Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 484 i Deals On Wheels Australia

Heavy-duty A new record was set in the heavy-duty segment with a total of 1,325 heavy vehicles delivered – up 232 on last year – bringing the segment to 9,308 to date. This surpassed August 2018’s result of 1,257 by 68 units and saw a 1.5 per cent growth in heavy vehicle sales in the January–August period. Interestingly, Kenworth actually sold more units last August, dropping eight to reach 281 this year, but Volvo brought the goods with a jump from 129 in August 2021 to 216 last month. That brought them to 1,910 and 1,386 units respectively YTD. Isuzu remained in third, snapping at the heels of Volvo with an August total of 179 and a YTD of 1,312. Scania and UD Trucks had a scrap in the early…

Mercedes-Benz Trucks will begin a local evaluation program for the all-electric eActros in Australia and New Zealand early next year. Initially, four eActros trucks will get to work in Australia and one unit will hit the road in New Zealand, with additional units to follow. Mercedes-Benz says the eActros, which has just been launched in Europe, produces zero local emissions and operates near silently. Daimler Truck has extensive experience with electric commercial vehicles and was the first manufacturer with an all-electric truck when the Fuso eCanter broke new ground when it was launched locally in 2021. Customers on both sides of the Tasman Sea have embraced the all-electric eCanter, appreciating the near smooth and quiet operation, active safety features, ease of use and original equipment manufacturer backing. Mercedes-Benz Trucks Australia…

5G edge cloud solutions leader Inseego Corp. has announced a celebratory 10-year anniversary release of the MiFi X Pro following its telematics relaunch recently. Inseego previously released details of its relaunch of its Ctrack telematics and asset tracking businesses in the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand under the Inseego name, offered through the company’s 5G Intelligent Edge business unit. Inseego has now announced the launch of its next generation MiFi 5G mobile hotspot with Telstra to extend connectivity to the mobile workforce, including truck drivers on the go. The new MiFi X Pro 5G mobile hotspot will bring reliable high speed 5G broadband and retain its all-day battery life, and is now available to be purchased at Telstra branded stores and selected partner stores, as well as through Telstra’s…

Hyundai has announced that its first hydrogen commercial vehicles for Hylane have arrived in Germany. Hylane is a subsidiary of German insurance company DEVK and will use the trucks to begin a partnership with Hyundai. “The first series-production trucks form the basis for a long-term cooperation with Hyundai, which we will continuously expand from now on,” Hylane managing director Sara Schiffer says. “We rent the vehicles out at a fixed price per kilometre, allowing our customers to use the trucks as they need and with little risk.” The arrival of these hydrogen trucks marks a milestone in the history of German mobility as the trucks have the potential to decarbonise heavy road transport. Hyundai hydrogen mobility COO Daniel Keller and chief strategy officer Hojun Suh travelled to Bremerhaven for the…

The federal government has finally made an announcement on the fuel tax credit (FTC) scheme as it released plans to finally restore the FTC payment for heavy vehicle users. Federal transport minister Catherine King announced on 13 September that she will table the legislation allowing for the restoration of an increased FTC to federal parliament after consulting with infrastructure and transport ministers. The new FTC rate will jump up to 18.8 cents per litre when it is restored on September 29. But there’s a twist, as King also released plans to increase the heavy vehicle road user charge by 0.8 cents per litre from midnight September 28. King says the increased road user charge will be counteracted by the FTC restoration and increase, as the transport minister says the FTC…

After a three-year hiatus, the Australian Freight Industry Awards – run by the Victorian Transport Association (VTA) and sponsored by TWUSuper and Viva Energy Australia – was celebrated in person recently, with close to 700 gathering at Crown Melbourne on Saturday, September 3 to recognise the achievements of transport operator and supplier companies and individuals across a range of categories. Surpassing a record number of nominations lodged in 2020 – when the Awards were presented virtually – over 60 nominations were submitted this year from small, medium and large operators from all over Australia. The winners were: • Colin Rees, Personality of the Year Award – sponsored by CMV Truck & Bus• Cara Spencer, Alex Fraser Group and Transport Women Australia, Female Leadership Award – sponsored by Viva Energy Australia•…

A growing roadworks and traffic control operation in regional New South Wales has added three Mercedes-Benz Actros trucks with Etnyre Falcon tri-axle walking floor trailers to its fleet. The advanced 2653 models will perform asphalting work for WorkControl, which was founded in Forbes by Kevin and Colleen Gunn with a focus on traffic control. Their sons, Ben and Joe, now run the growing business, which has six locations throughout western New South Wales, employs 300 people and has a fleet of 130 vehicles. WorkControl has expanded recently to include roadwork services, prompting the purchase of the three Actros trucks that feature striking artwork celebrating the Wiradjuri heritage of the Gunn family. The advanced active safety features of the Actros, including the latest generation Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS) called Active…

The federal government says it is unlocking the nation’s electric vehicle potential and putting in place the next steps to establish Australia’s first National Electric Vehicle Strategy. A discussion paper on the National Electric Vehicle Strategy was due to be released for consultation as this issue went to press. At the heart of the strategy will be a plan to improve uptake of electric vehicles and improve affordability and choice by growing the Australian electric vehicle market. The government says Australia is significantly behind the pack when it comes to electric vehicles – at last count, consumers in the United Kingdom could take their pick of 26 low-emissions vehicles under $60,000. In Australia that number is only eight. At two per cent, Australia’s uptake of new low-emissions vehicles is also…

Queensland’s transport industry is set to receive a major boost as the state has approved the heavy vehicle driver apprenticeship program. The Queensland Trucking Association (QTA), as the Industry Skills Advisor for transport and logistics in Queensland, says that the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training (DESBT) has approved the industry proposal requesting the establishment of a Heavy Vehicle Driver Apprenticeship in Queensland. The industry proposal was developed by the QTA on behalf of industry and received widespread support gained through extensive consultation with employers, drivers and industry stakeholders. “The Heavy Vehicle Driving Apprenticeship is a long-awaited recognition of the level of skill truck drivers require and must develop to be a safe and competent operator,” QTA CEO Gary Mahon says. “This is a significant step towards sustaining the…

The Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA) says pieces of the puzzle are finally coming together when it comes to Performance Based Standards (PBS) reform. In its monthly column in sister publication Big Rigs, the HVIA says the PBS scheme has been the best safety, productivity and environmental innovation in the road transport sector since the introduction of B-doubles in the early 1980s. Despite the PBS’s success, the HVIA has long argued for improvements to the PBS system. HVIA initially argued for fitting of advanced braking systems to PBS vehicle in 2016. The HVIA says it called for improvements to the certification process and access decision making processes, network access improvements and ADR exemptions in 2017, and first raised the issue of PBS tyres in 2018. HVIA’s members, and in particular…

When the Grattan Institute released its report on truck air pollution recently, it caused a storm. Yet, upon delving deeper into the report and its suggestions, the information presented may have been misinterpreted and misunderstood by the transport industry. The Grattan truck plan: practical policies for cleaner freight report says that old trucks could be banned from Sydney and Melbourne to reduce deadly air pollution. The plan suggested removing more than a quarter of Melbourne and Sydney’s trucks from CBD roads to push lower pollution and limit danger to citizens. Soon after the report’s release the National Road Transport Association (NatRoad) responded, then the Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA) released its own response. While the HVIA said the report missed easy recommendations to reduce pollution, NatRoad CEO Warren Clark labelled…

Global business Accenture has announced it has agreed to acquire integrated supply chain specialist firm Inspirage. Inspirage focuses on using Oracle technology, as the acquisition is set to strengthen Accenture’s Oracle capabilities in the supply chain. The logistics-minded move will help Accenture innovate for clients with emerging technologies in the touchless supply chain sphere. Inspirage was founded in 2007 and is based in Bellevue, Washington state. Once the acquisition is finalised, Inspirage’s 710 employees will join Accenture’s Oracle business group to expand its supply chain capabilities and create innovative supply chain networks. “In a time of unprecedented disruption and supply constraints, companies need to reimagine, build, and operate supply chain networks that orchestrate change, simplify people’s lives and positively impact business, society and the planet,” says North American lead of…

The UK government will recruit a specialised team of inspectors to join the country’s first ever Road Safety Investigation Branch (RSIB), looking at how and why incidents happen and to provide real insight into how new technologies – such as self-driving and electric vehicles – can be rolled out. The branch will investigate themes in the causes of collisions, as well as specific incidents of concern, to learn valuable road safety lessons. It will make independent safety recommendations to organisations, such as government and police forces, to better shape the future of road safety policy. “The UK may have some of the safest roads in the world, but tragedies still happen and any injury or death on our road network is one too many,” roads minister Baroness Vere. “That’s why…

The federal government says its funding of the Black Spot Program will substantially improve nine dangerous crash sites on Northern Territory roads in 2022–23. The Territory will receive $2.4 million under the Black Spot Program’s 2022–23 funding round. The federal government says the Black Spot Program funds safety measures such as traffic signals and roundabouts at locations where a number of serious crashes are known to have occurred or are at risk of occurring. The nine Black Spot projects across the Northern Territory will make an important contribution towards reducing serious injuries and deaths on local roads and build on previous investments in the Territory. Black Spot Consultative Panels provide the opportunity for stakeholders to have a say in the project selection process and ensure that nominations of the highest…

The largest deep-water port on Australia’s east cost in the Port of Newcastle has commissioned two new mobile harbour cranes as part of the Port’s ongoing commitment to diversification and sustainability. The cranes were opened by Port of Newcastle CEO Craig Carmody and Macquarie Group managing director and chief executive officer Shemara Wikramanayake, and commenced cargo and container handling in September With an outreach of 54 metres, and a lifting capacity of 104 tonnes, Carmody says the $32.4 million crane investment marks a significant increase in an expanded and improved container, break-bulk and project cargo handling capability for customers at Port of Newcastle. “For Port of Newcastle, the arrival of the mobile harbour cranes marks a significant step forward in our aim to diversify for the future,” he says. It…

The federal government’s productivity commission is calling for Australia’s port system to be reformed in a report on the sector’s current underperformance. The report, titled Lifting Productivity at Australia’s Container Ports: Between Water, Wharf and Warehouse, was released after industry members put forth 79 different submissions earlier this year. A primary point made in the report says that Australia’s container port inefficiencies has cost the nation around $605 million each year. After analysing system performance and technology uptake in the sector, commissioner Stephen King says the inquiry proves Australia’s major container ports underperform. “Underperformance on Australia’s ports directly costs business and consumers,” King says. “Any sustained disruptions to imports or exports magnify these costs across the economy because of the critical role of ports to trade and commerce.” The productivity…

Massive! That’s the word that comes to mind as I sit in my motel room reflecting on the 2022 North Coast Petroleum Casino Truck Show. I’m not regurgitating the Ali G slang from a couple of decades ago (if you are unfamiliar with him, don’t Google – just appreciate the fact you are lost on this reference). No, I am using the term MASSIVE, in capital letters because that really is the only way to describe the return of this community-driven truck show. For those who are unaware, Casino is a New South Wales town in the Richmond Valley, inland from Ballina. Over the past few years it has been decimated by floods, fire and drought. It is a tough little town famous for its Beef Week celebrations. In years…

The short version of a long story is that Caltex is a global brand owned by Chevron – one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies with a 70-year history in Australia. The Caltex brand was previously used by Ampol under an exclusive brand licence, however that is now no longer exclusive and, from 2023, the Caltex brand will be solely used by Chevron. Back in 2020, Chevron also purchased the Puma Energy fuel business in Australia. That’s why you might have noticed established Caltex stations rebranding to Ampol, and selected Puma locations rebranding to new Caltex service stations. Why does this matter? It matters because Caltex and Chevron plan to deliver high-quality products at fair prices through a wide-reaching distribution network. Guided by the vision to be the global…

Isuzu Trucks returned to the Australasian Waste and Recycling Expo (AWRE) from August 24 to 25 and showcased its contributions to the world of waste management. Isuzu Australia Limited (IAL) says it has long had a presence in providing road transport solutions to the waste and recycling industries and the brand has enjoyed the privilege of being the best-selling Australian truck maker for 33 consecutive years. On the stand this year, Isuzu showcased its FVY Dual Control model, which is specifically designed for kerbside waste applications. Isuzu says the truck’s fully integrated, factory-backed dual control functionality has been well received in recent years, with a number of waste and refuse fleets turning to the company for its transport solutions. Developed in Australia and with celebrated origins in Isuzu’s proven FSR…

US autonomous middle mile logistics company Gatik is collaborating with Cummins to incorporate its advanced powertrain solution into Gatik’s fleet of medium-duty trucks. In 2021, Gatik launched the world’s first fully driverless commercial delivery service with Walmart. Under the collaboration, Cummins will utilise its suite of advanced software features to integrate its powertrain solution to enable drive-by-wire (DbW) for Gatik’s industry-first medium-duty (class 6) Isuzu FTR fleet with the Cummins B6.7 engine. The integration of Gatik’s commercial-grade autonomous technology with Cummins’ powertrain increases functional safety and enhances reliability of the autonomous system, while improving fuel efficiency and offering superior vehicle performance on Gatik’s short-haul, B2B delivery routes. Cummins will work closely with Gatik’s engineering team to provide additional technical expertise. “As we commercialise our product offerings at scale across North…

The Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) has released the reforms agreed upon by both ministers and industry bodies following a roundtable discussion on the current Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL). The proposals were supported uniformly after being developed by independent consultant Ken Kanofski following government and industry consultations. The HVNL reforms revolve around maintaining the object of the law to be continuing productivity, with the law to be risk-based and outcomes-based. Under the reforms, there’ll be more detail lowered to regulations and codes of practice as the HVNL adopts a Tasmanian-style access system, while it’s also proposed to explore a business case for opening as-of-right key parts of the National Road Transport Network. The reform wants to improve performance based standards and provide more flexibility for the fatigue…

“We’ve worked closely with the UD Trucks team and CMV Truck & Bus Dandenong to build a model that meets our needs perfectly,” says John West, the managing director of John West Logistics, based in Brisbane. “These Quons are designed specifically to meet our need for a 9-metre body and crane.” John West Logistics specialises in delivering steel building products to commercial and domestic sites in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and New Zealand. “70 per cent of our contracts involve truck mounted crane units,” says West. “Whether we’re delivering rebar, roofing, guttering or flashing, no two loads are the same size or shape and we have to deliver right into some tricky sites. This 6x4 Quon is ideal for our task.” The John West Logistics Quons are a customer…

The Australian Logistics Council (ALC) has welcomed the federal government’s commitment to an Electric Vehicle Strategy and called for the inclusion of heavy vehicles. The ALC is also repeating calls for a discussion on the future funding of transport infrastructure as the uptake of EVs depletes fuel excise revenue. ALC CEO Dr Hermione Parsons says the supply chain sector is on a path to emissions reduction. “While the transport sector faces a number of challenges in reducing emissions, it is an obvious focus for action to achieve Australia’s emissions reduction target. The ALC has developed recommendations to support our net-zero transition,” Parsons says. “The freight and supply chain sector is already on a path to emissions reduction with many ALC members committed to net zero targets. It is critical that…

The Western Roads Federation (WRF) in Western Australia says the Pilbara Heavy Haulage Girls program is helping to empower women, particularly older women and those who have survived domestic violence, find new careers and self-confidence in the WA transport industry. The WRF says nearly a third of the 220 women trained to drive road trains over the past 20 years by the Pilbara Heavy Haulage Girls have come from backgrounds that include domestic violence incidents. “We have found that domestic violence survivors find empowerment in a safe space driving trucks, while gaining financial freedom in an incredibly supportive on-road truck driver community,” Pilbara Heavy Haulage Girls member Heather Jones says. The WRF says the program has now graduated more than 87 per cent of graduates into jobs in the industry,…

The National Road Transport Association (NatRoad) says New South Wales has made changes to its dangerous goods rules for trucks. NatRoad says there are important changes to dangerous goods regulations in New South Wales with the NSW Dangerous Goods (Road and Rail Transport) Regulation 2022 having come into effect from August 19. The new regulation includes changes to strengthen requirements relating to safety, maintenance, inspection, packaging approval and incident notification. They include: • Heavy tank trailers must have an electronic roll stability system fitted, maintained and operational, legislating a determination previously made by the EPA• Prohibited routes specified in NSW Road Rule 300-2 are mirrored, enabling the EPA to regulate vehicles transporting dangerous goods on prohibited routes, including tunnels• Prime contractors must notify the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) within one…

When skilled driver shortages became a constant problem for Australia’s transport industry, the Queensland Trucking Association (QTA) looked for solutions. Like many nuanced problems, QTA CEO Gary Mahon knew there wasn’t one single fix to the issue that would attract the numbers that trucking desperately needs. A year after the previous federal government approved the QTA’s proposal for a heavy vehicle driver apprenticeship scheme, the QTA’s advocacy work has paid off as Queensland’s state government approved the scheme. “It’s a very good and encouraging start,” Mahon told ATN. “There’s a number of people in the queue ready to get their fleet’s recruitment drive underway. “It’s an excellent foundation to give people the confidence to pursue a career in truck driving.” Mahon admits the idea of an apprenticeship process in the…

Scania continues to drive the shift towards a sustainable transport system in Australia with it recently holding the Australia national finals of its famed Top Team competition at the Campbellfield Dealer Support Centre in Melbourne. Seven teams from across the Scania network that had graduated from earlier rounds battled it out to claim the prize of representing Australia at the Bangkok regional finals of Scania’s global competition. Every two years Scania offers its 1,600 global workshops the opportunity to field teams to compete, with national and regional rounds sifting the 12 best teams who come together in Sweden to fight for glory. Scania Australia has fielded global winning teams from its Prestons NSW branch in 2011 and 2013, with a hotly contested second spot ceding victory by a whisker to…

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) and Queensland Police Service (QPS) have launched the Sharing our Roads with Over-size Loads campaign, with a series of videos to show road users how to stay safe when driving near trucks towing oversize loads this Queensland Road Safety Week. Police escort more than 6,000 heavy vehicles with an oversize or overmass load, such as mining or construction equipment, in Queensland each year. The Queensland Police Service Heavy Vehicle Road Operations Program Office provides the escort service function for oversize loads in Queensland to ensure the safe movement of the heavy vehicle, and to direct traffic to slow down, pull over and stop for an approaching wide load. “Road safety starts with all of us; the route is planned to ensure the safety of…

The New South Wales (NSW) government says an extra $196 million will be delivered to improve road safety in the state as part of the Towards Zero Safer Roads Program. Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway says the program is a key initiative of the new 2026 Road Safety Action Plan that aims to build a safer road network. “The NSW government is securing a brighter future for NSW families through our investment in road safety to ensure people reach their destination when driving on our roads,” Farraway says. “One death on our country roads s one too many and it takes a suite of measures to save as many lives as possible, like improving our road infrastructure.” The extra funding comes after the NSW government already invested…

Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW) has announced that safety upgrades on the Ourimbah rest area have finished, allowing more truck drivers to manage fatigue while travelling on the freight route. Motorists travelling on the M1 motorway in NSW will benefit from a major safety upgrade at the Ourimbah rest area according to TfNSW. Parliamentary secretary for the Central Coast in Adam Crouch says the $1.5 million project funded by the NSW government offers safety benefits for all motorists using the Pacific Area. “The Ourimbah Rest Area, located 79 kilometres north of Sydney, is popular with motorists and holidaymakers,” Crouch says. “The upgrade has also boosted the local economy with the upgrade supporting 10 jobs and an additional 15 contractors through constructions.” Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway…

the ultimate goal is carbon neutrality Have no doubt, the automotive world is undergoing a change of epochal proportion, from motorbikes to massive mining machines and everything in between. And it’s happening right now, faster and more certain than perhaps any period in industrial history. Driving the change are climatic geopolitical events. Delivering the change is climactic corporate resolve. In both cases, the change is evident and inevitable, and accelerating at a pace few could have imagined just a decade or so earlier. The ultimate goal is carbon neutrality and in its most fundamental form, that means no more fossil fuel. No oil, no gas, no coal. Of course, such earth-shaking change after much more than a century of total reliance on Earth’s extracts won’t come without inherent criticism or…

If you are anything like me, you have most likely eyeballed the ensuing pages before reading my carefully composed waffle. That’s understandable, the trucks on the following pages are outstanding! I’m continually distracted just trying to write this piece. You have most likely also deduced that this story is not a locally-sourced exposé. Once again, kudos to you. None of the trucks you’ve been perving at can be found on this great continent of ours. Even this story was written abroad. I in fact started writing this while crammed into a seat built for a much smaller individual, dining on meals served at an eighth of the standard size while cruising along several thousand feet above the Pacific Ocean with my knees in my ears. Here’s the kicker, though. If…

Growing Solutions Australia, based in Cabarlah, just north of Toowoomba in Queensland, recently purchased a new Toyota 8FG18 counterbalance forklift from Toyota Material Handling Australia (TMHA). However, the nursery’s owner Jamie Currie is now also the proud owner of a new LHE150 electric pallet jack after winning TMHA’s Growers Prize Giveaway. “We don’t win a lot of things, but it was brilliant to get the phone call,” says Currie. “Sometimes you’re just happy with the meat tray at the pub, but this time we won an electric pallet jack which is great!” Having started Growing Solutions Australia five years ago with his wife, Currie had previously been using an old forklift that came with the Cabarlah nursery when he purchased it. However, the need arose for a replacement. “One of…

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) unveiled the next generation model of the all-electric light-duty truck eCanter on September 7. MFTBC says the new version addresses even more diverse logistics needs with a significantly expanded vehicle line-up. Sales of the Next Generation eCanter in the Japanese market are scheduled for Spring 2023. MFTBC will also launch the new vehicle in additional overseas markets in the coming years. MFTBC has adopted the eAxle in the Next Generation eCanter, integrating the motor with the rear axle and allowing for a more compact drivetrain structure. The line-up includes 28 variants for the Japanese market and approximately 80 variants for overseas markets. In addition to the current 7.5 ton (7.6 tonne) gross weight model, the new vehicle comes in weight classes ranging from…

DAF announced that its Next Generation XD truck series would be released at IAA Transportation 2022, which took place in Hanover in September, while MAN displayed its near-production prototype of the eTruck. DAF hasn’t released much info yet about the new XD series but says it will “set the new standard in quality, safety, efficiency and driver comfort and is fully prepared for ‘zero emission’ drivelines”. MAN, meanwhile, is preparing for the market launch of its purely electric large-series truck in 2024 and had a near-production prototype on show that has a range of 800km. “We are making our production more flexible and building our future heavy eTruck on a production line with conventional vehicles, so that we can produce electrified or diesel-powered trucks for our customers, depending on their…

Over in the US, the Peterbilt Motors Company has launched a limited-release Model 389X. The 389X includes a highly polished hood crown surrounding a classic-style, louvered grille sheet inspired by the first 1939 Peterbilt. The hood features a brightly polished centerline trim, exclusive side-hood chrome accents and polished hood fenders. Other features include cowl skirts, battery box, fuel tanks, sun visor, bumper and large, 7" chrome exhaust stacks. The light package includes LED amber light strips that highlight the air cleaners and under the rocker panels. In addition, the truck features 389X exterior badging on the mud flaps as well as on the cab or sleeper. Inside the cab, dash panels feature a new Black Pearl burl woodgrain and special black-finish trim accents can be found throughout the cab and…

The Grattan Truck Plan: Practical Policies for Cleaner Freight says exhaust-pipe pollution coming from trucks could contribute to more than 400 Australians every year contracting diseases like lung cancer, stroke, heart disease, pneumonia, asthma and type-2 diabetes. To keep the trucks emitting the most pollution away from the most people, the report calls for pre-2003 diesel trucks to be banned in Sydney and Melbourne from 2025, meaning more than 25 per cent of trucks would be taken off the roads. The Grattan Institute says old trucks are polluting much more than newer models, with 14 per cent of Australia’s fleet being pre-1996 and emitting 60 times the particulate matter of a new truck and eight times the poisonous nitrogen oxides. The Grattan Institute’s call echoes similar bans put in place…

Austroads is encouraging drivers, employers and trainers to have their say on proposed changes to heavy vehicle driver licensing in Australia. “With a growing freight task and changing vehicle fleet, Australia needs a lot of well-trained and capable heavy vehicle drivers. That starts with effective driver licensing,” says Austroads chief executive Geoff Allan. The changes are documented in a Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (C-RIS) that seeks feedback on proposed changes to the National Heavy Vehicle Driver Competency Framework (NHVDCF). The Framework was endorsed by ministers in 2011 but has only been implemented in four states and territories. At the request of transport ministers, Austroads has been undertaking an extensive program of work to review and improve the NHVDCF. Austroads’ review aims to deliver a harmonised Australian licence training and assessment…

There’s a degree of inevitability about de-carbonising the country’s road freight industry, but so much relies on the will of government. There is no sense in stopping sales of new diesel vehicles, or banning older trucks from capital cities, if there’s nothing to replace them with. The ‘all or nothing’ approach to net zero smacks of cutting off your nose to spite your face. Let’s be sensible and make sure that mandates are balanced with incentives. The road freight industry has been working with proponents of electric vehicles to map what’s needed. The transition to fossil-free fuels needs that sort of strategic approach. The destination we’re moving to is pretty attractive. Diesel fuel accounts for 35 per cent of long-haul operators’ costs and 20 per cent of short-haul operators’ costs.…

The Australian Road Research Board (ARRB) says research is being undertaken into the safety risk of fires caused by electric vehicles (EVs) vs non-EVs in Australian road tunnels. Senior professional leader of mobility futures Dr Robert Kochhan, and senior professional leader of safer smarter infrastructure Brendan Williams recently participated in a vehicle fire demonstration in the Sydney Harbour Tunnel. A car (non-EV) was put alight in the southbound tunnel, in a controlled environment around 800 metres from the northern entrance to the tunnel where the tunnel management office is. After an initial explosion that caused some vehicle parts, such as window glass, to scatter around the vehicle, the car fire started and triggered the tunnel sprinkler system, which kept the fire at bay. The tunnel exhaust system was also engaged…

Adelaide-based Diamond Brothers Transport has earned an enviable reputation for tailored transport solutions over nearly seven decades in business. With an early history in car carrying the company has evolved to a dedicated interstate general carrier with a keen eye on both customer service and operational efficiencies. The Diamond Brothers fleet services all east coast capitals as well as Perth Western Australia in predominantly B-double and B-triple applications. In recent years more Mack Trucks has joined the fleet to satisfy the expectations of not only the company itself but also the drivers. Kym McDermid, CEO of Diamond Brothers Transport, is a keen supporter of the bulldog brand. “Mack in Australia has an incredible amount of history, I was brought up with massive Macks carrying Buntine road trains all over Australia,”…

A trucking fleet hauling in and out of a key Australian food bowl has bought two new Freightliner Cascadias. Kreskas Bros has added to its fleet by purchasing the two new Cascadias to use in its day-to-day operations. Demand is one of the reasons that Kreskas Bros Transport is the largest road carrier of shipping containers between the Port of Melbourne and regional Victoria. Kreskas Bros has a mixed fleet of trucks that includes traditional cab-overs, Mercedes-Benz Actros and some recently-arrived Freightliner Cascadias. Its first experience with the Cascadia came about when the late John McCarroll, an industry icon and longtime friend of the Kreskas Bros team, took on a central role in the Australian test program for the new Freightliner. ‘Johnno’ drove a Cascadia test unit B-double five days…

Gavin O’Sullivan’s strong support for rural trucking was acknowledged on August 12 when he was presented with an honorary life membership of the Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) at its National Conference in Bendigo. Serving as the inaugural President of the (then) Livestock Transporters Association of Victoria, O’Sullivan steered the state and national rural transport associations in their efforts to bring about many significant changes to improve the safety, working conditions and productivity of livestock transport. He represented members to local, state and federal governments, lobbying them on important issues like volume loading and crate heights. Presenting the award to O’Sullivan was long time Livestock and Rural Transporters Association of Victoria (LRTAV) member Kevin Fechner, who discussed O’Sullivan’s ongoing and current personal support of the transport industry. “Gavin…

The Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) has responded to calls for shipping companies to be hit with port access fees instead of lumping them on truck drivers and businesses. TWU national secretary Michael Kaine says the change to putting these costs on shipping companies will help make port access easier for truck operators. “This a positive step towards ending the stevedores monopoly gouging scandal which has gone on for years,” Kaine says. “Exorbitant fees have imposed major burdens on transport companies and owner drivers already operating on razor-thin margins. “For more than five years, the TWU, along with companies like ACFS and transport associations, have been calling for wealthy heads in maritime supply chains to pay their fair share rather than pushing transport operators to the brink.” Kaine says the current…

A new transport one-stop-shop has opened in WA’s Mid-West, with Main Roads and the Department of Transport (DoT) opening the doors to its new facility in Geraldton. Transport Minister Rita Saffioti was on hand to officially open the $14 million purpose-built facility located on Eastward Road, Wonthella. The co-location of the two agencies provides the opportunity to improve collaboration between the portfolio partners, reduce combined office accommodation expenses and provides a one-stop-shop for Main Roads and DoT customers in the Mid-West. The existing Main Roads office was redeveloped by regional contractor Crothers Construction, which completed the new premises in June 2022. The 1,800 square metre facility includes a new Transport Service Centre with 11 customer service counters, 84 open plan work stations, eight meeting and conference rooms, more than 100…

In a submission to the independent review of Infrastructure Australia (IA), the Australian Logistics Council (ALC) has called for action and implementation, rather than review and duplication. The ALC says it has worked closely with IA and successive governments to deliver the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy (NFSCS) and advance the development of the National Urban Freight Planning Principles (the principles), which together form a strong foundation for the future work of IA. ALC CEO Dr Hermione Parsons says the review of IA should focus on ensuring the agency has the capacity to re-focus infrastructure investment on productivity uplift for the national economy and improved safety outcomes. “It is appropriate for IA to take a whole of economy view and lead the other jurisdictionally based infrastructure advisory bodies to…

currently striving to improve our support Hailed as the first newly-developed MAN truck generation (TG) in two decades, Penske Australia and MAN Truck & Bus launched its new range of German-built trucks amid much fanfare at the RACQ Mobility Centre at Mt Cotton near Brisbane in early August. With its line-up of TGL, TGM, TGS, and TGX trucks on display, the all-new MAN truck generation launch enticed Randall Seymore, executive vice president of global commercial vehicles and power systems at Penske Automotive Group, back to Australia … albeit briefly. Although mostly static displays, the TGS and TGX trucks with trailers in tow were available for short drives around the centre’s winding circuit. The presentation made no bones that Volvo, Scania, Mercedes-Benz and Kenworth were in MAN’s sights. However, the emphasis…

Best known for its fully automatic transmissions, Allison points out that it is also “a leading designer and manufacturer of conventional and electrified vehicle propulsion systems for medium and heavy-duty vehicles”. Mid-way through this year, for instance, at an industry event in Germany and just a few weeks before Mercedes-Benz and Volvo issued statements about their latest battery-electric and fuel cell developments, Allison Transmission introduced a new electric axle known as Allison eGen Power. At this initial stage, the electric axle is specifically designed for fire and rescue vehicles, with one of the first installations of the eGen Power axle going under an MAN TG-M model operated by Emergency One, a British manufacturer of fire and rescue vehicles. Allison Transmission describes eGen Power as a bolt-in electric propulsion system compatible…

Welcome to number 11 of the fantastic, limited edition Western Star Cheyenne series trucks – number 11 of 11 actually. They are a throwback to the birth of Western Star trucks here in Australia and a tribute to the ‘built tough’ trucks that have been gracing our Australian roads since the early ’80s. I’m going to start today with a little history lesson because the Western Star story is far from a simple one. It was known as a Canadian truck, though it was a division of a US company. It is now owned by a German automotive conglomerate, although, for almost a decade, it was actually an Australian-owned truck manufacturer. Western Star Trucks Australia built Australia’s first RTL (road transferable locomotive) that could run on public roads and also…