety issues in South Australia, unveiling a raft of “concerning safety issues” on the state’s trucks.

The joint operation between the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), SA Police, Australian Border Force (ABF) and SafeWork SA in March uncovered issues including faulty brakes, steering issues and exploitation of migrant workers.

NHVR chief operations officer Paul Salvati says more than half of all heavy vehicles stopped as part of Operation Vigilant proved to be non-compliant, with offences ranging from self-clearing defects to major violations.

“NHVR Safety and Compliance Officers (SCOs) conducted 75 targeted intercepts over the course of the two days, checking for compliance with the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), including mass and dimension, load restraint and driver fatigue,” he says.

“Unfortunately, there were 38

defect notices issued throughout the operation, three of which were classified as major, with the most prevalent offences being mechanical defects such as faulty brakes, and issues with steering and suspension, and wheels, tyres and hubs.

“SCOs also issued one official warning and three infringements, including for a substantial fatigue breach, serving as a reminder to ensure there’s no driving tired.

“It’s disappointing to see drivers and operators doing the wrong thing, especially with more than 179 lives lost in crashes involving a heavy vehicle last year – by failing to maintain your vehicle or adhere to work and rest requirements, you are not only jeopardising your own safety, but the safety of all other road users.”

To ensure drivers understood how to comply with their safety obligations, SCOs provided education during 24 of the intercepts conducted, guided by the NHVR’s inform, educate and enforce approach.

ABF officers from the Department of Home Affairs conducted checks relating to migrant worker exploitation, identifying four individuals of concern.

Among them were two unlawful non-citizens and two individuals suspected of breaching visa work conditions. As a result, one person was detained, while another was granted a bridging visa to facilitate their departure from the country.

It is a criminal offence to employ, refer or contract a non-citizen who doesn’t have the right to work in Australia.

“We encourage industry to access the NHVR website, where we have a wide range of safety and compliance related resources available to help with education, including guidelines, training videos and contacts for support,” Salvati says.

He says Operation Vigilant marked the first time the four agencies had been involved in conducting a local operation, all working towards a

common goal of heavy vehicle, driver and community safety.

“Operation Vigilant was a significant collaborative effort by the NHVR, SA Police, the ABF and SafeWork SA, with all agencies working together to ensure the safety of our roads and to protect both drivers and the wider community,” he says.

“The operation was undertaken at Monteith Checking Stations and saw 32 cross agency officers conduct in-depth compliance checks in relation to heavy vehicle and bus compliance, work conditions and workplace safety.

“Through this joint effort, a range of safety concerns were addressed including, mechanical breaches, driver fatigue, drug and alcohol offences and work conditions.

“Operation Vigilant demonstrates the commitment of all agencies involved to enhancing road safety –by working together, sharing resources and expertise, we can reduce road trauma and save lives.

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Blacks Transport acquires operator

The Queensland family operator will now form a new division within the wider Blacks Transport Group network

Family owned Queensland based freight operator Blacks Transport Group has announced it has officially acquired Peter Carter Transport.

Peter Carter Transport has provided a daily freight service between the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane, with its acquisition now set to see it operate as Carters Transport and be a division of Blacks Transport Group.

“Peter Carter Transport has been a trusted name in the industry for years, and we’re

proud to continue that legacy while bringing even more strength, reliability and service to our customers,” Blacks Transport says in an announcement.

“This move allows us to expand our reach, grow our team and provide even better transport

solutions across the region.

“A huge thank you to our amazing staff, customers and partners for your support – we can’t wait for what’s ahead! Stay tuned for more updates as we roll into this exciting new chapter.”

Peter Carter Transport has

been serving customers for nearly 20 years as part of its growing network of customers and operations. Now part of Blacks Transport, the move will strengthen the overall group’s capabilities and network reach.

“We’re thrilled to share that Peter Carter Transport has officially joined Blacks Transport Group and will now operate as Carters Transport Qld, a division of Blacks Transport Group,” Peter Carter Transport says.

“This marks an exciting new chapter for our business, and we’re proud to be part of a company that shares our family values. While our name is slightly changing, our commitment to our valued customers and staff remains the same – now with even more support and resources behind us!

“A big thank you to our amazing team and customers for being part of this journey. We look forward to continuing to serve you under our new banner as Carters Transport Qld!”

Peter Carter Transport will now operate as Carters Transport. Image: Blacks Transport Group

JATEC Transport expands with latest acquisition

JATEC Transport is moving quickly in Brisbane, acquiring a pallet transport division in the city to welcome new customers

JATEC Transport has announced another phase in its growth strategy with the acquisition of a pallet transport division in Brisbane.

JATEC has acquired the pallet transport division of Max Waldau Transport to expand its Brisbane presence, with more than 20 new customers welcomed to the company through the purchase.

“With our expertise in empty pallet transport, Euro 6 fleet and commitment to reliable, customerfocused service, we’re here to make pallet transport smoother and more efficient than ever,” JATEC

Transport general manager Caitlin Barlow says.

The acquisition comes just a month after JATEC revealed it was expanding its operations into Queensland after spending more than two decades in New South Wales.

“JATEC Transport is now live in Brisbane! After a huge Q4 2024 we now have a stable operation in Queensland servicing the Brisbane area,” JATEC Transport said at the time.

With founders Troy and Jane Barlow still involved in the business, the empty pallet transport company added a Brisbane base to its Dean Park headquarters.

“We’re

here

to make pallet transport smoother and more efficient than ever.”

Left: The move comes after JATEC recently moved operations to Queensland. Image: JATEC Transport

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MOVING FORWARD

While the election may be done, Sean Mortell discovers the trucking industry still has a long list of priorities for the next federal government to address

By the time you’re reading this, the federal election will be run and done, with the next federal government being named. However, at the time of writing, the campaign is still intensifying, with all sides of politics putting their best policies forward in the lead-up to Australia hitting the ballot.

When it comes to the trucking industry, the 2025 election is set to be a defining one, with a myriad of issues depending on the outcome. In the weeks leading up to the election, OwnerDriver chatted to various members of the transport industry about what they want to see from the next federal government.

A common theme among associations is that there is no singular issue that demands the most attention from the government. Victorian Transport Association (VTA) CEO Peter Anderson has four immediate areas he wants the next government to address in 2025.

“Our priorities should include productivity improvements, intermodal connectivity, reforms to the Heavy Vehicle National Law and changes to driver licensing to attract young people to the industry,” he told OwnerDriver

“Both sides of politics must prioritise policies that enhance productivity within the transport sector –this includes investing in innovative technologies and optimising logistics processes to improve efficiency and reduce operational costs.

“Additionally, fostering intermodal connectivity is essential. Integrating road, rail, air and sea transport will ensure seamless freight movement, which is vital for maintaining and improving the standard of living for all Australians.

“The next federal government should prioritise the development and implementation of a comprehensive intermodal strategy. This strategy should support the integration of various transport modes to handle increasing freight volumes effectively.”

For Anderson, his key goal is for both sides of politics to understand the importance of prioritising productivity. Over the past year, he has particularly focused on the HVNL reform, as well as changes to the national heavy vehicle driver licensing

framework. He says these reforms must ensure agencies work with the industry to provide the best regulation for the sector.

“Policies that promote intermodal harmonisation and support the entire transport and logistics industry are of utmost importance,” he says.

“Agencies like Austroads and the National Transport Commission must engage with the industry to develop policies that improve the working environment for all stakeholders.

“My message to the next federal government is clear: We must work together to create an environment that supports the efficient and safe movement of goods. By embracing intermodal connectivity, investing in infrastructure and prioritising productivity improvements, we can shape a prosperous future for the transport and logistics industry.

“The collaboration between public and private sectors is essential to achieving these goals and ensuring a resilient and efficient freight system for years to come.”

This multi-faceted approach to tackling major transport industry issues is echoed across the sector. In the weeks leading up to the election, the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) drip-fed a long list of priorities for the next government, while the National Road Transport Association (NatRoad) cut its Road to 2028 agenda to five key issues for both sides of politics to focus on.

Encompassing safety, workforce, costs, increased productivity and lower emissions, NatRoad CEO Warren Clark says the five-point plan is critical to creating a better industry.

“Deaths and injuries on the road network are getting worse, the driver shortage is significant, industry is under severe cost pressure, the red tape burden from access permits continues to increase and we still lack a cost-effective plan for emissions reduction,” he told OwnerDriver

“NatRoad is calling for the next federal government to come to the table and implement measures to tackle the key industry issues within the next threeyear term. This includes eliminating 90 per cent of access permits by 2028, establishing a $3.5 billion Clean Transport Fund, long term reforms to road user

charges, delivering a national road freight workforce plan and ensuring infrastructure upgrades prioritise building a safer road network.”

Clark says he wants the additional rest area funding provided by Labor to continue. He says it’s also important that the Coalition’s proposed temporary fuel excise reduction prioritises relief for small trucking operators.

“All government decisions need to focus on keeping cost pressures low. About 98 per cent of trucking operators are small businesses with limited economic bargaining power to pass on higher costs. The industry has an average profit margin of just two per cent.

“The time has also well and truly come to modernise the HVNL. The review has stumbled along for seven years, and there is now an urgent need to implement better, risk-based fatigue management and to fix access.”

At the Truck Industry Council (TIC), it has one sole priority it is pushing the next government to implement – modernising Australia’s truck fleets.

“Given that Australia has one of the oldest truck fleets in the world, we’d like to see major political parties provide strategic leadership in the form of financial and regulatory policies that incentivise the uptake of the new ADR 80/04 (Euro VI) and low and zero emission heavy vehicles,” TIC CEO Tony McMullan told OwnerDriver.

“This would allow us to meet the national challenges associated with improving road safety, meeting the nation’s commitments towards net zero by 2050, reducing noxious emissions and enhancing vehicle productivity.”

While NatRoad’s future plan couldn’t be limited down to a single election focus, Clark says he has a clear message for the next federal government. Regardless of the outcome, he wants them to know that trucking is an essential industry, meaning government must back the people who keep the economy moving with national leadership on critical industry issues.

“With so many operators under significant pressure, we need to see sensible solutions delivered within the next three years to avoid a deepening crisis,” he says.

NHVR

Michelle Tayler

Introducing NHVR Go

The well-known NHVR Portal has now been rebranded as NHVR Go, becoming the heavy vehicle hub driving the nation forward

This year, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is proud to announce an exciting milestone, with the rebrand of our NHVR Portal.

Much of industry would be familiar with the Portal as the destination you visit for permit applications or mapping information.

What you may not know is the Portal is our single, digital platform, transforming the way we deliver our services to support our customers. It provides access to a variety of tools, services and systems for both industry and government to help meet their safety, productivity, sustainability and regulatory needs.

In April 2025, the Portal is taking a bold step by rebranding to ‘NHVR Go’. NHVR Go will become the heavy vehicle hub driving you forward. While it will continue to offer the same tools and services our customers know, its refreshed identity reflects our commitment to a more modern and advancing online platform.

The NHVR is committed to soon providing all regulatory services through the Portal and has been working to transform it into our

‘heavy vehicle business centre’.

As of mid-April, NHVR Go’s new name and logo will be in full use across the existing Portal site. The rebrand will include a refreshed colour palette, imagery and information, to help you get the most out of our services.

Through NHVR Go, industry will be able to access our existing tools and services, including route planning, access information, compliance and more. Operators will still use NHVR Go to apply for and track permit applications, NHVAS accreditation, Performance Based Standards and Vehicle Standards information and more.

So, why update our online portal now?

Last year, the NHVR completed its National Services Transition program when we transitioned the management of regulatory services in Queensland. This marked a significant milestone for both our organisation and industry, enabling us to offer more consistent application of the Heavy Vehicle National Law and accelerate regulatory compliance harmonisation across state borders.

With this important step in our organisation’s maturity, our focus now

turns to an advancing technological landscape and ensuring we are equipped for a modern and innovative future. Australia’s trucking industry is on a significant digital journey, with emerging technologies being implemented across a range of areas. Refined technologies will continue to develop across a whole array of areas, including telematics and fleet management systems, electronic work diaries, predictive analytics, infrastructure, training and support, and of course, heavy vehicles.

Our digital platform is also on a journey to become as efficient and adaptive as possible, to reflect the needs of the growing and advancing heavy vehicle industry we work with. NHVR Go will reflect a more contemporary online platform and continue to add capabilities to provide even greater benefits for industry and road managers.

Throughout 2025, customers will experience the benefits of added enhancements to many of our digital offerings, including the National Network Map. The map offers a single and authoritative location for the heavy vehicle industry to map journeys across state and territory borders for their entire fleet.

We will soon roll out an improved intelligent route planner, integrated within the map, to enable faster journey planning and better efficiencies for operators. This foundational work will integrate over time with the National Automated Access System, providing industry with a seamless experience through NHVR Go for all access information.

“With this important step in our organisation’s maturity, our focus now turns to an advancing technological landscape and ensuring we are equipped for a modern and innovative future.”

NHVR Go will also see added tools for road managers, to assist with road network access decisions. Customers also have the added ability to speak with our support staff to access training and guidance across all our digital offerings. We look forward to having you join us at NHVR Go, where we will continue to support your heavy vehicle and regulatory needs. This next chapter will lead us to a better customer experience, and we thank all our industry partners who provided feedback and advice along this important journey.

For more information, visit nhvr.gov. au/go.

NHVR MICHELLE TAYLER – Executive Director Corporate Affairs

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SCANIA POWERS TO SHOW

Scania Australia is ready to return to the Brisbane Truck Show with its pinnacle V8 prime mover

Scania is one of many international OEMs preparing to return to the Brisbane Truck Show in 2025 with a bang. It’ll do so courtesy of its biggest and most powerful V8 prime mover that will take centre stage.

The 770 S 6x4 model boasts 3,700Nm of torque from a little more than 1,000rpm, generated by the 16.4 litre V8 engine. Alongside these features sits Scania’s S-series extended CS 23 cab, which delivers a flat floor and plenty of space and luxury for drivers.

Heading to Brisbane, Scania remains the only supplier of on-road trucks to be powered by a V8 engine, with the S-series show truck coming equipped with the latest European active and passive safety features. From Advanced Driver Assistance Systems to side curtain roll-over airbags, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive steering and Scania’s new all-digital dashboard, the truck on display at the show will be both eye-catching and incredibly safe.

The brand says the 770 S CS 23 model sets a new standard for long haul comfort, technology and convenience. It’ll be joined on the stand by Scania’s 500 P low entry prime mover that serves as an example of the brand’s successful 13 litre straight six-cylinder SUPER engine family. Having already proven to be a hit with Australian customers since its launch two years ago, the 500 P version of the family is suitable for last mile delivery, urban and regional work while also being able to undertake B-double work when needed.

The Scania stand isn’t limited to just the two models – the all-new 40 G battery electric prime

“WE HAVE BROUGHT A TEAM OF OUR SPECIALISTS FROM THROUGHOUT SCANIA AUSTRALIA TO THE SHOW AND WELCOME ALL ENQUIRIES ABOUT OUR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES.”

mover, the first of its type to reach Australia, will also star in Brisbane. The zero-emissions model is ideal for local and regional single trailer applications through its silent running capabilities and zero tailpipe emissions.

A key benefit of the Scania SUPER engine range to date has been its ability to rapidly accelerate the driving down of fuel consumption and emissions. Scania says its claims of providing a fuel saving of up to eight per cent have been “met and exceeded” in many real world operation cases of the engine in Australia.

With the all-new DOHC design helping to deliver impressive fuel figures alongside plenty of power and torque, the Scania SUPER engine is delivering more torque at each hp rating when compared to its rivals. With the advanced engine range also able to run on Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil and B10 biodiesel blends, Scania Trucks director of sales Benjamin Nye says it can deliver up to a 90 per cent reduction in carbon emissions.

“Scania has a mass-market solution to driving down emissions across the range for customers willing to switch to biodiesel or HVO,” Nye told OwnerDriver

“While Scania as a company is dedicating its future to the provision of an increasing number of battery electric trucks, for the here and now we can make a bigger impact on emissions reduction by switching to low carbon emitting fuels while retaining the efficient and clean diesel combustion engines we are all familiar with.”

In addition to this line-up of trucks on Scania’s truck show stand, the company will once again highlight its range of customer friendly services that combine to provide a total transport solution for industry members ranging from owner drivers to national fleet operators. Nye says these benefits vary from flexible company-owned finance packages in Scania Finance Australia options through to tailored repair and maintenance contracts, pre-paid service contracts, driver and fleet monitoring, driver training and Fleet Care.

On top of this, nationwide Scania Assistance coverage is also available across a growing network of company-owned sales and service branches that sit in key population centres in Australia.

“It is good to be back at the Brisbane Truck Show, and we are looking forward to seeing old friends old and meeting new ones, while introducing visitors to our new look stand,” Nye says.

“We have brought a team of our specialists from throughout Scania Australia to the show and welcome all enquiries about our products and services.”

The international OEM’s latest technology is set to command plenty of attention in Brisbane

ABOVE: Scania’s signature V8 engine prime mover will be central to the brand’s Brisbane Truck Show display

LEFT:

ISUZU TO SHOW OFF NEW RANGE

At the centre of Isuzu’s 1,000sqm space at the show will be its all-new massive 2025 model line-up

The Brisbane Truck Show will be a defining moment in Isuzu Australia’s rich history, with the leading truck brand set to unveil its all-new 2025 model range to the entire market at the event.

From May 15 to 18, the industry will be welcomed to Isuzu’s stand to check out the latest models that the popular name is introducing to Australia.

“The Brisbane Truck Show is one of those industry events that everyone looks forward to with anticipation, and I know for sure that the entire team from Isuzu can’t wait to showcase the new range at its first public outing,” Isuzu Australia head of marketing and customer experience John Walker says.

“We’re holding nothing back for this year’s event. We have our brand new 2025 model range, which will be on its first full public outing, and to showcase our new models in appropriate style, we’ve built an all-new stand with features catering to the full breadth of the Isuzu offer.

“Planning for the 2025 Isuzu stand started the day after the last show concluded in 2023, and we’ve made sure that every aspect of our business that customers want to know about has its own dedicated display area, from our trucks to parts, our aftersales suite of offerings, the ever-popular merchandise and a smart new range of accessories for our stylish new range of trucks.”

The result of Isuzu’s planning is a stand that’ll have the new model range dominating, but also an uplift for all areas of the business, including its Power Solutions, Parts, Accessories, Service and Care segments.

Isuzu will display 11 vehicles (including some surprises) on a stand that totals in excess of 1,000 sqm in Hall 2 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. In addition, there will be a comprehensive display of Isuzu Power Solutions products, including the premium industrial power generation range.

The new stand layout also incorporates a plenary stage where visitors can hear directly from product

experts about the 2025 Isuzu truck range, which includes not only a new look but also a range of safety and technological advancements.

The Brisbane Truck Show is the first official public showing of the 2025 Isuzu truck range after preview events for dealers, technical partners and key fleet customers.

“Isuzu has ensured the key stakeholders have been on this journey with the new models,” Isuzu Australia director and chief of sales and aftersales Ben Lasry says.

“We brought all the dealers together to showcase our 2025 range and ensure they had all the key information for their customers.

“We have an extensive range of trucks, and the Isuzu dealer network is renowned for their product expertise and superior understanding of what aspects of the truck are most critical to a business owner’s operation.

“This same approach was applied to our body builder partners, with a flow of critical information they need to carry out the broad array of application and industry builds.

“And now, we’re extending an invitation to the Australian trucking public to come on down and learn all about our exciting new range.”

Key features of Isuzu’s stand will include a plenary stage, mezzanine-level viewing, parts display (including new model range accessories), Isuzu Power Solutions range, service and apprenticeship showcase, Care 20-year celebrations and merchandise sales.

TOP: Isuzu’s all new range will be the star of its show stand

ABOVE: Attendees will be able to access a wide range of features at Isuzu’s massive space

Images: Isuzu Australia

MACK TO CELEBRATE 125 YEARS AT SHOW

The popular truck brand has a new-look unveiling ready for Brisbane as it also marks a significant milestone in the company’s history

Mack Trucks Australia is marking a monumental milestone at the 2025 Brisbane Truck Show – celebrating 125 years of manufacturing excellence, ingenuity, heritage and community.

As part of the festivities, the iconic brand is showcasing its latest technological advancements, with a strong focus on powertrain technology, new vehicle updates and its ongoing commitment to sustainability and driver comfort.

The highlight of Mack’s presence at the show will be the highly anticipated unveiling of the new-look Super-Liner. Renowned as Australia’s most powerful conventional truck over the past decade, the new Super-Liner now features a 780hp 17-litre MP11 engine paired with the latest generation mDRIVE transmission, making it a force for Australia’s toughest transport challenges.

In addition, the Super-Liner will feature the fully integrated 70-inch, walk-through sleeper, available for order on both the Super-Liner and Titan models. This sleeper – first introduced at the 2023 Brisbane Truck Show – boasts multiple configurations, including single and double bunks, and has been designed to set a new standard for driver comfort. The Super- Liner

now offers an exceptional balance of power, comfort and cutting-edge features that address the unique needs of Australian drivers.

Also on display will be the Euro 6 MP8 High Efficiency Anthem, featuring turbo compound technology. This innovative technology recycles energy from the engine’s exhaust flow and delivers it directly to the engine crankshaft, resulting in a remarkable 2,800Nm of torque.

A major focus of Mack’s 125-year journey has been the continuous evolution of safety and comfort. This is further emphasised with the introduction of the new

Mack infotainment system, complete with a standard rear-view camera and optional additional cameras to enhance visibility on the job site. Both the Super-Liner and Titan models feature improved cab suspension.

Mack’s commitment to sustainability is another key highlight. Since December 2024, all Mack trucks built at the Wacol factory are fuelled by Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), a more sustainable fuel alternative to diesel. HVO helps reduce emissions and plays a significant role in Mack’s path to net-zero.

Mack Trucks is also celebrating its anniversary with a heritage display at the Rocklea Heritage Show during the Brisbane Truck Show. The display will showcase a Mack from each decade, offering a glimpse into the company’s rich history and the trucks that shaped the brand into the icon it is today.

“In light of the 125-year anniversary of Mack, we’re showcasing the best of Mack’s engineering and innovation here in Australia, including the new MP11, our most powerful engine yet,” Mack Trucks Australia vice president Tony O’Connell says.

“These trucks are designed to ensure our customers have the best available technology and driver comfort, and this translates to unmatched performance, durability and efficiency.”

UD’S HISTORY OF TOUGH TRUCKS

Nearly a century since the first UD Truck was produced, the brand’s leading models on display in Brisbane still highlight a dedication to dependability

It’s been 90 years since Kenzo Adachi, founder of UD Trucks, first envisaged a tough, durable diesel-powered truck capable of withstanding the toughest transport tasks.

In the space of three years, the first UD, the LD1, was born, sporting a revolutionary new 60hp diesel engine. What follows is the stuff of UD legend as Adachi San took this new truck on a 2,000-mile torture test through the mountains of Japan to prove it was more than capable of tackling tough terrain and challenging conditions.

The UD Quon embodies everything that the original LD1 stood for and more. On display at this year’s Brisbane Truck Show is the latest iteration of this remarkable vehicle.

With a super clean yet efficient GH11 powerplant that exceeds Euro 6 emissions, the UD Quon CG 26 460 8x4 tipper on display provides a glimpse of what is available across the UD heavy duty range. Using 460 hp and an impressive 2,250Nm of torque to keep the drive wheels turning, this powerplant is backed by the highly regarded ESCOT-VI 12-speed automated

transmission which provides some of the slickest gear shifting in the business.

The UD Quon has been the mainstay of the brand in Australia, earning fans in both town and country as a dependable, safe and efficient part of any business. From construction and off-road roles to urban distribution in large cities and stretching its legs on the open road, the UD Quon has been the truck Australia trusts for over two decades and counting.

Be sure to speak to UD experts at the Total Offer Café in Brisbanes.

VOLVO TO CELEBRATE MILESTONE

The popular global OEM will have its leading truck options across a range of applications on display in Brisbane

Six decades after pioneering transport operator and entrepreneur Max Winkless first introduced the Volvo brand to Australian operators, Volvo Trucks is showcasing a range of locally engineered transport solutions that build on the already formidable legacy built by the brand at the Brisbane Truck Show.

The model at the front of Volvo’s space is the FH16 XXL, which features the brand’s recently launched 17-litre Euro 6 engine platform that provides a class

leading 780hp of power and 3,800Nm of torque.

Another new face among the Volvo trucks Australia line-up is the Volvo FH Aero – a streamlined model designed to cut through the air, reducing drag and saving fuel. The Aero is available with a range of drivelines spanning various Euro 6 engines from the fuel efficient 500hp D13TC and 13-litre 540 to the range topping D17 at power ratings of 600 and 700hp. On top of this, Volvo Trucks is also preparing to showcase its leadership in the Australian heavy

duty battery electric vehicle market. The Volvo FMX Electric on display at BTS ‘25 features 540kWh of power from four battery packs with a range of up to 300km, while three electric motors provide 660hp put power to the ground via a new generation I-Shift automated transmission.

Onboard the FMX Electric is the recently launched Volvo L25 wheel loader, which is equipped with a 40kWh battery that provides a run time of up to eight hours.

ABOVE: Mack Trucks Australia has a very special milestone to pay tribute to at the 2025 Brisbane Truck Show

Image: Mack

IVECO TO SHOWCASE EXTENSIVE LINE-UP

IVECO Trucks Australia will display a broad selection of vehicles at this year’s Brisbane Truck

Show

IVECO Trucks Australia is preparing to showcase a wide range of vehicles at the show this year, spanning from passenger car licence models through to 90t GCM prime movers.

However, an exciting new model release is set to steal the show at the IVECO stand.

Along with conventional ICE trucks, on stand will be a fully electric eDaily 50C cab chassis with ePTO. Several eDaily models – both van and cab chassis variants – are currently participating in real-work operator trials with leading Australian fleets.

IVECO will also use the BTS to unveil its highly anticipated new medium Eurocargo ML140 model in its first Australian public display. One of Europe’s best-selling medium duty trucks, the new Eurocargo builds on the many attributes of its predecessor, introducing even higher levels of safety, comfort, technology and automation, all wrapped in a strikingly revised cabin.

Additionally, IVECO’s 2025 BTS display will have a strong heavy model focus, with three flagship S-Ways 550hp models on show including prime mover and rigid (tipper) variants, showing the versatility of the S-Way for a raft of applications. IVECO has recently expanded its S-Way offerings with development of new 90t GCM variants (available on application), further broadening the appeal of the model range.

One of Australia’s favourite vocational trucks, the ACCO, will also be included at the event, with show goers set to experience a 6x4 example

ABOVE: From prime movers to rigids (including the pictured latest generation Eurocargo), IVECO has plenty prepared for the show

fitted with a side loader refuse collection body. The ACCO range is also available in a 8x4 configuration, making it attractive for hooklift and front loader work. IVECO also says it is planning one or two surprises at the 2025 Brisbane Truck Show, so stay tuned. Attendees can learn more about the range and speak with IVECO’s friendly team by visiting stand Hall 1, stand 58.

TRIPLE DELIGHT FOR DAIMLER TRUCK

Daimler Truck is teasing the unveiling of three new truck models across its associated brands at the Brisbane Truck Show

Daimler Truck will reveal three new heavyduty trucks at the Brisbane Truck Show, but you’ll have to wait until opening day to find out what they are.

Mercedes-Benz is keeping its cards close to its chest, but given a new-look Actros called the ProCabin was recently revealed in Europe, complete with three per cent fuel savings, you might expect one to roll onto the stand in Brisbane.

What Mercedes-Benz is prepared to reveal is that it will display a new active safety suite designed to boost safety and make life easier for drivers.

Instead of one radar, the Actros will now feature five, giving its Active Side Guard Assist system a 270-degree view around the vehicle. This system will warn the driver of hazards and can even stop the truck when it is turning (up to 20km/h) to avoid a collision.

Mercedes-Benz will also present its iconic Unimog off-road machine that is sure to draw crowds, as well as its remarkable fully electric eActros and eEconic trucks.

Fuso will be showing something big and very powerful at the show, but isn’t ready to reveal exactly what just yet. It has confirmed that it will present its facelifted Canter range for the first time in public, including the much-loved off-road Canter 4x4.

The facelift updates bring all-new front-end styling including LED headlights that are 30 per cent brighter than before, as well as a new and improved multimedia unit on the inside.

The Canter can be ordered with proven diesel technology or a groundbreaking electric powertrain. Fuso offers a fully electric eCanter with zero exhaust emissions (not just a hybrid) in a full line-up with 14 different models to choose from.

Freightliner will reveal an eye-catching Cascadia special edition model that celebrates the company’s roots that go all the way back to 1942.

This special pack adds unique wheels, bumper, tanks and seat embroidery that highlights the heritage of the iconic American brand.

One of the most prominent special edition trucks in Brisbane will be the range-topping Cascadia 126 Raised Roof (RR), which has real big truck presence. It features a cavernous 60-inch cabin and is more like a highway hotel than a truck cab.

All Cascadias feature standard active safety technology and were recently upgraded with a system that can video capture critical incidents. These 30-second clips can be viewed by fleet managers, along with vehicle data, captured using the truck’s existing forward-facing camera.

Image:

Brisbane Truck Show Preview – Trailers

WINDING BACK THE CLOCK

A new Live Bottom Floor trailer product is leading Haulmark’s return to exhibiting at the Brisbane Truck Show

For more than 60 years, Haulmark Trailers has sat as a symbol of excellence for the local trailer market. After first commencing as Truck & Trailer Repairs in Queensland’s Salisbury in 1963, the group started trading under the Haulmark name a year later and then hosted the inaugural Brisbane Truck Show in 1968 at its Rocklea homebase.

Now, more than half a century since it first hosted the show, it’s preparing to bring some of its latest technology to Brisbane for the 2025 edition of the major transport industry event.

“We are launching a new product to the Haulmark range,” Haulmark Trailers national sales and marketing manager Mark Johnston told OwnerDriver

“We’re now able to offer a Live Bottom Floor trailer that provides a genuine alternative to what’s currently available on the market.”

Throughout its decades of history, Haulmark has remained committed to upholding traditions of excellence and blending time-honoured craftsmanship with innovative solutions. This latest product will honour the brand’s ongoing legacy and help advance industry standards while giving customers high quality and reliable trailer options.

“The purpose-built trailer has been developed to provide all the necessary operational functions required for the cartage of asphalt and a

comprehensive range of other bulk products,” Mark says.

Despite its rich history in the foundation years of the Brisbane Truck Show, Mark admits it’s been “a very long time” since Haulmark last exhibited

at the event. A return to the show in 2025 is enough to drum up plenty of excitement both within Haulmark’s four walls and in the wider truck and trailer market.

“It’s quite exciting to be part of the show again and to be able to mix with the broader industry,” he says.

“It’s also nice to catch up with old friends and make some new ones.”

While the reunion will be a highlight of the show, the primary focus for the Haulmark team is to introduce the new Live Bottom Floor trailer to the market and take onboard valuable feedback. It may serve as a centrepiece of Haulmark’s return to the Brisbane Truck Show, but it only serves as a launching pad for the famous Australian trailer manufacturer.

“Although our focus at the show is primarily to launch the Live Bottom Floor trailer to the market, we would of course welcome discussion and enquiries on the broader range of Haulmark products,” Mark says.

“WE’RE NOW ABLE TO OFFER A LIVE BOTTOM FLOOR TRAILER THAT PROVIDES A GENUINE ALTERNATIVE TO WHAT’S CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON THE MARKET.”

NEW LOOK FOR FREIGHTER GROUP

This year’s show will serve as the first time Freighter Group will present itself at the industry event under its new identity

Alot has changed since Freighter Group was last at the Brisbane Truck Show. In the past year, the group, previously known as MaxiTRANS, has rebranded to the new name, with a new logo and visual identity as part of the launch last October.

With a nod to its more than 75 years’ heritage, Freighter Group is firmly focused on long-term sustainability, backed fully by a group of local private investors who purchased the trailer business in September 2021.

“We set about embarking on a significant transformation journey when we purchased the trailer business, with the aim of creating a new era for the future of the company and the trailer manufacturing industry in Australia,” Freighter Group executive chairman Greg L’Estrange says.

“The journey started with a $50m investment into our Ballarat site. This investment has seen the introduction of a range of state-of-the-art equipment and an expansion of the overall footprint of the facility, transforming it into a modern manufacturing environment.”

At this year’s Brisbane Truck Show, the new look trailer manufacturer will be showcasing two models from its broad range on its stand, allowing visitors to explore first-hand the locally manufactured, high quality products it has available.

“There’ll also be an opportunity to discuss the full range available to suit customers’ specific freight applications,” L’Estrange says.

“Also on display will be a Schmitz Cargobull fridge plant, now available to the Australian market and supported through Freighter Group.

“Featured heavily will be demonstrations of telematics technology delivered through TrailerConnect, which is available now across the Freighter Group trailer range.

TrailerConnect delivers customers real-time EBS

and fridge data to help boost the efficiency of their operation.”

The May show will be the first time Freighter Group will showcase its rebrand since the October launch, with the group’s stand to sit under the theme of ‘freight it for life’ as a demonstration of its commitment to supporting customers for the life of its product.

From service and parts to the latest product, the group’s stand will highlight this theme. It leaves the entire group “very excited” for this year’s show, offering an invaluable opportunity to meet as many customers as possible under the one roof, while highlighting the extraordinary transformation the business has undergone in recent times.

“We are encouraging all visitors to the show to come and talk to us about the exciting changes at Freighter Group,” L’Estrange says.

“Our stand will be staffed with specialists from product, parts and service, as well as specialists in Performance-Based Standards (PBS). We welcome visitors to talk to us about their freight challenges to understand the solutions we can deliver and the ongoing support we can provide for their particular freight operation.”

ABOVE: Haulmark is preparing to unveil a new Live Bottom Floor trailer product at the show

Freighter Group’s leading trailer models will feature the show

Image: Haulmark Trailers

Image: Freighter Group

GROWING WITH GRAPHENE

After years of development and testing, Graphene Manufacturing Group’s (GMG) G-Lubricant range is set to command plenty of attention in the industry

Amid all of the latest truck technology to be released at the Brisbane Truck Show, there are a myriad of factors that prove crucial to these vehicles running smoothly once they hit the roads. While these factors aren’t often as popular as the hulking shine of a new prime mover or trailer, they often tend to be just as important.

It’s in this space where GMG sits, with its latest energy saving and storage solutions set to command plenty of attention moving forward.

While at the show, find the GMG team to chat about the latest range of products to help heavy vehicles run more efficiently.

“We plan on making an update on various items, including new engine testing data and truck dyno performance testing,” GMG founder, managing director and CEO Craig Nicol told OwnerDriver

“From our G-Lubricant graphene enhanced engine oil additive to customer testimonials, there’s plenty for us to chat about.”

Attending the show and finding GMG team members won’t just give you a great insight into the brand’s latest technology – it’ll also

provide exciting deals on crucial lubricant products.

“We have product sales available, including our G Lubricant 500ml pack which can be used to mix into up to 50 litres of engine oil,” Craig says.

“There are a limited number of discounted product available included with merchandise

such as a GMG cap, stubby cooler and towel part of the purchase.”

GMG’s updated product range isn’t just an overnight success. Over the past eight years, the G Lubricant engine oil additive has been developed, with four years of testing going into it. Graphene has gone so far as to ensure the additive is verified by the University of

Queensland to save 8.4 per cent fuel in a Cummins diesel engine.

The G-Lubricant range had only been launched a few months before that show, so it will be a different event compared to the last time GMG attended the Brisbane Truck Show. Craig says the team is “very eager” to see what the industry thinks of its new product.

“We want the industry to give us feedback on the global launch of our new product after so many years of development and testing,” he says.

“We would like the industry to learn about graphene and how this Brisbane made nanomaterial product can transform energy.”

BRAND NEW

Warren Aitken catches up with the family at the heart of Schaeffer’s Transport to learn the interesting tale of the operator’s first brand new truck

Strange as this may be, I would like to start this write-up on one of the coolest Kenworths gracing our motorways by issuing an apology. If you happen to own a stunning cream and turquoise blue retro Volkswagen Kombi van, and in early 2022 were cruising down Military Road in Neutral Bay, NSW being stalked by a young couple driving a Grey Tiguan, can I please have your attention for a minute. I understand how strange it may have been to have a guy flashing his lights and yelling about paint codes while his wife was snapping photos from the passenger seat. I fully understand why you chose to drive like a Melbourne Cup contender – blinkers on, staring straight ahead, avoiding eye contact with the strange people trying to get your attention. Personally, I would have been driving straight to the nearest police station myself, but I am here to apologise and offer up the

BEAUTY

following photos and story as a bit of an explanation for that crazed behaviour.

As it happens, the young family that were stalking you that day was the Schaeffers and they had just ordered their very first brand new truck. Months and months of research and development had gone into designing this specific set-up and the only thing that still hadn’t been confirmed was the colour combination. Then you happened to pass by them in an immaculate retro Kombi van, the perfect collaboration of light and dark, cream and turquoise, and Trent knew he had found the colours to bring his dream ride to fruition. These were the colours to bring ‘Summer Jam’ to life.

Ok, that probably makes the whole incident sound a lot more ‘stalker-ish’ than it really was, but after spending a couple of hours talking to Trent Schaeffer, laughing as he happily took the piss out of himself and smiling as

he humbly talked down his achievements in the chaotic history that is his life in and out of trucking, I was pretty confident he would be ok with me having a sarcastic exaggeration of his colour clarity moment back in 2022.

T his truck has been a two-year labour of love to get on the road. It involved getting all the designs right, the weight distribution right, then converting those plans into a custom built truck and a custom built trailer set up. Then, of course, there is getting the cosmetics and colours perfect. It has been a very ‘to and fro’ project.

The end result is a tridem Kenworth with a quad axle trailer that can carry 34 tonnes and has over 40 pallet spaces. It means savings on registration and savings on wear and tear. Being able to do it while looking sharper than a serpent’s tooth has been a solid effort. And while you may not understand this pun just yet, all of the work put into ‘Summer Jam’ has cemented Trent’s position as a

Top, above: When Trent set about designing this eye catching set up, colours and style had to match the build. Parked up in the NSW sunshine, I think it is fair to say he nailed the job

Images: Warren Aitken

Top: Meet the man behind the plan. Trent Schaeffer has come a long way from the self-proclaimed ‘Little S@#t’ that used to watch the Hume Express exiting town, to now owning one of the coolest K200s around

Above and right: Trent paid close attention to every part of the combination, and took immense pride in making sure it all looked first class

Opposite top: From front on, the Kenworth still stands out, perfect pinstriping blended with the painted visor and just enough lights makes for a stunning image

Opposite bottom: Pulling into the Harwood Mill for a load back to Sydney, the team makes sure the big rig is always looking on point

driver and company owner.

I am still laughing a little at that last line – I love a perfectly prepared pun and, as we delve into Trent’s ‘pathway’ through the transport industry, I will be ‘pouring’ out as many ‘rock-solid’ puns as possible. It might work best if I explain a bit of Trent’s history.

Trent has been truck-mad all his life – his dad has been behind the wheel nearly all of his life and, even when his parents split at an early age, Trent’s mum ensured he always got his necessary intake of trucking.

“I was a bit of a little shit when I was younger, so to calm me down, mum would take me to the Maccas at Enfield on the Hume and I’d sit and watch the Express trucks all heading out of town,” Trent recalls.

“When I was even younger and dad was running out of Port Macquarie, mum would take me down to watch him running through too.”

As a little tot, Trent remembers spending time in the K124 his dad owned, falling asleep to the deep rumble of the 892GM as it tore down the highway. It was that kind of experience, mixed with the memories of a Happy Meal and Express trucks barrelling down the Hume, that forged the fondness for trucks in a young Trent. It was his path to getting close to trucks, however, that would foster another love for the young man – a love that allows me so many more ‘solid’ puns – concreting – technically Trent’s passion is concrete pumping, but the puns work either way.

As soon as he was of age, Trent went looking for a job that would get him near trucks.

“I loved trucks, but I couldn’t drive them. So, I got a job

working on a line pump, doing house slabs and stuff like that,” he says.

“I got to be in a truck every day. It was an old Louisville and a Scania; I thought it was cool as.”

That was his introduction to trucking as a job – sitting in the passenger seat of an old Louisville. It was also the introduction to the world of concrete pumping. For the next decade, Trent’s working career became more focused on the concrete pumping, with trucking being secondary.

“I love a challenge. For me, when I learn something, I want to master it. I want to be the best I can be at it,” Trent says.

“I got that from the old man, I think.”

The pumping world soon took Trent over to Western Australia, where he moved from line pumps to concrete booms. Along with fostering a whole new skillset within his trade, it also opened him up to new trucks.

“I remember when I first got to Perth and I saw this 55m concrete pump, it was a 10-wheeler DAF, and it was a cracker,” he says.

“I thought, ‘I’m going to work on that’.”

It was an aspiration that he would eventually fulfill after earning his stripes in the concrete pumping world over in WA.

By 2008, Trent had his Boom ticket and his HR licence and he was no longer sitting in the passenger seat of the concrete booms he was working in. The mix of the two skills saw him all over the Perth area, and even up in the Pilbara. Concrete pumping had become a ‘rock-solid’ career for Trent, however being behind the wheel of the various concrete trucks was also fanning the flames of his childhood trucking fanaticism.

Over the next few years, from 2008 through to about 2012 when Trent would garner his MC licence, and right up until 2021 when Trent would finally hang up his floats and remotes, there are so many tales that deserve to be told. It included floating between pumping and trucking, depending on how the wind blew. I recommend you grab a beer with Trent one day and laugh your butt off listening to some of them. Personally I suggest the three blokes, a WRX and crossing the Nullarbor tale – brilliant. My job, however, is to focus on how we got to this stunning ‘Summer Jam’ Kenworth. Therefore, I will try and focus on the trucking angle of that tale.

While Trent was over in WA ‘hardening up’ (sorry I’ll try and stop the puns), his dad sold his truck and was working for wages for Nicholson & Page, a general freight company based in Maclean New South Wales. Murray Schaeffer had moved from single trailer work and was towing a B-double behind one of Nicholson & Pages’ stunning Kenworth K104s. Murray was meticulous in his approach to trucking and his truck. He cared for that rig like it was his own, adding extras and keeping it cleaner than a showroom model. It is easy to see where Trent learnt the habits he carries over in his own company.

Trent would occasionally rock up back on the east coast and, when he did, he would occupy the passenger seat of his dad’s truck, which by 2008 was the legendary Endless Summer, a K108 Big Cab.

“That truck was cool as ‘F’,” Trent says.

“When I came over and went with dad, I got a taste for the B-doubles, they were awesome.”

By 2012, Trent was back on the east coast full time and his allegiances were swaying more towards life on the road than concrete pumping.

“I was a bit of a little shit when I was younger, so to calm me down, mum would take me to the Maccas at Enfield on the Hume and I’d sit and watch the Express trucks all heading out of town.”

“I loved concreting, but trucking was what made me happy. I was scrolling marketplace one night and found a big cab K200 for sale, It was a mint truck and I bought it.”

“I needed to get my MC so I could drive the B-doubles, I wanted to go driving,” he admits.

“I found a mob up in Brissy that did a course, and I came up and got my MC. I’d had a lot of time with dad, and he’d been making me drive with him at times. I had my MC learners’ from WA as well.”

As soon as he was signed off on MC and BFM, Trent headed back down to Port Macquarie, where he got a start with the man who would become a mentor and lifelong friend – Graeme Nicholson, or Nicho of Nicholson and Page.

“I owe a lot to Nicho, without him I wouldn’t be where I am today,” he says.

“He is still there when I need advice, guidance or just to talk. He and Meredith have helped me so much.”

The words of praise and high regard are contrary to his feelings when he first signed on as a Nicholson and Page driver, however.

“My first run I was driving dad’s 104, I did the run to Brisbane that he did, the only run I knew,” he says.

“When I got back to Port Macquarie, Nicho said can you do a load of bricks to Melbourne?

“I’d never been to Melbourne, never loaded bricks, I hadn’t even done angle and straps. Dad had always been old school gates and ropes. I was shitting myself.”

He survived though, and even thrived. Trent spent a bit of time sharing the Big Cab K108 with his dad, as well as bag chucking through the rest of the fleet. That was mixed in with concreting work back on the east coast as well. It seems that giving up the shovels and wheelbarrows wasn’t as easy as it seems.

Let’s jump ahead to early 2015, when concrete pumping was back in the favourites column and trucking was secondary. Trent was working in Darwin when he received a call from Nicho again.

“I’d made comments to Nicho before about wanting to buy the old man’s truck if he ever decided to sell it. I’d always wanted to follow in dad’s footsteps,” Trent says.

“So Nicho rings and offers me the truck. It was more of a sentimental decision than a business decision because I didn’t know what the hell I was doing.”

Now before you go, don’t get carried away. Trent hadn’t yet fully given up the concreting – that wouldn’t come until 2021. In fact, the trucking was given away again before the concreting. I told you, grab a beer with him and enjoy the unedited version one day.

The purchase of the Nicholson and Pages’

K108 was the birthplace of what would become Schaeffer’s Transport a few years later. In the beginning, nothing changed other than the name of the Kenworth’s owner. Murray still drove the truck, in Nicholson and Page colours, doing their work. Trent was up in Darwin pumping and, with help from Nicho and his wife, the truck kept doing what it was doing. In June 2015, after losing his mum, Trent came

back to NSW and back into trucking.

“Dad had an operation in November and so I came back and just drove the heck out of that 108,” he says.

“For the next 18 to 24 months I just worked that truck. I got to know a lot of people because of that truck. If you had a fat truck, people wanted to know you. So, I got to meet a lot of people and contacts.”

Now I did mention this story goes back and forth a lot? Well, let’s go back again to concrete pumping. In 2017, Trent sold his trailers, took the 108 and began doing local work for Lawrence Transport.

“I’d met my wife and wanted to be home more and spend time with her,” he recalls.

“I started working for Lawrence Transport and they were amazing. When you tow for them, you are part of the family. I was doing stuff I hadn’t done – boxes, changeovers, all that.”

Mostly local turned into mostly changeovers, which turned into full runs and, before you know it, Trent’s on the road again more than he ever was. It wasn’t very conducive for a future family, hence one last swing at concreting for Trent.

“I sold the truck, which was tough. It had been a second generation truck for 11 years between dad and I,” he says.

That was May 2020. By February 2021, Trent was back again and the real Schaeffer’s Transport was created with a simple bit of Facebook scrolling.

“I loved concreting, but trucking was what made me happy. I was scrolling marketplace one night and found a big cab K200 for sale, It was a mint truck and I bought it,” he admits.

“I stayed on the concrete pumps and hired Chris Tibbit to drive it. Chris is rock solid, I was so lucky to get him. For the first 12 months he just worked that thing nonstop.

“He’s a champion, he’d fix things if he could and handle anything that came up. He only ever rang me if it was something he couldn’t sort out.”

By mid-2021, in the middle of the COVID crisis, Schaeffer’s Transport was flat-out. Trent had picked up

perfectly; Interior watermelon lights, Pearl craft accessories,

K200 has it all

Right: Check out the Custom Schaeffer’s seats that add another touch to this amazing truck

Bottom: The Schaeffer’s custom K200 casts an imposing figure, caught here coming out of the St Helena Tunnel on its way back down to Sydney

Opposite: Just like the rear of the Vawdrey trailer, the front end has the Signs Lines and Scrolls finger prints all over it; Even the rear of the quad axle Vawdrey trailer got the pin striping package

several of his own customers and was subbying out a fair bit of work. His concrete pumping days had finally been called, not by him but by a dodgy knee. This meant his focus was purely on transport.

A second truck had been added to the fleet – no surprise that it was a classic old Kenworth, a K104, and now Trent was on the road alongside Chris.

“I remember meeting up with Chris at the donut at Port Macquarie and having the two trucks there, thinking ‘how cool is this, I have two trucks’,” he says.

By late 2021, with solid work keeping the boys busy, Trent started weighing up the idea of purchasing his first ever brand-new truck.

“I wanted to get a new truck for Chris, he deserved it. He worked his butt off to help me get this going and I wanted him to have a new truck,” Trent says.

The idea was also to see how to best maximise their efficiency, both for him and his customers.

“It’s about what you can save these days, not what you can make,” he says.

“I’d seen the likes of Dave Murphy’s twin steer single trailer setup and wanted the same. Though I’d also seen a lot of tridems in WA, but not here. I thought it would be easier to get the weight over a tridem than over the second steer axle. So, we started the process.”

It was not an easy path, involving a lot of conversing with Smedley’s Engineers (the experts in PBS requirements) and a lot of concept and approvals needed. Building t he truck and trailer combination was a huge effort.

“When I first got it running, I had a lot of people saying it’ll never work, you won’t get the weight over the front, all that sort of stuff,” he says.

“But the turntable is sitting centre, we have an 8-pallet goose, with a mezz in the back. It’s a 24-space deck, with 40 pallet spaces and we can get 22.5 over the tri and 27 over the rear. That’s around 33.8 payload.”

Trent is the first to admit that it isn’t as versatile as a B-double set, but it suits his customer requirements and allows for plenty of time and cost savings.

Building the big girl was a two-year project that allowed Trent plenty of time to think about the cosmetics. Being his first brand new truck, it meant it was also the first time he

Above, L to R: Trent wanted a very clean look behind the cab, no wings on the K200 and a straight gantry set up. Once again he nailed it

Schaeffer’s

works the

pilot

very

but also manages to squeeze in as many shows as he can. I caught up with him at the 2024 Dane

Above, L to R: Trent had noticed that no attention ever really goes into painting the underside of the cab. In his aim to make this a standout truck, he made sure every part of it is special; It’s a common practice in the US and is gaining popularity here now – the idea of rear mounted Suzi Coils to tidy up the look of the back of the cab.

could come up with his own company design.

Colours were the major conundrum, but we covered how that dilemma was solved in the opening paragraph. The why, however, is much like the rest of the truck.

“This was our first new truck, and I wanted something different. I wanted a different look, kind of old school, kind of American,” Trent says.

“I loved the look of P3’s K200 with the four tanks. I wanted the different mesh in the grill. But I also didn’t want too much going on.

“I had Dennis from Signs Lines and Scrolls do all the paint work. The colours were going to be retro, so I wanted that from Denis as well, which he nailed.”

Hyshine Customs was tasked with taking the standard K200 and making its mark, moving the Suzi Coil set up to an American rear end hookup while also adding the gantry and getting the under side of the cab painted. Then there was adding a couple of extra lights, but not too many. Painted tanks and visors were included, as opposed

to stainless, and plenty of other additions that you can see In the photos were added. Inside has been fully customised as well, with Schaeffer’s customised seats, extra fridges and all the works you can imagine part of the build.

It is funny to think a tridem K200, with a quad axle trailer capable of a B-double load, isn’t different enough. But it then got pimped out with too much stuff to list, to the point that I won’t even try – I will just let the photos do all the talking.

After almost two years, the colossal K200 hit the road in July 2024 and has racked up nearly 200,000km so far. It has been a learning curve for everyone, but one that the concrete king Trent has thoroughly enjoyed.

“I’m lucky I’m surrounded by blokes with plenty of knowledge. I’m happy to learn if they are happy to teach me,” he says.

It is that kind of attitude that is helping Schaeffer’s Transport shine on and succeed in a highly competitive industry.

With more work and more trucks on the books for Schaeffer’s Transport, I do look forward to seeing what innovation comes through next. The only thing I recommend to Trent is to try finding your colour options through swatches rather than stalking. Apologies again to the unknown owner of the retro Kombi.

Top: Summer Jam’s

Chris Tibbits

Kenworth

hard,

Ballinger Memorial Truck show

Time for momentum

Regardless of the election results, the TWU wants all sides of politics to continue pushing for genuine transport industry reform

By the time you’re reading this, the federal election will be decided.

At the time of writing, campaigning has only just begun in earnest.

Under the Albanese government, the transport industry has had significant wins, not least world-leading transport reform legislation that operators, drivers, associations and more have been crying out for.

But here’s what doesn’t change with the result of the election.

What doesn’t change is the need for these laws to remain in place as we’re just gaining momentum.

Those laws have led to the following progress:

• Four applications now made using the new system to set decent standards:

1. Food delivery: to give gig workers world-first rights and set minimum standards on pay and conditions to stop the gig economy undercutting the rest of the industry

2. Last mile parcel delivery: to set minimum standards and stop clients like Amazon pulling the rug out from traditional operators

3. 30-day payments: to ensure maximum 30-day payments for all industry participants

4. Cash-in-transit: to call on the big banks and retailers to fund decent standards in the cash-in-transit industry

• For the first three applications, subcommittees have now been consulting on the applications, with a wide range of industry participants part of this process

• Automatic rights have now kicked in for owner drivers and gig workers. For owner drivers, that means protections against unfair contract terminations, and for gig workers it means no longer getting kicked off an app without a way to appeal.

The wheels are in motion – that’s a lot that’s at stake.

We said as much in our trip to Parliament House in February – a delegation made up of TWU members, as well as representatives from the NRFA, NatRoad, ARTIO and employer FBT TransWest.

We met with many from the Albanese government who’d been instrumental in getting the laws in place. But we also spoke to the crossbenchers, those who aren’t from the major parties, and who

have crucial roles when it comes to a vote passing or failing.

We spoke to the Nationals as well about the importance of giving this legislation time to make life-saving differences.

It’s extraordinarily powerful for politicians to hear the same message coming from such a diverse group: gig economy delivery riders, longdistance owner drivers, employee drivers, representatives of owner drivers, representatives for hundreds of employers and employers themselves. So our need to keep up the momentum with the laws we’ve won doesn’t change.

Cyclone Alfred showed us once again that when disaster hits, it’s transport workers who keep things going, stepping up for their communities, but also for each other. When a truck driver went missing on his run from Brisbane to Melbourne during the storms, it was the transport community that spread the word and rallied together, and celebrated his safe return.

Of course, events like Alfred also show you how much we still need to fix.

Appallingly, the pressure on drivers and operators from the top of the supply chain doesn’t stop if you’re forced to go hours out of your way because

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

of flooded roads, or can’t get to your destination, full stop. That’s not to mention the dangers of driving in those conditions and the fatigue that comes with it. Shelves are still expected to be stocked.

That just piles on more deadly pressure – and if you’re on small margins as it is, that also means trouble for your business. For many of TWU’s employee drivers, we’ve campaigned for things like disaster leave or volunteer leave. But it shouldn’t be owner drivers and transport operators forced to foot the bill when disaster strikes. The transport clients at the top of the supply chain must pay up to ensure decent cost recovery.

And it doesn’t just apply to truck drivers and operators – most people by now will have witnessed a gig worker delivering a burger in the pouring rain because they can’t afford not to work. Many of those services were shut completely by gig companies during Cyclone Alfred – critical to ensure safety, but it also meant gig workers didn’t get paid at all, and had no leave to use.

We’re on our way to making sure clients fund fair standards. Subcommittees have now met for our first three applications with the new laws: to introduce world-first rights for gig workers, to put decent standards in last mile delivery and to ensure maximum 30-day payments for all industry participants.

No doubt we will see the Amazons and the lobby groups for other wealthy clients arguing against fair standards. All they can resort to is vague objections to regulation – which in reality just means they want to keep making their mega-profits while the industry is driven to rock bottom.

It’s time for decent standards in transport funded by the top of the supply chain, instead of those with the least power fighting over the scraps. With sub-committees well underway, it won’t be long before we have the first orders as a result of the new laws.

That would mean having a floor on

“It’s time for decent standards in transport funded by the top of the supply chain, instead of those with the least power fighting over the scraps.”

pay and conditions in last mile, stopping the rampant undercutting from the likes of Amazon. It would mean standards in the gig transport economy for the first time in the world, and it would mean some of the pressures are eased on drivers and operators with maximum 30-day payment terms mandated.

That’s coupled with the new contract protections we saw introduced at the end of February. None of these laws are worth anything if your contract can just be torn up without reason or appeal.

Now we’ve got a code in place to ensure owner drivers can’t have their contracts terminated for no good reason, and gig workers can’t just be kicked off an app. The momentum’s there. Now we just need time.

MICHAEL

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POLITICS Senator Glenn Sterle

Rebutting the fuel excise

Senator Glenn Sterle responds to the opposition’s promise to cut the fuel excise if elected

In recent years, the cost of fuel has been kicked around by politicians seeking to score political points, without any understanding of the impact any change will have on the road transport industry.

The issue of fuel excise cuts and their effects on the broader Australian economy has become a focal point in national politics again following the leader of the opposition’s response to the federal budget. Again, the political promise was made without any understanding of the impact a cut to the fuel excise will have on transport companies – large and small.

Fuel excise is a tax levied by the Australian government on fuel consumption, and it contributes significantly to funding road infrastructure and maintenance. Any reduction in fuel excise could have severe consequences on road user charges and the cost of heavy vehicle transport in Australia. Understanding the relationship between these elements is crucial for assessing the potential benefits and drawbacks of such a policy change.

Fuel excise in Australia is one of the primary funding sources for road maintenance, development and improvement. The excise tax is paid on petrol, diesel and other fuels, and a portion of the revenue generated from this tax is allocated to road infrastructure projects across the country. This includes both urban roads and the vast network of highways that are critical for the transport of goods, especially by heavy vehicles.

Heavy vehicles, such as trucks and buses, are major consumers of fuel, and as such, they contribute disproportionately to road wear and tear. The government typically taxes heavy vehicles through a combination of fuel excise and the road user charge, which is a specific levy on heavy vehicle operators based on the distance travelled and the weight of the vehicle. This charge is collected by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and is used to fund road maintenance and development.

A cut in fuel excise could have immediate and long-term implications for the road transport industry. Such a cut would reduce the overall cost of fuel, which would be beneficial for consumers and businesses alike. However, a reduction of the type proposed by the opposition doesn’t take into account the complexities of cash flow management that most transport companies and owner-drivers experience.

The last time that the fuel excise was halved, the transport industry did it

tough. When former Prime Minister Scott Morrison halved the discount on the fuel excise to 22.1 cents per litre, instead of halving the amount paid by transport operators and owner drivers as well, he removed the fuel excise rebate and subjected the transport industry to the same 22.1 cents per litre. This meant that the transport industry got a much smaller discount on the cost of fuel, and lost the tax credits that helped many manage their cash flow.

The previous reduction in fuel excise also reduced the revenue available for road maintenance.

It is estimated that the proposed 12 month cut to the fuel excise will cost the federal budget $6 billion. That’s $6 billion that is meant to be spent on road maintenance and infrastructure. I don’t know about you, but if anyone came to me with a proposal to slash $6 billion from the roads budget, I’d tell them they were crazy. When fuel excise is reduced, the government faces a shortfall in funding for roads unless other mechanisms are put in place to make up for the lost revenue. The road user charge, which currently provides a significant portion of funding

GLENN

is a current Labor Senator for Western Australia in Australia’s Federal Parliament. He is also the Duty Labor Senator for the Federal Electorates of Durack and O’Connor and has experience as a transport operator.

for the maintenance of heavy vehicle roads, may need to be increased to fill the gap. Alternatively, governments could look for other sources of revenue, such as increasing vehicle registration fees or levying taxes on alternative transport fuels.

The road user charge is an essential component of the funding model for heavy vehicle road maintenance in Australia. This charge is designed to ensure that heavy vehicles, which place the greatest demands on road infrastructure, contribute to the costs of maintaining and upgrading that infrastructure. The charge is calculated based on the weight of the vehicle and the number of kilometres it travels.

Some organisations are proposing that if the fuel excise were reduced, then government should also act to reduce the road user charge to assist the road transport industry.

The level of the road user charge is set by the federal transport minister, in consultation with state and territory ministers. Although technically, a decrease in the road user charge doesn’t necessarily require consultation, it is highly unlikely such a decrease would be supported by the states and territories, as it would impact on their own sources of revenue through registration fees.

Any reduction in the road user charge would also lead to a loss of funding for road maintenance and have a significant impact on the safety and productivity of the road transport industry.

Alternatively, governments would try and find other revenue sources to make up the funding shortfall. This could involve increasing other taxes or implementing new charges on freight companies.

“When fuel excise is reduced, the government faces a shortfall in funding for roads unless other mechanisms are put in place to make up for the lost revenue.”

We all know that heavy vehicle transport is a critical component of the Australian economy, particularly for industries that rely on long-distance freight, such as agriculture, mining and retail. Any changes to the cost of heavy vehicle operations, including fuel prices and road user charges, can have significant downstream effects on the economy.

The broader economic impact of fuel excise cuts and changes to the road user charge system would depend on several factors. For example, if transport costs rise businesses may pass those costs on to consumers, resulting in higher prices for goods and services. This could contribute to inflationary pressures, particularly in sectors that rely heavily on road transport, such as food and retail.

A cut in fuel excise could have significant implications for the road user charge and the cost of heavy vehicle transport in Australia.

I remember the last time we went down this path. The last time the fuel excise was cut, users of the transport industry then demanded a similar discount on their costs – from the transport companies. And who were the ones getting hammered working day and night trying to make ends meet? Our hard working transport operators and owner drivers.

If you are one of the lucky ones that has a rise and fall fuel clause in your contract, good luck to you. If you don’t, get ready to hold on tight, because if there is a change of government, Peter Dutton and the shadow transport minister are no friends of the transport industry.

Sometimes when a political promise seems to be too good to be true, it’s because it is.

SENATOR

STERLE

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DEPARTURE DURATION

9:10 AM

GETTING GOODS FROM A TO Z truck feature

It’s estimated that 241.8 billion tonne-kilometres of road freight was moved throughout Australia during the 2022-2023 financial year

According to the federal government’s National Freight Data Hub, road freight is projected to grow by a whopping 77 per cent by 2050, up to 394 billion tonne-kilometres.

It’s a striking forecast, underscoring what is already known: the crucial role that road transport plays in supporting the Australian economy and getting goods moved across the country.

As the demand for freight services rises, the need for reliable, durable vehicles becomes ever more poignant.

Renowned for exceptional safety features and an impressive payload-to-power ratio, Isuzu’s F Series has steadily delivered in the mid-weight truck range. According to recent Truck Industry Council data, it’s the most sought-after medium-duty model for Australian operators, with no signs of slowing in popularity.

With a wide range of models, including prebuilt trucks with standard 10, 12 and 14-pallet configurations, and available in manual, AMT and automatic transmission options, Isuzu ensures that drivers have the flexibility to tackle any job with confidence.

Whether urban deliveries or long haul is the task, these trucks stand ready to help keep Australia’s freight moving.

McPhails Furniture’s delivery service is a cornerstone of its commitment to both customer and driver satisfaction. With some drivers covering extensive distances, from Adelaide in South Australia to the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, all shipments are managed from their central warehouse in Wangaratta, Victoria.

The business offers a flat-rate delivery fee of $59 and guarantees delivery within two weeks, which has helped McPhails build a solid reputation for reliability and efficiency. Customers appreciate this consistency, with many returning time and again for their trusted service.

In response to the challenges of the 2020 lockdowns, McPhails reimagined its delivery model to accommodate a huge surge in demand. These changes streamlined operations and reinforced the company’s drive to deliver exceptional customer service – a standard it is keen to uphold as it evolves in a competitive market.

“Each truck is doing between 3,500 to 5,000 kilometres each week,” McPhails Furniture co-director Taylor McPhail says.

“Some of our routes can stretch over 900 kilometres, which is why our brand-new Isuzu FRR 110-260 Autos are vital to supporting our delivery model.”

The FRR 110-260 efficiently consumes kilometres, powered by a six-cylinder 6HK1-TCC engine that offers 191kW (260 PS) of power and 761Nm of torque

at 1,450 rpm – 2,400 rpm.

This is matched with an 11,000 kg GVM and a 5.56m wheelbase (extra-long model), which offers an excellent payload and space combination for moving even the largest pieces of furniture, from plush lounge suites to hefty dining tables and helping to streamline deliveries.

Standout features for McPhails are Isuzu’s comfortable, driver-focused cab design and an Allison LTC2500 fully automatic transmission that helps to reduce fatigue behind the wheel.

“The interior cab design is one of the things our drivers comment on; it’s sleek, efficient and easy to navigate. The visibility from the cab is great as well,” Taylor says.

“We also opted for the Allison automatic transmission to help with the long drives, which makes a huge difference in reducing driver fatigue.

“We have been really happy with our Isuzu trucks since picking them up; there’s been no dramas. We are looking forward to expanding the fleet with further Isuzus in the near future.”

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

Xpress Freight Management is in its fifth year of operation after an impressive launch during the height of COVID lockdowns in 2020. The business now runs a large national fleet with a mixture of heavy rigid trucks and prime movers, currently employing around 60 per cent of subcontractors within their business model.

This fleet undertakes express freight and national Full Trailer Load (FTL) services, as well as XFM’s third-party warehousing and distribution capabilities.

XFM managing director and founder Les Sharp says one of its key goals has been to foster closer and more personal relationships with consigners.

“I think the personalised service has gone out of the industry with some of the tier-one businesses getting too big to be able to manage the intricacies of day-today transactions,” he says.

“From a customer service and account management standpoint, that’s where XFM is really strong – we are a lot more flexible in saying ‘yes’ and not saying ‘no’ to what our customers want.”

XFM has chosen 10, 12, and 14-pallet trucks with tailgates from Isuzu’s F Series range to handle its mid-weight deliveries. This includes four FVL 240-300 Autos, four FRR 110-260 Autos and four FSR 140/120260 Autos.

Supporting drivers with user-friendly features and comfort, Isuzu F Series trucks in this weight class (11,000 kg GVM – 24,000 kg GVM) come with the choice of six-speed Allison automatic transmissions, Isri 6860/875 NTS air suspension driver’s seats and the MyIsuzu Co-Pilot AV unit with a 10.1-inch, highdefinition touchscreen.

XFM has opted to let the OEM shoulder the stress of maintaining vehicles with Isuzu Total Service Agreements (Isuzu’s most comprehensive service coverage) on all new truck purchases.

“Isuzu has a fantastic safety record, which was a major factor in our decision to choose them as a

partner,” Les says.

“Obviously, when our drivers are sitting in a truck between eight to 10 hours a day, we want to make sure that their vehicle is extremely comfortable, safe and reliable.

“The relationship between XFM and Isuzu is developing very strongly with that common synergy between us. With Isuzu’s assistance, we’re going to reach our growth goals.”

TOP: McPhails Furniture has rejigged its delivery model to excel with its fleet of Isuzu trucks

BELOW: Xpress Freight Management may only be five years in, but it’s building off the back of its latest Isuzus

NATROAD Warren Clark

Launching first aid

At the Brisbane Truck Show, NatRoad will be providing training options to ensure more in the industry can perform basic first aid

For many of us, saving a life could be the most important thing we’ll ever do. So, if the situation arises, it’s best to be prepared.

Unfortunately, even though 33 per cent of Australian adults recently surveyed by St John Ambulance had witnessed a health or medical emergency in the past 12 months, First Aid training in Australia is quite low compared to other countries.

NatRoad is working hard to change this and get more truckies trained to make a difference on the road. It’s why NatRoad partnered with St John Ambulance to launch Truckie First Aid in October 2023. Truckie First Aid is a free, online training that includes a wide range of first-aid skills relevant to our industry. We recently reached the milestone of 1500 truckies trained in first aid.

Now, I’m pleased to announce the launch of this life-saving program in a range of different languages, to make it even easier for those with English as a second language to participate.

In 2023, 30.7 per cent of Australia’s population was born overseas, with the largest populations coming from England, India, China and New Zealand. It simply makes sense to offer these life-saving courses in people’s native languages.

The first two languages will be

Punjabi and Mandarin, two of the most commonly spoken in the industry after English, with additional languages to be added by the end of the year. Our aim is to give as many truck drivers as possible the opportunity to learn and take these skills on the road with them.

Truckie First Aid covers essential skills including CPR, how to operate a defibrillator, manage different types of bleeds and a range of other techniques that can be used to save lives and minimise long-term harm.

Anyone who has been a first responder knows it can be extremely stressful. Knowing what to do can improve the mental health outcomes in the aftermath of an incident.

A recent national survey by St John Ambulance found that people who had undertaken first aid training were significantly more likely to have confidence in their ability to provide care in an emergency (74 per cent) compared to those that had not undertaken first aid training (31 per cent).

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.

As a nation, these skills are clearly needed. In 2024, there were 1,306 road fatalities in Australia, while in 2021 road accidents sent 39,505 people to hospital. The estimated impact of road crashes to our economy reached $30 billion per annum.

Economic impact aside, making our roads safer is a key focus at NatRoad. Truckie First Aid is just one of the initiatives that will help us get there.

The translation of Truckie First Aid into multiple languages is funded through the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s (NHVR) Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVSI) supported by the Australian government.

NatRoad will officially launch the new language versions of Truckie First Aid at the Brisbane Truck Show. We will be giving away free Resuscitation Face Shields, attached to a keychain, so you can always have it handy when you’re out and about and protect yourself if you perform CPR. There’s also a QR code on the keychain, taking you directly to the website where you can complete the online training in just 30- 40 minutes. Our aim is to deliver a safer, more sustainable road freight industry for our members, so please come and see our team at our Brisbane Truck Show stand and let us work together to achieve this.

Truckie First Aid is a training that takes 30-40 minutes, is available to everyone, everywhere, even on your phone at a rest stop. Truckies can save lives – do the training and be ready.

This free, online Truckie First Aid training is available to complete any time at: truckiefirstaid.org.au

Comprehensive first aid kits that complement the Truckie First Aid course can be purchased through the St John Ambulance Online Shop at https://shop.stjohn.org.au/.

“Now, I’m pleased to announce the launch of this life-saving program in a range of different languages, to make it even easier for those with English as a second language to participate.”

WARREN CLARK is CEO of the National Road Transport Association (NatRoad).

High-Quality Solutions for Commercial Vehicle Needs PARTS

With over 150,000 parts across 30 product groups, SAMPA delivers one of the most comprehensive selections of commercial vehicle components in the industry. Our extensive range includes suspension systems, drivetrain components, fifth wheel assemblies, air springs, landing gears, and much more – all engineered to meet the highest industry standards for durability and reliability.

Experience SAMPA's Expertise in Person

If you're looking to take your fleet to the next level, we invite you to visit us at the Brisbane Truck Show where you’ll have the opportunity to explore our full range of products. Come see first-hand how SAMPA can support your business with durable, high-quality parts.

Show Dates: 15-18 May 2025

HAULMARK WELCOMES

truck financing

PERSONAL TOUCH

Allfreight Finance’s family origins allow it to provide tailored and in-depth financial services to a wide range of Australian transport businesses

For many owner operators, financing just the one truck, nonetheless a fleet, is no small feat. Unlocking the capital needed to keep these heavy vehicles on the road and delivering around the country is another effort all in itself. In the current economy, truck financing experts like Allfreight Finance hold the key for transport businesses looking to expand their fleets or logistics providers wanting to manage cash flow challenges.

The family-owned company is led by director Ainsley Cutts and his daughter Donella, with the father-daughter duo working together to specialise in providing tailored financial solutions for the transport and logistics sector.

“We understand the unique challenges and opportunities that businesses in this sector face, and we’re committed to helping you achieve your goals with ease and confidence,” Donella says.

As a leading truck financing expert based in Somerton, Melbourne, Allfreight Finance can help industry members gain finance for commercial heavy transport needs. The business is able to cover vehicle and equipment finance alongside working capital loans and insurance premium funding.

“Whether you’re acquiring a new truck, upgrading warehouse machinery, or bridging a short-term cash flow gap, we have you covered,” Donella says.

With more than 25 years of experience under its belt, the close-knit Allfreight team specialises in the transport and logistics industry. Since first working in the space in 1998, Ainsley, Donella and the team have cultivated a group of financial experts.

Together, they sit with customers to gain a thorough understanding of their operations, growth aspirations and challenges. From there, they work with them to provide a personalised financial solution that meets their business objectives and strategies for future growth and success.

These multiple decades of experience has allowed Allfreight Finance to understand the industry intimately and provide a package that

meets expectations. With many businesses wanting and needing to move swiftly in the transport and logistics sectors, Allfreight Finance has a streamlined application process that ensures quick approvals and minimal paperwork.

While providing finance to transport and logistics companies is at the core of what Allfreight does, Donella says the business’ services extend well beyond this sphere.

“Our commitment doesn’t end with financing,” she says.

“We’re dedicated to building lasting partnerships with our clients. Through ongoing support, expert advice and a customer-first approach, we aim to be your trusted ally in every stage of your journey.

“Watching our customers grow and succeed is something we relish.”

Such is the care that the team puts into its work, examples quickly spring to mind for Donella of success stories. One is the Campbellfield-based logistics operator National Logistics, who has been working with Allfreight for more than a decade.

“In that time, the business has grown from a

handful of trucks and tautliner trailers to a fleet of prime movers, rigids, tautliners, B-doubles and flat tops with depots in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane,” she says.

The business is owned and operated by Beverley and Luke Andrews, with the family company having steadily grown over the past 20 years to offer general freight, palletised freight, storage and distribution services to customers all across Australia.

“Partnering with Allfreight Finance allows Luke and Bev to get with doing what they know best – running a transport company,” Donella says.

“We take the pain out of dealing with banks and finance institutions and are able to liaise directly with their accountants to gather all the information required to apply for finance.”

When it comes to assisting on the finance side of businesses such as National Logistics, Allfreight works with a network of lenders to find the right fit for each customer.

It’s this care and thorough process that allows Allfreight to be a trusted financial partner for many emerging transport and logistics operators around Australia.

“Our access to multiple lenders also means that we have the ability to find the right solution for every occasion at the right rate,” Donella says.

“We work for you! Not the bank and not the supplier.”

To learn more about Allfreight Finance or to discuss your financial needs, call 03 9305 9400 or visit www.allfreightfinance.com.au.

ABOVE: Financing a truck fleet is made easier by Allfreight Finance

BELOW: Allfreight Finance has helped take National Logistics to the next level in recent years

Images: Allfreight

STOCKING DOUBLE truck parts

ITranzmile is set to launch a new detailed trailer catalogue at the Brisbane Truck Show that includes both genuine and aftermarket trailer parts

n the 15 years since Tranzmile was first formed as an Australian heavy vehicle parts provider, the brand has continuously focused on expanding the range of parts it stocks in its inventory. Over the past few years, the company has focused on expanding its European truck parts range, with it now supplying a full range of parts for Volvos, Mercedes-Benz’s and other European trucks.

At the Brisbane Truck Show, Tranzmile will unveil an all-new trailer catalogue full of a comprehensive array of parts for the trailer market.

“It’s a full-blown catalogue that is more than 200 pages long,” Tranzmile managing director Cameron Black told OwnerDriver

“It’ll feature an in-depth breakdown of all the common trailer axles from BPW, Hendrickson and SAF to Meritor and even Freighter. As with our corporate strategy, we always aim to supply our customers with the choice of genuine OEM or aftermarket, and we have continued this with our trailer program. If you’re running BPW suspension, you can buy genuine BPW or an aftermarket equivalent if you wish.”

Cameron says customers can choose to purchase the parts, such as suspensions, that suit their exact needs from the one place. It means there is no need to go to two or even three different suppliers to get the mixture of parts you have elected to run.

“We expect customers to choose a mixture of genuine and aftermarket parts to suit their exact requirements, which is why we stock both the OEM and the aftermarket,” he says.

“This is a unique aspect of our business. It

may add a lot of complexity to our business, but I believe this ensures we give our customers the best selection and best service in the industry, and to us that is very important.”

Cameron says the catalogue will provide in-depth details on all of the trailer parts and part numbers.

The catalogue, which will be first made available at the truck show, will also feature a unique combination of both genuine and aftermarket trailer parts.

ABOVE: Tranzmile’s new catalogue will be full of a wide range of trailer parts for the industry

“It’ll all be available to buy in store and through our online B2B portal, so customers can view the catalogue, the parts themselves with images and even with a wide range of alternates, and then order through the portal.”

“WE EXPECT CUSTOMERS TO CHOOSE A MIXTURE OF GENUINE AND AFTERMARKET PARTS TO SUIT THEIR EXACT REQUIREMENTS, WHICH IS WHY WE STOCK BOTH THE OEM AND THE AFTERMARKET.”

The motivation behind the varied parts on offer in the catalogue is to become a onestop shop for trailer parts in Australia. It also signals a new era for Tranzmile, with the company continuing to expand its trailer part capabilities.

With its revitalised Sydney branch now open and with a whole new team, Tranzmile now stocks a broad range of trailer parts after previously primarily focusing on European parts.

“This does create a huge point of difference for us as the ability to carry both genuine and aftermarket parts is a massive bonus for customers,” Cameron says.

Cameron says the new trailer catalogue is another important step to Tranzmile becoming the leading trailer parts supplier in Australia.

“Tranzmile is now the one-stop shop for all trailer parts and an even wider range than before,” he says.

“People can say that when they shop with us, we carry a huge range, plus we give them choice. Choice is a huge thing and frankly most of our competitors simply don’t offer it.

“In our view that is not good enough. Giving our customers choice is just part of our ethos – we will go the extra mile for our customers.”

Image: Tranzmile

It’s

TRUSTING IN TELEMATICS

Geotab’s latest Connect event in Florida reiterated its global commitment to building on its Australian heavy vehicle telematics capabilities

As technology evolves, so does the capabilities housed within modernday heavy vehicle telematics devices.

To learn the latest updates to the technology, Geotab’s annual Connect event returned to Florida from February 25 to 27, exploring the future of data-driven mobility. Telematics and fleet management professionals from around the world spent three days on the US’ south coast discussing topics ranging from AI-powered telematics to innovations designed to make roads safer and fleets more efficient.

The event also served as a platform for major announcements, with Geotab outlining its vision for the evolving transport and logistics sector.

During the productive three-day event, OwnerDriver spoke with Geotab’s APAC associate vice president David Brown about the future of telematics in Australia and how Geotab is supporting the next generation of truck fleet management and transport.

Currently, David says Geotab’s focus is on

three main areas in Australia – governments, the mining and resources sector and the heavy truck industry. It’s the latter that has become a major emphasis for the global telematics brand.

“We approach heavy trucking from multiple angles – enhancing the ease of use from a consumer perspective, ensuring compliance with fatigue management and electronic work diaries and driving productivity enabling cost savings through technology,” David told OwnerDriver

“In my opinion, Australia is quite similar to North America in terms of the heavy truck industry itself. But in terms of scale, North America remains the connected vehicle powerhouse.

“There are strong similarities between what we have done in North America and what we are implementing in Australia, particularly around work diaries. But it is not just about electronic work diaries – it is about automating them electronically and ensuring compliance.”

The lack of a strong rail infrastructure throughout the entire country means heavy trucks have become a valuable freight resource in Australia. With the industry continuing to grow, David says meeting concerns around fatigue, safety and compliance via technology is key.

So how can telematics technology change the pace of a current slow adoption of fatigue management devices? David says education remains critical to reminding the Australian truck industry of what the latest systems can do for truck safety and compliance.

“It is about opening people’s eyes. There are a few barriers to what we are trying to achieve. One is the demographic – particularly in the trucking industry, where many businesses may be more resistant to technology. Education plays a role in helping them understand the benefits,” he says.

“At the same time, larger trucking companies already using telematics may not be getting the

most out of it. Implementing the technology is one thing, but knowing how to use it effectively and make actionable decisions is another challenge.

“For many, this is a daunting prospect. Do they need to hire someone just to manage telematics? Do they have to pull an existing employee from their current role to handle it? There are a lot of unknowns, and education is key.

“It is a challenge, though. Telematics itself is not new to heavy transport in Australia, but what we are doing now –with AI and other advancements – is new. So, it is very much an educational process.”

David says people tend to adopt telematics devices for one purpose, but once it’s met, they see it as just another business cost. The Geotab team in Australia is continuing to remind operators that they can do much more with the technology if they “dig a bit deeper”.

In Australia, electronic work diaries aren’t mandated, with drivers still able to use manual logbooks. This means that compliance isn’t the main reason why businesses may adopt telematics devices on their fleets.

From a safety side, knowing where vehicles and employees are is an important basic function that telematics can provide. Beyond that, David says additional benefits such as fuel cost savings is proving to encourage more operators to introduce Geotab’s telematics devices.

“If managed correctly, telematics is not just an expense; it is an investment. The challenge is shifting mindsets,” he says.

“Ten years ago, telematics was seen as a surveillance tool – a ‘Big Brother’ approach focused on monitoring employees. That perception still comes up, though rarely, when discussing adoption, with concerns about how drivers will react. But today, it is more about protection, keeping drivers safe and using the technology to save money and improve efficiency.

“For us, it is about making drivers safer, helping them improve, and providing a user-friendly experience. We do have operators who were initially resistant but quickly changed their minds, especially when something happened that proved its value. It helps protect drivers, and having cameras and other data to back up their story is a big advantage.”

Recording crash footage has become another valuable tool that telematics devices can offer drivers. With many accidents occurring when one driver tries to overtake trucks too quickly, Geotab’s systems can provide video evidence that proves when truck drivers are operating safely and aren’t at fault.

Informing operators of these extra perks isn’t an easy job, but it’s one David and the local Geotab team are constantly working on. While many customers may still acquire and enjoy the one or specific purposes that they use telematics for, David is seeing a swing of drivers beginning to work with graphs and trends that help their operations in a myriad of ways.

“Our goal is to make that data easy to interpret. Around 80 billion data points a day are processed in Geotab, which is an enormous amount of information. For me, simplifying that data and making it meaningful is essential, especially when explaining its benefits to potential customers,” he says.

“To help with that, we have created essentially pre-built templates in our Safety Centre, Maintenance Centre and

“It helps protect drivers, and having cameras and other data to back up their story is a big advantage.”

Sustainability Centre. These dashboards provide real-time insights into what’s happening with your fleet, in real time, simply. They include bar charts and graphs that highlight key metrics, such as the best and worst drivers, idle times from a sustainability perspective, and fleet benchmarking.

“Another way we support businesses is by integrating data into Power BI. Many companies use Tableau or Power BI for reporting, so we make it easy to push data through to those platforms. With simple templates, businesses can quickly spot anomalies, drill down into details and find answers fast.”

Looking forward, David expects to see less hardware in Australian heavy vehicles. His vision includes seeing more vehicles in the country that come equipped with built-in technology that allows for direct connectivity. He says the key will be how companies and operators extract the data efficiently, meaning Geotab’s flexible platform will become more and more valuable as time goes on.

All he asks of operators is that they don’t let fear of the unknown get in the way of their telematics journey.

“First and foremost, we make it as easy as possible to use. It is not complicated to install or implement, and it is highly scalable,” he says.

“Our partner ecosystem is also unique – we work with over 400 marketplace partners, whose technologies are already integrated with our platform. This makes it easy for both customers and partners to adopt and expand their solutions.

“In terms of the telematics we provide, don’t be scared of it because it’s there to save you money. Every single department within a business is going to get value from it – from HR for driver behaviour to fleet management for productivity.

Below:

“But it’s not a drain on your resources. It’s essentially reported by exception, so if you see something that needs attention, the information’s there. It’s going to save you a lot of money and gives you huge visibility over your fleet.

Opposite top: From speed to maintenance schedules, Geotab has all telematics data covered

Above: Geotab’s David Brown

Geotab’s GO telematics system can revolutionise truck operations in Australia

Images: Geotab

VOLVO VISION truck parts

After first forming as a second-hand Volvo parts supplier, Volwreck has grown to become a one-stop shop for spare truck parts across Australia

For many in the Australian trucking industry, love for a brand has spurred people onto greater heights. The story of Volwreck is no different, with the Victorian truck parts supplier starting at the turn of the century due to two men’s passion for an international OEM.

John Lirosi and Graeme Troutbeck founded Volwreck in Campbellfield, Victoria, in 2001 with the pair’s love for Volvo trucks proving the catalyst for their new venture. Both rose through the ranks as apprentice mechanics who spent hours working on Volvo trucks at B & G Transport Repairs.

of what Volwreck provides today to Australian truck operators. Now a specialist Volvo wrecker, Volwreck has grown to also supply a wide range of new trailer and aftermarket European truck parts to customers around the nation.

The team has also grown over the years, with key members such as Jeanette Spencer joining the fold in the years after its foundation. Jeanette works alongside John and Graeme and handles Volwreck’s accounts.

She says that the business was mainly driven by the sourcing and supplying of second-hand parts for Volvo trucks back 24 years when Volwreck was first formed.

As these second-hand parts proved more difficult to source and the quality of constantly aging parts caught up with them, Jeanette says Volwreck made a choice to begin sourcing equivalent aftermarket parts for their customers.

This meant Volwreck expanded to not just meet demands for Volvo parts, but also for a wide range of European trucks such as Mercedes-Benz, DAF, MAN, IVECO and Renault.

ABOVE:

After many shifts were spent under or around popular Volvo models such as the F86, the two took it to the next level courtesy of Volwreck. By that time, both Graeme and John had worked on Volvos for long enough that they had a large variety of the manufacturer’s parts at their workshops.

While relishing the challenge of working on the Swedish trucks, the collection formed the backbone

She says the key to Volwreck’s success over the past two decades has been its ability to focus on customer service and understand that supplying parts as quickly as possible is key to satisfying operators around Australia.

“We pride ourselves on our customer service,” she says.

“Our sales team will always try to get back to a customer within half an hour of a query and we’ll aim for delivery as soon as possible every time.”

As it has evolved and solidified in the local truck industry, Volwreck has established a wide-ranging network of freight companies that it works with around Australia to offer its customers efficient and costeffective parts delivery.

Nowadays, Volwreck’s expansion now sees it stock a wide range of parts from various brands including Diesel Technic, Sampa, Vaden, Sachs, Wabco, Meritor and plenty more. If the brand somehow doesn’t have a part in stock, the team will source it for customers.

While the business may have evolved a little from being all about the Volvos, Graeme is well known on the historic truck show circuit for his collection of restored classics that includes a little red 1972 F86, an FL10 and a G88.

While also being known for supporting the Lions Club’s Need for Feed program, where he loads trailers of hay behind the Volwreck Volvo Globetrotter and donates his time to drive the fodder directly to farms in need around Australia, Graeme and the Volwreck team supports industry events like the Urana Vintage Machinery Rally that’s held in October each year.

To find out more about Volwreck or to get in touch, visit volwreck.com.au, call 03 9357 7081, email info@ volwreck.com.au or drop by the team’s sales office at 3/55 Glenbarry Road, Campbellfield, Victoria.

THE FUTURE OF DIGITAL COMPLIANCE truck technology

Hubfleet’s

Glyn Castanelli discusses the future of digital compliance in transport and how integration may prove critical to the technology moving forward

Over the past few years, I’ve seen a huge shift in how transport businesses approach compliance. More and more operators are making the move away from paper logbooks, spreadsheets and disconnected systems. It’s no longer just about ticking boxes – it’s about running smarter, safer, more efficient operations.

At Hubfleet, we’ve been right in the middle of that shift. We’ve worked with hundreds of operators and thousands of drivers, helping them simplify fatigue, pre-starts, fault reporting, maintenance schedules and more. And while going digital is a huge step forward, we’ve learned that the real power of digital compliance lies in one word: integration.

Because the future of compliance isn’t just about using technology – it’s about using the right technology together.

For a long time, transport businesses had to rely on a mix of tools. One system for GPS. Another for maintenance. A folder of printed policies. A spreadsheet for training records. It worked, sort of – but only if someone was chasing everything down constantly.

That’s why we’ve designed Hubfleet, not just as a standalone solution, but as a central platform that can talk to other systems. So your GPS, vehicle data and driver records can work together. So compliance is tracked and verified automatically. So your admin team isn’t buried in cross-checking work diaries and trying to reconcile different sources of truth.

This kind of connectivity is the next step. It’s what takes digital compliance from “better than paper” to “completely streamlined”.

Take fatigue, for example. Drivers log their work and rest using Hubfleet’s Electronic Work Diary (EWD), but when you can automatically cross-check that data against vehicle activity from your GPS provider, you’re not relying on one system alone –you’re verifying compliance with real-world context.

That’s not just helpful – it’s powerful. It means you can identify discrepancies early. You can back up your records in the event of an audit. And you can sleep easier knowing your systems are doing some of the heavy lifting for you. That’s the goal.

We believe that compliance should be something that happens in the background – not something that takes up your afternoons, your weekends, or your energy.

Integration makes that possible. Because when your systems work together, everything gets simpler. Faults reported in a pre-start can trigger maintenance tasks. Work and rest records can be auto-validated. Compliance documents can be attached and linked to vehicles and staff, not buried in folders.

Instead of spreading your team thin, you bring everything into one view. One system. One platform where data flows and compliance is just… handled.

We’ve already seen this in action with the businesses using Hubfleet today. Whether they’re a regional freight company or a national logistics provider, the feedback is the same: once everything is connected and working in sync, they can’t believe how much time they used to spend chasing paperwork.

The benefits don’t stop with admin. Thousands of drivers are already using Hubfleet every day – and

TOP: Hubfleet’s offerings makes compliance and data recording simple

LEFT: A raft of information is available at the tip of your fingers courtesy of Hubfleet’s technology

they’re a big reason why the platform keeps getting better. Their feedback has shaped everything from the layout of the app to the wording on buttons. They’re the reason the system is fast, easy to use and built to work on the road, not just in an office.

And when drivers are comfortable, the rollout goes better. Every time. We’ve had operators tell us they expected pushback, but the drivers actually took the lead and showed each other how to use the app. They asked questions and got stuck in. That kind of adoption only happens when people see the value – and when the system respects their time.

We also support our customers through every step of the rollout. Whether it’s setting up rule sets, onboarding drivers or troubleshooting something on a Tuesday afternoon, we’re here. Not just because it’s good service – but because we care about getting it right.

For us, this isn’t about selling software. It’s about helping the transport industry step into a future that’s safer, more efficient and less stressful.

Integration is key to that future.

We’re already working with providers across telematics, GPS and fleet management to make sure Hubfleet can work with the tools our customers already use. Because no one wants more systems –they want systems that work together.

If you’re still juggling spreadsheets, PDFs and multiple disconnected apps, there’s a better way. One that thousands of drivers are already using. One that gets easier the more connected it becomes. So whether you’re a small operator looking to get ahead of compliance or a larger business trying to unify your data, integration isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s what’s going to make the next phase of digital compliance possible.

And we’re building Hubfleet to make sure you’re ready for it.

TREADING NEW WATERS truck technology

Over the past year, Automotive Distribution Group has been teasing a new tyre option that has found a sweet spot in the local market

Over the past year, ADG has introduced a tyre option that fills a crucial gap for local operators.

While heavy vehicle technology advances significantly, tyre selection often remains a binary choice: budget-friendly options that compromise quality, or premium brands with a hefty price tag. However, Automotive Distribution Group (ADG), the exclusive APAC distributor for DRC Tyres, is challenging this status quo.

“It is a challenging field due to the established tyre manufacturers currently operating around the world, but we have seen a shift in customer perspective when it comes to the tyres they buy,” ADG CEO Terry Jenner told OwnerDriver

“In the past five to 10 years, customers have only really had the choice between cheaper international brands with less quality or more expensive international brands at highest quality. However, due to the economy changing, we can now sit in the middle price bracket and offer products that aren’t too expensive yet hit the same quality as other popular brands.”

Established mid-last year, ADG is the exclusive APAC distributor for DRC Tyres, a leading Vietnamese manufacturer with nearly 50 years of global experience. DRC specialises in a wide range of highquality tyres, including truck and bus radials, off-road,

“IF PEOPLE SPEND A COUPLE OF HUNDRED DOLLARS TO GET TYRES MULTIPLE TIMES A YEAR COMPARED TO SPENDING AN EXTRA $50 AND CHANGING IT A FEW TIMES LESS, THEN IT PAYS OFF DOWN THE LINE.”

agricultural and bias tyres.

ADG is implementing a comprehensive marketing strategy to build brand awareness and establish DRC Tyres as a leading choice in the Australian market.

“We’ve been educating local customers on how they can access a good quality brand that doesn’t have the same high price as its competitors,” Terry says.

“We’re driving the awareness of DRC and the brand – it has a near 50 year history around the world.”

Terry’s background in digital marketing, including experience at Zoom, is proving invaluable in growing the brand’s presence.

When it comes to digital marketing and growing local brands, Terry’s unique experience is allowing ADG to access a range of industries, including the transport sector.

“Most start-ups go through challenges when it comes to growing the customer base, so I’m focused on using my experience to build the brand,” he says.

“A big part of this is educating customers – the economy means low-cost tyre options are rising in price but the quality hasn’t changed, and we know

that cheap tyres tend to not last as long as others.

“A good set of quality tyres can transport goods for longer, which is where the quality of DRC comes into the fold to offer an enticing alternative to more expensive global brands.”

ADG says it is emphasising with customers the longterm value of quality tyres, highlighting that budget options often lead to more frequent replacements and increased costs.

“A good set of quality tyres can transport goods for longer, which is where the quality of DRC comes into the fold to offer an enticing alternative to more expensive global brands,” Terry says.

ADG has established a central warehouse in Pakenham, Victoria, providing convenient access for operators in the Melbourne area, minimising travel time and fuel costs.

“Going to a warehouse to get new tyres fitted is expensive enough as it is, so if drivers have to travel three hours in a day to get them, then the value of a cheaper tyre is gone,” Terry says.

“We have calculated the fuel and time cost

associated with having to traverse Melbourne to get new tyres, and it shows that coming to us and buying DRC Tyres instead is a better alternative for many customers.

“At the same time, we’re also educating customers about the difference between a cheap tyre and a quality one.

“If people spend a couple of hundred dollars to get tyres multiple times a year compared to spending an extra $50 and changing it a few times less, then it pays off down the line.”

Despite being a new player, ADG is demonstrating its ability to navigate the global heavy vehicle tyre market and contribute to the growth of the Australian trucking industry.

ADG is prioritising customer education and support, providing tailored advice on tyre selection and maintenance. Terry says ADG is committed to listening to operator feedback and providing quality tyres at a lower cost.

“We love sharing information with customers about what type of tyres may be most effective for their vehicles and their budget,” Terry says.

“I have faith our product will sell itself, so we want to keep sharing the right information to help the local trucking industry excel.”

TOP: The latest in DRC Tyres technology will be on display at the truck show

ABOVE: ADG is prepared to continue educating the industry about the benefits of good quality tyres

DREAM DUO truck technology

A brother and sister combo is at the helm of the ever-growing Trucktools, which has evolved as a leading Australia specialty truck tool supplier

Siblings aren’t always known for getting along, but at Trucktools, the transport industry has a powerful brother and sister combo.

For years, diesel mechanics and workshops across Australia have enjoyed the services and products that Mark and Annelie Heldoorn have provided, with the Australian-owned and operated truck specialty tools specialists, trucktools.com.au, working to keep the transport sector always running.

“Not often do brothers and sisters work alongside each, but in this instance it works,” Annelie says.

The combined transport and automotive experiences of the Heldoorn family have come to the fore. Prior to opening Trucktools, Mark worked alongside their dad John Heldoorn in a transport business that specialised in local and interstate furniture removals.

On Annelie’s side, she got involved in the sector through many years of experience in the automotive tool industry. She says a casual conversation between the brother and sister roughly 25 years ago was the catalyst for the pair to sell the tools on their own.

They took a leap of faith, starting Trucktools and forging a brand that has become well known and trusted in the Australian trucking industry.

“We originally opened our first location in Hallam, specialising more in automotive speciality tools,” Annelie says.

“We found that over time, our clientele was predominantly coming from the truck service industry.

“Over the years, our product range grew into specialised tools for the Australian truck repair service industry.

“It’s taken many years of research and development to get to where we are today.”

Currently, Trucktools now sits well and truly on the radar of truck service centres and diesel mechanic workshops across Australia, with the business growing to become the largest truck specialty tool supplier in the country.

“In the past 12 months, we acquired our second warehouse as we had outgrown the first,” Annelie says.

“It’s taken hard work and dedication to get to where we are and to have built great business relationships all over Australia.”

Nowadays, Trucktools has grown to carry a wide range of specialty tools that it ships to workshops across Australia every day, keeping the nation’s trucks constantly running.

“OVER THE YEARS, OUR PRODUCT RANGE GREW INTO SPECIALISED TOOLS FOR THE AUSTRALIAN TRUCK REPAIR SERVICE INDUSTRY.”

“We carry a huge range of engine tools, suspension and driveline tools, heavy vehicle stands, engine rotator stands, king pin presses and a massive range of wheel and axle nut sockets and more,” Annelie says.

“We are a national preferred supplier for the Capricorn Group across Australia. Trucktools is able to offer Australian Capricorn members direct access to online ordering and bonus point collection too.”

The HQ of the brother and sister venture is just a kilometre away from the Princes Freeway in Pakenham, Melbourne, currently the city’s fast growing south-east corridor with heavy equipment dealers and major truck brands located to the area. Annelie says this location has become central to Trucktool’s growth aspirations as the nation’s leading specialty truck tool supplier.

“Our location has made logistics a breeze with all the major freight companies picking up daily in the area,” Annelie says.

“On and off the freeway with ease. If customers want to arrange pick up, however, we encourage customers to call first prior to collection.”

To reach Trucktools Monday to Friday, you can phone 1800 000 561 or email info@trucktools.com.au. Warehouse location is at 16-18 Tango Circuit, Pakenham, Victoria. Offering Australia wide delivery.

ABOVE: Trucktools has grown its base and inventory of tools for the trucking industry

BELOW: Annelie – one half of the brother-sister duo at the helm of Trucktools

It’s been more than 40 years since Pro-Axle Australia first started providing wheel alignment services to the Victorian and New South Wales commercial vehicle market.

Whether it be 4WDs, heavy vehicles or truck laser wheel alignments, the business has grown while also offering axle corrections.

Since 2016, Pro-Axle Australia has been run by Bryan and Melisa Freestone, with the pair buying the business from the original owners and taking the wheel alignment company to a new level. The pair came to the business with experience – they had both been involved with Pro-Axle since 2002 before making the decision to buy.

In the years since, Pro-Axle has specialised in a variety of services, including wheel alignment, suspension checks and repairs, componentry service, wheel balance, steer correction, general axle check and trailer axle laser track adjustment.

Bryan says both he and Melisa are proud of what they’ve done to grow the business since they first assumed ownership nearly 10 years ago.

REALIGNING THE WHEEL

The team behind Pro-Axle Australia’s recent evolution is continuing to forge forward in servicing a variety of vehicle markets

“2009 was a big year for us – we relocated to a purpose-built site in Smeaton Grange, Sydney,” Bryan says.

“This allowed for a more superior workflow and better facilities for our mechanically qualified staff and our valued customers, who still remain with us today.”

Back in 2009, the pair owned the Pro-Axle outlet in Narellan in Sydney’s south-west. The newer facility took the business’ capabilities to new heights, before an opportunity presented itself to the couple.

“We are very proud of our purpose-built facilities,” Bryan says.

“In 2016, the opportunity then presented itself to purchase the Pro-Axle head office from owner Matt Leighton, and we took it.”

The Freestones’ first move was to merge the two Pro-Axle offices into one, seeing the business run out of the state-of-the-art purposebuilt facility on Smeaton Grange’s Topham Road.

The upgraded site has allowed the brand to better service the six current franchisees in its wider network, which spans 4WD, car, bus

and truck wheel alignment outlets alongside other specialist trade customers who require Pro-Axle’s products. These products include patented alignment correction products and various products coming from all over the world, with technical data required in the day-by-day operations of businesses also available.

Nowadays, Pro-Axle has six stores, with five situated across NSW and a solitary store in Campbellfield, Melbourne. Whether it be its three sites in Sydney (Narellan, Enfield and Smithfield) or its other NSW sites in Newcastle and Wollongong, Melisa says the brand has a great understanding of how heavy vehicles need to have optimal driver comfort and safety. She says its stores pride themselves on listening to their customers and providing a seamless experience for them maximising tyre wear and driver comfort.

While Melisa and Bryan both specialise in quality heavy vehicle servicing, the skilled Pro-Axle team also services caravans and provides roadworthy certificates. Melisa says customers across a wide range of vehicles are

seeing “exceptional” tyre wear results.

“Many local holiday makers come to us before they head off on holidays to ensure their caravan tows straight,” she says.

“This extra care makes sure the family holiday starts and finishes well.”

Melisa says another key reason for Pro-Axle’s success across its stores is that its experienced team members prioritise minimal turnaround times being the most competitive in the field. This leads to vehicles having limited downtime, making life easier for operators across NSW and Victoria.

The team has also evolved to perform wheel alignment services on new vehicles that are delivered not to Australian road standards. On top of this, it also continues to wheel align older vehicles for customers.

Bryan and Melisa say a fulfilment issue with the delivery of new trucks can be avoided by Pro-Axle’s repair services. If customers choose to retain their older vehicles to complete purpose runs or deliveries or to complement newer vehicles in their fleets, Pro-Axle can support this vision by ensuring their front end repairs and wheel alignments remain high quality.

Outside of the heavy vehicle landscape, Pro-Axle is also looking to grow in the evolving 4WD market, providing specialist suspension needs for unique adjustment components. Pro-Axle can also fine-tune wheel alignment to specific requirements that suit Australian road conditions.

This growing demand has seen Pro-Axle look for opportunities for franchisees in rural areas where they don’t currently service across its two home states.

Back in the heavy vehicle market, both Bryan and Melisa and the Pro-Axle family; acknowledge cost of living pressures are having an impact on owner drivers who need to keep their own trucks on the road. By providing regular wheel alignments, ProAxle Australia can keep trucks on the road for longer and ensure that fuel efficiency remains at an optimal,

reducing cost pressures.

Melisa says the Pro-Axle stores takes “immense pride” in the partnerships it has built with its customers over the years, with the business not slowing down anytime soon as it continues expanding.

“One of the things that I am especially proud of is our valued relationships that our stores have built with their local customers,” she says.

“We understand that their trucks are their lifeline and when they break down, we do everything we can to get them back on the road as soon as possible.”

You can find out more about Pro-Axle’s range of alignment correction products on their website www. proaxle.com.au, or you can call 02 4647 1867.

“WE UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR TRUCKS ARE THEIR LIFELINE AND WHEN THEY BREAK DOWN,

DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET THEM BACK ON THE ROAD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.”

ABOVE: Pro-Axle cares for trucks, getting them back on the road as soon as possible

FINANCE

FOUR DECADES STRONG truck technology

Just over four decades ago, the Iceman Group first landed in Australia. Now, it’s a national name for the local refrigerated transport industry

For more than four decades, Iceman has been a well-known name in the Australian transport landscape. But, it was only five years ago that current Iceman Group director Robert Maguire decided he wanted the business to branch out. It was then that the Iceman Group of Companies was born, with Rob and his team wanting to truly make a difference in the heavy vehicle repair industry.

“This is our 41st year as a company, and we were only a refrigerated transport business up until roughly five years ago,” Iceman Group Australia general manager

Greg Lemmon told OwnerDriver

Its initial services saw Iceman focus on refrigeration field servicing in Brisbane in the mid-‘80s, and the business soon flourished due to its maintenance and repairs capabilities. Iceman grew into a solid independent business servicing many of the prominent names in the transport industry.

In 2017, Rob purchased the Iceman company from industry legend Cindy Marshall. Terminally ill at the time, Cindy wanted certainty that she was selling the business to the right person who could not just offer her

staff continued employment, but also take the business to the next level. Cindy trusted Rob with her beloved staff, and he has worked to more than fill Cindy’s dreams.

Rob has been involved in transport and repairs his whole working career, having been on both sides of the fence in the industry since the early ‘80s. Previously he has served as an owner and manager of some of the biggest transport businesses specialising in moving refrigerated freight.

“Rob’s history in running a transport business made him want the group to become a one-stop shop for any repairs to do with a trailer,” Greg says.

“Why should one have to take their trailer to a fridge repairer, followed by the mechanics or the body shop when they can get all those services in one place? That was Rob’s thinking.”

Rob and his partner at the time Jason Murray purchased a trailer repair business in Melbourne called Transport Innovators. This is where the growth of the group really started.

“He knew that the industry wanted a service that

RIGHT, OPPOSITE TOP: The Iceman Group of Companies team has expanded to encompass a range of services and capabilities

Images: Iceman Group

could provide anything that a customer in the sector may ever want, ranging from servicing to repairs,”

Greg says.

This total coverage idea gained legs when Iceman Group then acquired Pantec Refrigeration in June 2020 to establish its first Western Australian workshop. Through these growing capital city branches around Australia, Iceman Group now offers a range of services, including mechanical, body, smash and refrigeration repairs.

It’s this national network that allows Iceman Group customers to drop a vehicle off at any facility around

the nation and receive the same service due to the group keeping its entire vehicle service history at every location.

“What we felt was important was we wanted to target ourselves towards national carriers – we felt we needed to be in most capital cities so that all repair and service history could be seen through our computer system,” Greg says.

“What we do for lots of customers now is provide them with weekly reporting so they can see what is coming in their vehicle’s pipeline and plan to have vehicles off the road at a certain time.”

These national capabilities have also expanded to the Iceman Group now being able to offer fabrication, including customised body building solutions. With seven purpose-built facilities functioning across Australia’s major states, the group is also preparing to open its second super centre later this year.

Greg expects the site to reflect the group’s goals of providing a one-stop shop for body repairs, mechanical services and all refrigeration needs, including spare parts.

“It’s a very large factory that will house all four of our divisions, including spare parts, under the same roof so that customers don’t have to travel across town to reach us,” he says.

“We have this set up currently on a smaller scale over three different buildings on the one street, so we’re looking forward to turning this into one supercentre that will have everything under the one roof.

“This means we’ll be able to easily bring technicians from other divisions to parts of the centre to maximise the efficiency of getting vehicles returned to customers.”

With more than 140 employees across the country, the Transport Innovators and Iceman Group are raring to continue offering a 24/7 service to customers. With the group’s management team and workshop managers bringing a combined 400 years of experience in transport and repairs to the table, Greg is confident Iceman Group can find solutions to complex problems that fleets experience.

On top of this, the group is also continuing to work with OEMs to upskill their staff with the latest training available.

“We enjoy partnering with our customers to find solutions for their maintenance and repairs,” Greg says.

“We’re happy to continue training our staff to ensure all fleets are compliant and at the highest quality to complete their daily tasks.”

Proudly Australian Made

Manufactured locally to the highest standards, supporting Australian jobs and industries.

Premium Quality

Built to withstand tough conditions with durable materials and expert craftsmanship.

5-Year Warranty

Backed by a 5 year structural warranty for peace of mind and long-term protection.

Affordable & Reliable

Designed for long-term performance, delivering the best lifetime investment.

NEXT GENERATION TRANSFORMATION

With rich history in the Australian transport industry, LoadLogistics.com.au is unveiling a new digital marketplace to make logistics tasks easier

LoadLogistics.com.au is set to transform the freight industry with its new innovative digital marketplace, designed to seamlessly connect shippers and carriers across the country. The LoadLogistics. com.au platform offers a modern, automated solution for freight transportation, eliminating inefficiencies and making logistics operations smoother than ever.

As a family-owned business, LoadLogistics. com.au first began operating as Supply and Resources by husband and wife team Cameron and Jacqueline Herbert, providing logistics and heavy haulage services throughout Queensland for over 30 years. Over time, the brand recognised the need for a more streamlined and technology-driven approach to freight matching, which led to the transformation of its business into a digital freight marketplace by next generation son and daughter Owen and Ava Herbert.

TOP RIGHT: Multiple generations of the Herbert family are continuing to build the brand

Owen Herbert, the technical director of

LoadLogistics.com.au, has a background in Information Technology and Software Engineering. With more than five years of experience working with universities and large organisations across Australia, Owen has designed and developed the LoadLogistics. com.au platform from the ground up while mentoring ICT student in sister Ava Herbert. Owen’s expertise in building scalable, secure and user-friendly software has been instrumental in creating a marketplace that simplifies freight transportation for shippers and carriers alike.

ABOVE, OPPOSITE TOP: LoadLogistics.com.au has evolved while remaining a family-owned, Australian business

Nowadays, LoadLogistics.com.au is a fully integrated job board and quoting platform that streamlines the entire freight process. Its key features include freight matching that allows shippers to post their transport requirements and carriers to place quotes, verified carriers courtesy of a thorough verification process including driver’s licence, vehicle registration and insurance document verification, and realtime communication and dispute resolution. The platform also manages the invoicing process, secure payment process and tracking, making it

a time saving tool for any business.

Built-in messaging and structured dispute management ensures a transparent and reliable experience, while the platform is completely free for shippers and carriers to use. LoadLogistics. com.au only takes a small commission from accepted quotes, ensuring a cost-effective solution for all users.

The platform also provides daily transport opportunities by sending new jobs to its carriers every day, and a reputation system where shippers can rate and review, ensuring

accountability and trust within the platform. LoadLogistics.com.au was founded with a vision to modernise Australia’s freight industry. Recognising the challenges faced by shippers in finding reliable transport solutions and the difficulties carriers experience in securing consistent work, the business built a scalable, tech-driven marketplace. Since its launch, it says it has been steadily growing, onboarding new businesses weekly and continuously enhancing its platform to meet industry demands.

LoadLogistics.com.au is available online at https://LoadLogistics.com.au. Businesses can sign up and begin using the platform immediately, whether they need to post freight jobs or find transport work. The user-friendly interface makes it simple to manage listings, place quotes and track transactions seamlessly.

As an Australian family company, LoadLogistics.com.au and its platform allow businesses to benefit from a cost-effective, transparent and reliable freight solution. Whether you’re a small business needing occasional shipments or a large carrier seeking work, the platform is built to support your logistics needs efficiently.

women in trucking

AMAZING JANE

While out and about, Warren Aitken caught up with the lovely Jane Savage to learn more about her intricate role at Victoria’s Hallam Truck Centre

Welcome to another ‘Women in Trucking’ profile. Today I decide to take a look at a different avenue within our industry.

It’s a role where there’s still a little bit of driving. It’s a role where you occasionally need to get your hands dirty. It’s a role where you spend a lot of time dealing with truckies, but most importantly, it is a role where having a lifelong passion for the industry is a massive advantage. Meet Jane Savage, sales co-ordinator for Hallam Truck Centre in Victoria.

Before we get into Jane’s story and her views on the transport industry, let’s focus on the role she has held for the last four years. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to play a grown-up, real-life version of Tetris?

Don’t tell me you don’t remember that old computer game where you juggled and sorted different shaped blocks. Just when you had one sorted, the next one would come down, then the next, then the next, with increased frequency. The idea was to get everything to fit together perfectly, seamlessly and with time to spare. It was an incredibly frustrating game. Now imagine doing that in real life.

That is the abstract way of describing Jane’s role. For the more literal description I shall let Jane explain.

“My job involves looking after all the new truck sales. The salesperson will deal with the customer, take the deal, take the order, spec up the truck and order it from the factory. Then they’ll bring the deal file to me and I’ll enter all that into our system,” she says.

“I’ll issue all the purchase orders, book in all the spots

for stainless, turntables, bull bars and everything to be fitted. Once it comes off the line at PACCAR’s Bayswater factory, I organise and manage it all the way through until the salesperson hands the keys over when it is all completed.”

Now where the Tetris comparison comes in is when you consider that Jane is doing all of this for every new truck coming through the very busy Hallam Truck Centre. Sometimes that’s upwards of 20 trucks per month that she is overseeing, dealing with multiple suppliers for everything from lines and scrolls to custom interiors and fit outs, with everyone prioritising their own jobs and Jane having to balance all of that.

Tetris almost sounds relaxing compared to that. Not for Jane though – it is a job she relishes for a company she loves.

“It can get very busy, very hectic,” she admits.

“But I love it. I love the trucks. My husband calls me a ‘truck-wit’. There is something about them – they are cool to look at, they are cool to drive, I love seeing them come together. When a salesperson brings me the order file, I look at what model it is, what is getting done to it, what stainless is getting done and it’s exciting to picture how it is going to look.”

Jane didn’t just happen to stumble into this role – she has grown up surrounded by heavy vehicles. Her dad has been driving rubbish trucks all his life and even now at a ripe old retirement age, he is still getting up at 1am to drive to manage the front lift team at KS Environmental. Her uncle, on her mum’s side, is a linehaul driver as well and Jane was a frequent passenger with him.

Top left : Jane will take any opportunity to get in and help shift the trucks around the Hallam yard. The team were instrumental in helping her gain her licence and Jane makes sure she puts it to use

Above: Hallam Truck Centre has become a second home to Jane since she started four years ago. She loves the team around her, as well as getting to deal with customers and salespeople alike

Opposite bottom: Her dad has been working the rubbish trucks for as long as Jane can remember and K & S has been a backdrop to the majority of Jane’s transportbacked life

“I’ve been around the industry my whole life. Then I met my husband Mace, and he drives tippers, so it only continued.”

“I used to spend my school holidays in the truck with my uncle. We’d go to Brisbane, pick up a load and he’d treat me to a trip to SeaWorld or something before we made our way back,” Jane recalls with a laugh.

“I’ve been around the industry my whole life. Then I met my husband Mace, and he drives tippers, so it only continued.”

As much as Jane loves the trucks and travelling in them, her skills for organisation and administration took her employment opportunities in a different direction.

“My first job was kind of along the transport lines, in the automotive industry,” she says.

“It was working for Autobarn, then I got a job at my dad’s work, KS Environmental. I worked there for about 10 years. I started in the sales/admin side and ended up out on the road doing all the high clientele stuff, looking after their contracts. I ended up doing my events diploma and was co-ordinating all the big events, like Spring Carnival and so on.”

Jane’s redirect into a real-life Tetris savant came about after the birth of her and Mace’s daughter Dakota.

“I’d had a year away from work when Dakota was born,

Images: Warren Aitken

“It’s such a good industry to be part of. Everyone is always willing to help people out, if they’re short of work they’ll be saying ‘ring this guy or try this bloke’ and it’s so good to see.”

then in 2020 this job came up,” she says.

“I thought it would be a good thing, working with trucks. I am a highly organised person and have a good memory, which is needed in this role.”

Jane took to the position like bugs to a bull bar. Having already been a part of the industry through her family as well as her husband Mace, it gave her a fair bit of respect from within the transport fraternity, something she utilises continuously in order to keep on top of her role.

“I understand that I am working in a male dominated world, but I have never really had any issues, especially working here. I had more issues when I was working at Autobarn with customers,” she says.

“I work in the industry, but I also love the industry and that helps. I attend a lot of events and shows, so, I get to meet a lot of the suppliers when I go to these events and then it all becomes a lot more personal.”

Working for a company like Hallam Truck Centre has also been advantageous for a ‘truck-wit’ like Jane.

“We have quite a few women working in different roles here,” she says.

“This side of the building is basically all women, and we’ve even got a female apprentice out in the workshop.”

Staffing aside, it is also the opportunities afforded to

Top: While Jane was happy to pose for a shot at her desk, her role ensures it’s not the only place you will find her. She is forever on the go, in a role that she loves and that definitely challenges and rewards her

Above: Young Jane has been in and around trucks for as long as she can remember. School holidays were spent riding shotgun with her uncle as he explored the country

Right & opposite top: You can’t have two ‘truck-wits’ like Jane and Mace and not include trucks on the wedding day

Jane that solidifies her love of the job.

“The team here helped me get my HR licence as well. I needed to get it to help move trucks around if required,” she says.

“Ken, our delivery bloke, kindly gave me a few lessons, doing hot laps around the yard.”

She did mention her boss tried doing the same thing and helping her in a different way by teaching her what gear grinding sounds like. The end result?

“I have the best of both worlds now,” Jane says, meaning she gets to organise and assemble these amazing trucks while also getting the chance to drive some of them.

From someone that struggles to organise the few commitments I have each month; I have nothing but respect and admiration for the role Jane plays in delivering outstanding rigs to happy customers on a never-ending rotation. It is easy to see how she succeeds and why there is always a smile on her face – she has a great appreciation for the trucking world and the people in it.

“I love being a part of putting these together, seeing something come out of the factory as this plain looking thing, then seeing it get kitted up to the max and blinged out, it’s insane,” she says.

However, it’s more than just the trucks that inspire her.

“It’s such a good industry to be part of. Everyone is always willing to help people out, if they’re short of work they’ll be saying ‘ring this guy or try this bloke’ and it’s so good to see,” she says.

“The truckies are such good people, they always rally together when stuff goes wrong. If anyone is ever in need, or a kid is having a hard time and someone does a fundraiser, it’s always the truckies that come together, do whatever they can, put their trucks on show, do a run, do a drive or throw in some cash. It’s amazing to see it all, and it’s nice to know you’re part of all of that.”

After a quote like that, it seems a little egotistical of me to try and add anything more. Hence, I shall wrap up with a simple thank you. It was a pleasure to sit down and talk with Jane and humbling to watch her Tetris skills at work while squeezing in some time for me. Thank you.

truck events

AMERICAN PIE

From tornado warnings to Cactus Blossoms, Warren Aitken takes us inside the grandiose event that is the Mid-America Trucking Show

Allow me to set the scene a little before y’all (that’s Kentuckian for everyone) start reading this debrief of the 53rd running of the Mid-America Truck Show, or MATS, as it is more commonly known. MATS is an event that expands well beyond its official three-day program. It’s more of a weeklong event.

Days before the official start of the show, there are car parks full of mobile truck washers, professional polishers and masters of the micro-fibres working tirelessly to prep the plethora large cars for this annual event. While the event itself is packed full of truck porn, guest lecturers, performance artists and an increasing number of social media personalities, the lead up to the show is where you get to see the passion and dedication the Americans have for their trucks. Hence my summary of this year’s event is covering my entire trip, from my first Cactus Blossom upon touchdown to my race to the basement as the tornado warnings blared through the streets of Louisville on my last night in town. I will endeavour to cover it all and do enough justice that it entices more of us antipodeans to venture across and experience this event.

It has been a few years since I’ve graced the sidewalks and hallways of the Kentucky Exposition Centre, and while a lot has changed, the core concept is still the same. MATS is America’s largest, and one of the world’s longest running trucking events. It is an event where you can learn about the latest and greatest in trucking technology, network with everyone from fuel consumption specialists to freight broking executives or just restock your trucking wardrobe with the latest in cool trucking shirts. All of this takes place inside the humongous Kentucky Exhibition Centre. Outside the exhibition centre you get to see some of the coolest and most unique trucks partaking in the PKY Truck Beauty Contest, which is the Superbowl of America’s Truck Show Circuit. As I alluded to earlier, however, this is more than just a three-day event and, knowing that, I made my way over to America with a few days up my sleeve.

The journey to get to Louisville may seem daunting – in my case it consisted of a 1.5-hour flight from Brisbane to Sydney, a 15-hour flight from Sydney to Dallas and a 2.5-hour flight from Dallas to Louisville, Kentucky. I departed Brisbane early Monday morning and, time zones accounted for, found myself driving out of Louisville Airport on Monday night. Again, it sounds like a lot of travel, and it is. However, hours of sitting, and then

sleeping in uncomfortable positions, is almost a pre-requisite for us truck drivers. We’ve spent years earning money working under these kinds of conditions, so enduring them in order to experience a show like MATS is almost a pleasure. 15 hours on a plane is a lot easier than a Friday night on the M1.

After all the flights, one of the coolest parts about arriving at Louisville is that the flight path takes you directly over the Kentucky Exhibition Centre. Even if you were starting to feel jaded, your energy levels spike as you glance down and see the lines of jaw-dropping, eye popping large cars (another American colloquialism) scattered throughout the exhibition centre’s 300 acres of outdoor space. If they aren’t already shined up, they are fitting stacks, staging wheels, or just plain cleaning and polishing. Seeing this as you descend into the airport is enough to make you forget all about the punishing process of travelling over to the land of liquid cheese.

By the time I got my luggage and rental car, the sun may have disappeared somewhere around Missouri, but my energy levels were still peaking after the scenic landing. There was no rushing off for me, it was time to do a quick tour through the Kentucky Exhibition Centre car parks in order ignite my excitement for the next day, then go and catch up with some old friends and enjoy my first Cactus Blossom in several years.

I will take a brief interlude from the show rundown to describe a Cactus Blossom. Picture, if you will, an onion. Now imagine if an onion was a flower and every year it would blossom. Now picture that opened up onion flower being coated in batter, dropped into a deep fryer and served up with chillihorseradish dipping sauce. That is a Cactus Blossom, and it is addictive.

As I mentioned, the show officially starts on the Thursday. If you wanted to go and explore Louisville, you would have plenty of options. There’s the Kentucky Derby Museum and the Muhammad Ali Centre. There is no shortage of bourbon distilleries to visit, or if you felt like a short drive, the National Corvette Museum is just down the road.

Conversely you can pop over to the Kentucky Exhibition Centre and lap up all the activity going on there. The centre itself has a three-lane road that encompasses the whole arena. Located inside and outside that is a multitude of carparks. This is where I spent my pre-MATS days, watching some epic trucks come to life. Polish and product brought the shine out of the

Opposite top: I must admit it was a bit of a surprise to see a good old Argosy pulling into the staging area. It was very well looked after though, but take note of the guards. Straight off a Scania chassis by the looks of it

Top: If you’ve read the story, you will remember I pointed out the joy of flying into Louisville Airport... imagine glancing out the window now

Above and far left: Winner of this year’s truck build off was Luke Rethwisch with this amazing 1987 359 Peterbilt. And when it comes to staging up, it is hard to beat this setup

Far left and left: The great thing about the PKY Truck beauty contest is the variety of trucks on offer, from state of the art to old school cool; It’s hard to believe so many of these trucks work, the insides are as immaculate as the outsides

Below, L to R: Before you ask, no this isn’t a working truck; Unfortunately for old mate with this stunning Peterbilt, he didn’t realise he had to chose Engine Bay as an award category to enter. Otherwise, this 27-year-old engine bay would have cleaned up

Images: Warren Aitken

Above: The first class Peterbilt was parked up outside the exhibition entrance. It was a great way to draw in the punters. Believe it or not, the 379X Peterbilt is almost 20 years old and the trailer is over 30 years old

Top left to bottom: The PKY Truck Beauty contest photographers, Stephanie Haas and Cheri Kimbal. These ladies were tasked with shooting every truck entered in the show. They also need to document interiors and engine bays if the truck has entered those categories; The Western Star badge is rather rare in the midwest, but not for Gibson Truck Lines in Murray, Kentucky. They bought several of their Western Stars to the show, including this very rare cabover Star; The awards ceremony is a major event at MATS and I give credit for the fact they use photos of the winners as they are announced as well. It makes life a lot better for the general public like me; Thursday arvo saw the crowds starting to flock into the event; This is what a 156’ sleeper looks like on a brand new 589 Peterbilt. I wouldn’t say no

Bottom: Back in the ‘80s when the Maximum Overdrive movie come out, this epic Mack was the pin up boy for the movie. It still looks just as cool and sounds even better

Opposite top: Miami based metal workers Dominguez had one of the coolest setups, with their Miami Vice display

Opposite middle: One of the first staged up and dressed to the nines was this stunning 1965 Peterbilt 351 of Matt Green, which picked up Best of Show Limited Mileage Bobtail

Opposite bottom: The end of show convoy lets a few of the truckers have a little fun, not so much the environmentalists

working trucks, while wrenches and spanners brought life to the show trucks. In between all that there was a constant stream of impeccable rigs heading into the exhibition centre to be staged up on exhibitors’ stands.

As you can guess, on location was how I spent all of my time. Jumping between annoying the truck washers and polishers, walking the car park to take in the amazing trucks rolling in and wandering over to the front of the exhibition centre where they were now staging the PKY Truck Beauty contest.

Last time I was over for this event, the Show’n’Shine side was held around the rear of the exhibition centre, tucked in behind the West Wing. Over the last couple of years, however, there have been some good changes. What is known as the West Wing is being revamped. It meant the PKY Truck Beauty Show was moved to the front of the exhibition centre, allowing for greater public exposure and selfishly, a lot less steps on my Fitbit. Along with benefiting the truck show outside, it also meant a revamp of the interior layout, which has now seen all the vendors moved into the North and South Wing. This meant a lot less vacant space to walk around and a lot easier access to all the exhibitors.

On Thursday, before the show opened, I was lucky enough to get some time with long time curator of the PKY Truck Beauty contest, Jason ‘JC’ Alt. He filled me in on how things work when you are dealing with a show this big, and of this calibre.

“We don’t have a rock up and enter show,” he says.

“They all have to pre-register well in advance and that helps us to be able to form a layout of how we will park them, because we only have so much space and a certain time to get them in.”

JC also explained that every truck needs to be staged up and photographed by 1pm on the Wednesday before the show. This is to allow time for the judges to start on certain categories as early as possible. With nearly 150 trucks all clean enough to eat your dinner off the drive shaft, the 10 judges have their work cut out for them.

“Last year we introduced the build-off competition as well,” JC says.

The idea was for the guys that were building high end show trucks to take on the circuit, and have their own category.

“We had five truck builders enter; entry is $5000 each, with the winner taking home $25000. The level these guys go to is well beyond the prize money but it’s about the title,” he says.

By Wednesday night, all the competition trucks were in place, I had racked up nearly 50,000 steps and 1500 photos between the car parks and the staging area. All of this and we were still a day away from the show ‘opening’. Wednesday night may be the

eve of MATS but it is also the MATS Light Show night, allowing the official photographers access to the trucks before the crowds and allowing the judges time to evaluate the light show winners. It is a very busy night and as the darkness doesn’t hit until late, it is not unusual to find 1am rolling around and the lights are still ablaze.

Next, we are into opening day. Doors to the inside open to general public around lunchtime, while media and special guests get early access. I took advantage of the early access to have a look around and grab some shots before the crowds started flocking in.

There were hundreds of exhibitors and countless pens and back scratchers being given away. Admittedly a lot of the vendors on hand had no relevance for an Australian truckie or our way of life, but it was still interesting to wander around and chat. One thing you won’t find at Mid-America Truck Show is OEM representation. Unlike the Brisbane Truck Show, where most of the main players have displays and are interacting with their customers, MATS does not draw the same OEM attendance.

Lacking the OEMs does not detract from the show as a whole though. There are so many big players in the safety arena, the efficiency arena and most importantly the cosmetic arena that over the course of the three days you still find yourself stumbling across stands you hadn’t seen on your previous walkabouts.

Thursday saw me trying to get around as much of the North and South wing as I could, investigating everything from Freightrax Training’s online driver training courses to Cush Corps’ innovative new lift axle setups.

Friday’s goal was to get the final few stands covered, attend a couple of the trucker talks and get down to the ATHS end of the South Wing and marvel at the classic old rigs on display. I had a plan and a time schedule, and they both went out the window when the show opened. The attendance on Friday was phenomenal. It was shoulder to shoulder all day – it was the busiest I had experienced there. My walking rate was slowed down and I spent the majority of my time just enjoying the amazing trucks on display outside.

Saturday is the final day; the show wraps up at 4pm, though a lot of the vendors were starting to tear down by about 2pm. The crowd numbers, while still incredible, felt lower than Friday’s. I believe that was because the morning had started with severe weather warnings for Louisville and a lot of the mid-west area. Massive storms, baseball size hail and even tornados were being predicted. It was great to see that weather forecasters in America are as accurate as ours, however. As I wandered through the PKY Truck beauty contestants on my way to the 10am awards, the weather was stunning. Blue skies and sunburn greeted me as I lapped up the last of the show’s events.

The other iconic event tied into MATS is the annual truck parade that follows the closing of the event. You recall I mentioned the three-lane road that surrounds the arena? Well historically, every Sunday after the show, the remaining trucks would do laps of the circuit. This year the spectacle took place on the Saturday evening, adding a different feel to it. There was hundreds more spectators hanging around to enjoy the convoy. Sure, it made photographing the trucks a lot harder, but it can’t all be about me.

Traditionally the Sunday after the event is my zen day, squeezing in as many photoshoots as I could. The Americans are always extremely keen and appreciative when you approach them about shoots. Not this year though. The looming weather ensured most were bolting for home as soon as possible. I managed a couple of photoshoots, but like everyone I was starting to take the weather a little more seriously and instead made my way back to the accommodation to pack my gear and contemplate the long voyage home.

As I sat on the lounge, discussing with my American colleagues how much I had enjoyed the show, the quality of the trucks on display and even the couple of trucker talks I had attended, the reruns of Pawn Stars on TV were suddenly drowned out by incredibly loud sirens outside. The well-versed Americans immediately bolted for the basement, yelling at me to follow. Tornado warning. I gathered my kids (my cameras) first and followed.

I feel a tornado scare was a great way to finish up a trip to MATS. It added another first to my list and just goes to show that this event will raise your eyebrows no matter how many times you go. If you are thinking about going again or venturing out for the first time, don’t be swayed by the flights or layovers. It is worth the discomfort of both; the trucks just keep getting better, the displays are getting more elaborate and now they are even throwing in weather warnings. What more can you ask for?

Collette Forsyth

Mental health highway

The NRFA’s Collette Forsyth has a special message for all truck drivers doing it tough around the country

As many of you sit reading this, you’ve probably got someone at home – a wife, husband, partner or significant other, who’s missing you and quietly hoping you’ll make it home safe. It’s the quiet part of your job that not many talk about, the sacrifice not just made by you as drivers, but by the families you leave behind when you hit the road.

You all know what it means to miss birthdays, school events, anniversaries, those moments when you wish you could just be there in person instead of on the other end of a video call. Sure, technology has come a long way. Video calls, messages, even GPS tracking that lets your loved ones know where you are have become great tools that didn’t exist years ago. But let’s be honest, none of that truly replaces being there, in the flesh, hugging your kids after their school concert or sitting down to a homecooked meal on your anniversary. Those days can be bloody hard. And for many, they come more often than we’d like to admit.

Out on the road, you get a lot of time to think. A lot of time in your own head. And sometimes, that can be the toughest part of the job. Long hours alone can wear you down. When you’re constantly missing important life moments or just craving connection, it

can push even the strongest of us into a downward spiral.

Mental health struggles in our industry are real and they’re more common than you might think. We’re used to the “harden up” mentality –being tough, pushing through, dealing with things on our own. But that oldschool mindset – it’s not doing us any favours. It’s time we learned to talk about what’s really going on.

We need to lose the stigma around mental health. Because the truth is, talking helps. Recognising when a mate isn’t quite himself and having the guts to ask, “are you alright, mate?” can make all the difference. You don’t need to have all the answers. Just being there, listening, can be enough. As the old saying goes, a problem shared is a problem halved.

If you’re a driver, chances are you’ve had a day (or many) where it all just felt too much. You’re not alone and you’re definitely not weak for feeling that way.

One of the biggest issues we face is overthinking. Our minds race. We blow things out of proportion. We imagine the worst and before we know it, we’ve gone from a small problem to a mountain we think we’ll never climb. It’s human nature to lean toward the negative, especially when you’re isolated. But it doesn’t have to stay that way.

COLLETTE FORSYTH has been a member of the NRFA since 2021 at which time her family owned and operated their own truck. In 2022 she became NRFA’s administration officer and in 2024, was voted on to the board of the NRFA as Treasurer. Collette is steadfast in her support of those in the association who do so much for positive change for the transport industry.

Let’s try flipping the script.

Say you miss your kid’s birthday. You call, wish them a happy birthday, hear about the presents and what they’re doing for the day. You hang up, and that’s when the guilt can creep in. You start thinking about every birthday you’ve missed. Every goodnight you’ve said over the phone instead of reading them a bedtime story.

It hurts. We get it. But instead of sinking into that pain, try looking at it differently.

You’re out there providing. You’re the reason your family has a roof over their heads, food on the table and opportunities in life. That birthday present they just opened, you bought that. That safe, warm home they live in? You made that possible. You’re not missing moments because you don’t care, you’re out there sacrificing for them, and they love you for it.

It takes effort, sure. It’s not natural for our brains to shift gears like that. But with practice, looking at life from a more positive perspective can become second nature and it can change everything.

Next time you’re feeling low, give it a go. Think about what you are doing, not just what you’re missing. Think about the smiles you bring your family, not just the time apart. It won’t erase the hard days, but it will help you get through them a bit lighter.

Don’t underestimate the power of a smile, even one you give yourself. It’s contagious. It lifts your spirits and the spirits of those around you. Honestly, driving with a lighter heart and a clearer head is not only safer, it’s better for your soul.

So, to all the drivers out there doing the hard yards and to the families who wait patiently at home, we see you. We appreciate you, and we’re here to remind you, you’re never alone in this.

“It’s not weak to speak.”

Let’s keep looking out for each other. Let’s talk more, listen more and together, let’s make this industry a place where mental health matters as much as any other part of the job.

“It’s not weak to speak.”

If you or someone you know needs to talk, you can call Lifeline 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 224 636.

EYES ON THE ROAD Rod Hannifey

Road safety show

The worsening state of Australia’s roads has Rod Hannifey on a journey to get dangerous sections of freight routes fixed

Goodaye all, well I am currently in Mackay for the weekend and can’t unload until Monday morning. While the weather has been very wet for many, it has only made the roads worse. I will give credit here to the TMR crews who were out in the rain patching the Bruce Highway in a number of locations as I travelled north from Gympie, trying to keep the road as safe as possible in lousy conditions.

But there simply either weren’t enough of them, or they had not been allowed out early enough to stem the increase in potholes and damage and the biggest concern in the possible contribution to crashes. There was one car parked up after it seemed to hit a pothole and suffer a flat tyre. I have heard of many similar instances as of late and recall at one stage 10 cars being damaged near Gin Gin some time back.

Yet, even as I travelled sections without actual potholes, there are still sections that have not failed as such, but have dips and deformities that most likely are simply a bump in a car, but in a truck, just like the potholes, they continue to increase the cost of maintenance and repairs to every vehicle that hits these failures. When I have called road authorities in the past, they have willingly taken the details, only to see it still there months later.

This truck (as well as the last one and along with Ken Wilkie’s being the first ever to be able to do so) records road impacts into the truck and specs not only the location, but the severity of the impact. The original system was done manually – I had to hit a button approaching the bump, so I had to know before I was there. Like all things, it has not only evolved to be done automatically, but is currently set to only record impacts over 1.6g. 1g is the weight as the vehicle stands on the road, so this system obviously sits behind a set of scales to get your weights, but then operates in the background for the road recording. There was (and still is) a savage dip west of the pads at one location and I called TMR and reported it many years ago. When I rang again and complained it was still there, I was told it did not meet their level for repair. I disagreed and said it was a hazard and dangerous and needed fixing.

I then said I could provide data to prove this and was told, “your data (and of course he did not even know what it was) does not meet our criteria and so does not count”. In the magical land some of these people must live in, it seems bad roads must fix themselves then!

I am happy for someone to prove me wrong, but when there is a failure in any road anywhere, regardless of whatever size, type and number of vehicles that hit the dip or pothole are, it will generally get worse, sometimes to the point of a severe failure that may cause or contribute to a crash. Of course, the other issue is that a component hitting said failure may not fail at the point of impact, but may be weakened and fail later, whether it be in an hour, a day or a week. Of course, you then can’t prove where it was damaged, but that won’t matter to you if you are in hospital or dead!

I have been ringing road authorities for over 20 years and if you travel south on the Hume, you can still see a patch I had done there that survives to this day and fixed a fairly savage dip in the concrete. I can list hundreds of others that have been fixed, some

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

minor and some major, and still ring with one thing in mind – saving someone’s life.

It does seem like it is getting harder to get them to listen and act. Recently I called a person in one such institution and said I was concerned and needed his response. There was a section of road on the Newell I had reported specifically by destination, through a number of emails, so I have evidence of this and there had been work done within 50 metres of the site and it was left there.

When I saw work near there, I expected it would be included and when the work crew moved south past it, I called the number that day and asked if it would be done – surely they would not miss such a hazard while crews were working that close? They would nearly have fallen over it.

When I next travelled over it, the driver in front actually complained on the UHF that the same bump had nearly torn the wheel out of his hands, saying he normally straddled it, but with a truck coming the other way, he couldn’t. I then mentioned the bump to another mate and he said, “yes that one off the bridge that nearly throws you out of the truck?”, so we are not talking of a small failure.

When I rang this fellow, I said, “I don’t ring up for fun, I don’t ring about a divot the size of my palm, this is a serious hazard. I have reported it many months ago and you came and fixed the road either side of it and left it there and to us, that looks not only pretty damn stupid and that our lives simply don’t count, but it will now cost you more to come back and fix it, if you do so at all!”.

I then listed two other issues, one very serious where there are already skid marks off the side of the road where someone hit it and again, I asked, “why should I bother and does anyone care?”. I am waiting for the reply.

Safe Travelling, Rod Hannifey.

HIGHWAY ADVOCATES

Rodney Boyd & Robert Bell

The Advocates story

The Highway Advocates has evolved since the last Brisbane Truck Show to become a popular legal resource for the trucking industry

Highway Advocates started with a straightforward mission: to give truck drivers and transport operators the legal help they need to deal with the complicated world of road transport law. Focused entirely on supporting the heavy vehicle industry, Highway Advocates has become a trusted mate for drivers and operators, protecting their rights and helping them keep their livelihoods on track.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

Robert Bell, an ex-truckie himself, decided that enough was enough and commenced a law degree back in 2020, with a view to helping other truck drivers and operators after being put through the wringer himself. Robert found his home doing law and achieved marks that defy his background. Being a little impatient, Robert decided to create the law firm before he finished his law degree. Highway Advocates was born at the Brisbane Truck Show in May 2021. As the 2025 Brisbane Truck Show looms, it is a suitable time to reflect on the journey so far.

Highway Advocates covers a wide range of legal and regulatory issues that truckies and transport operators face. Whether it is helping out with licensing requirements, challenging fines, ensuring compliance with safety standards or dealing with heavy vehicle regulation breaches, Highway Advocates has your back. Our expertise stretches across state-specific rules and national laws, so clients always get advice that actually applies to their situation.

What really sets Highway Advocates apart is how down-to-earth and approachable we are. We cut through the legal jargon and explain things in plain English, so our clients know exactly where and what their options are. It is this clear, client-focused approach that has earned Highway Advocates a solid reputation in the heavy vehicle community.

The heavy vehicle industry in Australia is always changing, with new rules and regulations popping up to deal with safety issues and technological advances. Highway Advocates stays on top of these changes, making sure our advice and services are always up to date.

Celebrating our fourth anniversary at the Brisbane Truck Show is a big

deal for Highway Advocates, especially since we have successfully helped over 2,000 clients in that time. Robert Bell’s vision for the business is now well-established, with Principal Solicitor Rodney Boyd providing the legal expertise that drives the lofty standards of service. Whether it is fighting for our clients against the NHVR in court, disputing unfair fines or dealing with license suspensions, Highway Advocates has built a formidable reputation for standing up for the transport industry.

Over the years, Highway Advocates has helped countless drivers and transport operators sort out their legal troubles. From employed drivers taking on unfair penalties to big companies getting their compliance and charges sorted, our work has made a real difference.

Our clients appreciate the honest, straightforward approach Highway Advocates takes. Knowing they have got someone in their corner who actually cares about getting a fair result makes all the difference.

One epic outcome clearly exemplifies the depth of legal knowledge and research that underpins every outcome. In this particular case, our client had fallen asleep and rolled his truck over. The police of course,

threw the book at him, and he faced a primary charge of dangerous driving. This offence carries a mandatory disqualification upon conviction and potential imprisonment.

The charge begs the question however, how can you be charged with dangerous driving if you are asleep? The Highway Advocates team hit the books, and as it often happens, the High Court of Australia had the answers. The case of Jiminez is often referred to in similar matters, and the High Court has stated that you can be found guilty of this offence, finding that falling asleep may be regarded as a dangerous driving in certain circumstances. However, it is up to the prosecution to provide evidence beyond reasonable doubt that the driver concerned had been experiencing fatigue prior to the accident. There was no such evidence in this case, with the driver’s work diary checking out to be compliant.

Highway Advocates is a legal firm focused exclusively on dealing with offences directed at heavy vehicle drivers and operators, led by solicitor RODNEY BOYD and industry insider and former truck driver ROBERT BELL. Email info@ highwayadvocates.com. au or phone 0488 01 01 01

Our client was found not guilty and his licence and livelihood were saved. We have also been pushing back of various heavy vehicle units attached to various police forces, who appeared motivated to charge drivers with as many offences as they can detect. Highway Advocates has been consistently successful over the years and getting these charges consolidated to what is known as a Form 1 or simply dismissed altogether. Sometimes our clients are facing potential penalties into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and almost certain loss of license. The well accepted principles of totality do not seem to be on the agenda at Police Training colleges these days.

As Highway Advocates continues to grow, our mission stays the same: to provide accessible, affordable and effective legal help to Australia’s heavy vehicle industry. We are all about making sure drivers and operators know their rights and can confidently tackle whatever legal challenges come their way.

Looking forward, Highway Advocates is set to expand its services

“One epic outcome clearly exemplifies the depth of legal knowledge and research that underpins every outcome.”

and build even stronger connections within the industry. Our focus on education and advocacy will always be front and centre as we work towards creating a fairer and clearer legal environment for everyone.

Highway Advocates is all about determination, expertise and genuine support for the heavy vehicle community. As we keep fighting for the rights of truck drivers and transport operators, our reputation and influence are sure to keep growing. We are not just a legal service — we are a real ally for the people who keep Australia’s transport industry moving.

KEEPING TRUCKIES HEALTHY - Healthy Heads

Healthier, safer workplaces

Healthy

Heads’ mental health training

is proving to be a valuable resource for truckies on Australia’s roads

Work can be tough, especially on the road, and the mental strain it may put on us can really take a toll on our wellbeing. That’s why it’s important to recognise when we or our mates might be struggling, whether it’s from long hours, time away from the family or the general stresses of the job. Mental health training is one of the most effective ways to learn how to identify when someone is struggling. It benefits not only individuals but also businesses wanting to address psychosocial risks and hazards in the workplace.

Usually, mental health training comes at a cost, but thanks to Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds (Healthy Heads), several courses are available for free for a limited time only. Not only will these courses teach you how to spot the signs and symptoms when someone is struggling, but you’ll also learn how to get the right support for yourself or a mate when it’s needed.

This training isn’t about just ticking a box; it’s about creating an industry where every single person feels comfortable speaking up and asking for help.

To develop these training courses, Healthy Heads partnered with some of the leading mental health organisations in the country, including Lifeline Australia, Black Dog Institute and Mental Health First Aid Australia. These organisations share Healthy Heads’ commitment to raising awareness, reducing stigma and providing teams with the essential tools required to support mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. These courses aim to increase your understanding of mental health, but they also aim to break down the social barriers that prevent people asking for help. Unfortunately, mental health is often misunderstood, and people sometimes feel that it’s better to suffer in silence than talk about their problems. The Healthy Heads training

courses aim to change this by fostering a supportive environment where discussing mental health is encouraged and individuals feel empowered to seek support without judgement.

Road transport, warehousing and logistics is a bustling and essential industry; it’s high time we protect it, and the best way to do that is with mental health training. For too long, people in the industry have been reluctant to open up and reach out for help. By completing one of these free courses, you’ll help bridge the knowledge gap in the industry and ensure you and your workmates are better supported in your workplace.

What’s more, these free online courses are specifically designed with truck drivers and people working in logistics in mind. We understand that long hours on the road can make it difficult to attend in-person training sessions, especially when you’re constantly on the move. That’s why the online format of these courses makes it easier than ever to participate, regardless of where you are. You can access the training from anywhere via your phone, tablet or computer.

These free courses from Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds, supported by the NHVR’s Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative, are perfect for owner drivers and small businesses, especially in regional areas. This is an incredibly rare opportunity to access valuable training at absolutely no cost, so don’t miss out on your final chance as courses are ending soon.

Make a positive change today and ensure a healthier tomorrow. Register now at www.healthyheads.org.au/ resources-and-training/mental-healthtraining/.

Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds is dedicated to improving mental health and physical wellbeing in Australia’s road transport, warehousing and logistics sectors.

SLOWING IN MARCH

The Truck Industry Council’s (TIC) T-Mark truck sales data is in for March, with the Australian market surpassing 10,000 sales in the first quarter of 2025. After 3,446 units were sold in February, a further 4,125 sales were recorded for March to ensure the industry keeps building momentum.

Total trucks

A strong month saw 4,125 sales made in all truck segments in March. There were no surprises at the top of the table, with Isuzu’s 1,107 sales for the month seeing it comfortably lead the way ahead of Hino (363), Fuso (312) and Kenworth (302). From there, Volvo sat in fifth with 241 sales, with IVECO (190) and Mercedes-Benz (107) the only other brands to surpass 100 sales in March. Scania came perilously close to triple figures with 91 sales, as did Fiat with 86, while Renault (73), Mack (63) and MAN (55) all passed the half-century mark.

Heavy duty

A productive March saw 1,363 heavy duty truck sales made in March, bringing the Q1 tally up to 3,380 by March 31. This number was lower than the 1,533 heavy duty sales made in March last year, while the overall Q1 number of 3,380 sits comfortably behind 2024’s 3,788 sales in the same timeframe.

The top of the pack saw plenty of jostling for spots in March, with Kenworth continuing to emerge on

Kenworth emerged once again as the heavy duty leader in March

Image: Warren Aitken

top, this time with 302 monthly sales. While Volvo stole second from Isuzu in February, the roles were reversed in March as Isuzu snatched silver with 249 sales, narrowly beating out Volvo’s 238. Scania’s 91 sales kept it comfortably ahead of a tight pack that includes Fuso (75), Hino (70), Mercedes-Benz (69) and Mack (63). MAN just cleared the half-century mark with 53 sales, with DAF (43), IVECO (36), UD Trucks (33) and Western Star (20) all not too far behind.

Medium duty

March saw 623 sales made in the medium duty market, with the Q1 number finishing on 1,664 sales. It was a slight drop in performance for the market, with the Q1 tally falling behind 2024’s 1,741 record, but it still sits above the 1,598 sales recorded

in the first quarter of 2023.

What hasn’t changed is Isuzu’s dominance in the space, with the popular brand securing 279 sales in March. Hino crept closer to the market leader in March, securing 218 sales to build on its February efforts, while Fuso was a clear third with the 71 sales. From there, IVCO (23), Hyundai (11) and Mercedes-Benz (10) were the only other brands to reach double figures in March.

Light duty

The light duty market continued to build in March, recording 1,177 sales for the month to bring the Q1 final sales number to 2,928 for 2025. This signals a trend of constant decline in the sector, with the number well short of the 3,129 sales made in Q1 last year and the 3,922 sales in Q1, 2023.

Isuzu was once again top of the three in the light duty space, recording 579 sales to be comfortably ahead of all competitors. Fuso finished in second with 166 sales made, while IVECO claimed third with 131. To round out the top brands, Fiat had the 86 sales in March, Hino the 75, while Renault sat not far behind with 73.

Vans

The van market saw 962 sales made in March, with the improved number resulting in 2,385 sales being recorded in the first quarter of 2025. MercedesBenz reclaimed top spot in March with 376 sales, meaning LDV was relegated to second spot with 179. Renault (135) and Ford (133) could barely be split, while Fiat (80) and IVECO (39) were the next best.

Rocking the Roads Simon Smith

Music lovin’ May

From family bonds to massive bands, May is filled with glittering dates in Australia’s rock music history

May is another major month for Australian rock music history. Enjoy some of the more significant key events, album releases and notable birthdays in the Australian rock music scene for May from The Australian Truck Radio Rock’N’Roll Diary.

MAY 6

2006: It was on this day that Australia’s music scene lost Grant McLennan. Known as a co-founder of the Go-Betweens with Robert Forster back in Brisbane in 1977, Grant also issued four solo albums throughout his glittering music career.

MAY 14

1959: One of the most famous members

SIMON SMITH is the manager and producer of Australian Truck Radio. He has been in the radio game for 44 years and has been customising playlists for truckies for at least 20 of those. For great tunes 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, download the digital app for your phone at www.australiantruckradio. com.au

of Australian Crawl was born on this day in David Reyne. Interestingly, the Aussie actor, musician, television and radio presenter was born in Lagos, Nigeria to an Australian mother and English diplomat father before the family moved to Victoria in the early ‘60s.

MAY 18

1956: A key member of Midnight Oil was born on this day as Jim Moginie entered the world. Born in Sydney as James Moginie, Jim went on to be one of the most important members of Midnight Oil. As a founding member, he was also a guitarist, keyboardist and leading songwriter for the band.

MAY 19

1954: We can’t stray too far from AC/DC – this time, we talk about Phil Rudd. The popular AC/DC drummer had three stints in the brand, and in 1977 became the only Aussie-born member of the band when bass guitarist Mark Evans left.

1957: Another famous member of Australian Crawl, and the Reyne family, was born on this day in James Reyne. Also born in Lagos like his brother, James is also known for his solo career after his time with Australian Crawl.

MARCH 20

1955: One of the most important members of Australia’s rock’n’roll golden era was born on this day in Ian Moss. The lead guitarist and co-vocalist of legendary Aussie rock band Cold Chisel was pivotal to the band’s success, with Moss going on to have his own successful solo career.

1978: In May, 1978, both the Bee Gees and Kate Bush sat atop the music charts. With the former celebrating hit single ‘Stayin’ Alive’ and Kate Bush on top with ‘Wuthering Heights’, it was a golden time for music.

These events, sombre anniversaries and birthdays are just a few of the significant moments that have shaped Australia’s rich and diverse rock music history from The Australian Truck Radio Rock’N’Roll Diary.

WHAT’S ON upcoming events

BRISBANE TRUCK SHOW

May 15-18, 2025

Head on down to the southern hemisphere’s largest festival of all things trucking. Building on the success of past shows, all exhibition space is already sold out, guaranteeing attendees over 30,000 square metres of exhibitions of the latest trucks, trailers, technologies and parts and accessories available on the Australian market.

TRUCK DRIVER MEMORIAL

May 17, 2025

The Putty Road Truck Driver’s Memorial invites you to its annual service/reunion weekend. The memorial will be adding more names of hard working truckies to its memorial wall to forever remember them... accompanied by the haunting sounds from the bagpipes. It is a very happy but respectful time with entertainment, hot and cold food and Putty Road merchandise.

PINE RIVERS HISTORIC MACHINERY RESTORATION SOCIETY

May 17-18, 2025

The Pine Rivers Historic Machinery Restoration Society is having its Annual Vintage Engine Display ‘Powering Past Generations’ at the Caboolture Historical Village. There will be stationary engines, trucks, cars and working tractors displayed all weekend. Cold drinks, hamburgers, sausage sizzle and tea and coffee will be available.

SCENIC RIM TRUCK SHOW

May 31, 2025

Get excited for the Scenic Rim Truck Show! Held from 10am to 6pm, the show will feature plenty of trucks along with market stalls, rides, entertainment, raffles and a live auction. All profits will be donated to the KIDS Foundation.

ALEXANDRA TRUCK SHOW

June 7-8, 2025

The Alexandra Truck Show is back on the King’s Birthday weekend in June this year, with a Sunday Show ‘n’ Shine on the town’s main street, as well as live music, a Victorian woodchop tournament, exhibitions, trade displays, kids’ amusements and a raffle. Come down on Saturday for the local markets, a convoy and truck drivers’ memorial.

GOLD COAST TRUCK SHOW

June 27, 2025

There will be plenty of trucks, cars and bikes on display, with show awards taking place across all three vehicle categories. The day will have lots to see and do for the whole family, with entertainment provided by cover band Pheonix Rising, who will rock it out on centre stage. To have an event listed free, phone 0421 299 963 or e-mail

NO BULL

COOLING DOWN

As the days get shorter and the air gets crisper, it’s time to brace ourselves for the seasonal shift that brings cozy sweaters, early sunsets, and the eternal debate: “Why is it dark at 5pm?”. In order to deal with the lack of sun, whip out some of these to lift your mood.

Why did the clock break up with the calendar?

Because it was tired of being turned back!

What happens when you throw a clock out the window during daylight savings time?

You get a time flight!

Daylight saving time is like a visit from the in-laws. You know it’s coming, you never look forward to it, and it messes with your schedule!

Why don’t clocks ever go to parties during daylight savings time?

They just can’t handle all the “turning back” and “springing forward!”

TRASH TALK

An Australian garbage truck driver took to TikTok to explain how waste collectors can see the contents of residents’ bins. The driver showcased video feeds from cameras mounted on the truck, displaying various angles, including the actual tipping of bins. This revelation surprised many viewers, some of whom admitted to attempting to discreetly dispose of unconventional items like air fryers and lawnmowers. You can’t get much past the bin man these days.

GOT YA!

This April Fools’ Day, top Australian brands brought their A-game with

creative and cheeky campaigns. Vegemite launched “Vegemiteflavoured milk,” stirring mixed reactions online. Bunnings introduced “Scented Sausage Sizzles” candles, claiming to bring the iconic BBQ smell home. Meanwhile, Qantas unveiled “standing-only economy seating” to boost capacity, sending frequent flyers into a frenzy. Even Koala Mattresses joined in, announcing a “mattress for pets only.” These playful stunts not only entertained audiences but also sparked viral conversations, proving Aussies love a good laugh — especially when their favourite brands are in on the joke.

THE QR CODE or go to www.facebook.com/ownerdriver

FOR THE OWNER-DRIVER Frank Black

Election hopes

Frank Black provides his federal election preview and discusses what he wants to see from the next

federal government

By the time you’re reading we would have headed to the polls and I imagine you would have cast your ballot in the May 3 federal election. This time, perhaps more than any other, we’ve got an election that is of particular importance for owner-drivers and truck drivers in general. We’ve got a lot to fight for as our years of calling for change in the industry culminated in tangible change at a political level.

However, if elected, there’s a real danger of the Liberals eradicating all the reforms that we’ve lobbied for, especially Closing Loopholes, which includes specific provisions for truck drivers and owner-drivers. The Liberal Party has gone on the record to say they will repeal these reforms. I’m hoping we will have a Labor federal government as we need to ensure these reforms are kept in place and all the hard work of the industry representatives, the TWU and politicians on our side, hasn’t been for nothing. We fought hard for these reforms and we can’t have the Liberals play politics with them. It’s not just playing politics with the industry, it’s essentially playing politics with peoples’ lives.

The important reforms that have been set up include minimum standard orders for road transport workers including payment times, fuel levies, rate reviews, terminations and costrecovery. These very specific reforms deal with tangible issues that are genuinely meaningful for truck drivers as well as couriers and workers in the gig economy. One specific example is the TWU making applications to the Fair Work Commission to make the road transport industry fairer and more sustainable, including for shorter haul owner-drivers transporting goods from depots to the final destinations. Often the election cycle media coverage is full of promises for everyday taxpayers, which is fair enough as it also includes us, but I think, as truck operators, we should pay special attention to elections where laws that specifically affect us are at stake.

Recently, I was lucky enough to be part of a TWU-led delegation made up of industry representatives, gig workers and including drivers and owner-drivers, to thank politicians for their work in passing the Closing Loopholes legislation and with a view to maintaining their ongoing support.

We spoke to the Labor government and cross-benchers, trying to secure support from opposition senators and politicians, some of whom were sympathetic to the challenges transport workers face, if not necessarily formally backing our reforms.

Labor politicians like senator Tony Sheldon, federal MP Matt Burnell and Senator Marielle Smith, among others, have frequently spoken on behalf of transport workers in the lead up to the Closing Loopholes reforms, in particular, the road transport components. They’ve been vocal and up-front about supporting truck drivers and transport workers in Parliament, as well as bringing our concerns about safety to the forefront. Senator Sheldon was the former secretary of the Transport Workers’ Union and spearheaded the fight for a safer road transport industry, both in the union and in his time as a senator. Matt Burnell and senator Smith joined us in fronting the media in August 2023 after the first of the two TWU convoys for transport reform that year in Adelaide. Lending their voice to support truck drivers in the media helps build the case in the public setting that drivers deserve to have a safer and fairer industry. Then introducing laws and passing laws like Closing Loopholes made reform a reality. If we have ended up with a Liberal government, by the time this goes to print, my only hope is they don’t follow through with their threat to repeal this legislation.

Labor senator Glenn Sterle, a former truck driver and owner-driver himself, chairs the Heavy Vehicle Rest Area Steering Committee. Ultimately, this committee is effectively focused on saving lives, as its sole purpose is to reduce the death toll from truck-related crashes through combating the scourge of fatigue. If I were to list the number of times senator Sterle has advocated in parliament on behalf of truck drivers, I’d be here all year. He’s got the road miles to back up his interest in truck driving. He started life as a driver after he finished high school and bought his first truck at age 20. Prior to his political career, he had worked in trucks his whole life, advocating for drivers as part of the TWU for many years before running for office. So if you want an example of a politician who’s got an innate knowledge of our industry, with the road miles to prove it, look no further.

I could go further and outline the advocacy of various Labor politicians who have stood up for truck drivers and owner-operators, but I think you get the drift. Overall, whether it’s introducing laws to safeguard truck driver rights, chairing committees to combat driver fatigue, or generally advocating on behalf of us, it’s clear to me that it’s the Labor party who has the proven track record when it comes to improving the rights of truck drivers and all transport workers. They’re the ones who have put pen to paper and changed the law to make our industry safer and fairer. This is why I’m hopeful that after this goes to print, we’ll have re-elected the current Labor government and if not, we’re able to stand up and convince the Libs to keep the current hard-fought reforms in place, as well as honouring any of the work in progress on rest area development.

“There’s a real danger of the Liberals eradicating all the reforms that we’ve lobbied for, especially Closing Loopholes, which includes specific provisions for truck drivers and owner-drivers.”

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.

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