Big Rigs 22 July 2022 by Prime Creative Media

FRIDAY, July 22, 2022

ONLINE www.bigrigs.com.au

EMAIL info@bigrigs.com.au

FTC FEARS GROWING Page 3

PEER SUPPORT FOR TRUCKIES Page 11

PURPLE REIGN

OUTBACK TRUCKERS STAR TAKES NEW DIRECTION IN HIS POPULAR PETERBILT: PAGE 14-16

2 NEWS CONTACT US Address: 11-15 Buckhurst Street, South Melbourne VIC 3205 Phone: 03 9690 8766 Email: editor@bigrigs.com.au Web: bigrigs.com.au Accounts: 03 9690 8766 Subscriptions: 03 9690 8766 Classifieds: 0403 626 353 Circulation and distribution queries: 03 9690 8766 info@bigrigs.com.au EDITOR James Graham: 0478 546 462 james.graham@primecreative.com.au REPORTER Danielle Gullaci danielle.gullaci@primecreative.com.au GENERAL MANAGER Peter Hockings: 0410 334 371 peter.hockings@primecreative.com.au MEDIA SALES CONSULTANT Marie O’Reilly: 0403 626 353 marie.oreilly@primecreative.com.au CLIENT SUCCESS Katharine Causer: 0423 055 787 katharine.causer@primecreative. com.au CONTRIBUTORS Truckin in the Topics/Spy on the Road: Alf Wilson, 0408 009 301 Brent Davison; David Vile; David Meredith; Mike Williams; Jon Wallis Big Rigs National Road Transport Newspaper is published by Prime Creative Media. It is the largest circulated fortnightly truck publication in Australia with 26,023* copies per fortnight. *12 month average, publisher’s claim November 2018

FRIDAY JULY 22 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Truckie fined over $4000 for series of safety infringements A 43-year-old Slacks Creek man has been fined over $4000 for driving an unsafe vehicle, unsecured load, severely exceeding standard work hours, driving an overheight vehicle, driving an overweight vehicle and failing to produce a work diary. On July 1, officers from the Queensland Police Service’s (QPS) Heavy Vehicle Enforcement Team intercepted a semi-trailer at Burpengary that had travelled from Townsville. It is also alleged that the driver was unable to produce a National Drivers Work Diary and admitted he had exceeded his permitted work time by several hours. A vehicle inspection found the trailer to be badly affected by rust, major structural issues

and bearing bald tyres. Police also alleged the inspection found the load was improperly restrained, with badly worn-out restraints and tie-down points in need of repair or replacement. The vehicle was grounded from further use and the driver was required to rest for a minimum of seven hours. Sergeant Paul Kelly said irresponsible driver behaviour in the heavy vehicle space could have particularly catastrophic consequences. “When a vehicle of this size is not maintained, it seriously increases the risk of it being involved in an incident. Additionally, when you have a fatigued driver at the wheel, those risks are exponentially increased,” he said.

“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility, and being a responsible driver includes adequately maintaining your vehicle and being rested before you embark on any trip. “With the long distances travelled by many professional drivers, it is critical to take fatigue seriously to ensure a safer drive for you and other road users. “Thankfully, we managed to intercept this driver before any damage was done.” National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) chief operating officer Paul Salvati said those who breach their safety responsibilities – from the executive to the driver – need to be held accountable. “We know the majority of the heavy vehicle industry

In a video released by police, an officer can be heard telling the driver that his vehicle “is an accident waiting to happen”.

manage their safety obligations effectively, however, there continues to be a small cohort of companies and drivers that do the wrong thing,” said Salvati.

“It’s important we adopt a targeted approach to compliance and enforcement, that focuses on high-risk offenders that pose the greatest safety risk to road users.”

$54k enforceable undertaking for mass breach THE National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has accepted an enforceable undertaking (EU) from equipment rental hire company Pacific Hire Wangaratta in response to a severe mass breach. As part of the EU, the company will spend over $54,000 on mass education

initiatives including delivering a load restraint driver training handbook, which the NHVR says will be made available to industry as a downloadable resource. Staff will receive training on load restraint requirements and the safe stowing of high-risk equipment, which includes elevated

work platform, forklift, and yellow card requirements. Biannual safety management system audits and reviews will be conducted with senior management, and monthly toolbox meetings, transport procedures and processes will be discussed with staff. NHVR director of pros-

ecutions, Belinda Hughes, said Pacific Hire Wangaratta would need to make significant changes to their operations to prevent a recurrence. “Pacific Hire Wangaratta has committed over $54,000 towards education initiatives to rectify its safety breaches – a considerable investment that could not have been

achieved through a court fine,” said Hughes. “It demonstrates the company’s commitment to educate, train and raise awareness in complying with the Heavy Vehicle National Law.” Failures to comply with the EU can lead to a person or entity being prosecuted.

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Fears grow for operators amid FTC silence

BY JAMES GRAHAM

STEVE Shearer had etched July 1 in his calendar as a critical date for the industry to right the ship. If the Fuel Tax Credit (FTC) wasn’t restored by that date, a nationwide survey by the South Australian Road Transport Association (SARTA) executive officer revealed that a staggering 8 per cent of road transport businesses would collapse. Shearer now fears even more carnage to come – the same

survey shows 57 per cent of operators won’t survive until the end of September, the date that the fuel excise tax of 44.2 cents per litre (cpl) is due to resume, and along with it the ability of operators to claim back 17.8cpl as an FTC. Speaking at the recent National Road Freighters Association conference in Toowoomba, Shearer told Big Rigs his biggest concern now was there was still no direct word from a federal minister about a solution.

“And it really makes me worried that the bureaucrats have convinced the Treasurer to just wait to see what happens in July and take a let’s see if people pay their BAS approach, because most people are going to try to,” said Shearer, who has been at the forefront of lobbying for the FTC reinstatement since the Morrison government annulled the cash injection in the last budget. “Well, coming up with the money in one quarter doesn’t mean you can come up with it

With prices at the pumps continuing to rise, Shearer fears for the future of operators.

in another when fuel prices are skyrocketing, truck prices have gone up by $40,000, wages have just gone up, superannuation has just gone up. “Where the hell is the extra money going to come from because customers, by-and-large, are still not agreeing to offset the loss of the 17.8 cents fuel tax credit.” Shearer said he wasn’t putting his faith in assurances from Senator Glenn Sterle at the conference that he’d been told by the Treasurer Jim Chalmers that the FTC would be reinstated by September. “He’s got a commitment that it’d be back by the end of September, and that’s great, but I don’t take that for granted until I actually see the federal budget,” added Shearer. Shearer’s confidence levels around an FTC resumption took another hit when he received a letter from Carol Brown, the new Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, two days after the conference. In the letter sighted by Big Rigs, Brown acknowledges the strain the loss of the 17.8cpl rebate has put on operators.

“This measure was rushed through by the previous government without consultation, meaning businesses did not have time to adjust their arrangements and are therefore not seeing the benefits,” Brown writes. “Upfront reductions in fuel costs have since been overtaken by further rises in fuel prices and pressure on freight rates. “I also understand many operators rely on Fuel Tax Credits to offset the cost of their other tax liabilities, leading to difficult circumstances for many in the industry.” But the only lifeline she could offer those feeling the strain was to alert Shearer to the fact the ATO is making interest-free deferral of tax payments more widely available. “This can provide immediate help for those currently struggling with cash-flow difficulties,” she added. Shearer, however, said that response only reinforces his concerns that ministers are only listening to bureaucrats who are still failing to grasp the full impacts of the fuel excise tax cut. “I think it’s an outrage to

NEWS 3

SARTA executive officer Steve Shearer isn’t impressed by the response from the Labor government.

suggest to industry that we’ll give you six months to pay your debt off. It’s a bloody debt we shouldn’t even have,” Shearer said. “The point they’re missing is that most of the industry does not have bargaining power. “Their customers see fuel prices drop by 22 cents, or at least an announcement of that reduction, and therefore they expect to see that reflected in a reduction in the rate. “So, you pass on the full 22 cent fuel excise cut to the customer, and very few truck operators have managed to negotiate their way past that and offset the loss of the 17.8 cents [FTC].”

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Senator pledges support for truckies

BY JAMES GRAHAM

NEWLY appointed assistant transport minister Carol Brown has given truckies a reassurance that she will fight tooth and nail for them in Canberra and be as accessible as possible to fix the many issues they now face. Speaking at the National Road Freighters Association’s annual conference in Toowoomba earlier this month, her first official engagement in front of the trucking industry, the Tasmanian senator reinforced the importance of the industry to her party. “Throughout the pandemic people in the community saw for the very first time how essential the trucking industry is because if you’re not there, people simply don’t eat,” said Brown. “People don’t get the goods they rely on, day in and day out. “So, my pledge to you is that we’re here for the industry. We’re here to make sure this industry works for you, and that the industry is as safe as possible for you.”

A proud Tasmanian, Brown said she was keen to be at the grassroots truckies’ conference so drivers could get a good “line of sight on who I am and what type of person I am.” “I’ve come from a family of 15 – six brothers, six sisters. “We did it tough and I know what it’s like when you need a little bit of a helping hand to be able to do your job properly, to be able to do your job where you’re making a good living. “So, when we’re talking about an essential service, the government’s job is to make sure that helping hand is a positive one. One that seeks to assist, not one that seeks to hinder, and that is what I will be trying to do for you.” Senator Brown also said she’s keen to take up the invitations she received for a ride in a truck. “I’m sure that when they asked me with a twinkle in their eye that I’m in for an experience, but I’m up for it,” she said. “I just ask you to put your trust in me as one of your representatives, and to put

your trust in the government because we’re here to make a difference and that difference needs to be a positive one for you.” Senator Brown also re-enforced the government’s election commitment of $80m for dedicated, top class rest areas for truckies. “Quality rest is essential for safe trucking, but in order to get quality rest you need quality rest areas. That is why we announced in the election campaign that we would provide $80 million for new and upgraded rest areas,” Senator Brown told the conference. Senator Brown assured the conference attendees that work on the program design to deliver on this important election commitment had already begun as part of the preparation for the October budget. Specific projects will be selected in close consultation with the men and women who have their hands on the steering wheel day in and day out. “The government is committed to keeping these hardworking Australians safe, and providing a dedicated rest area

Long-time friends, Labor Senators Glenn Sterle and Carol Brown are looking forward to fighting for truckies’ rights in Canberra.

policy and program is an important part of that commitment.” Brown said she looks forward to working closely with long-time friend, WA Labor Senator Glenn Sterle, the former truckie who was Shadow Assistant Minister for Road Safety. Sterle also spoke at the conference and admitted he was disappointed to not get Brown’s role in the cabinet, but reconfirmed his commitment to advocating for industry and stopping the squeeze

on the supply chain from the top down. “We’re at a stage now where we can’t continue down the same path,” said Sterle, who also reiterated his push for an independent body to represent the industry in Canberra, as highlighted in his recent Senate inquiry. “I know there’s past histories and there’s old wars, but it brings me to this: we’ve got to bury that and we have to find what unites us. I could probably go through 20 things that we all agree on, yet we haven’t

been able to present a unified voice in Canberra. “So, now’s the time to fix it and I can deliver this message for you today from minister Tony Burke [Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations], and that is for the first time, the NRFA will be at the table. “The truck drivers’ voice won’t be one against several associations, it will have 50 per cent of the equation because you are the men and women who live and breathe this stuff.”

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Education before fines, promises NHVR

NATIONAL Heavy Vehicle Regulator CEO Sal Petroccitto wants truckies to know that he empathises with the pressures they’re under. That was one of the key messages he was keen to relay on to attendees while speaking at the National Road Freighters Association (NRFA) conference in Toowoomba earlier this month. He acknowledged that the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) presented many issues for drivers, but was “doing

his best to fix it.” While the long-winded HVNL law reform process drags on, NRFA president Rod Hannifey asked if Petroccitto had any ideas on how truckies might be able to avoid copping so many heavy-handed fines for seemingly insignificant work diary infringements. “I think the approach we’re taking of educating, informing, and where necessary enforcing will continue to deliver what you’re suggesting,” said Petroccitto.

“But the challenge there is that there is more blue uniforms than there are grey ones. We are working with them and there is a willingness to start to change but it is just going to take some time.” Hannifey also asked about the possibility of regulator reviews for fines issued by police under the HVNL. “We have stepped in a couple of times, as you know, where we’ve been made aware that maybe the officer has misinterpreted the way the legislation

NHVR is working closely with police to get their ‘education first’ message across.

should have been interpreted. “And we’ve had some success and others we haven’t but we’re always happy to explore those.” Petroccitto said out of the overall number of infringements issued by the NHVR last year of 30,000, fatigue only represented about 500 of those. “Of that 500, about half of them were administrative which we’re working to try and fix so we probably are seeing a decline. “The issue is that the penalties aren’t cheap. And just to clarify one point, I don’t decide the penalties. They are decided through legislation, and the legislation requires a CPI increase applies to the penalties.” Petroccitto told Hannifey that he believed the regulator is doing its “fair bit” but conceded there is still education that has to happen with his officers as well. “And that’s happening, and we are having those discussions.” To illustrate why understanding the pressures drivers are under is so important, Petroccitto shared the story of an intercept he had been on

NEWS 5

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto is concerned about owner-drivers.

in Victoria about two months ago. “This poor individual when he hopped out of his truck, took his shirt off, threw his wallet at me, gave me his keys and walked off. “We were a bit worried about him so we waited around just to understand what was going on. This guy had unfortunately had a couple of really uncomfortable interventions with a couple of other law enforcement agencies, not mine, and as we walked through and understood what his concerns were, my officers actually listened to his concerns. “We took the view that he actually was endeavouring to do the right thing and he had made a genuine mistake, so we erred that education was better than enforcement.”

Three weeks later, Petroccitto said the driver called him to apologise for his behaviour. “He said, ‘Sal, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have acted that way. I understand now what you were trying to do in trying to help me’. We’ve agreed now to meet with him and really try and work out how we can better work through what he did, but what that also indicated was that you guys in the owner-driver sector are hurting, and I’m concerned about that. “The reason why I’m concerned about that is that the quality and calibre of the owner-driver sector, if it starts to dissipate and you in this room don’t exist. What comes behind it is probably greater in terms of risk to road safety in this country than anything else, and we’re aware of that.”

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6 NEWS

FRIDAY JULY 22 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Safer for trucks to travel at same speed: NatRoad

NatRoad’s strong view is that speed variability can lead to inadvertent non-compliance.

SPEED limits are not a silver bullet for road safety improvement, the National Road Transport Association has told a NSW Parliamentary committee. The Standing Committee on Road Safety – better known as Staysafe – is enquiring into regional speed limits and road safety. In its submission, NatRoad said that while speed must always be appropriate to road conditions, governments at all levels need to bite the bullet and massively upgrade infrastructure. “There is no better example

than the upgrade currently underway on the Kings Highway which is the state road linking Canberra with Batemans Bay on the NSW South Coast,” said NatRoad CEO Warren Clark. “Its focus is on building overtaking lanes and installing safety treatments, like widened centrelines and shoulders, safety barriers and audio-tactile line marking. “Safety improvements like these are much more important than speed management, which all too frequently becomes a revenue-raiser.” NatRoad wants Transport

for NSW to ban vulnerable road users such as cyclists from a range of highways, as they are with freeways. “TfNSW really needs to take a close look at risk management starting with restricting bicycle access to the Pacific Highway,” Clark said. The contentious question of variable speed limits has been raised by NatRoad members who say its incidence is increasing. “Our strong view is that variability can lead to inadvertent non-compliance, largely unrelated to safety issues, and is a poor way to deal

with safety,” Clark said. “Variable speed limits cause frustration and we see it in the behaviour of light vehicle drivers who often overtake trucks in a dangerous manner. “Wherever possible, we want road designers to make sure heavy and light vehicles are separated and there must be a greater focus on educating people in appropriate driving behaviour around heavy vehicles. “It’s safer if all heavy vehicles are permitted to travel at the same maximum speed because it reduces the need for overtaking. “The difference in handling and stability for different types of combinations at a 10km/h speed difference is minimal and does not outweigh the benefits of the same maximum speed.” Clark said policy-makers should note the 2020 National Truck Accident Research Centre that found where a car and a truck were involved in a fatal crash, the car was the at-fault party 78.3 per cent of the time. “This figure has exceeded 90 per cent in past reports,” Clark said.

Reader reaction Bruce Skelton I recall when 80 was the open road speed for semi-trailers we got 100 in NSW with speed-limiters in Qld you had to travel 10ks under posted speed in built up areas but all vehicles should be allowed to travel at posted limits and those that hold up traffic then speed up at passing lanes should be fined and put of the road for 24 hours. Sean Tex James 100 per cent! Look at the highway south or Port Augusta, road trains 90km/h, B-doubles 100km/h, and cars 110km/h, then get to an overtaking lane and everybody trying to have a go and they wonder why car drivers end up doing stupid things.

Shane Gibbs I remember the days before speed limiters, sitting on the 140 mark, and people still got impatient, and overtook in unsafe situations. Does not matter what speed you’re going, the mentality of needing to be in front of a truck will always be there. Peter Case Drivers of all vehicles need more training. Plan your overtake better and if there isn’t enough space then you’ll have to wait. The main reason it’s a stupid idea to increase the speed limit is because the surface we’re driving on is pathetic. And handing licences out to people that can’t drive simply because they paid their fee isn’t doing anyone any good either.

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NEWS 7

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JULY 22 2022

Senator shocked at state of Gatton pads

BY JAMES GRAHAM

TRUCKIES’ advocate Wes Walker has his fingers crossed that some of the $80 million Labor has pledged to build more rest areas for truckies will be used to install toilets at the Gatton pads. Walker’s hopes were bouyed by Labor Senators Glenn Sterle and Carol Brown, the newly-appointed Assistant Road Transport Minister, taking up his invitation to visit the busy decoupling site on the Warrego Highway. Sterle and Brown were

joined by NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto while attending the National Road Freighters Association annual conference in nearby Toowoomba on July 9. Walker, 58, a disability pensioner, isn’t a truckie himself, but has friends who are and has been fighting relentlessly for their rights, and the hundreds of other drivers who are caught short each week while moving the freight that keeps Queensland’s shelves stocked. The trio of dignitaries were able to see first-hand that the supposed bio-security risk toilets would pose to the adjoin-

The adjoining grass verges are littered with rubbish and are being used as a makeshift toilet.

ing fields held little stock, with food wrappers, rubbish, toilet paper and clothing items littered along the grass verge. Meanwhile, 7km up the road along the Warrego Highway, the heavy vehicle rest area which boasted three-times the rubbish bins, plush new toilets, outdoor tables and sun shelters, was empty when Big Rigs stopped by. “It’s a bloody disgrace,” said Sterle. “I can’t believe that in this day and age we can build a road train assembly area, an hour and a half out of Brisbane, and think that our drivers are going to come out there to hook up, put it all together and then have no access to a toilet or a shower. “Same thing coming back. It is 2022. We need fit for purpose road train assembly areas. “The other thing that raised my eyebrows is that there are no massive roadhouses east or west of the this facility. “But who the hell wants to stop at a road train hook-up, put it all together without a shower and have to stop again. You don’t want to stop again; truckies are on fatigue management.”

Labor Senators Glenn Sterle, far left, and Carol Brown are joined by NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto and Wes Walker at the Gatton pads. Photo: James Graham

Sterle said the decoupling facility is a classic example of one that has been designed by someone who has “no idea” about what it should be and has failed to consult adequately with industry. “To think that you can lay x amount of 1000s of square metres of bitumen, put a few lights in there and think you’ve done a good job. “I’d love to see the bureaucrats who designed it put a light on their head and wander out into their backyard in the middle of the night with a roll of toilet paper tucked under their arm and do what they

had to do before going off to work.” Sterle said the ultimate decision on whether a portion of the $80m set aside in Labor’s first budget in government will be used for the toilets would be left to the committee of truckies Labor is tasking with overseeing the spend. But he did say that transport minister Mark Bailey and the Queensland government also need to “step up the plate there”. “I’d really like to sit down with Mark and say ‘come on mate, $18 million for a facility is fantastic but there is

no reason why we can’t find something [to build more facilities].’” The Department of Transport and Main Roads, however, has always stuck to its guns on the issue when approached by Big Rigs for an explanation. “The decision to omit toilets from the facility was due to the University of Queensland objecting to the biosecurity risk of human waste or litter being left at the site, which may impact their agricultural research programs,” said a TMR spokesperson, adding that no toilets will be installed at the site in the future.

8 OPINION

FRIDAY JULY 22 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Senator scores early win

EDITOR JAMES GRAHAM

YOU have to admire Tassie Senator Carol Brown for fronting at the National Road Freighters Association (NRFA) annual conference in Toowoomba earlier this month. Of all the industry gatherings in which to make a debut, and there are a fair few to choose from, this is one of the toughest crowds of them all for a newly appointed assistant transport minister to win over. Yet a seemingly unflappable Brown handled herself with aplomb, pledging her unflinching support and promising an open-door policy. Of course, she was cut plenty of slack, being so new to the role and sector. The proof of her worth will be in the coming weeks when Labor has to make good on its pre-election pledge of $80m for rest areas and installing an independent body to give the industry the unified voice it so desperately needs.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR All this secrecy in transport agencies is unacceptable OUR publication of the membership of Infrastructure Transport Senior Officials Committee, the National Transport Commission, Australian Road Research Board,

Austroads, etc, in a recent issue of our Friday Facts newsletter attracted a lot of attention. If you missed it, or would like to subscribe, just email us

The ATA is opening up the discussion out of concern around transparency.

at ata@truck.net.au. When we asked the Commonwealth department for the membership of the ITSOC board, they provided this response: “This membership list is not a public document.” I have worked in federal, state and local government and have never seen anything like this level of secrecy. We’re opening up this discussion because we’re concerned about the lack of transparency and openness from some government agencies. It’s simply unacceptable

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that the ATA had to use legal avenues for documents from the NTC and some state jurisdictions. This then leads to the ongoing relationship between government and industry at senior levels. National cabinet is rightly focused on productivity and yet we have a situation where Ken Kanofski is reviewing the NTC review of the Heavy Vehicle National Law. ATA Chair, David Smith was right in his Big Rigs column when he described this ‘review within a review’ as ‘madness’.

He’s also right when he said it ‘gives the finger’ to the government’s commitment to productivity. The ATA has written to departmental heads about this untenable situation. The departmental heads have a lot of influence. They’re the people who ministers turn to for high level advice. However, all too often, these department heads don’t get up to speed on issues until a few days before meetings with ministers. Too few have structured discussions with industry leaders.

We know that many have their work cut out for them handling the internal dynamics of their departments. However, when it comes to national freight matters, we fear they’re not focusing enough on their customers, the tax-paying public. Even the European Union is more coordinated than Australia when it comes to interstate transport and it has far more bodies to contend with. We can do better. - Kylie Johnson A TA communications manager

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10 NEWS

Red tape slashed for PBS vehicles Emu Plains and Marrangaroo.

The NSW Level 2B network connects with Eastern Victoria along with the Princes, Monaro, and Hume Highways.

A new National Class 2 Performance Based Standards (High Productivity) Authorisation Notice 2022 has been published in NSW, the freight branch of Transport for NSW announced. The new updated notice, first released by the NHVR, provides “streamlined access for more productive, safer and sustainable heavy vehicle types on key freight routes throughout NSW,” the statement added. “Thousands of permits will be replaced by this notice, saving administrative time and cost for both industry and government. Moving more of the freight task with less heavy vehicle movements is good for all. “The new network supports access for higher productivity PBS vehicles to travel under notice on over 15,000 kilometres of state road, including vi-

tal routes for freight, the Hume and Newell highways and the Sydney Motorway network.” The notice provides access for the following vehicle types without the need for permits: • PBS level 2B tandem dolly A-doubles. • 3 designs of Tier 3 PBS 2B A-doubles at up to 85.0 tonnes (HML). • Tier 3 PBS Level 1 Quad Axle semi-trailers (up to 20m in length), meeting or exceeding the minimum axle spacing requirements on the PBS Level 1 HML state road network at 50.5 tonnes. • Tier 3 PBS 2B Quad Axle B-doubles up to 77.5 tonnes (HML). • 20m PBS Level 2 Truck and Dog combinations and B-doubles respectively up to 57.5 tonnes on the Great Western Highway between

Operators of complying PBS reference vehicles no longer need a permit to operate up to 85.5 tonnes in NSW and Victoria, said a statement by commercial vehicle engineering specialist Tiger Spider. “NSW has adopted the Victorian 30m A-double reference envelopes which means there is now a PBS A-double network connecting Australia’s two largest cities,” said Tiger Spider managing director Marcus Coleman. The NSW Level 2B network connects with Eastern Victoria along with the Princes, Monaro, and Hume Highways. “It is pleasing to see that NSW are prepared to put flexible and practical operating conditions to manage risk, rather than cutting off a critical part of the network,” said Coleman. The NSW network also extends to Canberra and along the coast all the way from Nowra to Coolangatta. “It provides a massive increase in the km of roadway available to PBS A-doubles in Eastern Australia at a useful weight increase over 26m B-doubles.

FRIDAY JULY 22 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Have your say on road user charges

“Whilst it is great for A-doubles it should also encourage more Quad-Quad and QuadTri Super B-doubles since the network and dimension restrictions appear less restrictive than in Victoria.” The 50.5 tonne quad-semi now gets a significant network upgrade and certainty of access with less restrictive axle spacing requirements than Victoria, added Coleman. “However, the minimum axle spacing is maybe still too large to attract all commodities which could benefit from a quad-semi-trailer configuration. “As we’ve previously argued, hopefully, we can move away from naming vehicle types and just adopt reference axle spacings. “This could open the way for B-triples and other, more innovative combinations. “Nevertheless, there is a lot on offer with this network. It will take some time to fully digest the implications of what it means and how it will impact fleet purchases. “But the network delivers certainty for operators and a glimpse at what a national PBS Network will look like.”

TRUCKIES and fleet operators are being asked to volunteer for phase two of the federal government’s trial of a new way of measuring road user charges (RUC). Instead of the existing pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) model of 26.4 cents per litre, plus rego costs, the government is trialling a system of pre-purchasing the kilometres that operators need for their vehicles using an online form and mock permits. Participants in the 12 month trial will receive a free hubodometer for each vehicle enrolled and be reimbursed for any fitment costs. Businesses across many industry sectors including refrigerated transport, removalists, general freight, forestry and logging, cranes, buses, bulk rural and livestock carriers, tankers and construction have signed on to participate. “The trials are an opportunity to test how an alternative approach to road user charging might affect your business in real time, and directly contribute to informing government decisions with your feedback,” said the government. In phase 3 of the trials, due to launch later this year, participants will test a direct road user charging model

based on mass, distance and location with data collected using telematics devices. ‘Mock’ invoices comparing current PAYGO charges (fuel excise and state/territory vehicle registration) to the alternative charging model will be provided each month during the trial. “I didn’t want the government telling me how they were going to charge us without having some sort of input,” said trial participant David Rogers of D.T. Rogers Bulk Transport in Wallace, Victoria. “I’m hoping it’ll be a different style of charging for rural transport.” Both trials propose that heavy vehicle charges are set on a forward-looking basis, rather than backward-looking. Road managers would report planned expenditure for the next year or two, and the heavy vehicle share would be worked out in a similar way to how it worked out now under the PAYGO system. If you would like to know how you can get involved, contact the trials team via the email National.Pilot@ infrastructure.gov.au, or call 1800 065 113 during business hours. For more information, visit infrastructure. gov.au.

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NEWS 11

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JULY 22 2022

Sidelined truckie supports tougher medical standards

BY JAMES GRAHAM

AS we went to press with this issue, Keven Mitchell’s future in the career he’s so passionate about hung in the balance. After a recent heart attack – his second in the last 12 years – the best the 48-year-old truckie could hope for would be a mandatory six-month standdown as he waited for the allclear from his specialist. But unlike the many drivers who voiced their disapproval of the newly released Assessing Fitness to Drive medical standards in a recent story on bigrigs.com.au, Bathurst-based Mitchell said the higher the bar the better. “I understand that a lot of people online are jumping up and down about the new regime for medicals, but I’m for it,” said Mitchell. “Potentially I could have had a stroke behind the wheel and wiped out some poor bastard’s family and survived and had to live with that for the rest of my life. “I would campaign for this. As much as we need drivers, do we need drivers who are potentially death on the road? No.”

Mitchell also wants to open up discussions around the mental impacts for drivers who are medically-denied the chance to do the job they love. “I’m dealing with that now, and I’m not dealing with it very well,” he said. “I’m very lucky in this aspect in that I have a leatherwork studio downstairs where I sell custom leatherwork for truckies, I have a hobby. “But how many drivers out there have nothing else to go to, nothing else up their sleeve? They go home and stare at the four walls and then the darkness sets in on them.” Mitchell said his struggles with his own mental health is why he started the Blue Crew, a fledging peer support network for truckies that was inspired by the shock suicide of an acquaintance about nine years earlier. “It involves calling up other drivers and asking them, ‘How are you doing?’ “I rang a driver the other day who was on the verge of a mental breakdown, and he was crying on the phone because he couldn’t cope anymore. “He couldn’t cope with ‘the

push’. He couldn’t cope with being away from home. He couldn’t cope with his kids not seeing him and him not seeing his kids. “We spent three hours on the phone just talking and that was one aspect that helped me, as well as it helped him and I don’t know any other way around it.” Mitchell said he’d been quietly gathering Blue Crew recruits for the last six months before beginning to raise awareness more on his TikTok trucking podcast, @thatstruckinpodcast. “There was nothing out there for the younger operators and the younger operators are the ones who aren’t coping,” he said. “When you’ve got a 24-yearold B-double operator who’s running east coast Brisbane to Melbourne ringing and telling you he can’t cope, and that he’s got a problem with his missus, his kids, he’s obese, he can’t get his weight regulated, he can’t get a good sleep pattern. “They’re breaking down on the phone to you. It makes me wonder what this industry is really going to do. Is this in-

dustry going to survive? Or is it going to be survived by old road pirates?” Mitchell believes a big part of the problem is that the people who are running the industry are not really paying any attention to what is really happening to truckies. “And then they’re asking more and more of us, and what they’re saying is that the technology is there so they’re putting in internal cameras in the trucks to monitor the drivers. “They’re doing all these things, but we’re not fixing the real problem. We’re not addressing the real issues. We’re putting band aids over band aids and hoping the blood won’t come out. Yeah, the blood just keeps seeping out of us.” In a perfect world, Mitchell would like to see mobile health units visit truck stops, even if that only involves five minutes with each driver. “Five minutes on the phone to somebody, to a driver who is in need, is amazing.” Lifeline: Ph 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: Ph 1300 22 4636 Health In Gear: Ph 1800 464

327

Truckie turned podcast host Keven Mitchell has started a peer support group to help drivers cope.

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12 FEATURE

FRIDAY JULY 22 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

IVECO Australia launches new era at Melbourne base

IVECO thanked the manufacturing team in this Facebook post for their hard work and dedication. Photo: IVECO/Facebook

BY JAMES GRAHAM IVECO Australia is doing its best to put a positive spin on the end of a celebrated era of production at its Dandenong plant in Melbourne. After more than 70 years of local manufacturing at the site – the last 30 with IVECO at the helm – the Italians reluctantly brought the curtain down on the busy assembly line that had churned out ageold favourites under the International badge, including the iconic ACCO range. Over subsequent years IVECO continued to invest in the ACCO line-up while introducing the heavy-duty Powerstar, Eurotech and Eurostar models, and later the Stralis range. In the medium duty market the Eurocargo was introduced, while in 1999 the Daily van and cab chassis range debuted here. The decision to finally end local production from July this year of its heavy-duty line up was announced toward the end of 2021 with a media release proclaiming that as part of a “global transformation process”, IVECO would instead

launch a Customisation and Innovation Centre (CIC). “The CIC is a business unit that will further leverage IVECO’s local engineering and manufacturing expertise, transforming the company’s focus towards the customisation and innovation of its vehicles for local markets,” the release added. Marco Quaranta, the local strategic projects and institutional relations manager, isn’t exactly sure how many of the 100-strong factory team will be out of work as a result. In an earlier emailed statement to Big Rigs, IVECO said the company continues to focus on “supporting its people”. By way of example, Quaranta points out that IVECO recently had held a ‘jobs fair’ in which 14 employers involved in similar industries were on site to meet with those staff impacted by the “manufacturing sundown” and explore new employment options with them. He understands that as many as 30-40 per cent of IVECO assembly line staff had gained work from that event, with a further 30-40 per cent having subsequent job interviews lined up. Quaranta said 20 have remained, and also

include personnel involved in the broader manufacturing/ logistics process. “It becomes difficult to have assembly operations and development around the world with the technology, emission levels, the safety becoming more and more demanding,” he said. “Therefore, the requirement is to have a central research and development centre and then the intention is to have local adaptation to the Australian conditions, and at the same time have an innovation centre which will look into the future of propulsion technologies, zero emission vehicles, which is very much my job. “So, some of our staff will remain in the logistics, in the materials, in that space, and then we will create staff with very high skills and training to operation on these very different technologies which will be much more challenging.” One of the first iterations of that technology to be finetuned at the new Melbourne CIC will be a prototype unit of a light-duty EV, which Quaranta predicts will land here for validation testing in the first half of 2023. Quaranta is also hope-

ful that in the same year he’ll welcome the first on-road result of the joint venture with the Nikola Corporation, the heavy-duty Nikola Tre, a hydrogen-electric truck which is already being snapped up by European and US fleets. “Clearly there you can see that there are challenges in regarding infrastructure, in regards to training, certification, total cost of ownership, and source,” said Quaranta. “We’re working with all

stakeholders in the government and training organisation to make it happen and that is basically what I do every day, that is my role.” Meanwhile, Quaranta is also looking forward to the imminent launch of the Madrid-produced S-Way B-double prime mover in the Australian market at the end of 2022. It’s the “next-gen” version of the popular IVECO Stralis X-Way, which up until the end of June came off the Dandenong assembly line. “It’s a new cab, interface, new architecture, interiors, also a new engine set-up. Not different in horsepower but more performance in terms of efficiency,” said Quaranta. Quaranta said he’s excited to be able to re-enter the B-double market in Australia with such two strong offerings. “It was a bit of a weakness because we exited that segment a few years ago because we needed a few developments in that direction, on the driveline of the vehicle, which we did in the last couple of years and last year, we were ready to launch. “We have a very good B-double at the moment with the 550 X-Way, which will be even better in the S-Way.” As a part of the local validation program, the trucks have been running in single and

B-double trailer combinations, as well as in rigid setup, and have covered several hundred thousand kilometres fully loaded. As well as milage accumulation, IVECO is closely evaluating collective load measurement and undertaking a full cooling system evaluation and localisation program, to ensure the models are ready to perform in the demanding Australian conditions. Along with this focus on driveline performance, IVECO is conducting a series of suspension and braking tests while also evaluating many of the vehicles’ new technology features including GPS predictive drive capabilities. The testing program also incorporates several exercises to evaluate fit and finish including door seal and noise reduction performance, while also evaluating a number of IVECO genuine accessories. IVECO Australia senior engineer, David Dunlop, said that S-Way was an important release for the company, and that the engineering team had been progressing to schedule with the trials and preparations for certification. “Testing undertaken to date has seen the S-Way evaluation vehicles perform extremely well,” Dunlop said.

The new Madrid-made S-Way prime mover is on track to launch in Australia at the end of 2022.

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14 COVER STORY

FRIDAY JULY 22 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Change of pace for popular Outback Truckers star You might be more likely to find Paul ‘Sludge’ Andrews, and his head-turning Peterbilt a little closer to home these days, but he still loves a challenge – with the ice roads next in his sights.

The truck was named after a country song called Phantom 309 – which had nothing to do with the comic book.

Imported from the US, ‘The Phantom’ was the first 140 tonne rated Peterbilt in Australia.

BY DANIELLE GULLACI IF you’re a fan of Outback Truckers, then you’ll have most likely seen Sludge, 54, and his specced-up custom 2008 Peterbilt 379 Extended Hood – known simply as ‘The Phantom’ – tackling all that Australia’s unforgiving outback had to throw at him. But early last year, he decid-

ed to make some big changes. “I had four trucks and now I’m down to one. It was getting too hard to get good operators. I was working around 20 hours a day, seven days a week for probably 15 years. I used to leave Sunday night, get home on Friday, then I’d spend the weekend working on the guys’ gear. I sold the other trucks 15 months ago,”

Sludge recently made the decision to downsize his fleet and focus his work closer to home.

Sludge was a regular on the television series Outback Truckers across many seasons.

he explained. Though Sludge had been considering downsizing his business for some time, it was the tragic death of his best mate that cemented the decision. “My best mate Mark, who was back in New Zealand, died of a brain aneurysm and two days later I sold the trucks. He was the one I did a lot of filming for with the orchard runs in New Zealand that were shown on Outback Truckers – we were really close,” said Sludge “It doesn’t matter what you’ve got, when your time’s up, it’s up.” The change has however been a big adjustment. “I think I do struggle sometimes with being at home, it’s had its ups and downs. When you’ve had 30 years of living on the road, it’s a big change. I do love being home at night though. Occasionally I’ll still go and do an overnight load when I feel like I need to get away again. I don’t want to be away all the time, but every now and then, I still like to head away. “Now it’s all mainly local, though I do the occasional run into Port Hedland. I made that change once I sold the other gear. The kids have all grown up too, they love riding motorbikes and stuff like me, so I’ve loved being able to go away on weekends with them too.” Originally from New Zea-

land, Sludge’s parents ran their own transport business. “Dad had trucks before I was born – so my passion became trucks. When I was really young, like six or seven years old, I used to go out and drive the trucks around the paddocks with Dad. We’d drive around and the guys would throw the hay bales in the back. I’d sit on the edge of the seat and away we went. That’s what my son did as he was growing up too. I have two sons who are 31 and 16, and a daughter who is 29 – but none of them are in trucks.” As a kid, Sludge loved going away in the truck. Sadly, tragedy struck and his father was killed in a truck accident when Sludge was just 14. That was the catalyst for his move to Australia. “A couple of years later I came to Perth,” he said. “Derek Murray was one of our drivers, he had his first job with dad, and I would go away with him a lot. He went all around the world and then settled in Perth. I went over there to visit him and go motorbike racing – and I never came home. It was supposed to be a holiday, but I ended up living with Derek and his family for over 10 years. “I was only 16 when I came here so he became my role model. He had his own trucking business over here called Derek Murray and Co, which still exists to this day, but he doesn’t own it any-

The truck’s impressive artwork makes it easily recognisable out on the highways.

more. He lives in Norway now. He helped set me up on my own. I used to work in a pellet mill in the day and at night I would go and drive trucks with him and help out. I wasn’t old enough to drive yet on my own, but I’ve been driving heavy vehicles since I was 16.” Sludge says Murray didn’t only teach him how to drive, he also brought him up after he lost his father. Though Sludge did return to New Zealand for a brief three-year stint to work with the family business, it didn’t work out, so he returned to Perth which

has been his home ever since. And it was here that he got his nickname too. “On the first day I arrived in Australia, we went out in Fremantle for drinks. I bought everyone a jug and half of them didn’t finish because the place was closing – so I started at one end and worked my way down. Nobody knew my name so they started calling me Sludge and it stuck. Even my pay packets had Sludge written at the top. No one used to know my name. Even my mum calls me Sludge now too,” he laughed. Continued page 16

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16 COVER STORY

FRIDAY JULY 22 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

This truck is all about the finer details

When he first saw the flaming skull artwork, Sludge wasn’t a fan, but it didn’t take long to change his mind.

Sludge says his appearances on Outback Truckers opened a lot of doors for him.

From page 14 BY 2004, Sludge started his business Paul Andrews Transport and by 2009, he became the proud owner of his dream truck, The Phantom. It came over from the United States and was converted to right hand drive and built up in Melbourne by Christy Custom Trucks. “It was the first 140 tonne rated Peterbilt in Australia,” said Sludge. “Ever since I was a

kid, I’ve always loved Peterbilt. In every movie I watched, if there was a truck, it was always a Peterbilt – it was my dream truck.” Surprisingly the theme of the truck actually came about by accident. Sludge had named his Peterbilt after a country song called Phantom 309 by Red Sovine, which was about a haunted truck. “It was never anything to do with the comic

book. I just wanted the words ‘The Phantom’ airbrushed onto the side of the truck, but because I had it painted purple, he said if you let me do what I want to it, I’ll look after you – and back then airbrushing was quite expensive. They never told me what they were doing, they just painted it and did all the artwork,” he explained. Sludge and his late friend Mark flew from Perth to Me-

bourne to pick up the truck. “And I was just blown away. The only thing I didn’t like were the flames on the sides with the skulls. He said if you don’t like them by the time you get home, I’ll paint over them. But once I got used to it, it was just incredible. “Every nut and bolt has a chrome skull cap. We put a Foxtel dish on the roof, so you just push a button and the sat-

Christy Custom Trucks in Melbourne converted the truck to righthand drive.

Sludge and his partner Wendy.

Sludge carts all manner of freight, from fruit and hay to oversize machinery and concrete bridge spans.

ellite goes up and turns around to pick up the signal – there was nothing in Australia remotely like this truck. And I never asked for that. Once it had the name and the colour purple, it went mad, and everyone wanted a piece of it, so I feel quite privileged because I got this showpiece. It was unbelievable to drive it home that first time. Every time we stopped, people just went mad for it. It was pretty cool.” And soon the truck was given even more attention, after Sludge took part in the television series Outback Truckers. He made regular appearances from season 3 through to season 9. Though a tenth season hasn’t been confirmed, many fans are hopeful of a return of the popular reality show. “It’s been an awesome ride for me. They’re hoping to get another season off

the ground, and if they do, I’ll be there quicker than you can say boo,” Sludge said. “They’re hoping to get the funding for another season and are still pushing to do the show again. For me personally, it’s opened a lot of doors. Before Covid, I had tickets booked for the UK, so now I’m planning on doing some driving over there next year. “It’s also opened up an opportunity to do the ice roads too. I’ve been doing podcasts with a guy in America, and two of his mates are ice road truckies. I really want to do that – that will probably be one of the highlights for me – driving across the frozen lakes into the unknown, when it’s minus 20 degrees, that’s something I really want to do. An opportunity like that doesn’t come along every day.”

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18 FEATURE

FRIDAY JULY 22 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Truckies promised seat at Canberra table with Labor The National Road Freighters Association was offered a voice where it counts most during its recent annual conference.

MC Mike Williams changed his tune about Senator Carol Brown after hearing her speak in Toowoomba.

The expert panel tackled some of most vexing questions for truckies and offered up tangible solutions.

PODCAST HOST MIKE WILLIAMS mike@ontheroadpodcast.com.au

ON Saturday, July 9, the National Road Freighters Association (NRFA) held its first faceto-face conference since before the Covid situation began and brought conferences and the multitude of other normal aspects of our lives to a halt. Zoom meetings have been par for the course so it was a great thing to finally catch up with old friends and make some new ones at the venue in Toowoomba. I’m well on the record saying I believe our transport industry is in trouble. I’m not on my own there. Parts of it are broken and need urgent attention. That’s why it was gratifying to see such a diverse group of voices in one location addressing the same issues. Unfortunately, I suspect that it is an indication of the depth and number of challenges we face that brings the voices together. It was also the first chance we’ve had to see our new Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Senator Carol Brown, in action. To listen to her views and really see what she’s bringing to the table. It’s got to be hard to be appointed to a role where so much is expected. Let’s face it, we’ve been neglected under the previous government and dealt a foul blow just before they departed with the cynical vote grab attempt on fuel excise which saw our industry slapped in the face with no warning at all.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE A FRIEND IN SENATOR BROWN WHO WILL LISTEN TO INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES AND WITH THE ABLE ASSISTANCE OF SENATOR STERLE MARK A DISTINCT AND WELCOME CHANGE IN APPROACH.” MIKE WILLIAMS

We’re not the easiest bunch to get to know either: we’re cynical, we’ve been hit before and we keep getting hit. It’s hard to build trust and relationships. I was blunt in my assessment that when the cabinet appointments were announced we’d been hit again. I said, and I own it, that the majority of us wouldn’t have been able to pick Senator Brown out of a line-up. After meeting her, seeing her in action, listening to her words and her obvious sincerity I’ve got no problem saying she earned my respect, if only for the fact she walked into a room full of truckies and industry representatives from across the board. For some it would have been the easy choice to be unavailable and avoid the scrutiny. Senator Brown spoke with authority giving commitment to do whatever she could to move us forward. The commitments to rest area funding will be honoured – $80 million is the largest single commitment to rest areas we’ve seen, more than that, we have the guarantee that truckies direct where those funds are spent, not pencil pushers who’ve never had to spend a night in a rest area. Recommendations from Senator Sterle’s inquiry will

be prioritised and work commenced on appropriate steps to enact positive change. My understanding also is when that excise cut returns to fuel, as it must, the fuel tax credit will be reinstated. This certainly will be a relief to many. I believe we have a friend in Senator Brown who will listen to industry representatives and with the able assistance of Senator Sterle mark a distinct and welcome change in approach to the previous government. Let’s see where we are in six months. The afternoon was devoted to question and answer by a panel including (in no order of preference): NRFA president Rod Hannifey, NRFA NSW director Craig Forsyth, Senator Glenn Sterle, NTI risk assessment engineer Adam Gibson, TWU NSW/QLD state secretary Richard Olsen, NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto, and ATA CEO Michael Deegan. All the

panellists, with the exception of Forsyth, had spoken in the morning session. It was an enlightening session that brought forward some of the real issues facing trucking. The panel were open in their responses. There’s no doubt in my mind we’re going to be fellow travellers on many of the issues. It was said quite openly that the NRFA will have a seat at the table when industry issues are discussed. For me this is an important recognition of the willingness of both government and the NHVR to listen to the views of drivers and consider the impact on us actually doing the work. It’s also an indication of the value of joining some organisation to get your voice heard. If not the NRFA then the TWU or some other organisation. The NTC representative who presented in the morning session didn’t participate in the panel discussion.

The dinner on Saturday night was well attended with Glenn ‘Yogi’ Kendall the NRFA delegate from WA entertaining the guests with his usual brand of irreverent story telling. Yogi had a message though, that is that he feels there’s been a change in the etiquette within the industry. We’re not as tolerant of each other as we once were and drivers now coming into the industry could perhaps learn that it doesn’t hurt to treat each other with respect and also that respect is a twoway street. Several awards were presented. The Noel Porter Award was presented to Glenn Sterle by Rod Hannifey for his contribution to transport over the covid period and his dedication to improvement driver access to facilities. Four recipients of the Terrie Bradley Award were named. These were Sally Tipping,

The $80 million pledge from Labor for rest areas is the largest single commitment we’ve seen.

Angela Welsh, Shelley Mitchell and Leanne Dyer for their hard work and service to the industry in an administrative role and their work during the Covid crisis. NRFA life membership was awarded to dedicated member Herb Adkins. The night was rounded out with a vigorous and also humorous auction seeing some premium prices paid for a huge variety of trucking bits and pieces. It was more fun than I’ve had in a long time. I thank the NRFA for inviting me to MC the event. I’m proud to be a member. You can contact me via @ theoztrucker on twitter, On The Road Podcast (@otrpodcastaus) on Facebook or go to ontheroadpodcast.com.au to leave a comment and see links to the show, or email me directly at mike@ontheroadpodcast.com.au. • For more conference photos, turn to page 24.

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20 FEATURE

FRIDAY JULY 22 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Cleary Bros selects Actros for A-double combination

CLEARY Bros has introduced its first high productivity A-double Mercedes-Benz Actros, delivering a 14-tonne gain over the truck and quad dog combination it replaces. With a Gross Combination Mass of 74.5 tonnes, the PBS approved set-up is ready to start delivering for the construction industry-focused operation based in Port Kembla. Daimler Trucks advanced safety technology was one of the main reasons Cleary Bros chose the 2663 Actros, having experienced the features in a Freightliner Cascadia 116 already working on the company fleet.

“Safety is paramount in everything that we do, but it becomes even more critical when you are running higher productivity vehicles,” said Cleary Bros Transport general manager Steve Crandell. “We have been really impressed by the active safety features in our Freightliner Cascadia 116 and we know it uses the same technology as the Actros. We are not going to go backwards when it comes to safety,” Crandell added. Actros standard safety systems include the fifth-generation radar/camera Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS), which can now automatically perform full emer-

The advanced safety technology was one of the main reasons Cleary Bros chose the 2663 Actros.

gency braking for vehicles and pedestrians, as well as Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) and Attention Assist (AA). The Cleary Bros safety-first approach extends to the aluminium Tefco trailer set, which features ABS, Electronic Braking System (EBS), Roll Stability System (RSS) and anti-burst hydraulics on tipping hoists. When the tailgate opens, the trailer airbags automatically release to drop down and improve the centre of gravity as the vehicle unloads. Cleary Bros chose the 2663 Actros, which features the 630hp 16-litre engine that also produces a hefty 3000Nm of torque. It is linked to a fully a 12-speed Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) with creep mode. “The performance of the 16-litre was certainly one of the reasons we choice the Actros,” Crandell said. “We have been impressed by the 13-litre Daimler Truck engine in the Cascadia 116, so we know the strength of the engine family and the 12-speed AMT is also excellent.” Cleary Bros also selected the Predictive Powertrain Control (PPC) system, which uses topographic map data to help the truck anticipate terrain and select the optimum shift pattern and engine response for maximum fuel

The PBS approved set-up is ready to start delivering for the construction industry-focused operation based in Port Kembla.

economy. It also helps maximise the amount of time the truck spends coasting, driving down fuel consumption. Cleary Bros looked into introducing an A-double as a way of boosting its productivity on the long runs the truck will cover each week. “Our truck and quad-axle

dogs have a payload of about 38-tonnes, but with this A Double Actros we are getting an additional 14 tonnes on every trip,” Crandell said. “That kind of productivity gain adds up pretty quickly.” Like all Actros models, the Cleary Bros 2663 features the Multimedia Cockpit system,

which consists of two large customisable tablet screens that present driver information in super crisp detail. All new Mercedes-Benz Actros models are supported with a complimentary Best Basic service plan that applies for 500,000km or five years, whichever comes first.

Heavy duty segment drives record month of truck sales DESPITE the pain at the pumps, ongoing skills shortages and many other industry pressures facing operators, new heavy vehicle sales in Australia continue to set new records. The latest numbers in from the Truck Industry Council (TIC) show that June reset the bar with 4987 units sold across all categories, surpassing the previous best monthly high of 4741 set in the same month last year. It was only in June 2018 that the 4000 sales mark in a

single month was broken for the first time and now just four years on, sales have almost broken through the 5000 barrier, no doubt due to the continuation of the instant asset rightoff incentive. Prior to 2018 the best sales month was shared by June 2007 and June 2009 when 3718 new heavy trucks were sold. There was also plenty for heavy duty dealerships to celebrate last month with 1494 heavies sold in June, breaking the previous record of 1433 set

in June 2018. It was an especially big month for Volvo which narrowly overtook Isuzu for the first time since the end of 2021 to reclaim second overall category spot behind Kenworth. Kenworth notched 298 orders for June, with Volvo just 30 back on 266 and Isuzu on 200. Kenworth has now opened up another unassailable lead of 1420 year-to-date YTD, followed by Volvo on 1021 and Isuzu on 1010. TIC says the overall num-

bers show the heavy-duty segment is in a healthy place halfway through the year. The record monthly total of 1594 deliveries is up 16 per cent (220 trucks) over the same month in 2021. Looking at quarter two in isolation, TIC again sees an encouraging performance with 3904 sales for April to June, up on the second quarter 2021 result by a significant 551 trucks (14.1 per cent). The medium duty segment has been a surprise so far in 2022 with strong sales growth

over 2021 and June was another strong month for the segment, reports TIC. Just under 1000 (997) medium duty trucks were delivered last month, up 19.5 per-cent (163 trucks) over June 2021. Amongst all the good news, struggles continue for the van segment, with June sales (vans with a GVM between 3500kg and 8000kg) well down over 2021 June results. TIC CEO Tony McMullan said the van segment’s woes is a reminder of the fragility of the market’s ongoing supply

chain issues that could potentially affect the truck sector too. “I also see strong headwinds ahead for our economy, with rising inflation and interest rates likely to slow spending and tighten the borrowing capacity of some organisations,” McMullan warned. “I certainly hope that sales in the second half of 2022 continue apace and that the 2018 sales mark can be surpassed, though that is not guaranteed by any means at this point in time.”

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22 SPONSORED CONTENT

FRIDAY JULY 22 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

New Cascadias are ‘magic to drive’

LANE Transport has celebrated its 30 year anniversary with the purchase of a second Freightliner Cascadia. Based in Kilarney on Victoria’s south-western coast, the business operates a mixed fleet of 37 B-doubles that run across Australia’s eastern seaboard and into South Australia. Lane Transport founder Noel Lane started the business off with a 1418 Mercedes-Benz and a Ford LNT 9000, hauling produce from his family’s potato farm in Western Victoria. He soon started delivering pulp and paper for Visy, who he still carries for today, before adding more packaging and other products from many different customers through the years. Among the materials moved by Lane Transport are glass bottles that are picked up from a manufacturing facility in Gawler, South Australia, and delivered to wineries across that state, as well as Victoria and New South Wales. In 2021, Lane purchased a striking blue Cascadia 116, one of the smart rigs on the Daimler Truck stand at the Brisbane Truck Show. He recently added the second Cascadia to his fleet – but this time it was a 126 model. It wears some special signage celebrating 30 years of Lane Transport, which has grown significantly over the years. The industry veteran says he is glad to have introduced the Cascadias, telling Big Rigs how good they are out on the road. “They are just magic to drive,” he said. “The comfort is amazing, it’s like driving a big car in some ways. They are really comfortable and quiet and have the AMTs, which really make life a lot easier.” The second Cascadia to start work for Lane Transport is a 126 model with a 36inch sleeper. It tows a B-dou-

THE COMFORT IS AMAZING, IT’S LIKE DRIVING A BIG CAR IN SOME WAYS. THEY ARE REALLY COMFORTABLE AND QUIET AND HAVE THE AMTS, WHICH REALLY MAKE LIFE A LOT EASIER.” NOEL LANE

ble trailer set and runs at 65 tonnes Gross Vehicle Mass (GCM) under mass management. The 36-inch cab gives the drivers, who are often away from home, a decent amount of space while still allowing the Cascadia to fit in front of a B-double trailer set. For those who don’t have the same packaging constraints, the Cascadia can also be selected with a 48-inch or 60-inch cab. Lane added that the Cascadia is very strong when it comes to fuel efficiency running at 65-tonnes, comparing it to the Mercedes-Benz Actros trucks in his fleet, which are well-known fuel misers. “It would have to be close to the Actros, just under the 2 kilometres per litre mark, which is a really good going,” said Lane. He continued, “The Cascadias are certainly the most efficient of the bonneted trucks in the fleet.” Lane always goes out of his way to invest in safety, so he was pleased that the Cascadia comes standard with a vast array of active safety features. Standard equipment includes a full suite of safety features such as a radar and camera-based Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS) that can automatically detect and fully brake for moving pedestrians, in addition to vehicles. Also standard is a radar-based adaptive cruise control system and a

Alison and Noel Lane are celebrating Lane Transport’s 30 years of operation.

lane departure warning system in addition to Electronic Stability Program and a driver airbag. Lane also selected the optional Sideguard Assist feature, which uses a radar to detect people, cars and other objects down the side of the truck when it is about to move left into a lane or to turn. Lane said the advanced safety technology of the trucks is welcome, adding that the cab design of the Cascadia also helps his drivers. “The visibility of these Cascadias is really, really good. The shape of the bonnet means that you can see very well out the windscreen,” he said. Under the sloping bonnet lies an advanced Detroit engine. The blue 116 features a 13-litre six-cylinder that generates 505hp and 1850lb/ft of torque, while the 126 packs a 16-litre that pumps out 600hp and 2050lb/ft. These are smart engines that meet the GHG17 emis-

The blue Cascadia 116 has been joined by a white Cascadia 126 model.

sion standard, which is stricter than Euro 6, something that is appreciated by customers who are counting the emissions in their chains of production and distribution. While an 18-speed Eaton manual is an option, Lane chose the clever 12-speed DT12 Automated Manual

After purchasing a Cascadia last year, it wasn’t long before the company decided to add a second one into the mix.

Transmission (AMT). The in-house integration of the engine and gearbox means the truck can adapt to the terrain it is travelling over to save fuel, which is more important than ever given current prices. It uses GPS and topographical data to determine when it can best change gear or select neutral and even coast to make the most of the terrain and save as much fuel as possible. The two Cascadias are on a Freightliner service contract, which means Lane has paid a fee for the trucks to be serviced at a Daimler Truck dealership, by factory-trained technicians using genuine parts.

Lane says the team at Daimler Trucks Mount Gambier and Daimler Trucks Mildura look after his trucks and go out of their way to make sure the Lane Transport trucks keep moving. “The guys at Daimler Trucks Mount Gambier are so helpful and so are the team at Mildura.” He added that it makes sense for the Cascadia to be on a service contract because they are more advanced and require specialist knowledge. “Being on a service contract gives us peace of mind and we are really happy with the way it is working out for us,” he concluded.

Noel Lane says the Cascadia is a winner when it comes to fuel efficiency.

24 NRFA CONFERENCE

FRIDAY JULY 22 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Truckies gain traction at annual conference in Qld

‘TRUCKIES working for truckies’ is the tagline of the National Road Freighters Association. After an extremely successful national conference in Toowoomba on July 9, they may have to consider using ‘Giving truckies a seat at the table’ instead. An impressive line-up of speakers and dignitaries front-

ed to thrash out the key issues and share the message that truckies’ voices would count in Canberra under a Labor government to a packed room of truckies all eager to get some tangible runs on the board under the new regime. The plan is to report back on the results at the next annual conference in Wagga Wagga in February.

[l-r] NRFA vice president Trevor Warner with association members Mark Brown and Chris Roe at the post-conference breakfast at the BP Toowoomba truck stop.

On the Pads Australia administrator Leanne Dyer is presented with her Terrie Bradley Award by Yogi. Dyer was one of four to receive the prize, along with Sally Tipping, Angela Walsh and Shelley Mitchell, for their work during the Covid crisis. An NRFA life membership was also awarded to Herb Adkins.

Truckie power! [l-r] TWU NSW/Qld state secretary Richard Olsen, Senator Glenn Sterle and NRFA president Rod Hannifey.

Event MC Mike Williams has no shortage of high-profile guests for his popular On the Road podcast.

NRFA president Rod Hannifey cuts a dashing figure as he steers the proceedings at the Toowoomba City Golf Club. Photo: Twitter

Senator Glenn Sterle, left, and truckies’ advocate Wes Walker take time out from the conference to check out the issues at the Gatton pads.

NSW NRFA delegate Adam Craig, left, with WA representative and guest speaker, Glenn ‘Yogi’ Kendall debrief at the truckies’ breakfast.

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26 READER RIGS

FRIDAY JULY 22 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Reader Rigs proudly supported by

Rob Talbot and the Scania deliver to the steel works at Whyalla, SA.

Share your truck pics to win with Shell Rimula

SHELL Rimula has partnered with Big Rigs in a big way – so now there’s even more reasons to send in your best truck shots. Each month, the Big Rigs team will choose a #PicOfTheMonth, with the lucky winner receiving a $500 Shell Coles Express Gift Card. Keep an eye out for our regular posts on the Big Rigs National Road Transport Newspaper Facebook page, calling

for your best truck photos and add yours in the comments, or email them to editor@bigrigs. com.au. Don’t forget to include a brief note about the truck and where the photo was taken. We’ll feature some of the best photos in each edition of Big Rigs Newspaper, with one winner announced each month. Keep those amazing truck pics coming!

Ian Payne snapped this shot while stopped in front of the Brim silos in Victoria’s Wimmera region, painted by Guido van Helten as a tribute to the drought-stricken farming community.

Dean Hill at Ral Ral Creek Wines in Monash, South Australia with this Booth Transport tanker set-up.

Kyle Nicholas-Benney loads hay at sunrise in Edenhope, Victoria.

Clint Parker on the Mitchell Highway between Cunnamulla and Bourke, NSW, in his 2015 Kenworth Legend 950 #43.

Another spectacular shot from Mick Murray Welding driver Jakob Batchelor, in the 2018 Kenworth C509.

Liz Armstrong snapped this shot of the K200 she drives for Namour Transport while stopped at Mirrool, NSW, on her weekly trip between Brisbane and Melbourne.

READER RIGS 27

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JULY 22 2022

When the going gets tough, truckies keep everyone going

Justin Toman heads back home from a caustic delivery to Nymagee, NSW.

Robbie Bell and the Kenworth unload urea west of Moree, in central NSW.

The view from the top – Shaun Wood shared this aerial shot, taken while travelling north of White Cliffs, through outback NSW.

Ben Talbot gets loaded up at Kikoira in the Central West region of NSW.

Paul Freeth shared this shot of the Western Star he drives for McArdle Freight, while travelling down the Stuart Highway.

Nate Fuss captured this glorious sunrise while leaving a quarry in Kanmantoo, SA.

SEQ Transport driver Mark Nelson snapped this shot of the 700hp XXL Volvo and road train set up he drives two-up with his wife Deb, while stopped at Broken Hill, NSW.

28 SPY ON THE ROAD

FRIDAY JULY 22 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Truck stop dramas that are impacting rest breaks SPY ON THE ROAD WITH ALF WILSON

Midnight drama angers truckie A veteran truckie who had completed a run from Adelaide to Mackay told Spy of an unsavoury incident after numerous vans had parked overnight at a breakdown and rest area designated for heavy vehicles. “It was just after midnight and I had completed my hours and needed my fatigue break and pulled up at the hook up area where a line of vans were,” he said. One van in particular made parking extremely difficult for our truckie who

wanted to unhook a trailer. “I knocked on the door of the caravan and some old bloke thought he was going to be bashed and robbed. In the end he did agree to move but the whole process was going to take some time. His defence was that he didn’t think that some truckie would want to park or unhook in the night and I told him we work over 24 hours,” he said. This irate gent said most vans are self-sufficient with their own toilet and shower and don’t need to infringe on what are vital requirements for truckies. WA roadhouse It was a sleepy Sunday afternoon when Spy received some pictures of a WA roadhouse sent by a truckie who had just been there. It was of the Shell Southern Cross Roadhouse situat-

ed along the Great Eastern Highway. The driver said there was plenty of parking and great food for truckies at the roadhouse, which is open 24 hours a day. So I phoned and spoke to new manager Kelly Smith who has worked at WA roadhouses for 30 years. “I have been manager here since February and we get at least 20 trucks a day stopping here. Their favourite food is steak and our special rissoles which we make here,” Smith said. In one of the pics I noticed there was also a BP Roadhouse not far from the Shell. “That is our opposition and they do their thing and we do ours,” Smith added. Camera revenue raisers Some of our WA truckie mates say the government is

Despite lots of upgrades, the state of parts of the Bruce Highway leaves a lot to be desired.

Trucks on the Bruce Highway between Townsville and Cairns,

aiming to consolidate revenue since surveillance cameras have been syncronised with those in other states. They claim one driver was hauled in by authorities after they checked out his movements on such cameras. “He has been threatened with fines of between $2000 and $5000,” Spy was told. The truckies say that the police now have access to their total movements once they leave the SA border. Deaths on Bruce Highway One of the questions I often ask truck drivers is what the worst road they have to travel on is – and a majority nominate parts of the Brue Highway. Having travelled it many times in recent years it would be hard to disagree. I was interested to read some statistics published in

a recent Cairns Post article with a breakdown of the deaths on sections between 2012 and 2022: Brisbane to Gympie (48 deaths), Gympie to Maryborough (20), Maryborough to Gin Gin (23), Gin Gin to Benaraby (20), Benaraby to Rockhampton (15), Rockhampton to St Lawrence (16), St Lawrence to Mackay (28), Mackay to Proserpine (30), Proserpine to Bowen (7), Bowen to Ayr (18), Ayr to Townsville (32), Townsville to Ingham (28), and Ingham to Innisfail (24). That rundown seems to confirm what the truckies are saying. Despite lots spent on upgrades, massive work is still required along most of the busy national road. And with the region now receiving torrential rain, it makes driving that bit more dangerous.

Water opinions Most of us have been told numerous times in our lives that it is good for the human body to drink as much water as possible. It is something we try to do and are hopeful of health benefits. But some truckies Spy has spoken to have been offered a differing opinion which requires them to consume less H20. In fact these fellows have been advised by doctors to drink no more than 1.5 litres of water daily. The medical term I am told is ‘Fluid Restriction’. An explanation is that these drivers have some form of heart disease and have regular problems with too much fluid in their body. This requires being dizzy often, having some problems breathing normally and

SPY ON THE ROAD 29

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JULY 22 2022

“good oil” in the future I’ll pass it on.

The Shell Southern Cross Roadhouse on the Great Eastern Highway.

a hospital stay a few times a year. They require the fluid to be drained from their body and it can come from around the lungs or legs. Most have a little instrument called a spirometer to test oxygen saturation levels, that is placed on a finger. If your level is low you are given a treatment with Frusemide which either enters the body via a drip or in tablet form. Within minutes you begin piddling and this goes on regularly, often for hours, as fluid is drained.

time at a roadhouse parking area discussed the subject and came up with a surprise answer. One suggested that a phlebotomist is definitely at the top of his list. Old Spy and the rest of the truckies had never even heard of the word so I scrambled to google to investigate. A phlebotomist is a person who draws blood when

you have to take a blood test. They have to complete a certification course for phlebotomy. Plunge comes off A small group walked into a country pub and one had driven a truck. They were there to watch an interstate race in Sydney and have a modest flutter on a horse named The Milky

Bar Kid – which they all did and when the starting gates opened it led easily. At the top of the straight, one of the group was yelling he thought it may get run down but it didn’t and went further ahead. So they all collected and even though the horse paid $2.90 for each $1, they managed decent winnings. This pub is far becoming

renowned as a place where truck drivers can win some ‘Oxford Scholars’. Or lose them as well. It is located near some big road transport company depots and a major road and port. The day before, the publican who is a racing man had a share in a local horse which won at 14-1. So if Spy is privy to a

Snow not the go Drivers around the country have faced some diverse weather conditions of late. There have been floods, bushfires and extreme hot and cold conditions. Just as it was raining cats and dogs where Spy lives in the far north, I received some emails of pics from a truckie who had run into snow around Arrowsmith on Tasmanian’s west coast. Mount Arrowsmith is a peak in Tasmania. It has an elevation of 866 metres and is situated south of The Beehive, and northeast of McKays Peak. One small fleet operator sent me a graphic pic of his Western Star 4800 with snow around it. “Wasn’t very good with all the snow and I had to go slow and careful,” he said. This lad hails from southern Tassie at scenic Nubeena.

Apt name There is a tricky corner Spy negotiated early the other morning at which a truck with a long flat trailer had taken up a fair bit of the available real estate. It was a squeeze for all other traffic to get through but that was minimised because of the thoughtful actions of the truck driver. His hazard lights were on and somebody else was signalling to traffic as the truck unloaded its delivery. Being a curious type Spy had a gander at the name of the truck transport company as I drove past. It was Law Transport. Don’t want to meet one What is the occupation of a person that most truckies don’t want to meet professionally. Some lads having down-

Snow around Arrowsmith on Tasmanian’s west coast.

Jenny Mclean and Kelly Smith from Southern Cross Shell in WA.

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30 EVENTS

FRIDAY JULY 22 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Bulldog bites back at Winton WINTON Motor Raceway in North-Eastern Victoria lived up to its reputation as ‘The Nation’s Action Track’ as it played host to the second round of the 2022 Hi-Tec Oils Australian Super Truck Nationals on July 9-10. Held under sunny winter skies the crowd was treated to some intense truck racing action with the spoils shared in the first two races on the Sunday by Steve Zammit (Kenworth T401) and de-

fending champion Shannon Smith (Kenworth T900) before the final feature race was claimed by Barry Butwell (Mack Superliner). The meeting also featured a truck show n’ shine with participants also taking to the track in a parade of the circuit. The Super Truck Nationals returns to Winton for round 3 in September before the final round at Goulburn’s Wakefield Park in November.

The #51 Schutz Racing Isuzu lines up on the dummy grid before Sunday’s second race.

Benalla local Andrew James with his Kenworth T950, one of the three trucks he had on display as part of the show n’ shine.

Truck show n’ shine participants on their parade laps around the Winton circuit.

Anthony (left) and Charlie Tringali (right) ready to hit the Winton circuit with their #92 International Transtar race truck.

Barry Butwell’s Superliner smoked the opposition, winning the final race by a healthy margin. Photos: David Vile

Marcus Prillwitz (Mack) and Shannon Smith (Kenworth) duke it out in Race 2 on Sunday as the rest of the field gives chase.

Barry Butwells’ Mack bears the battle scars of a tough second race on Sunday.

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32 DRIVER PROFILES

FRIDAY JULY 22 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Truckin’ In The Outback

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Hannah Hughes

Her main run is pulling methanol tankers from Bunbury to Karratha in the Pilbara.

Now working for MGM Bulk, Hannah Hughes started learning her way around a gearbox when she was just eight.

FOR MC driver Hannah Hughes, 30, it’s always been about the trucks. Growing up in New Zealand, her family is very much a trucking family – with her grandfather, uncles and stepfather all truck drivers. She started learning her way around a gearbox when she was just eight years old and recalls her excitement every time she got to travel in the passenger seat with a family member on the weekends and school holidays. “I love everything about trucks. I was a big tomboy growing up and had all these toy trucks as a kid. I spent a lot of time bonding with my grandad, uncles and step-dad in trucks and yards,” she said. “First thing on a Saturday morning, I was raring to go out in the truck, it was my happy place. I started learning to drive a truck before I learnt to drive a car. I was always asking to have a go.” Hughes made the move across the ditch in 2011, lured by the bigger trucks and wide open roads. “I came over by myself as a 19-year-old. I started out carting horses and hay in NSW, then did a similar thing in Queensland. As I started getting more serious about my career, I decided to

move to Perth where I got my MC licence and started driving road trains. It’s very different over in the east on the bitumen. Here a lot of it is red dirt roads.” Her skills and professionalism haven’t gone unnoticed. In March last year, she won the inaugural Women in Trucking Australia (WiTA) Driver of the Year Award. Hughes currently works for MGM Bulk and before that worked in the McColl’s Transport chemical division, doing

dangerous goods runs to remote stations and mines. She started at MGM Bulk late last year, where she drives a Kenworth K200. “Kenworth is my preferred truck and I’ve been pretty lucky to be with companies that supply all Kenworths,” Hughes said. “We do a variety of stuff here – anything from general freight tautliners to side and end tippers. I went straight into MGM’s chemical division. My main run is pulling methanol tankers from Bunbury to Karratha in the Pilbara. It’s about 1700 kilometres each way, so the trip is a three-day turnaround. It’s along the coast so I really enjoy that run.” Though Hughes says the condition of the Great East-

Last year, Hughes won the inaugural Women in Trucking Australia (WiTA) Driver of the Year Award.

ern Highway leaves a lot to be desired. When asked what she’d rate as the worst road she travels on, she said this stretch wins “hands-down”. “I’m used to being in a bonneted truck, which was still rough, but with a cabover it’s not real comfortable travelling on that road. With the weights that we carry and the amount of trucks that use them, a lot of the roads don’t last that long over here.” When she’s not heading into the Pilbara, another regular run is carting salt out of the mines and into Perth. “We have the contract for WA Salts, so go out near Southern Cross and cart salt out of the mines. That’s another of my favourite runs – we get sent away for about a week on that

one,” Hughes said, adding that she’s enjoying the current gig at MGM with her new employer. “It’s so good working for a family business where the family members have been out and done the job themselves, so they know and understand what we’re doing. That goes very far in my books. Because MGM Bulk is a small family business, they listen as well and are really flexible too. They make it really easy for us and there’s a lot of variety so you don’t get a chance to get bored,” she explained. “We get to deal with the owners. They’re out in the yard with us, they’re in meetings with us. At the moment, the Port Hedland facility is absolutely going off, and Bun-

She began her current gig at MGM Bulk late last year.

bury is going to double in size in a year or so too.” Hughes rates herself as fortunate to have been able to enjoy the career she has had so far. “I’ve never struggled to get a job but I have heard of a lot of women in the industry who have. I do feel for those who don’t have trucking in their family because it makes it that much harder to get the opportunities,” she said. While early in her career Hughes had some doubts about being a female in a male-dominated industry, she said those doubts were eased pretty quickly. “I feel like you do have to prove yourself a little bit harder as a female, but I’ve got so much confidence now – and I am where I am because of that.”

DRIVER PROFILES 33

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JULY 22 2022

Truckin’ In The Outback

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY WHERE TRANSPORT DOES BUSINESS

Mitch Levchenko THIS 24-year-old’s foray into trucking all started through a chat with a mate. “He said come and work for me, so he put me on,” said Levchenko. Based in the mining town of Tom Price, in WA’s Pilbara region, he began working for MJK Logistics four years ago – starting out in a rigid, he eventually progressed into the bigger rigs. These days, he steers a 2010 Kenworth T658, pulling up to three trailers and carrying general freight and machinery to mine sites across the state.

IT’S ALWAYS A CHALLENGE OUT THERE BECAUSE ABOUT 80 KILOMETRES OF THE ROAD IS CORRUGATED AS SHIT AND THEN THERE’S ANOTHER 60 KILOMETRES OF IT THAT’S SAND. THERE ARE TWO EXPLORATION CAMPS OUT THERE THAT WE DELIVER TO.” MITCH LEVCHENKO

Mitch Levchenko began working for MJK Logistics four years ago.

Levchenko has been with MJK Logistics for four years. Starting in a rigid, he worked his way up into road trains.

He drives a 2010 Kenworth T658, pulling anything from singles to triples into mine sites.

With depots in Perth and Tom Price, MJK Logistics started with one truck back in 2005 and now runs a fleet of close to 30 trucks, servicing the state’s capital and the north-west. “We go anywhere in WA but I mainly go out bush to the mine sites. The furthest I’ll usually go is into Perth which is around 1500 kilometres each way,” Levchenko said, adding

schnitty,” he added. “I enjoy getting out there on the road. I do singles, doubles or triples and it’s all into mines. Sometimes I’ll carry machines but it’s mainly general.” Among the roughest roads Levchenko gets to navigate is through the Great Sandy Desert. “It’s always a challenge out there because about 80 kilometres of the road is corrugated as shit and then there’s another

that this was one of his favourite runs, though it only comes around sparingly. When headed out that way, his favourite place to stop is at the Cue Roadhouse, which is about halfway between Perth and Tom Price. “It’s always a good feed there. I like to stop there on the longer runs. If they have their lasagna in the bain-marie, that’s great, but usually it’s a burger or a

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60 kilometres of it that’s sand. There are two exploration camps out there that we deliver to. “The road is all speed limited to 60km/h but sometimes you have to crawl along. It depends on how bad the corrugation is. About three years ago, it was really shocking but they’ve had the graders out there, so it’s a lot better now than it used to be.”

34 DRIVER PROFILES

FRIDAY JULY 22 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Truckin’ In The Tropics Bruce Husband WITH more than 20 years as a driver behind him in his native New Zealand, Bruce Husband arrived down under just a few months ago, seeking an adventure and a new job. It wasn’t long before the 44-year-old found both – and he says he hasn’t been disappointed. “I managed to get a job as a truck driver with Western Bulk Haulage at Townsville and my wife Jo got employed with a bank. We have a great life here with our daughter Blair who is aged six,” Husband said. Big Rigs saw Husband recently while he was stopped over at the Townsville Port Access Road. It was just before dusk and he was adjusting the trailers he had hooked

up to the Kenworth T909 he was driving. Husband told Big Rigs that he has found plenty of adventure on his trips carrying fuel to places like Quilpie, Blackall and Cloncurry and said that driving here was far different to what he had experienced in the land of the long white cloud. He said that the distances he now travels are far greater, adding that the roads are also much straighter and the loads far bigger. “I worked for McFall Fuel out of Napier in New Zealand for the last two years and mostly drove Volvos. The roads over here are pretty much flat, with lots of undulations and fewer potholes. But I have liked both jobs and the money here is a bit better too.

Basically, it was just time for a change,” he said. Outside of work, his hobbies include hot rods and rugby union – but most importantly, spending time with his family. What was unique about this interview when compared to numerous other ones I have randomly done with truckies who I usually meet while they’re on their travels, is that it was his boss who had nominated him for a story in the paper. I saw his boss at the hook up area and he was very busy at that time. “Could you do a story on one of the drivers of mine? Bruce Husband is not far away and will be here soon,” he told me. The boss man was soon on his mobile phone asking Hus-

with Alf Wilson

band to stop off so we could get the ink on the notebook and the photos snapped. Approximately ten minutes later, Husband drove in and we had a good and interesting yarn. It is always good talking to a Kiwi because of the friendship between our countries and a healthy rivalry when it comes to sport – like cricket, rugby league and rugby union. The Kiwis are the world bar when it comes to rugby union but Aussies seem to have the centre stage above them in cricket and rugby league. But you never bring up Aussie and Kiwi sport without somebody mentioning the underarm bowling along the ground some years ago involving Aussie captain Greg Chappell and his brother Trevor.

Bruce Husband moved to Australia recently and got a job driving for Western Bulk Haulage.

Robert Davis

Bob Rule

Robert Davis transports V8 Supercars in this 2020 Actros.

Bob Rule, 77, transports tyres for V8 Supercar events.

ROBERT Davis is a friendly truckie who drives a 2020 model 2658 Mercedes Benz Actros, carrying V8 Supercars. Working for Grove Racing, his job would have to be the envy of many motoring enthusiasts. Dedicated to ensuring the presentation of the truck is always immaculate, Davis was hard at work polishing it up when I saw him stopped at the BP Cluden

Roadhouse in Townsville recently. About an hour later Davis and numerous others were set to take part in the Transporter Convoy, an event where trucks which carry the V8 Supercars participate in a drive that goes through the streets of Townsville. “I have been to the Perth and Darwin events before coming here to Townsville and look forward to it,” he said.

Based in the suburb of Pakenham in Victoria, Davis says he likes stopping at the Shell Gilgandra Roadhouse when he is in that part of Australia. As for bad roads, Davis rates anywhere on the Bruce Highway north of Bowen as being quite challenging. Outside of his work behind the wheel, Davis enjoys spending time riding his mountain bike and he is a super-fit man.

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ALSO involved with transport for the V8s, septugenarian Bob Rule loves his job carrying tyres around Australia for V8 Supercar events – and who could blame him? Aged 77 and based down in Melbourne, Rule drives a 2002 Renault Magnum, hauling Michelin Tyres. “I have just been to Darwin and the road up there in the Northern Territory is great – better than in Queensland,” he said.

Rule also reckons the Victorian roads around Horsham require a lot of care when negotiating them. As for roadhouses he likes stopping at when he gets the chance, Rule said the Spuds Roadhouse in Pimba, South Australia, is definitely one that stands out. Pimba is a small settlement about 480 kilometres north of Adelaide and it offers a range of services and facilities from a service station.

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“It is a ripper of a roadhouse with good meals,” Rule said. I asked Rule if he thought there were enough rest areas for truckies around the country and he said, “We don’t stop at many as we stay in motels.” Rule was in the far north for the 2022 NTI Townsville 500, which was held from July 8 to 10, which is part of the Supercars Championship program.

NEWS 35

BIGRIGS.COM.AU FRIDAY JULY 22 2022

250,000th Australian Isuzu for Sherrin Rentals

AS Sherrin Rentals celebrates its 45th year of operation, third generation managing director Grant Sherrin has taken delivery of the 250,000th Isuzu truck sold in Australia. The medium-duty Isuzu FRR 110-260 MWB Auto

was handed over at the Sherrin Rentals flagship facility in Pinkenba, with dealership staff from Brisbane Isuzu in attendance. Sherrin Rentals is an Australia-wide truck and equipment hire specialist – which

Grant Sherrin, managing director at Sherrin Rentals.

alongside Sherrin Equipment is part of the Sherrin Group. Sherrin Rentals runs a large fleet of over 140 Isuzu trucks dispersed across the country. The majority of the Sherrin rental fleet finds a home in mining, earthmoving, excavation, and civil engineering applications in locations all over the country. Grant says his passion for all things mechanical and metal date back to his childhood “I started working with my father during the school holidays, working in and around the yard and at the time he ran tree gangs for tree lopping,” he recalled. “I’d help on the tree gangs by feeding the chipper. Once I graduated from school I started within the business as an apprentice mechanic. “My father Mike started manufacturing elevated work platforms (EWPs) back in the early 2000s, because the demand was so high, and it was hard to get a hold of them from overseas manufacturers. He thought he’d have a go at making his own.” And with that, Sherrin’s

highly successful EWP hire fleet was born. Fast forward more than two decades on, and Sherrin Rentals has developed a booming customer base in the earthmoving and civil construction industries. The latest edition to the growing fleet, the new Isuzu FRR 110-260 MWB Auto has been fitted with a 13-metre elevated work platform. Along with being a milestone truck for Isuzu Australia, it also marks Isuzu Trucks’ 50year anniversary of trading in Australia too. “We specialise in equipment honed for the application. Our elevated work platforms go from strength to strength and are built on vehicles such as the new FRR 110-260. They’re top notch,” Grant said. The FRR 110-260 Auto has a max power of 191 kW (260PS) at 2400 rpm and torque of 761 Nm at 1450 rpm. Matching what’s under the hood, Grant says the truck’s easily adaptable cabin and chassis is what initially caught his attention. “The Isuzu platform is

fitted in the warehouse with components and equipment manufactured by Sherrin engineers here onsite. The unit is then prepped, wrapped, and thoroughly checked for quality assurance,” explained Grant. “But one of the key reasons we recently made the decision to go exclusively with Isuzu is because of the total package the brand can offer us. “While the safety and power aspect of a vehicle is

important, it’s the ease of maintenance, and particularly for Sherrin – how easily we can fit a body to the chassis – that is one of the most valuable features. “Isuzu also has an excellent reputation and we do like to associate ourselves with only the best products. “All our Isuzu’s work so hard for us here at Sherrin Rentals as we put them through a lot so having that reliability of product backing us is a comfort.”

L-R: IAL fleet sales manager QLD & NT, Steven Goulding; dealer principal Brisbane Isuzu, Alan Newcombe; truck salesman Brisbane Isuzu, Oscar Akbar; general manager Brisbane Isuzu, Kym Darnell; and managing director at Sherrin Rentals, Grant Sherrin.

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FRIDAY JULY 22 2022 BIGRIGS.COM.AU

Spare parts and product know-how

IN February this year, two mates with a background in truck parts and mechanics – Ian Quaresmini and Nick Wirth – opened the doors to Queensland Truck Spares. Located in the suburb of Sumner, in Brisbane’s southwest, the business has been two years in the making. Queensland Truck Spares specialises in truck suspension and steering components, however also offers maintenance

and roadworthy truck parts too. “What we’re starting with is specialising in steering and suspension components, however we’re not just restricted to that. We are an importer and wholesaler but do sell to the public too. The majority of what we do now is wholesale but we’re looking to expand our retail and trade customer base,” explained Quaresmini. The pair had been working

Nick Wirth and Ian Quaresmini opened Queensland Truck Spares earlier this year.

together for over 10 years at a Rocklea based spare parts company, with Quaresmini having spent many years working as a qualified diesel mechanic before moving into spare parts. “We have both worked extensively in this industry and spent the last two years establishing this business,” said Quaresmini. “What has been a little lacking in the parts department are qualified parts people who have moved on from the tools and into the spare parts side.” Quaresmini started his mechanical career as a driveline specialist, working his way into workshop supervisor roles, before moving into the office as a parts interpreter and then shifting focus to diesel particulate systems as an emissions department manager. “Nick and I are good mates and had worked together for years. We had always dreamed of doing this ourselves. We had the capabilities and background knowledge and kept talking about it. Like a lot of people, when Covid hit in 2020, we made the decision to register a business name and start the process,” Quaresmini added.

The business specialises in truck suspension and steering components, however its range goes beyond that too.

But what is it that sets Queensland Truck Spares apart? “Firstly, it would be specialising in steering and suspension components with a trade background. That means we know how these components work and how they are fitted, rather than having to read the info from a book. We can guide people through what they need,” he said. “With our products, we are also bringing them in direct from overseas. We run a pretty lean ship here – there’s no huge façade, fancy showroom floor or truckies’ lounge. We import

direct from overseas manufacturers. What all this means is that we can be very competitive in our pricing.” Currently the focus at Queensland Truck Spares is on American truck brands, with parts to suit Kenworth, Western Star, International/IVECO, Mack and Freightliner Trucks being the specialty, catering to trucks both new and old. Some European truck parts are also on offer, with plans to expand that offering significantly over coming months. The business has also begun moving into trailer parts as well.

NICK AND I ARE GOOD MATES AND HAD WORKED TOGETHER FOR YEARS. WE HAD ALWAYS DREAMED OF DOING THIS OURSELVES. WE HAD THE CAPABILITIES AND BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE.” IAN QUARESMINI

For more information about Queensland Truck Spares and its broad product range, please head to queenslandtruckspares. com.au.