CHECK
GORSKI TTRU HARDOX 4 AXLE DOG TIPPING TRAILER
NEW 2025 GORSKI TTRU HARDOX 4 AXLE DOG TIPPING TRAILER
Body up to 22m3 approx. 8.300m long x 1.200m high approx.
$126,445 inc.GST + ON ROADS
GORSKI TTRU HARDOX 3 AXLE DOG TIPPING TRAILER 48T SPEC
NEW 2025 GORSKI TTRU HARDOX 3 AXLE DOG TIPPING TRAILER 48T SPEC
Body up to 14m3 approx. 6.000m long x 1.050m high approx.
$103,906 inc.GST + ON ROADS
GORSKI TTRU HARDOX 2 AXLE SEMI TIPPING TRAILER
NEW 2025 GORSKI TTRU HARDOX 2 AXLE SEMI TIPPING TRAILER
Body up to 21m3 approx. 8.000m long x 1.200m high approx.
$104,159 inc.GST + ON ROADS
GORSKI TTRU HARDOX 3 AXLE SEMI TIPPING TRAILER
NEW 2025 GORSKI TTRU HARDOX 3 AXLE SEMI TIPPING TRAILER
Demolition Spec Airbag Suspension
Body up to 38m3 approx. 9.600m long x 1.800m high approx.
$176,979 inc.GST + ON ROADS
Editorial & Design
Editor Geoff Crockett
0421 299 963
Assistant Editor Kayla Walsh
0401 551 494
Plant & Equipment Journalist
Jackson Haddad
Contributors Warren Aitken, Tiarna Condren, Sean Mortell, Daniel Woods, Alex Catalano
Art Director Daz Woolley
Cover image Jacob Kuchel
Above image Warren Aitken
Advertising
Business Development Manager Fabian Presta, 0411 059 305 fabian.presta@primecreative.com.au
Subscriptions www.tradetrucks.com.au/subscribe
Ph +61 (0)3 9690 8766
Mon-Fri 8am-4.30pm (EST)
Email subscriptions@primecreative.com.au
Mail 379 Docklands Drive, Docklands, Victoria 3008, Australia
CEO John Murphy COO Christine Clancy Client Success Regina Fellner
Group Sales
Rock
Deals News
Deals News
9 Rest areas slowly rolling out
Deals Upfront
12 The tale of a trusty Transtar
Top Deals
18 2007 Iveco ACCO
20 2024 Anda ST3 trailer
22 2024 Hino 500
24 2011 Mack Trident
26 2011 Western Star 4800FX
28 2010 Kenworth K108
29 2022 Volvo FH16 and three trailers
Deals Data
34 Records fall with final sales of 2024
Deals Showcase
36 Convenience and exceptional customer service at Freightmore Transport
90 Bring a charitable touch to your next barbeque
Deals Events
40 Update your truck show calendar
46 Making the Rounds
49 Geelong Classic kicks on
54 Tassie truckies turn out in force
58 Remembering lives lost in Tasmania
92 There's a new show coming to the Scenic Rim
Deals Review
80 Built in Australia, for Australian conditions, this Volvo has it all
Deals Restoration
68 A classic Ford gets a full makeover
94 Rare gem hidden in plain sight
108 Months of hard work pay off with a debut showing in Geelong
Deals Features
62 Nitschke Bulk Transport's story stretches across generations
74 Bringing trucks up to show quality is a fine art, as our writer found out
96 From a dream and one UD truck to a growing business
112 A Hall of Fame member and a very special Gold Nugget
116 Trucks are part of life for the Skidmore family
120 The move to battery electric trucks
124 I nternational star enters its 40s
128 Marketplace Trucks, trailers, buses and more for sale
129 Parts Trader
Parts, wreckers, engines and more for sale
144 Hot Deals
Hot hand-picked truck deals!
207 Plant & Equipment
Forklifts, tools, generators and compressors for sale
216 Private Advertising Coupon
Sell your item!
217 Index
209 Safe practices
H iReach Training offers several high-risk and nationally recognised safety courses
The Nitschke family journey started in 1947. Story, page 62
Image: Justin Nitschke
to Issue 515 of
When it comes to the world of transport and trucks, one of the predominant themes that comes through at each truck show and in each story we uncover is a strong family history in the field.
For many of our restoration stories, the trucks have been found by sons or daughters with fond memories of their fathers or grandfathers rolling out every day in a particular truck model that was at the heart of the family business. Decades later, what are often wrecks, languishing in paddocks or sheds, are tirelessly restored to their former glory to share with their loved ones and to keep on shining as a rolling legacy to the hard work and determination of
a transport famly. Each story is unique, each family a different size, a different make-up, and transporting different freight, but the underlying love of the trucks and the people behind them offers inspirational and uplifting reading.
For this month's dose of good news, check out the Kuchels' Transtar restoration tale on page 12, or the news from Tasmania where the Convoy for Kids raised considerable funds for a worthy cause (page 54) and where truckies turned out in force to remember friends and colleagues who lost their lives on the roads at the Tassie Truck Driver's Memorial (page 58).
There's a new truck show planned for this year in Queensland's beautiful Scenic Rim (page 92) and a powerful reminder than you can do anything you want to do if you put your mind to it in the story behind All Go Express (page 96).
As always, if you have a story to share, I'd love to hear from you on the email below. I hope you enjoy this month's read.
geoff.crockett@primecreative.com.au
Rest areas rolling out in 2025
Six new rest area projects have been announced as part of the $140 million Heavy Vehicle Rest Area Program
Truck drivers are set to benefit from a raft of rest area upgrades and new amenities announced so far this year.
Six new projects are on the way under the fourth tranche of Labor’s $140 million Heavy Vehicle Rest Area Program (HVRAP).
The latest projects are part of a $17.4 million joint investment between the Australian and state, territory and local governments, with the Australian government contributing $9.7 million.
The funding will provide two brand-new rest areas: one at Homestead West on the Flinders Highway in Queensland, and the other at Pimba in South Australia.
It will also cover the following rest area upgrades:
A sphalt surfacing of the existing heavy vehicle truck stop area at the Roma Truck Stop precinct in Queensland.
Upgrades to the heavy vehicle rest area at Tomingley, NSW.
Upgrades to Ravensworth Eastbound and Westbound rest areas on the Sturt Highway at Maude, NSW.
Upgrades to nine existing truck parking locations in the Yarriambiack Shire, Victoria.
Upgrades to the Stuart Highway Rest Area at Arcoona, South Australia.
Chair of the Heavy Vehicle Rest Area Steering Committee, senator Glenn Sterle, said these projects are an example of the Australian government’s commitment to driver safety and supporting the road transport industry.
“I am very proud that the Heavy Vehicle Rest Area initiative is boosting heavy vehicle user safety and productivity through new and upgraded rest areas,” he says.
“We are steadfast in our commitment
to keeping our freight operators and communities safe."
In addition to projects funded by the HVRAP, further rest area plans have also been announced for New South Wales, located along the Hume Highway.
A new rest area will be built along the northbound section of the Hume in Menangle, opposite Partridge VC Rest Area.
This new oversize, overmass, heavy vehicle rest area replaces the previous ‘Dust Bowl’ site, an informal parking bay and rest area that closed in February last year.
“By replacing the informal Dust Bowl rest area, we are delivering a safer area for truckies to stop, park, and stage their long journeys,” says NSW Minister for Roads, John Graham.
According to TfNSW, the new rest area will feature enhanced safety measures compared to the previous site, including dedicated acceleration and deceleration lanes. It is expected to be completed by the end of June 2025.
The Kyeamba Gap rest areas, on either side of the Hume Highway between Tarcutta and Holbrook, will also receive $1.8 million in funding for upgrades from the state and federal governments.
New toilet facilities will be built at the two locations, though truck drivers will have to share them with other motorists.
The existing composting toilet at the northbound stop will be upgraded to flushing toilets, while the southbound stop, which doesn’t currently have any amenities, will get a new toilet block.
Both rest area upgrades will also include heavy vehicle parking and the installation of new lighting.
Unit 1/71 Axis Place, Larapinta, Brisbane, QLD, 4110, Australia
Ph: (07) 3276 9300 Fax: (07) 3276 9301
Email: sales@ggd.net.au davids@ggd.net.au
Web: www.gibbsparts.com
ZFASTRONIC
ZFclutchactuatorsforDAF,Ivecoand Mantrucks.S37. TA950479. POA
MERCEDES-BENZG85-G280
ZFDAF,IVECO&MAN
ZFEcolitepowerpacks.S40. TA952390. POA
ReconditionedMercedes-Benztransmissions. MostmakesandmodelsG100,G131,GO210, G240,G280,G330available.S3. TA431566. POA
SCANIATRANSMISSIONS Allmakesandmodelsavailable.S11. TA431615. POA ZFDAF,IVECO&MAN ModulatorZFAstronicforDAF,Iveco&Man. S38. TA952388.
MERCEDESEPS Gearcylinder.S39. TA952389. POA
ZFASTRONIC ForDAF,Iveco&Man S43. TA952397. POA
VOLVO/MACKI-SHIFT/M-DRIVE AT2512C,AT2612D&ATO3112D. S44. TA952399. POA
ZFTRANSMISSIONSALLMODELS Allmakesandmodelsavailable.S10. TA431606. POA
Dreams
COME TRUE
The restored 1972 Transtar that featured in Jacob Kuchel’s wedding has a whole lot of love behind it
Words: Kayla Walsh
Images: Jacob Kuchel
Tony Kuchel didn’t have many reasons to smile in his later days, but this truck was one of them
Ever since Tony Kuchel was a young lad, he dreamed of owning a 4070 International Transtar.
The Barossa Valley man owned an AMT 1:25th scale model of the truck, and one day hoped to get his hands on the real thing.
Tony always had a keen interest in the transport industry, joining his father Max in the family tipper business in 1973.
The company grew over the years and became Kuchel Contractors, operating throughout most of South Australia and the Eastern seaboard.
Tony always took great pride in his fleet and his passion for presentation even led to the expansion of the business with the formation of Kuchel Custom Trucks.
Tony owned many different rigs over the years, including several Internationals in the 1970s and 80s — but never the exact model he pined for.
In 2018, after a long and successful career in the transport industry, Tony finally got his Transtar — but it wasn’t in the best shape.
“The day before his birthday, we took a road
train, small tautliner and a 5t excavator to Brenton Bells to make a deal on an unfinished project truck, a 1972 Transtar, including some donor cabs and parts,” says Jacob Kuchel, Tony’s son.
“The truck was in 100 pieces, but it was something for dad to build and enjoy in his retirement.”
Tony got to work tearing the truck apart and tinkering with it when he could.
Sadly, his health had suffered since he was diagnosed with Farmer’s Lung, an immune system disorder, in 2011.
“He stepped out of the business in 2014 to focus on his health, and I took over,” says Jacob.
“He had a double lung transplant and there were complications with that.
“He had skin cancer and the cancer on his face went into his lungs, and he passed away in September 2021.”
Tony’s legacy has not been forgotten, with the Tony Kuchel Skin Cancer Foundation set up in his name after his death.
“We have a big event here every year, a car
Tony always loved trucks and passed his passion on to his sons
The truck mid-restoration
Tony intended to restore the Transtar as a retirement project before he sadly passed away in 2021
The dash before it was brought back to life
hard at work
Donor cabs were needed to create the final product
DEALS Resto
With a firm deadline, the Kuchel team were under pressure and truck show, where we do free skin cancer checks for all the attendees,” Jacob says.
“We had 50 trucks and over 100 cars at the show last October and raised $40,000 for skin cancer awareness.”
Another way the Kuchel family has honoured Tony is by carrying on his restoration of his beloved Transtar.
“The project stagnated for a couple of years until we gave ourselves a mission to complete it in time for my wedding on December 29 last year,” says Jacob.
“The clock was ticking!”
The first job on the list was getting the cab sandblasted and painted.
“The cab was sent up to DJs Sandblasting & Restoration at Eudunda to get straightened out by Dave, Sheldon and Michael Reimann, and had some colour thrown on it,” Jacob continues.
“Once back, starting with a donor chassis from one of our old fleet trucks, Darren Stewart (one of our fabricators) went to work on grafting the front chassis horns from the Transtar onto the rear rails and building an exhaust gantry.
“Wanting a smoother ride to look after the alloy cab and due to it being predominantly driven bobtail, we kept the airliner rear
end, had front spring pins machined up to accommodate parabolics in the front and stretched the wheelbase.”
Once the Kuchel Contracting team had sandblasted and painted all the chassis and driveline components, they bolted it back together and started plumbing in the new air system.
Meanwhile all-new wiring was fitted to the cab and chassis.
“At the same time, Jason Davies from our crew got to work on making new top and bottom tanks for the radiator that were cactus, built under-cab panels, aircon cover and straightened out the grill and cab trims, which Chad Rose then brought back to life with his restoration skills,” says Jacob.
“The old crusty cab rams were sent down to Andrew and his expert team at Torque Industries to be rebuilt back to spec to get the cab up and down again.
“A donor 8V71 was sourced, which was pulled apart and gone through, and Jakes were salvaged and fitted from the original motor by BMP Diesel Engine Specialist in Streaky Bay.”
Once back together, the truck was sprayed ‘International Red’ and prettied up with ceramic-coated rocker covers and manifolds
A work in progress
Still taped up but looking good
Comfortable seats were a nonnegotiable
Once the team had sandblasted and painted all the chassis and driveline components, they bolted it back together
The revamped interior is pristine, with stylish cream upholstery
Check out this set-up
by Dale at Adelaide Ceramic Coatings, then bolted up to the 15-speed overdrive.
at Reimann Manufacturing in Eudunda, new three ribbed guards were sourced from Silverback Armour, the tanks were polished by Grant at YP Rimshine, and the bumper and grill chrome was wrapped by Winguard Paint Protection Specialists.
Lastly, the tank straps and battery box were built by Bruze Custom Trucks in Wingfield.
With all these bits and pieces complete and a month to go before Jacob’s big day, the end was in sight.
Another member of the Kuchel team, Gordon Noecke, got busy fitting the D’Angelo turntable, while Shane Elliot finished up the mechanical side of the build.
“The truck was looking good,” says Jacob. “We just needed a little extra to tie it all together – that’s where Heath from Saunders Signs & Graphics came into the picture.”
Well-known signwriter Heath drove all the way from Boort in Victoria to the Barossa Valley the weekend before Christmas to lay down some crisp lines on the truck.
“He nailed the chrome sign writing on the door, throwing it back to how Tony used to have it on his early S-lines and Transtar,” says Jacob.
The Transtar was the perfect addition to Jacob’s wedding to his partner Phillipa
Vintage vibes all round with this matching Volkswagen Kombi van
“A NOS factory fibreglass was sourced from Facebook Marketplace in America and fitted, finishing the cab off nicely,” Jacob adds.
Next, the trim was mastered with plenty of diamonds by Stevie, a life-long friend of Tony’s that he had met during his apprenticeship days.
Continuing inside the cab, the gauges were rebuilt by Dave at GaugeWorks in Prospect, then fitted to the dash panels hydro dipped by Wayne at Adelaide Auto Refinishers.
Moving to the shiny bits, the stainless air intake pipe was built by Matt and the boys
With the truck finally finished just five days before he tied the knot, Jacob couldn’t be more grateful to all the suppliers involved.
“Having the truck at our wedding sort of felt like dad was there,” he says.
“When dad was sick, we hadn’t seen him smile in a long time, but we got a picture of him sitting in the truck with the biggest smile on his face not long before he passed.
“It was a very special truck for him and I think he would be immensely proud to see how it turned out, especially as so many of his friends worked on it to get it finished.
“The truck is pretty much perfect, in my eyes. We’re over the moon.”
KENWORTHK200
2013,ImmaculateCondition,175TONlowloaderratedtoHeavyHaulage Application.EnginerebuiltbyCumminspaperworkprovided.Enginerebuilt byCumminspaperworkprovided,NewClutchpressureplate.FlyWheel machined.Frontdiffsbeenreplacedwithexchangeddiff.Autogreaser, ECOWINDIcePack.S38. TA1233898.
SAMS2X4LOWLOADERDOLLY 2015,2x4LowLoaderDolly-FullRefurbishmentASNEW.19.5NEWTyres DropInKingPins50mm&90mmsuppliedFullRubberGuards,Spring Suspension.AvailableforLONGTERMRENTAL.S35. TA1224940.
BRIMARCOTRIAXLEDECKWIDENER
2018,TriAxleDropDeckWidener2.50mClosed3.50mOpen, HondaPowerPack,Bi-Foldramps,3wayContainerPins,Topto BottomDeckRamps,RoadTrainLead. KHitchAxle19.5wheelsallnewcontinentaltyres,KHitch SpringSuspension.Justhad12monthservicedone,allWheel Bearingrepackedandchecked..650UGH. TA1255168. $134,200122,000+GST
KENWORTHT904
2002,HeavyDutyPrimeMover,118tRoadTrainorLowLoaderRated, NewwayAirSuspension,50InchSleeperCab,HeavyDutyBullbar,Cummins Gen2Engineandmore!.14031204. TA1202494.
Master LOAD
With a rebuilt Cummins engine, Allison automatic transmission and six-metre tray, this 2007 Iveco ACCO 2350G model also features its own loading crane.
Featuring a Gross Combined Mass rating of 30,000kg, the truck is well suited to transporting the likes of timber trusses or pallets of bricks or tiles.
The truck is available now in Penrith.
To
8999 6064
THE POWER TO SUIT ANY INDUSTRY
THAT’S ANOTHER HINO
ADAPT TO ANY TASK WITH THE VERSATILE HINO HYBRID ELECTRIC. Australia’s only Hybrid Electric truck range has an extensive model line-up from car-licenced 4.5 tonne GVM all the way to medium-rigid licenced 8 tonne GVM. Unleash the power of versatility with the range now expanded to include Built to Go models, or customise a body to meet the unique needs of your business. Delivering up to 20%* in fuel savings and emissions reductions, the Hino Hybrid Electric is ready to deliver from day one. That’s the power of change, that’s the Hino Hybrid Electric. Visit hino.com.au
*Actual results will vary depending on the application of the vehicle and how it is driven.
DROP DECK
If you have heavy machinery to move that requires a solid trailer with the latest engineering, the 2024 Anda ST3 drop deck could fit the bill.
Capable of widening from 2.5m to 3.6m, this 45ft tri-axle trailer features a reinforced plate smooth steel floor and slide out ramps to the upper deck. It comes with low profile tyres with optional wheel sizes, LED lighting and an EBS system.
To find out more phone Anda Trailers and Equipment on 03 8547 8601
Hardwoking
Loaded up with a 10 cubic metre AA Diesel Hardox tipper body, this 2024 Hino FM 22 truck is ready to get moving.
With dimensions of L 4.5m x W 2.3m x H 1m, a two-way air-operated tailgate and an electric tarp, the set-up is just right for hauling dirt, rocks and more.
A toolbox has been fitted to the rear of the cab too, offering extra storage, while the new model benefits from a host of safety systems including ABS, ASR, Vehicle Stability Control and a reverse camera.
To find out more call Prestige Truck Centre on 03 9999 5162
50c18 12m3 van with bonus 5 years
250,000km warranty
$73990 inc gst plus orc
Double
TIME
With all the construction projects happening around the nation at the moment, the set up on this 2011 Mack Trident with its matching BORCAT tri-axle dog trailer is sure to appeal.
Powered by a MP 8 535HP engine, married to an 18-speed manual gearbox and rated to 70T, this combo is being sold because of a fleet upgrade.
The one-owner truck features 46160 Meritor diffs with 4.33:1 ratio, dual cross locks, Hendrickson Primaax air bag rear suspension and X Tarps electric mesh tarps.
For more information call Sammut Agricultural Machinery on 02 8279 7172
GERARD ELLIOTT
DETROITDDECIII fullreconditionednew headnewturboetc. Beenstartedandrun.6 monthswarranty.S22. TA1164231. $24,000
DETROIT14L
Series60fully reconditionedmotor. Hasbeenstartedand testedandcomeswith 6monthswarranty.Two instock.S13. TA1111168. $33,000
DETROIT14LITRE 2002,Reonditioned Blockandheadfully done.Crankshaft Checkedturbo. 06R0739059. TA1171233. $33,000
DETROITDDECVI
DETROIT871T
Exfiretruckmotor. Doneagenuine17,000 milesfromnew.370HP. S21. TA1157915. $19,000
EGRmotor,1fully reconditionedlong DDECVlDetroitEGR motor.Recoblockand headwithfrontandrear cover'sandsump.With warranty.S17. TA1137305. $22,000
CATERPILLARC12
Reconditioned.Block MachinedBrandnew head.2KS59579. TA1171236. $25,000
Scan with your Smartphone camera to check out this deal!
2011 WESTERN STAR 4800 FX8
New Detroit DD15 Engine
18-speed Roadranger manual
$160,000 Plus GST
Bomaderry, NSW
0409 229 713
With a sky-blue paint job that’s sure to catch the eye of truck lovers along the highway, this 2011 Western Star 4800 FX8 is ready to roll with a brand new Detroit DD15 engine on board.
The classic truck features an 18-speed Roadranger gearbox, 46160 Meritor Diffs at 4.3 ratio, airliner rear suspension and the 40-inch Stratosphere sleeper set up.
Throw in an Isri Big Boy driver seat, 4 x 378 litre tanks and a Holland low profile ballrace turntable on Elphinstone air slider and it’s ready to start work now.
For more information phone Alison on 0409 229 713
ANDAST3 2024,DropDeck,45FTLong,Airbag,ATM45t,HydraulicRamps,3-Wat containerpins,R/TRate.DD. $74,000
ANDAST3 2024,DropDeckHay-Trailer,45FTLong,Airbag,3-WayContainerpins.DDLT. TA864656. $70,000
ANDAST3 2024,ExtendableDropDeck,45FT-70FTLong,HydraulicBi-FoldorSingle ramps,Containerpins,R/TRate,Customrampoptions.DDEX. TA820960. $85,000
ANDAST3 2024,DeckWidener,45FTLong,Deckwideningto3.6m,DieselPowerPack, Containerpins,Bi-Foldramps,Upperdeckramps,R/TRate.DDW. TA820952. $93,000
ANDAST3 2024,ExtendableDropDeckLow-Deck.DDEX-L. TA1071585. $83,000
ANDAST3 2024,FlatTop,45FTLong,Airbag,ATM45t,3-Watcontainerpins,R/TRate. FL. TA1232193. $71,000
Cast your mind back 15 years or so and it was a world where the 2010 Kenworth K108 was charging down the nation’s highways as a new toy for many a fleet.
This flat roof prime mover comes with a 10-speed Eaton gearbox and a Cummins engine too.
With a solid bullbar upfront and the bug catcher already fitted to the windscreen, the truck is ready to roll into the yard of its new owner.
$1,210,000 for complete rig
Ever wanted to own a road train? If the answer is yes, then you’re in luck.
This combination of a 2022 Volvo FH16 and three 2023 Bruce Rock Side Tippers in a short triple PBS format with a total length of 42m is up for grabs.
The complete rig is powered by a 700hp engine, linked to an automatic transmission.
DOUBLE DROP CURTAINSIDER
FROM $279,000+GST
Total sales hit record levels
As the clock ticked over to January 1, 2025, the doors shut on the sales statistics for Australian truck and heavy van sales for the 2024 calendar year, and the results were record-breaking.
The Truck Industry Council’s T-Mark Truck Market Data, released on January 3, reported a total of 51,277 vehicles sold in 2024, including the addition of two new brands – LDV Deliver 9 and Peugeot Boxer – in the heavy van and light truck categories. Taking those two brands out, there were still 48,627 heavy
Heavy Vehicles – Monthly Sales
Medium Vehicles – Monthly Sales
Light Vehicles – Monthly Sales
Isuzu amassed 13,402 sales across heavy, medium and light duty segments in 2024, making it Australia’s strongest truck brand. Image: Isuzu Australia
vehicles sold in 2024, beating the 2023 sales record by 510 vehicles, or 1.1 per cent.
TIC CEO Tony McMullan says the 2024 results were good news for the industry.
“It was pleasing to see truck sales hold up well in 2024 and van sales strengthen to record levels,” he says. “This despite challenging economic conditions throughout 2024 in Australia.
“However, despite these record new truck sales, the Truck Industry Council and our members remain concerned that the average age of the Australian truck fleet remains much older than that of Europe and North America. An old truck fleet is not conducive to improved safety, public health and environmental outcomes for our society.
“Moving into an election year in 2025, we must consider what more can be done by both industry and particularly government, to reduce the age of our nation’s truck fleet.”
In terms of total numbers for 2024, the heavy-duty segment delivered 17,152 trucks over the 12 months, the medium duty segment contributed 8,132 sales and the light duty category accounted for 14,558 vehicles.
Heavy duty
In the race for market dominance in the heavy truck category
Kenworth took the honours in 2024, with its 3,774 trucks delivered accounting for 22 per cent of the segment.
Volvo’s 3,115 deliveries gave it second place and 18.2 per cent of this segment, with Isuzu’s 2,481 putting it in third place with 14.5 per cent of the market.
Rounding out the top 10 on the full year leaderboard was Scania with 1,459, Mercedes-Benz with 1,076, Mack with 959, UD Trucks with 803, Hino with 795, Fuso with 736 and DAF with 595. As a segment, 2024’s 17,152 deliveries were down 2.4 per cent, or 417 trucks on 2023 results.
Medium duty
Sales of medium duty trucks hit 8,132 in 2024, up 1.6 per cent on 2023’s figures. Yet as a segment medium-duty trucks continued to decline within the market accounting for just 15.9 per cent of all trucks sold – compared to 30.9 per cent in 2001 when the category was its strongest.
Isuzu was the dominant player in the category for 2024, with its
4,116 sales accounting for 50.6 per cent of the sales in category. Second place fell to Hino with 2,371 sales recorded for the year, followed by Fuso with 1,027.
Rounding out the top 10 brands on the 2024 sales leaderboard were: Iveco with 149, Hyundai with 137, UD Trucks with 93, Volvo with 78, Mercedes-Benz with 66, MAN with 50 and DAF with 34.
Light duty
The little truck market showed a drop in 2024 with 14,558 deliveries reflecting a 10 per cent decline on 2023’s results. Isuzu continued to dominate the segment with 6,805 sales, taking it to 46.7 per cent of all light trucks sold in 2024.
Fuso’s 2,064 sales gave it 14.2 per cent of the market and second spot for the year, followed by Hino with 1,909 sales for 13.1 per cent of the segment.
Fiat and Mercedes Benz came in fourth and fifth spot with sales of 822 and 617 little trucks respectively.
The remaining positions on the leaderboard went to Renault with 348, Hyundai (222), LDV (138), Ford (110), Volkswagen (102) and Foton Mobility (68).
DEALS Showcase
Ready
TO SERVE
With customers all over Australia, Freightmore Transport has expanded its footprint to have trailers available on site in WA, SA and NSW
The Quad Axle Mega Tilt tray opens the door on all sorts of transporting possibilities. Images: Freightmore Transport
For more than 15 years the team at Freightmore Transport has been producing a range of trailer equipment to suit all sorts of freight tasks at their factory in Lonsdale, South Australia.
Off the back of the continued support of the company’s loyal clients Freightmore has evolved and grown to the point where it is now able to offer customers convenient access to its products from company sites in Western Australia, South Australia and New South Wales.
The business has expanded in its geographic presence, but also in the breadth of services on offer to help customers manage their fleets and finances.
“We understand that tighter financial conditions can make purchasing more challenging for some clients,” Freightmore Transport Director Jason Juwayed says.
“That’s why we’re introducing an interest-
free Rent-to-Buy arrangement on selected models.
“If you have the work, we have the trailer to match — and now it’s easier than ever to get started.”
When it comes to the type of products on offer Freightmore’s list is extensive and includes car carriers, stock crates, mega tilts, curtain siders, quad loaders, drop decks, flat tops, extendables, side tippers, water tankers, dollies, grain tippers, and more.
“No matter your industry, Freightmore Transport has the equipment you need to get the job done efficiently and reliably,” he says.
Freightmore Transport prides itself on offering keenly priced equipment and will even consider trade-ins of used prime movers to help its customers upgrade their gear in a seamless manor.
As a growing business Freightmore Transport is always on the lookout for reliable
tow operators to help ferry its stock across Australia, and is also keen to work with sales yards around Australia interested in carrying their range.
“At Freightmore Transport, we’re committed to helping our clients succeed," Jason says.
“Whether you’re upgrading your fleet, exploring financing options, or looking for reliable trailers, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
“Thank you for choosing us as your trusted partner!”
To explore Freightmore’s complete range, check out the website at www.freightmoretransport.com.au.
If you’re interested in more information or finance or the partnership side of Freightmore Transport’s offerings, phone Victor on 0434 968 521.
For those who are on Facebook, the business posts regular updates at facebook.com/freightmoretransport
Freightmore Transport’s car carrier trailers offer something special you every step of the way We’re here to support
EPJ TRAD TRA PJTRADING CO EPJ TRADING CO
https://epj-trading.tradetrucks.com.au/ Email: office@griffithsgroup.co
KENWORTHT909 2017,Hydraulics/Fullcrosslocks. Enginehistoryavailable.Goodtipperlength..T909. TA1255172. $180,000+GST=$198,000
VOLVOFH12 1995,420HP,airbagsuspension,Bisalloy body,pintallhooktowhitch.FH12. TA1168316. $30,000+GST=$33,000
KENWORTHT401 2004,CatC12,18speed,fullcross locks,aluminiumbody.With:2003HamelexWhite3 axledogtrailer.RWCsupplied.T401. TA1235870. $125,000+GST=$137,500
WESTERNSTAR4900FXC 2014,DetroitDD15.Full crosslocks.Hydraulics.CTI.Newenginelate2023.. WS14. TA1246949. $85,000+GST=$93,500
KENWORTHK104 1999,tipperandHerculesairbag tri dog.Tarp,Bisalloybody.Caterpillarengine.New gearbox,motorrebuiltacouplethousandkmsago. S776. TA1216380. $60,000+GST=$66,000
MACKTRIDENT 2001,E7470hpmotor,rebuilt18spd Mackgearbox,bothdiffsdonerecently,allbrakesnew, newdrivetyres,steers80%,brandnewhoist,good reliabletruck.TRIDENT2. TA1185762.
$30,000+GST=$33,000
MACKTRIDENT 2005,535HP,Automatic,830,000km, TruckTipperandTrailer,FullRWCand1year Registration.Over$50kSpent,FreshTyresontheBack. S793. TA1236012. $90,000+GST=$99,000
HERCULESHEDT3SUPERDOG 1999Model,airbag suspension,ringfeeder,steelbody&two-waygate.. S778. TA1219726. $18,000+GST=$19,800
KENWORTHT404SAR 2007TruckandPreston/BPT superdog,2006,steelbody.C15500hp.Registeredto cartwasteforEPA.T404S. TA1227873. $100,000+GST=$110,000
KENWORTHK100E 12.7LDetroit.Hendrickson suspension.Goodhonestoldertruck..S766. TA1202632. $25,000+GST=$27,500
KENWORTHK108 flatroofprimemover.10speedEaton Gearbox.Cumminsengine.Ken108. TA1189224. $45,000+GST=$49,500
BYRNETRAILERSDOUBLEDECKSTOCKCRATE Ingood condition.Tyres80%,brakes75%.Twintoolboxes& twinsparetyreracks.40ftlong.7.5bay.Electricwinch forramp.Internalloadinglights.Readytowork.S758. TA1198881. $40,000+GST=$44,000
EPJ TRAD TRA PJTRADING CO EPJ TRADING CO
https://epj-trading.tradetrucks.com.au/ Email: office@griffithsgroup.co
GERGETRIAXLEFOLDINGSKEL withheadboard.Airbag suspension.Tyres,brakesandsuspensionok.Gerge. TA1068955.
$22,000+GST=$24,200
KENNEDYMINIB-DOUBLE 2009Model,c-lock.minib2. TA1144223.
$15,000+GST=$16,500
FREIGHTERTRIAXLELOGSKEL frontandrearracks, airbagsuspension,loadbinders,nearnewdrums& linings.Roadworthy.Picks. TA968311.
$25,000+GST=$27,500
FREIGHTERTRIAXLEEXTENDABLEFLATTOP Will stretchto19moverall.Springsuspension.Goodtyres. Alllightsfunctional.Frontandreargates.S765. TA1202631.
$20,000+GST=$22,000
TOYOTALANDCRUISERWorkmate 2007,440xxxkms NewengineputinSeptember2022.LC. TA1232379.
$30,000+GST=$33,000
FREIGHTERMINIBDOUBLESKEL Airbag'A'trailer, hydraulicallyloadedspringreartrailer,brakesok, painted,readytowork.BDouble2. TA657165.
$9,090.90+GST=$10,000
THTLOGSKELBDOUBLESET 'A'trailerwith Elphinstonelowlogger'B'trailer.THT. TA1056515.
$40,000+GST=$44,000
ELPHINSTONEBDOUBLE 1998model.AirRider. Excellentconditionforit'sage.ElphB. TA1105677. $30,000+GST=$33,000
Ph:(03) 5424 1377 or (03) 5424 1433
KENWORTHT650 radiator.Variousotherpartsavailable. Radi. TA874526. $1,000+GST=$1,100
SAMAIRLOGGER 2003,Samjackconvertedchivers, triaxlejinker.Airandelectricscales.Goodtyres,Nice lighttrailer,nearnewbrakes.S756. TA1198879. $10,000+GST=$11,000
VARIOUSCABGUARDSALUMINIUM&STEEL cab guardsavailable;also carry barguardsetc.S618. TA1051728. Pricesstartingfrom$1,000+GST=$1,100
FREIGHTERTANDEMSEMITIPPER 22fttandemsemi tipper.Rebuilthoist.Goodbrakes.Airtailgate,good honesttrailer.S764. TA1202630. $12,000+GST=$13,200
CALENDAR Events
FEBRUARY
Tooradin Tractor Pull and Truck Show
February 15, 2025. Tooradin, VIC
The Tooradin Tractor Pull & Truck Show has been an annual event since 1998 and has grown into a fantastic family day packed with fun things to see and do. It is a non-profit event run by a committee of locals, with all proceeds going back into local clubs, schools and various charities. As well as the vintage tractor pull and truck display, attendees can look forward to amusements, full catering, helicopter rides and more.
For more information see Tooradin Tractor Pull and Truck Show on Facebook.
National Road Freighters Association Conference
February 15, 2025. Brisbane, QLD
The National Road Freighters’ Association, which represents drivers, owner operators, fleet operators and industry participants, has put
together a top lineup for its upcoming annual conference. Held at Waters Edge on Hercules St in Hamilton, Queensland, the event will kick off at 8.30am, with dinner from 6pm. Connect with industry experts, learn about the latest transport trends, and gain valuable knowledge to advance your career. International guest speakers will include Chuck Snow, founder of Traffix, and transport analyst specialist Dean Croke. For more information see nfra.com.au.
Angaston Truck Show & Shine 2025
February 22, 2025. Angaston, SA
The Angaston Show Truck Show & Shine will return this year, in conjunction with the Angaston Show. They welcome all trucks of all ages, conditions and uses from all areas, locally and from far afield. Trucks must be on the grounds by 9am, with entry points at the Grand Gate (corner of Washington Street and Park Roads) and Show Hall Gates (off Washington Street). Awards will be handed out across 10 categories, from Best Interior to Best Workhorse.
For more information see angastonshow.org. au.
Camp Quality Convoy Geelong
February 23, 2025. Beckley Park, VIC
The Camp Quality Convoy Geelong is back, and this year it’s celebrating its 10th anniversary. The convoy starts and finishes at Beckley Park, where an awards ceremony, free Family Fun Festival and show ‘n’ shine complete a fantastic day out. Everyone is welcome for a great day of activities, while showing support for kids facing cancer.
For more information see campquality.org.au.
MARCH
Lockhart Truck Show
March 1, 2025. Lockhart, NSW
Celebrate road transport history past and present at the annual Lockhart Truck Show. The event features historic and modern trucks and other vehicles such as motorbikes and classic and vintage cars, on display in the pavilion. There will also be food and prizes for winners in a wide range of categories. Camping is available overnight for a donation and includes a Sunday morning breakfast.
See Lockhart Truck Show on Facebook.
Tasmanian Truck Owners & Operators Association Truck Run
March 2, 2025. Glebe to Longford, TAS
The Tasmanian Truck Owners & Operators Association will be hosting their annual truck run
on March 2 – setting off from Launceston and winding up at Longford Showgrounds. Trucks will arrive at 9am at Joe Pintarich Glebe Yards on Boland St for a 9am departure, to arrive in Longford for 10am. Attendees can look forward to a great display of trucks, food and coffee vans and face painting for the kids. Adding to the fun will be a monster raffle, auction, trophy ceremony and live music from Scott Lewis! Gold coin entry, with all proceeds going towards the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
For more information see Tasmanain Truck Owners & Operators Association on Facebook.
Clunes Historic Vehicle Show
March 9, 2025. Clunes, VIC
The annual Clunes Historic Vehicle Show is brought to you by the Historic Commercial Vehicle Club of Australia’s Ballarat branch. The event has something for everyone, with a vast array of vintage and classic vehicles and motoring memorabilia. Expect food vans, photos and working displays with like-minded people displaying their vehicles and engines.
For more information see Clunes Historic Vehicle Show 2025 on Facebook.
Australian White Truck Muster
March 15-16. Kyabram
Showgrounds,
VIC
The 10th Australian White Truck Muster is a truck, bus, car, tractor and memorabilia display featuring White and associated brands, as well as an all-scale model muster (plastic, resin and diecast). Attendees can look forward to a Saturday night dinner featuring a guest speaker,
A roaring 110 trucks cruised through the gates for the Mount Gambier truck show last year.
Image: Jeff Johnston
DEALS Events
The Dane Ballinger Memorial Truck Show takes place every November. Image: Warren Aitken
visual presentations, raffles and an auction.
For more information contact Ray Grima on 0407 311 007 or see “White Truck Muster” on Facebook.
Colac Truck & Ute Show
March 22, 2025. Colac Showgrounds, VIC
The Colac Truck and Ute Show is back, with something for everyone – from a show ‘n’ shine to live music, kids’ entertainment, industry stalls, food vans and more. Funds raised will go towards the Colac Fire Brigade and Colac SES Unit for equipment and facility upgrades into the future. Entry: adults $10, concession/pension $5, 12-18 years $5, under 12 years free. Families (two adults and two children) $20.
For more information see Colac Truck & Ute Show on Facebook.
VTA State Conference 2025
March 23-25, 2025. Silverwater Resort, Phillip Island, VIC
Registrations are now open for the Victorian Transport Association’s State Conference 2025. The conference is a major event in the VTA’s calendar and unites key industry figures to discuss challenges and opportunities faced by the transport and logistics sector. This year’s theme is “Safety First: Empowering People, Boosting Productivity, Shaping Transport’s Future” and provides a valuable opportunity for industry leaders to have crucial conversations regarding safety both on the road for drivers and off the road for operators behind the scenes. For more information visit vta.com.au.
APRIL
Roads Australia Transforming Transport Summit
April 3, 2025. Sydney, NSW
The 2025 Roads Australia Transforming Transport Summit will be of interest to anyone involved in shaping the future of Australia’s transport infrastructure. This high-profile event, held on April 3 in Sydney, gathers top government officials, industry leaders, and global experts to address the critical challenges of transforming transport into an integrated, safe, and sustainable system.
This summit offers valuable insights into key issues like productivity, decarbonisation, workforce development, and safety, helping you stay at the forefront of industry trends. The focus on digital technology and innovation promises to unlock new strategies for boosting performance in the transport sector.
For more information visit roads.org.au.
National Rural Carriers Convention
April 4-5, 2025. Canberra, ACT
The 2025 National Rural Carriers Convention will be held in Canberra at Thoroughbred Park, the home of horse racing in Canberra.
LBRCA is hosting the Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) to bring to you the largest gathering of rural carriers in Australia to celebrate 40 years of the ALRTA. The event will provide a unique opportunity for the rural transport industry from across
Australia to meet and reflect on the past 40 years and focus on the next 40.
The dynamic program, focusing on genuine issues, people, and solutions, will feature ministers, regulators, state and federal transport authorities, local government representatives, supply chain partners and transporters from all federation partners including the LRTAWA, LRTAV, LRTASA, LRTAQ and LTAT.
For more information visit lbrca.org.au.
Haulin' the Hume
April 12-13, 2025. Luddenham Showgrounds, NSW
Join the gang once again for their historic road run following the Old Hume Highway out of Sydney to Yass. Relive some of the sounds, sights and smells of the pre-emissions era when trucking was making its mark building Australia.
From the new starting point at the Luddenham Showgrounds, you will head up over famous Razorback, through the Hole in the Wall at Picton, and cover the beautiful drive through Mittagong, Berrima and into Goulburn for lunch and a short display.
You will then continue with a drive through the spectacular Cullerin Range into Gunning, pass through the iconic Gasoline Alley in Yass and then onto Gundagai where you will have dinner, share some photos and some laughs as you relive the good old days. Sunday morning wrap up will be breakfast and farewells before heading back to reality.
For more information see “Haulin’ the Hume –Highway 31 Road Run” on Facebook, call
Andy Nash on 0416 869 464 or Debbie Cooper on 0439 814 876, or email haulinthehume@outlook.com.
Trucking Australia 2025
April 28-30, 2025. Adelaide, SA
Trucking Australia will return in April – and this time it’s coming to Adelaide.
Trucking Australia is the industry’s premier annual event and a great opportunity for industry professionals to meet face-to-face and collaborate on potential solutions.
Join over 400 other delegates at the 2.5-day conference, which presents ample networking opportunities to meet industry experts and a chance to build new connections.
Gain access to over 25 informative sessions and presentations on truck productivity, decarbonisation, workforce inclusion, transport reforms and safety.
Finish your journey at the Foundation Sponsors Gala Awards Dinner, where the winners of the National Trucking Industry Awards will be revealed.
For more information visit truck.net.au.
MAY
Brisbane Truck Show
May 15-18, 2025. Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, QLD
Tickets are now on sale for the much-anticipated 2025 Brisbane Truck Show, the southern
The 2024 Illawarra Convoy was a huge success. Image: Warren Aitken
DEALS Events
The Boort Truck Show attracts rigs from far and wide. Image: Truckspotting Ararat
hemisphere’s largest festival of all things trucking. Building on the success of past shows, all exhibition space is already sold out, guaranteeing attendees over 30,000 square metres of exhibitions of the latest trucks, trailers, technologies, and parts and accessories available on the Australian market.
The 2025 show from May 15-18 will be a critical component of Truck Week, a week-long festival incorporating an array of activations in nearby South Bank Parklands, including the Premier Boxing Series, Australia’s Best Show N Shine, and The Depot careers and entertainment hub – plus the Heavy Equipment and Machinery Show at RNA Showgrounds and the Heritage Truck Show at Rocklea.
For more information see brisbanetruckshow.com.au.
Scenic Rim Truck Show 2025
May 31, 2025.
Jimboomba State School, QLD
Get excited for the Scenic Rim Truck Show! Held from 10am to 6pm, the show will feature plenty of trucks along with market stalls, rides, entertainment, raffles and a live auction. All profits will be donated to the KIDS Foundation. For more information see scenicrimtruckshow.com.
JUNE
Alexandra Truck Show
June 7-8, 2025. Alexandra, VIC
The Alexandra Truck Show is back on the King’s Birthday weekend in June this year, with a Sunday Show ‘n’ Shine on the town’s main street, as well as live music, a Victorian woodchop tournament, exhibitions, trade displays, kids’ amusements and a raffle. Come down on Saturday for the local markets, a convoy and truck driver’s memorial.
For more details email trucks@ alexandratruckshow.com.au.
AUGUST
Casino Truck Show
August 2, 2025. Casino, NSW
The date has already been set for the 2025 Casino Truck Show, one of the biggest events in Australia’s trucking calendar. Tens of thousands of people and hundreds of trucks are expected to descend on the town as usual – last year, truck entries had to be capped at 600. Attendees can look forward to a great day out with food, trade stalls, kids’ amusements and much more.
For more information see casinotruckshow.com.au.
If you have an event you would like listed in our trucking events calendar, please email geoff.crockett@primecreative.com.au with all of the relevant details.
Phone 07 4693 1088
Mobile 0419 240 382
Murlaggan Road
Pittsworth QLD 4356
MOOREB/DCOMBINATION
2013MooreB-Double27'x6'6''ASlider&32'x6'6''TOATub HendricksonIntraaxHXL7airbagsuspensionandaxles,alloywheels,bothR/TLead,Toolboxandwatertankonboth,QRolltarps.con-bd.
MOOREDOLLY ImmediateDelivery!!!!!Moore20248'1'' TriaxleDolly.HendricksonIntraaxairbagsuspensionwith IntraaxHXL7TiremaxxAxleswithLSVvalvebrakekit, AirtecAXLBluetoothScales.3.77mToweyetoTurntableJostJSK37GreaselessTurntable.AlcoaLVL1Alloy Wheels,RubberGuards.Air,Elecand2xOilLinesFront andrearofturntable.24-D2104. TA1253236. $81,750
MOORER/TLEAD/MID 2024,45'Flattop.Hendrickson IntraaxairbagsuspensionwithIntraaxHXL7Tiremaxx AxleswithEBSbrakes,RightweightBluetoothScales.5' Front&RearLoadracks,3WayContainerPins,OvalTie Downsinfloor,5"Coaming,3mmCheckerPlatefloorwith 16mmLip,Approx1000Lbellytank.AlcoaLVL1Alloy Wheels,R/TL/VSigns,OversizeSign,FlashingLight, Ringfeeder.3Toolboxes&1Watertank.24-2058. TA1228835. $129,900
MOOREDOLLY ImmediateDelivery!!!!!Moore20244'6'' TandemaxleDolly.HendricksonIntraaxairbagsuspension withIntraaxHXL7AxleswithLSVvalvebrakekit, RightweighBluetoothScales.4.2mToweyetoTurntable-
MCGRATHTAG 1977,30'x6'TOATub&1982 HaulmarkDolly-9.56tComboTare,SpringSuspension &BPW,SpiderAxles,NewSkidplateFitted, Tandem AxleSpringDolly,NewJostTurntable,NewKHitch SpiderAxles BothwithQLDRego&CurrentCOI.Con-Smith. TA1241343. $51,700
MOORESEMIRO/ROHookliftTipper 2021,2021Moore HookliftTipper,RollonRollOff70m3Bin Transporter/Tipper,HendricksonIntraaxSuspension, HXL7LongLifeHubs,FrontLiftAxle,AlloyRims...As NewCondition.....CS-MT-RORO. TA1183797. $110,000
DEALS Events
Rounds MAKING THE
Deals on Wheels scoured the truck show scene and found three show aficionados who enjoy 'making the rounds'
Words: Tiarna Condren
Image: Addicted 2 Shoot
This year is gearing up to a be a massive one for truck shows. With an eye-watering amount of new and returning displays, it’ll be impossible to make it to all of them.
If you call yourself a show fanatic, or simply enjoy taking a stroll down the aisles, you’ll no doubt start noticing a few of the same rigs making an appearance at different events.
This month, we caught up with a few truck show enthusiasts who happily travel the country to share their passion projects with other like-minded individuals and to see what’s new in the show scene.
Fantastic Fleet
While some of the original truck shows were an excuse to polish up the old rigs and give them their day in the spotlight, a lot of events are now focused on doing some good for the community.
Convoys, shows and rallies are being held across the country to raise money for various charities, bringing out the best side of the transport industry.
One such example of this generosity comes in the form of Queensland-based trucking company Team Transport.
Most recently seen at the Brisbane Convoy for Kids, their fleet is instantly recognisable.
“Each truck was bought brand new from Brown and Hurley, but were originally painted black and yellow,” Team Transport sales and marketing team member ErrinLeigh Spratt tells Deals on Wheels
“In 2017 we started wrapping them to be more visible on the roads.”
Sporting a dynamic colour palette of red, white and grey, the fleet consists of many different models and brands, with 18 of their whopping 270-truck fleet joining the convoy.
Among the masses stood some of their favourites, like a Kenworth 610, 410 and 409, as well as a DAF CF and XF.
Emotions ran high on the day, with participants and onlookers eager to jump in and raise as much money as they could.
“There were supporters in the hot sun, crying,” Errin-Leigh says.
“One even climbed up onto my truck and handed us a $10 note, asking us to give it to the chosen charity when we get back to the showgrounds.
“It was just gorgeous.”
While this exchange was a major highlight of Errin-Leigh’s day, she also praised a lot of the other “slick” looking trucks passing through the crowds.
“It was insane, a record-breaking day and the event ran so smoothly,” she says.
Fiery Ford
As time passes, certain trucks from the past begin to disappear from Australian roads.
Whether they were discontinued models, worked to the bone, or simply no longer suitable, it’s always a highlight when they show their faces once more.
Nick Latch’s 1987 Ford LTL 9000 is a perfect example.
While the classic Fords were once a common sight around the country, their appearance at truck shows and on the roads has seen a steady decline.
“There aren’t too many around that are still in working order, and while there are a few out on the road that you can catch a glimpse of, they’re few and far between,” Nick tells Deals on Wheels
When a friend of Nick’s ended up salvaging the ’87 model, he jumped at the chance to take the Ford off his hands.
“While I own a couple of trucks already, this was my first ever restoration,” he says.
“It had been sitting under a tree for the past 20 years and was completely covered in mould and rust.
“I knew I had my work cut out for me.”
The Ford’s doors, bonnet, flywheel, locker boxes and more were covered in rust, and proved to be a time-consuming mission for Nick.
“We completely cleaned it up, and ended up putting in a new exhaust, new wheels, new rims, new lights, you name it."
Thankfully, Nick is currently employed as a truck driver for Klos Custom Trucks and had a wealth of information sitting at his fingertips.
“Any time I needed a hand, I just went and saw Justin or Turk, and they would help me out with whatever,” he says.
The biggest difficulty he found was sourcing parts for the truck, with Ford LTL 9000 parts becoming more and more difficult to track down.
“There's a guy in Western Australia who was great to deal with, and he helped me find most of what I was looking for,” he says.
“If that was a dead end, I resorted to looking around at wrecks and salvages."
The hard work definitely paid off, with the stunning resto now drawing eyes at shows around the country.
The Ford was Nick’s first ever restoration project.
DEALS Events
Classy Commander
Family is something that has always played a major part in the transport industry.
Both Lovitt men have spent years working for TRN Haulage in Camden, but when Andrew’s father Colin ‘Snow’ retired, the two of them figured it would be the perfect opportunity to do something together again.
“It was the perfect restoration idea, and between the two of us, I think it came out alright,” Andrew laughs.
Coming to them in not-so-great condition, the duo immediately stripped the truck back to basics, with the cab in need of some major TLC.
“We had to press up some medal and do a lot of work to it,” he says. “We put in new doors, the sides of the cab had to be re-done, the back of the sleeper, you name it.
“We restored it back to original, and it looks amazing. Maybe even a little prettier than it originally was!”
But while they were aiming to get it to look just as it would have many moons ago, they also decided to add a twist.
Colin and his labour of love.
Image: Anthony Lovitt
The kitted-out Commander now heads off to various shows across the country.
Image: Diesel Fumes Photography
Companies passed down through generations, children following in their parents’ footsteps — the list is never-ending.
So, when a 1978 White Road Commander suddenly popped up for sale, Andrew Lovitt jumped at the chance to own the same truck his father once drove.
“We can’t be certain if it’s the exact same truck, but it sure has all the same specs,” Andrew tells Deals on Wheels. “It was too good to pass up.”
“We decided to install an old furniture van to the back, which we’ve decked out into a motorhome!”
“It’s got a shower, toilet, beds, and then the kitchen. There is also a place to park a car in the back.”
Colin and his wife now spend a decent amount of time camping out in the back and taking it around to various truck shows.
“We basically split it 50/50 at the moment — dad takes it when he can, and I take it out when I can.”
DEALS Events
Retro
RIGS
This year’s Geelong Classic Truck and Machinery Show was a big hit, with over 100 trucks on display
Despite some “interesting” weather, this year’s Geelong Classic Truck and Machinery Show was a smash hit.
Sweltering heat on the Saturday and heavy rain on the Sunday didn’t dent the enthusiasm of the crowd, with approximately 2000 people turning out to join in the fun.
Young and old alike enjoyed the variety of displays and entertainment on offer at the Geelong Showgrounds, from vintage trucks, tractors, cars and machinery to cannon firings, military re-enactments and more.
Event organiser Angela Reynolds tells Deals on Wheels that the team were delighted with how the show went, with over 100 trucks rolling in.
“We were blown away by the number of trucks that came through and everyone had a great time,” she says.
“The Historical Commercial Vehicle Club and the American Truck Historical Society were there, and ATHS held their meeting during the event, which is the first time they’ve done that.
“We’re grateful to everyone who made the journey despite the heat and the rain.”
Angela says the show is “not about competition”, so there were no awards handed out.
However, there were a few special trucks that stood out from the crowd — like Peter Wiffen’s “immaculate” nut and bolt resto of a Ford 9000 and Robbie Rose’s stunning LTL 9000.
The popular Skidmore family also brought along two road trains with smaller trucks and tractors.
“That was an impressive display, not just at the show but even to see on the road on the way to the showgrounds,” says Angela.
Angela is looking forward to coming back next year for another ripper event.
“We’ve been running every year since 2014, apart from during Covid, and it’s great to see that after 11 years we’re still getting a really strong turnout and support from the trucking community,” she said.
“These events are an important opportunity for people to come and catch up with their friends and other exhibitors, whether it’s trucks or tractors or machinery.
“We can’t wait to come back in 2026!”
This fantastic Ford caught some admiring looks.
Image: Hi-Vis Pics
This 1974 Kenworth was looking large. Image: Hi-Vis Pics
The Skidmore family had one of the best displays. Image: Highway Photography
Peter Wiffen showed off his nut and bolt resto of a Ford 9000. Image: Hi-Vis Pics
Lynch Transport were “Haulin’ Ass” with this beaut. Image: Hi-Vis Pics
M&S Trucking joined in the fun Image: Highway Photography
Langford’s Heritage Trucks Mount Gambier brought this vintage Diamond T along. Image: Hi-Vis Pics
We like the unusual colours on this retro Kenworth.
Image: Hi-Vis Pics
Over 100 rigs turned out despite the rain and heat. Image: Highway Photography
You don’t see too many Foden trucks around these days. Image: Hi-Vis Pics
This old JWG Harvey Atkinson was a stand-out. Image: Hi-Vis Pics
The fun continued until the evening. Image: Highway Photography
All the colours of the rainbow were represented. Image: Hi-Vis Pics
DEALS Events
Trucks dressed in their Sunday best. Image: Highway Photography
Trevor Warner displayed his restoration of a 1960 AA 150 International, painted an eyecatching deep purple. Image: Hi-Vis Pics
This JJ Leich & Sons Freightliner was looking immaculate. Image: Highway Photography
If you have news you’d like to share, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by emailing our editorial team on geoff.crockett@primecreative.com. au or kayla.walsh@primecreative.com.au or calling 0421 299 963.
If you’d like to have every edition of Deals on Wheels delivered to your door, check out our subscription deals by scanning the QR code.
DEALS Events
TRUCKIN’
IN
Tassie
The Tassie Convoy for Kids recently celebrated its most successful year ever, with 107 rigs rolling up
Words: Kayla Walsh
Images: Tazzie Eggins
Photography
There’s nothing like a bit of smoke at a convoy
There was a tangible buzz in the air during the recent Tassie Convoy 4 Kids, with a record 107 trucks revving up to raise money for the children's ward at the Royal Hobart Hospital.
Organiser Emma Bygrave tells Deals on Wheels that she was delighted with the turnout, which was almost double last year’s numbers.
“We’re really proud of how far we've come,” she says. “It's only our seventh event, and to
have such a massive increase, it is really an emotional thing.
“It’s amazing to see that many trucks roll in and just know that it's not only making a difference for the hospital in the money that we give them, but for the drivers as well — to all be in one place and be able to catch up for something that's a little bit more casual than a truck show.
“So yeah, I think it's just really important that
Allsands
The
We love the road-inspired designs on this Rockit Asphalting rig
The lead truck raised $2,750 for the children's ward at the Royal Hobart Hospital
we can help both those things happen in the one event.”
The event raised an amazing $17,160.12 in donations, bringing the total amount raised by the event since its inception to over $100,000.
The top fundraiser, who was given the honour of lead truck, was Rob Sutton, who drives for logging contractor AG & N Barker.
Sutton, who pulled up in a shiny Kenworth T909, raised an impressive $2,750 for the cause, with Toby Rolle from All Pumping Solutions right behind him with a donation of $2,610.
“We have a Top 10 for the trucks, and they raise the bulk of the money,” explains Emma.
“So, there’s an assortment of trucks — like there’s some really nice, good-looking ones, but then there are your average Joe trucks in there too.
“I think that’s the beauty of the event — it doesn't matter what your truck looks like, everyone's just there for a good cause.”
Emma shared her gratitude to the local transport community for their generosity and support of the event.
“There are some controversial things when it comes to truck driving and the different industries they operate in, but events like this give the public a different look at the people who drive trucks every day.
“They can appreciate that these guys are just trying to give back and make a difference where they can.
“Keep the second weekend in December free and we'll see if we can do this even bigger and better in 2025!”
The convoy’s top 10
Tribute
TO TRUCKIES
Friends and families of fallen truckies recently gathered to pay their respects at the Epping Forest Roadhouse
in Tasmania
Words: Kayla Walsh
Images: Tasmanian Truck Owners and Operators Association
A total of 217 names are now on the wall
A crowd of 300 people and 11 trucks gathered at Epping Forest Roadhouse in Tasmania recently to pay tribute to fallen truckies.
A memorial service was held for friends and family of the deceased, with 16 names added to the Tassie Truckies Memorial Wall.
Jonathan Price, president of the organising committee for the memorial, tells Deals on Wheels that the event went well and provided
a much-needed opportunity to remember drivers who have passed away from natural causes or accidents.
“We have a lot of regulars that have been coming since the first memorial service 11 years ago,” he says.
“Eric Abetz from the Tasmanian government was our guest speaker.
“The atmosphere is emotional during the
Names added to the wall
David M Oates
T A "Terry" Hyland
Merv "Kergan" Direen
Geoffrey John "GJ" Finan
Desmond "Des" Scott
Gregory "Greg" "Dreamy" Direen
Theodore "Theo" Gray
Malcolm Francis "Black Mal" Collins
Kenneth Brian "Kookaburra" "Rat" Simmons
Des Oates
Jamie "Meddy" Medhurst
Lindsay "Dobby" Dobson
Brent "BJ" Jones
Barry Bell
Bevan "Growler" Boxhall
Barry "Grunter" Barker
Some of the Rusty’s Cartage and Excavations fleet
This Bulldog was all shined up
The Tasmanian Truck Owners and Operators Association’s annual truck run is coming up soon
DEALS Events
The event was a great opportunity for the transport community to come together
service but people enjoy the day too, we have a bit of music and people can catch up.”
Jonathan, who is a truck driver himself, got involved in the memorial committee after a family member passed away and was added to the wall.
“When the wall was first started, the idea was that it was a place people could go to
remember their loved ones who were in the transport industry,” he says.
“A lot of people get cremated and their families have nowhere to go to pay their respects each year.
“It was inspired by events happening on the mainland, like the White Hill Truck Drivers’ Memorial and Tarcutta.
AUSTRALIAN MADE STEEL WET 1 WATER TANK
Politician Eric Abetz, who was a guest speaker at the event, and memorial committee president Jonathan Price
“We thought it would be a good thing to bring to Tasmania.”
The Tassie Truckies Memorial honours truck drivers from all over the state who have passed away, with 217 names now on the wall.
“I opened my speech with ‘It’s good to see everyone here,’ and in one way it was, but in another way it’s not,” Jonathan says.
“It’s very important to remember truck drivers, but it’s sad to see how fast the wall is filling up.”
Julie Wise, Secretary of the Tasmanian Truck Owners and Operators Association, said the day was a special opportunity for people to catch up and pay tribute to loved ones.
“It’s a lovely day to have a chat about people you’re missing, and the words spoken at the memorial were very reflective and touching,” she adds.
If you would like the name of a loved one added to the wall, get in touch with Tassie Truckies Memorial Wall on Facebook and they will send you an application form.
DemonstratorBruceRockEngineeringrigidsidetipperbody& coupledto4axleBruceRockEngineeringsidetippingdog trailer,HendricksonIntraaxairbagsuspension,electrictarps, lightTruck&Trailertare19.90T,PBSratedunit.81024. TA1241162. POA
VOLVOFM450 2019,Likenew,68TGCM,Autotrans,Volvo rearaxlesonairbag,oneowner,maintainedregular,
BRUCEROCKENGINEERINGTANDEMCONVERTORDOLLY 2024,SuitPBS,INSTOCKNewairbagconvertorDolly,K HitchaxleswithKIintegratedairbagsusp,Aluminium wheels,Joistgreaselessturntable,Hydrauliclines,Low Tare.130124. TA1206604. POA
BRUCEROCKENGINEERINGASECTIONSIDETIPPER 2024, NewBREHardoxsteelAsectionsidetipper,Kiair suspension,ConmetKHitchhubs,Aluminiumwheels, HydraulicrollTarps,Joistgreaselessturntable,Lowtare weight,InStocknow.181024. TA1242361. POA
VOLVOFMX540Tipper 2018,FMXseriessleeperrigidtipper setuptopullaPBSdogtrailer,localfleetunittidy order, Aluminiumtippingbinwithelectricoperatedtarp, mechanicallysound,valuelookhear.$172,000plus GST. 151024. TA1240535. $189,200
Next
GENERATION
Justin Nitschke and his son Bromley are carrying on their family’s transport legacy – and loving it
Words: Kayla Walsh
Images: Justin Nitschke
The Nitschkes: Bromley, Justin and Ian
For Justin Nitschke, trucking is in the blood.
Back in 1947, his grandad Rudi bought himself a 1947 Ford to cart his own sheep and grain bags.
Over three decades later, Justin’s dad followed in his footsteps with a 1966 F600 truck, transporting grain and grapes around the Riverland region of South Australia.
Now, Justin and his 23-year-old son Bromley are carrying on the family tradition — just with bigger rigs — two 610 Kenworth SAR road trains.
“Back in 1994, I decided to cart stuff,” Justin tells Deals on Wheels
“Without asking dad about it too much, I hired his truck and took his wine grape customers on, and added to our customers with some farmers.”
Growing up around trucks, Justin has always wanted to work in the transport industry.
“It really runs in the blood — I have uncles and cousins that drive, all throughout Australia.
“I always felt like I wanted get out on the open road!”
The Nitschke family, who cart grain, fertiliser, grapes and “anything that goes on the back of a tipper” used to have a bigger fleet, featuring Volvos and Western stars.
However, they’ve downsized partly due to not being able to find drivers willing to drive long distances.
“It’s hard to find drivers that want to be away in trucks — everyone seems to want to be home at night,” he says.
“It can be stressful to keep things moving and keep everyone happy — probably more stress than it’s worth, unless you want to keep 0getting bigger and bigger, which we didn’t want to do.
“We had five or six Western Stars at one stage, but we’ve cut back to a Kenworth each.”
Though the Nitschke fleet has been reduced, the trucks they have now are extra special to them, with tributes to the family’s proud transport legacy decorating their trailers.
“On the side of the trailer there’s a picture of an old Ford Louisville that was my dad’s and mine, and another Ford dad used to have,” he says.
“We just wanted to have those pictures on there to remind us of our family history.”
Justin’s dad still has his father’s old Ford, which he restored back in the 80s.
“It was in pretty good condition when he got it,” Justin says. “He just repainted it and made it like brand new.
“It’s basically a show truck now and dad uses it to cart stuff around a bit in his retirement.”
Meanwhile Justin’s grandad’s Ford is sitting in a relative’s shed, and he’s hoping to bring that back to life one day.
“We also have a picture of that truck on the side of one of our other trailers,” he says.
“Back in 1957, grandpa changed that truck with a bigger motor, putting a Perkins in it so he could put a flat top on it.
The family’s Western Star era
Loaded up for a typical workday
“He would cart wool to Adelaide and bring machinery back, because he had a New Holland and Horwood Bagshaw dealership in Loxton.”
Justin is happy that his son Bromley has taken after the generations before him and hopped behind the wheel of a truck — but even if he wasn’t happy, he says there was no stopping him.
“He always had an interest in trucks — that
might have been my fault!” he laughs.
“My wife Candice and I run the business together and he’s doing a good job working for us, we’re proud of him.
“One day he might even buy his own truck or take over the family business, which would be great.”
He hopes that he has been able to pass on some trucking knowledge to his son, just as he learned from his own dad.
“Growing up, I would hear stories from dad about how he did things and I would share my stories with my son too,” he says.
“Dad was always there when something went wrong, when something broke or a truck got bogged.
“He would help come up with a solution and we would sort it out together, so I’m doing the same with Bromley.”
He gave an example from the week before, when they broke an axle while on a run to New South Wales.
“Bromley helped me chain things up and get ourselves out of trouble,” he says.
“Everyone’s bounced off each other over the years.”
Justin acknowledges that transport has changed a lot since his grandfather’s days, but he still enjoys being a part of the industry.
“We’re in the middle of a drought here in SA, so it’s been challenging,” he says.
“But we’re finding work to do, and sometimes it creates some longer-distance work, which is good.
“We do our own little thing here and stay fairly positive.
“We’re looking forward to the 2025/2026 grain season — hopefully it’s better than the last one!”
The 2021 610 SAR that Bromley drives for Nitschke Bulk Transport, owned and operated by Justin and Candice Nitschke for the past 30 years
Rudi Nitschke’s 1947 ‘Jail Bar’ Ford can be seen on the side of the trailer
832
032
JTBTRIAXLE WIDENER
2006,45ft6,Airbag suspension,10 Studalloys3.5m opening,Hydraulics operationalfrom truck.VeryClean Unit.S382. TA1192336. 120000+GST= $132,000
AMTRAILERS
SINGLEAXLE 2006,spring suspension, hydraulicramps, electricpowered selfcontained hydraulicsystem, ATM12T.S355. TA1169437. 23000+GST= $25,300
MITSUBISHI UNKNOWN6X4 TipperTruck 1991,Approx900,000 Km.S364. TA1174760. 43000+GST= $47,300
PANTONHILL
TANDEMAXLE TAG
2019,10studtubeless alloytyres,full hydraulicRampsand legs,Spring Suspension,Steelfloor, bartlettball.S369. TA1185950. 37000+GST= $40,700
TANDEMTAG TRAILER
2013,springSusp, 10stud,lowprofile tyres,FullHyd Ramps&leg.Approx 7mdeck&1200 Beavertail.S367. TA1182936. 38000+GST= $41,800
HAMELEX WHITETANDEM DOGTIPPER 2001,Aluminium Tub,RollTarp, SpringSuspension. S404. TA1212507. 22000+GST= $24,200
VAWDREY48FT TRID/DECK CURTINSIDER 2000,Airbags suspension.S366. TA1180902. 55000+GST= $60,500
MAXITRANSB DOUBLEULTRA LITE
2012,ATrailer-suit1 x20ftcontainer BTrailer-suit1x20ft or1x40ftContainer. S392. TA1202606. 90000+GST $99,000
Fantastic
FORD
Raymond Oppermann tells the story behind the restoration of an F600 Ford that’s been in his family for almost 60 years
Words: Kayla Walsh
Images: Raymond Oppermann
Ray thinks his dad would have been proud to see the F600 restored
Ask Queensland cattle farmer Raymond Oppermann about his restoration of his dad’s 1958 F600 Ford, and you can hear the pride in his voice.
You might also hear him getting a bit choked up – because this is a very special truck, which has been in the family for almost 60 years.
“My dad was a cane and cattle farmer, and he bought the truck to cart cane to the sugar mill at the time,” he says.
“He used it for that purpose for nine odd years before he upgraded, but he didn’t sell it.
The Ford as it looked back in the late 80s
“It had an old wooden tipper body on it and he kept that on it and had it working around the farm.”
The truck was eventually put into semiretirement, only being taken out for the occasional spin.
“It was always kept in the shed, which is why it’s in pretty good nick for its age.
“It could sit there for six months, 12 months, but it would still run — you just had to put a battery in it and some fresh fuel and she’d fire away.”
This pattern continued until Ray eventually
decided it was time to completely restore the truck.
It was stripped down, with the cab taken off and the motor removed — and Ray left with just a bare chassis.
It then sat around again for a few years as Ray was often away for work, but finally in 2018 he finally set about restoring it in earnest.
The chassis was sandblasted, new brake lines and brake cylinders put in, and the cab was sent to Advanced Custom Worx in Yatala.
“I did as much work as I could do myself, but I’m not a panel beater, so I sent the cab to Troy at Advanced Custom Worx.
“He repaired it and painted it up and it came out probably better than it did from the factory.
“A lot of people have said that back in the day they didn’t have the ability to do the paint as well as they can do now.”
The truck didn’t have a paint code on it, so Troy had to work a bit harder to find the right match.
“We had no formula for the colour, so Troy sent the inside of a door panel, which hadn’t seen the sun, to his paint rep,” Ray explains.
“They polished it up and matched that colour.”
The engine, a 272 Y-Block, was sent to Michael Vaughn at American Direct Parts in Rosewood.
“It’s a V8 engine but they called it a Y-Block in those days,” Ray says.
“Michael did a great job rebuilding the engine, so it still has the original one in there.”
For the most part, Ray kept the truck original, apart from moving the fuel tank.
“The fuel tank used to be in behind the seat, that’s where they were in that period.
The F600 was stripped down, with Ray left with just a bare chassis
and then repainted
The cab needed some love, and was sent to Advanced Custom Worx in Yatala – Ray reckons it came out better than it originally looked
The V8 engine, otherwise known as a Y-Block, was sent to Michael Vaughn at American Direct Parts in Rosewood who did an incredible job restoring it
“I didn’t like that — I wanted a bit more capacity as it was only a small tank.
“Even though it had a vent running outside, it was a petrol motor and it wasn’t great to have the fuel right beside you.
“So, I took the fuel tank out of there and I’ve put a custom-made fuel tank on the side of the chassis.”
Ray, who lives in the rural town of Kalbar, picked up parts for the truck online, ordering some from the US as well as enlisting the help of Classic Pickup Supplies on the Sunshine Coast.
“They’re a Chevy and Ford parts supplier and they tracked down a lot of parts for me as well,” he adds.
He also bought a 1969 F600 and nicked some parts from that.
“It’s basically the same truck as my dad’s F600, they just changed the grill a little bit over the years,” he says.
“It was in a bad state but there were a lot of good parts on that truck so I salvaged some of them to help get dad’s truck back together.”
Ray still has a few small jobs left to do on the truck, like a new roof lining that needs to go in.
But he’s delighted with how the restoration has turned out and thinks his dad, who passed away over two decades ago, would have been proud to see it.
“It’s very sentimental for me, it’s been in the family for so long,” he says.
“It’s turned out way beyond my expectations, and I’m over the moon.
The grill all painted up, and other bits and pieces being spray painted, all proved it can actually be exciting watching paint dry!
DEALS Resto
“My dad’s been gone 20 or 21 years now but I think he would have been happy to see the truck restored.
The inside of the cabin painted in International Green and then with the seats in at last!
The finished product is a masterpiece
“It does bring a tear to my eye, to think about that.”
The truck recently made its debut, escorting a local teen and her partner to their high school formal.
“I’ve known the girl since she was a baby,” says Ray.
“She loved the colour of the truck and she
asked me back in April if I thought I would have it ready.
“We managed to have it done in time and she was delighted.
“When I saw her on the day I realised why, because the truck matched her dress so well!”
Ray said the truck got plenty of attention at the formal, which he was pleased about –and he can’t wait to show the truck off some more next year.
“Next year I’ll be taking it to as many truck shows as I can!” he says.
“The first one will probably be the Walcha Antique Machinery and Truck Show in February.
“I’m part of the Historical Truck Society up here in Brisbane so I’ll go their show in May too, and whatever else pops up.”
Ray already has an array of awards under his belt, thanks to his two other trucks — a 1990 LTL Ford prime mover and a 1952 F1 Ford pickup.
The LTL Ford is a Limited Edition Kentucky model that he picked up from PJ’s Custom Spray Painting and Truck Mechanical in Brisbane.
“I’ve always had a bit of a thing for LTLs, I remember them as a teenager,” he says.
“PJ’s Custom Painting had the truck for a number of years before they decided to sell it, and I thought it was a great opportunity to complete my collection.
“When I got it, it was all painted up the way it is now and I just had to do a bit of mechanical work to get it back on the road.”
As for the F1 pickup, that was imported from the US and is still left-hand drive.
“I was actually looking for a 1956 Ford F100 but I came across this one on the internet and I just fell in love with it,” he says.
“An import company in Mount Victoria did all the work for me and brought it over here.”
When asked whether he has any advice to share when it comes to restorations, he laughs.
“Make sure you’ve got plenty of time, and plenty of money!
“It takes so long when you’re also working, you get busy and you have to let it sit for a while before you can come back to it.
“But if anyone wants to give it a go, I say do it. It’s well worth the reward in the end.”
Snap
TO IT
Abdullah Zahid, owner of Snap Truck Detailing and Polishing, takes us behind the scenes of detailing a truck
Words: Kayla Walsh
Images: Abdullah Zahid
This 509 turned out pretty schmick
Abdullah never says no to a job, even if it means working overtime
If there’s one thing that makes Aussie truck drivers stand out, it’s their pride in the quality of their fleets.
That’s according to Abdullah Zahid, owner of Snap Truck Detailing and Polishing in Truganina, Victoria.
Abdullah is originally from Pakistan but moved Down Under in 2020 and took over his cousin’s business.
He’s just returned from a trip to the US and Canada, where he learned about their truck detailing industry and made some observations.
“I saw heaps of trucks on the roads in the US and Canada, but most of them were dirty!” he says.
“Compare that with the Australian market, where at least 50 per cent of the trucks are clean and shiny.
“That’s what differentiates Australia from
Abdullah says it can take anywhere from five hours to eight hours to detail a truck, with several people on the job
Abdullah uses his most highly trained staff for metal polishing
A K200 all shined up
DEALS Showcase
This T900 was spotless after Snap Detailing was finished with it the rest of the world — Australians take real pride in their trucks. They’re crazy about them!”
Truckies come to Abdullah for three main reasons — they're heading to a truck show, they want to sell their truck, or they have a signature truck that they like to keep looking schmick.
“Some people get their trucks polished three or four times a year — truck shows would be the main motivation,” he explains.
“We’ve detailed loads of trucks that have gone on to win prizes at truck shows, which always makes us happy.”
Snap Detailing and Polishing specialises in metal and cab polishing, interior cleaning and washing.
“We do a full chrome and metal polish from top to bottom and rear bar to front bar,” he says.
“We clean the interior, we do paint correction, we do a detail wash.
“Basically, we offer a full package to
make your truck brand new again.”
While detailing might seem like something you could attempt yourself, Abdullah warns against it.
“There’s a proper skill and technique to it,” he says.
“Nobody can do it at home, especially when it comes to metal polishing, which involves sanding.
“We use our best, most highly trained people for the metal polishing — you can’t just show up and start doing it.”
Abdullah says sometimes people try to polish their own trucks and end up in a worse position than when they started.
“I’ve had heaps of people coming to me who have tried to do the job at home but have damaged the surface of the metal.
“That makes our job a lot harder, and sometimes the bull bar needs to be completely replaced.
“A bull bar for a truck costs $5,000 to $10,000, so it’s not cheap.”
Restored trucks require even more love and care.
“We need to go in and do more detailing and clean each corner of the chassis.
“But we always pay as much attention to detail as possible.
“When you are delivering a new truck to a customer, sometimes they’ve spent their life savings on it, so they want it to be perfect.”
Abdullah says detailing a truck is not a one-step process and can take several hours to complete.
“For a brand-new truck, it takes five or six hours with two people on the job,” he says.
“For an old truck, it could take eight hours with four people working on it.
“We also have someone who checks every inch of the truck after the detailer finishes it.
“He has a checklist, and he has to tick all the boxes before we deliver the truck.”
He says that his line of work is a pretty
challenging one, and by the end of the day he’s filthy and exhausted.
“This is not an easy job — to do it, you’ve got to love it.
“To make the trucks shiny, we’ve got to make our faces black with dirt. It’s very physical.”
To be a good truck detailer, Abdullah thinks you need to be hard-working and conscientious.
“Some people come to work with us and they just quit because they can’t do it,” he says.
“I never say no to a customer, even if I have to work 12 hours a day.
“If someone comes to me and they have a show the next day and they need their truck polished, we’ll fit them in.”
His favourite thing about the job is seeing how satisfied his customers are.
“When I’m covered in dirt and handing the keys back to the owner and I see the smile on their face, that’s the best feeling you can have.”
Each truck is thoroughly checked before being delivered, ensuring happy customers!
SAMMUT SAMMUT
KENWORTHT408SARBUNK,CUMMINS525HP,ONLY 690KKMS 2008,18sp,97Trated,4.3ratio,5250 wheelbase,verytidyunit,comesworkshopchecked, servicedandcompletewithNSWRW.j1697. TA1251362. $139,000
KENWORTHT388 2008,ITBunk,CaterpillarC-13ACERT, 18speedmanual,430hp,12,800Lchemical/watertank with2compartments,6.3mwheelbase,4.33diffratio, airbagsuspension.J1639. TA1248056. $109,000
KENWORTHT658CATC15FRESHREBUILD 2008,(under 10kkmsonfullrebuild)Totalkms893kkms,18sp,X locks,Sammuthardoxbody,electrictarp,Bartlethitch (canchangetoRF)workshopchecked.J1422. TA1235918. $198,000
We specialise in used Kenworth Trucks
Phone: (02) 4579 6511
Fax: (02) 4579 6522
Mobile: 0414 423 680
Email: sales@sammut.com.au
67 Joshua Road, Freemans Reach NSW 2756
KENWORTHT408SAR, CUMMINSNONEDPF 2010,daycab,18sp,4.3ratio,5.4 wheelbase,12,800LChemical/Water tank,twocompartments,workshop checked,servicedandcompletewith NSWRW.J1637. TA1240511. $149,000
KENWORTHK200 2019,Flatroof,97Trated,Cummins 600hpX15with0kmsonEnginerebuild,Fuelkit,very tidyoneownerunits.Wecanmodifythesetruckstosuit yourrequirements.J1570.. TA1235920. $198,000
VOLVOFM500,D13,AUTO,690KKMS 2018,11/18Volvo FM500,D13,Auto,only690kklms,70Trated,oneowner fromnew.J1703. TA1252830. $129,000
VOLVOFH540 2019,D13,Auto-12speedIshift,Jost 50mmturntable,787kkms,oneownerfromnew,Volvo Maintenanceplan,presentslikenew.J1384.. TA1242430. $179,000
KENWORTHT408CUMMINSISX97TRATED18SP 2010, 525hp,only940kkms,18spmanual,97trated,Meritor 46-160diffs,4.1diffratio,airbagsuspension,4790mm wheelbase,verytidytruck.Wecanmodifythistruckto suityourrequirements.J1661. TA1246996. $119,000
KENWORTHT403,CUMMINSISX,18SPMANUAL 2014, daycab,CumminsISXEGR,450hp,18spmanual,50t rated,3.9axleratio,4500mmwheelbase,airbag suspension,verytidytruck,comesserviced,workshop checkedandcompletewithNSWRW.J1668. TA1243175. $95,000
KENWORTHT610SARCUMMINSX15WITH0KMSON REBUILD 2018,18sp,70trated,Fuelkit,oneownerfrom new,verytidyunit,workshopchecked,servicedand completewithNSWRW.J1649. TA1241797. $169,000
KENWORTHT610DAYCAB,CUMMINSX15(LOWKMSON REBUILD),AUTO 2018,18spAuto,97T,4.3diffratio,very tidyoneownerunit,comesworkshopchecked,serviced andcompletewithNSWRW.J1663. TA1251404. $165,000
For more info please visit us at www.sammut.com.au
SAMMUT SAMMUT
KENWORTHT610SARCUMMINSX15WITH0KMSON REBUILD 2018,CumminsX15(0kmsonEnginerebuild) 18sp,70trated,Fuelkit,oneownerfromnew,verytidyunit, workshopchecked,servicedandcompletewithNSWRW.
KENWORTHT610 2020,Cummins550hp,18sp,Rt46/160 diffs,4mtrwheelbase,Fuelkit,oneownerfromnew,very well-maintainedunit,comesWorkshopChecked,serviced andcompletewithNSWRW.J1602. $198,000
ISUZUFYJ8X4WITHPALFINGERCRANE 2017,300-350XXL, 8x4,synchromanual,8mtrH/Dtraycompletewithgates, reversecamera,fittedwithaPalfingerPK12001-ehcrane, fullremote,incertification,verytidyoneownertruck,only
UDMK11250CONDOR 2013,Nissancabchassis,250hp, 11TGVM,6speed,willtakea7mtrtray,presentslikenew. Wecansupplyandfitbodyofchoice.J1645. TA1238235. $45,000
KENWORTHT359IT 2016,36inchITbunk,hydrauliccar carrierframe,CumminsISMwith0kmsonrebuild,18sp automatedmanual,50Trated,verytidytruck.J1603,. TA1228807.
WESTERNSTAR4800FXSLEEPER,4.9MALLOYBODY,14L DD3,18SP 2007,DetroitSeries60(DD3),550hp,18sp manual,Viesacooler,powertarp,graindoor,airbags, workshopchecked,serviced,NSWRW.J1499. TA1229637.
KENWORTHT610,CUMMINSX15,18SPEEDAUTO 2018, 550hp,97trated,4.3diffratio,4.3mwheelbase,airbag suspension,bulbar,extremelytidytruck,comesworkshop checked,servicedandcompletewithNSWRW.J1696.
$139,000
KENWORTHT408SAR 2010,daycab,18sp,CumminsISX15 (noneDPF/Adblue),5.9mtrfactorywheelbase,tidyone ownertruck,comesservicedandworkshopchecked.We cansupplyandfitabodyofchoice.J1459. TA1238578.
KENWORTHT409SAR 2016,2x2016KenworthT409SAR, CumminsE5,18sp,Twinstacks,oneownerfromnew, servicehistory,Workshopchecked,serviced,complete withNSWRW.J1593,J1594. $159,000
KENWORTHT409 2014,CumminsISXE5,18sp,97trated, RT46/160diffs,4.3ratio,4500mmwheelbase,comes workshopchecked,servicedandcompletewithNSWRW. j1565.
$129,000
MITSUBISHIFIGHTER14.0 2015,only140kklms,270hp,6 speed,Airbagsuspension,6.4mtrbeavertail,7.7Tpayload, thistruckdrivesandpresentslikenew,comesworkshop checked,servicedandcompletewithNSWRW.J1632. TA1234997.
$119,000
KENWORTHT610 2020,Cummins550hp,18sp,Rt46/160 diffs,4mtrwheelbase,Fuelkit,oneownerfromnew,very well-maintainedunit,comesWorkshopChecked,serviced andcompletewithNSWRW.J1602. $198,000
KENWORTHT359 2013,daycab,CumminsISME5440hp, Eaton18spauto,50trated,dualXlocksonly837kkms,one ownerfromnew,verytidytruckcomesworkshopchecked, servicedandcompletewithNSWRW.J1609. TA1231221. $139,000
KENWORTHT359,85KKMSONREBUILTCUMMINSISME5, AUTO 2012,ITbunk,CumminsISMe5440hp,Eaton18spauto, 50trated,4.33diffratio,4260mmwheelbase,airbag suspension,verytidytruck,comesworkshopchecked,serviced VOLVOFM500,D13,AUTO,690KKMS 2018,11/18Volvo FM500,D13,Auto,only690kklms,70Trated,oneowner fromnew.J1703. TA1252830. $129,000
For more info please visit us at www.sammut.com.au
Alluring AERO
Volvo is rolling out its flagship FH Aero in Australia this year and our test driver found plenty of reasons to give it a go
Words & Images | Warren Aitken
Now that the Christmas rush is firmly in our rear-view mirrors, I am finally getting a chance to put a few words together about an extremely enlightening experience I had in the lead-up to that latest silly season. Whilst everyone else was barging around the shopping centres and gulping down beer-flavoured eggnog, I was invited down to Sydney to bear witness to the latest in state-of-the-art transportation — the Australian debut of Volvo’s flagship FH Aero.
If you are a European transport news follower, then the Volvo Aero won’t be a new concept to you. It has been kicking goals and setting new benchmarks on the other side of the planet since it was first unveiled early in 2024. However, if your social media threads are predominantly Southern Hemisphereheavy, filled with reels of kangaroos fighting or HQ utes doing gender reveal burnouts, then there is a chance that Volvo’s most fuelefficient state-of-the-art truck has not crossed your path yet. If so, then this test drive is for you.
Having already seen a bit about the new Aero, I was champing at the bit when I got the call from Matt Wood, the point man on all things Volvo, and offered the keys to the first FH Aero to land Down Under.
“How would you like to try it out, come and
take it for a run along the Pacific Highway?” Matt said.
Although the idea of cruising the Sydney to Brisbane M1 did not appeal, nor did the idea of finally driving a truck with no external mirrors, at least I knew I would be comfortable. I mean it’s a Volvo, that’s what they do.
The Volvo Aero is an evolution rather than a revolution.
It came about when the European Union decided to relax truck length laws for any vehicle offering substantial fuel saving and aerodynamic advantages.
Those normally restricted to say 19m overall, could suddenly go longer if there were significant fuel and efficiency savings. The practical side of this is many drivers overseas can now legally run Volvos XXLs, if they have the Aero Cab.
There is a raft of design and engineering changes between a standard FH Volvo and the Volvo Aero. The most obvious one is cosmetic.
Everyone is going to have an opinion on looks, that’s the joy of it. To me, the Volvo Aero appears like the Pixar people were looking for the next star of the Cars movie series. It’s smooth, futuristic and streamlined. It looks like it could cut through a field of butter and slide out the other side without a dollop of
residue sticking to its silky sides. And if you’ve seen any Pixar movies, you can now see it – the Volvo Aero looks like their next great superhero. If you could dress a truck in a suit and tie to fight crime, it would be the Volvo Aero.
The biggest of the cosmetic modifications on the new Aero is the 235mm extended front end. Looking front on, it is not easy to identify. But, step around to the side view and the aerodynamic slope of the Volvo’s front facade is evident.
The removal of the regular mirrors, replaced by Volvo’s recently released Camera Monitor System, is the other obvious alteration on the Aero model. Although, to be honest, the windswept look of the set-up almost means you don’t notice the lack of mirrors until someone breaks that glass for you.
There are many other subtle changes to the front and side panellings, like the lowering of the Volvo badging and smoothing out of the front facade, but they are all so seamless, it's kind of hard to put your finger on every single one.
It isn’t just the designer outfit that these new Volvos are sporting that make them so cutting edge – it’s what’s under the covers that is leading to some impressive fuel consumption numbers.
When they start rolling out here in Australia you will be able to spec these Aeros in several configurations: the Aero Electric, the 17lt 600hp engine or the 17lt 700hp version
and the fuel saving mack daddy of them all, the Aero I-Save with the latest Euro 6 turbo compound 13lt 500hp engine. That was the guinea pig I had the electronic keys to.
The driver's view offers clears vision and plenty of comfort
The Globetrotter easily catches the eye in the car park
I should specify here – the Volvo D13TC engine isn’t a new engine, it is just newer to us antipodeans than the rest of the world. Even the idea of a turbo compound engine isn’t a new premise. Volvo and many other manufacturers have dabbled in this idea before. The dumbed-down explanation for non-mechanics like me comes directly from Matt himself: “You’ve got the turbo charger feeding fuel and air into the engine, then in the exhaust flow there’s another turbine housing with a rotor in it. The exhaust flow spins that rotor, which then transfers that power to a gear set that goes directly to the crankshaft.”
It’s a very simplified explanation for a system that Volvo has been trying to perfect for years. This latest incarnation is knocking it out of the park – a 13lt 500hp engine that is almost matching the torque output of Volvo's 16lt 600hp engine. 2800NM vs 2880NM.
While the exterior and the engine are the two most obvious factors when it comes to these new Aero Volvos, there are other factors, especially when it comes to the I-Save model, worth noting. For example, the
implementation of an overdrive gearbox in the 13lt TC instead of the direct drive box that sits with the standard 13lt 540hp engine. This change sees the 500hp mighty mouse motor chugging along at a fuel-saving 1200rpm when it’s on the highway.
There is also so much technology packed into these trucks it is getting unbelievable. The Aeros are fitted with Volvo’s state-of-the-art adaptive cruise control, which you can turn on in crawling city traffic and it will even bring you to a complete halt. I never tested that out though – I think you need to have certain level of faith in technology to do it, which I haven’t reached yet. It was also pointed out that if you leave the cruise control on, when the traffic starts moving again the Volvo will just tuck in behind. I can vouch for that test.
The cruise control, however, is not even the smartest part of these trucks, as Matt exclaimed: “This truck has the pilot assist program, it’s basically a Level 2 autonomous truck.”
Again, for those not up on how advanced Volvo have come with their trucks, the pilot assist is a standard feature on any truck with Volvo’s electric steering system. Basically, the cameras in the mirror cams are used to read the road and the system is able to actively steer the truck.
The pilot assist is not a permanently active system; you turn it on or off yourself and the truck will also tell you if there is not enough data to use the system.
It's not too hard to imagine the wind tunnel diagram showing the air flowing smoothly over the top of this truck
It is a very smart set-up and if I had more faith in technology I would have given it a thorough test. The best I could do was relax my grip on the wheel and see how the Volvo reacted. Suffice to say it guided me around the sweeping left-hander rather accurately. Where this system could be a real life-saver, literally, is when there is an issue with the driver. The pilot assist program requires the driver to continually have hands on the wheel – you can’t go make a cuppa and leave it to do the work. If the truck doesn’t sense hands on the wheel, it will flash warnings and then it will bring the truck to a halt on the side of the
road and engage the hazard lights.
Let’s get on to the actual test drive itself and most importantly, come face-to-face with my biggest apprehension on this experience — cameras instead of mirrors.
Pulling out of the Volvo workshop, my first real taste of the camera mirrors was awkward to say the least.
Matt laughed as, out of habit, I leaned forward to track the rear of the B-double coming out the gate — only to realise that unlike standard mirrors, I can’t lean forward for a different view. They are cameras.
Once we were up to speed, the cameras panned and followed the rear set. If we jump ahead to the end of the journey, my view on camera mirrors had changed significantly. You do get used to having them inside the cab
and the habit of looking outside as you are travelling diminishes.
They win big points in bad weather. Road spray, contrasting light...all that kind of hindrance is taken away with these mirrors. I reckon a couple of hours into the journey, and I was beginning to really appreciate their clarity. I only had one opportunity to back the B-double up and that did feel weird. Think of the feeling you get walking on an escalator that isn’t moving – something feels off, you just don’t know what. (Although I am sure more time in reverse would put paid to that.)
With that addressed, we can look at the rest of the experience. Those already familiar with the Volvo product know what to expect in terms of comfort and quietness. Well with the new Aero those expectations have
been exceeded, in a big way. The standard Volvo insulation creates a cone of silence for the driver, but add in all the aerodynamic additions and the subtraction of the mirrors and the Volvo Aero is incredibly quiet.
It is great when you are undertaking an interview, and thankfully the upgraded Volvo entertainment system is there to make up for the lack of noise when you are on your own.
Performance is another factor that can be deceiving in the Volvo Aero. The pulling power of the 13lt TC is beyond reproach for a 500hp motor and coupled with the latest I-shift program, the changes and gear selection make the whole experience seamless. I use the word "deceiving" because with the quietness and comfort coupled to the smarts you never really get a sense for how much work the truck is actually doing. It is only when you hit the pinch of the Mooney Mooney jump up and pull out to pass another truck that you notice the revs are sitting at just over 1000rpm and the Volvo’s torque isn’t feeling or sounding at all stressed.
Like most modern trucks, the Volvo is absolutely packed with safety features. We all expect that now –lane departure, front detection, all that kind of stuff. Where I applaud the Volvo gurus is in their warning systems. The Aero is almost like a polite British butler when it comes to notifying you. Try to change lanes with a car in your
The backward sloping front of the truck is easier to see from this angle
With comfort, aerodynamics and the very latest of European technology the FH Aero is sure to be popular when it starts rolling off the factory floor in Queensland
blind spot and the Aero will give you a calming alert, like "Sorry to disturb you Sir, I don’t recommend that as there is a car in your blind spot. Would you mind if I just held us in this lane for a bit?" as opposed to many which have more of a ‘OI, YOU CAN’T CHANGE LANES NOW, THERE’S A BLOODY CAR THERE!’ You still get the help but no ear-piercing warnings or harsh steering correction.
By the end of our journey I was feeling exactly like you would expect from a 12 hour trip in a Volvo, comfortable and relaxed and ready to go again.
Drivers may appreciate hearing their audiobooks a little easier, or they may appreciate less strain on their eyes from the clarity of the mirror system, but I think the biggest benefits of the Volvo Aero are going to be seen on the spreadsheets and costings charts in the office.
Exact fuel savings are not something you can forecast in the trucking arena; there are too many factors to consider.
Trailers, roads, loads and drivers all play a part. But Volvo test thoroughly and is happy to claim the new 13lt TC is showing savings of up to 14 per cent over standard 13lt motors.
The white-suited wizards who tested the new Aero cab are adding a 5 per cent fuel saving over standard cabs. Those are big numbers and in fleet situations will amount to a lot of savings.
When you factor in the reported fuel savings, plus all the new technology that aids the repair and maintenance of the new Aeros, along with the comfort and assistance provided for drivers, it looks like the new Aeros will be a great addition to many fleets in Australia once they start rolling out of the Wacol Factory.
DEALS Feature
Cook
FOR A CAUSE
Cure Cancer’s BarbeCURE® national fundraising campaign is encouraging the Australian community to turn their next BBQ into an opportunity to raise money for cancer research
BarbeCURE ambassadors
Manu Feildel, Anna Polyviou and Gary Mehigan cooking up a storm. Image: Cure Cancer
This summer, Cure Cancer is inviting people around Australia to make their next BBQ something more impactful. The way to do so is simple – gather your friends, family and community, fire up the barbecue and ask your guests to donate to a worthy cause.
Whether it’s in your backyard or at the beach or a local park, your BarbeCURE® can be more than just a chance to enjoy good food and great company. It can also help raise funds for life-saving cancer research.
The funds raised go towards supporting scientists working across all cancer types, funding cutting-edge research that improves treatments and outcomes for patients.
One researcher supported by this fundraising is Dr Ben Wylie, who focuses on childhood sarcoma. Based at The Kids Research Institute Australia in Perth, Dr Wylie and his team have developed an innovative immunotherapy gel. This gel, crafted from natural materials found in the body, targets surgical areas to activate the patient’s immune system, helping to eliminate any remaining cancer cells. For children facing
aggressive cancers like sarcoma, this research offers renewed hope for safer, more effective treatments and a brighter future.
"Most new cancer treatments are developed for adults and then adapted for childhood cancers, but children are not little adults,” he says.
“Support for childhood cancer research is vital to develop better treatments for cancers like sarcoma and improve outcomes for children and their families.
“This project funded by Cure Cancer will enable me to conduct cutting-edge research with the potential to create more effective treatments with fewer side effects.”
For this year’s BarbeCURE®, Cure Cancer is aiming to raise $200,000 to fund two years of groundbreaking cancer research that accelerates breakthroughs, saves lives and brings Australia closer to a future where cancer is no longer a threat.
Currently, cancer continues to take a devastating toll, claiming nearly 10 million lives every year and affecting millions more. The only way to change this is through
research. Since its inception, Cure Cancer’s BarbeCURE® campaign has raised over $1.5 million, directly supporting emerging cancer researchers who are improving cancer care.
Hosting a BarbeCURE® is both easy and rewarding. Start by planning your event – decide on a date, location and guest list. Whether it’s a casual weekend BBQ or a New Year’s gathering, any event can become a BarbeCURE®.
Then, register the event at barbecure.com. au and invite your guests to join, then use social media to spread the word by tagging @curecancerau and using the hashtag #barbecure.
The next step is to fire up the grill, enjoy the food and day and encourage guests to make a donation. From there, celebrate and reflect by sharing photos and updates that allow
guests to know the difference they’ve made by supporting cancer research.
Cure Cancer’s BarbeCURE® ambassadors Manu Feildel, Gary Mehigan and Anna Polyviou have some great recipe ideas for your BarbeCUREs, from Manu’s chargrilled pork cutlet to Gary’s charred green vegetables and Anna’s peach melba pavlova smash. Since its launch, BarbeCURE® has proven that even small gatherings can have a big impact. Together, we can raise the $200,000 needed to support two years of pioneering research, giving hope to patients and families everywhere.
So, why not turn your next barbecue into a BarbeCURE®? Register today, and let’s grill for good!
Register at: barbecure.com.au
Gather your friends and donate for a good cause at your next barbecue.
Image: Cure Cancer
DEALS Evemts
Do it
FOR THE KIDS
The first ever Scenic Rim Truck Show is being held in Jimboomba later this year, and it’s looking like a brilliant event
Words: Daniel Woods
been wanting to put on a truck show for some time.
Armstrong
Everyone loves a good truck show. It’s a great way to get out of the house and catch up with family and friends around a common passion. When it helps an honourable cause, well, that’s just a big plus.
One upcoming show to keep an eye out for this year is the brand-new, first-of-its-kind Scenic Rim Truck Show.
Held in Jimboomba, it’s just a hop, skip and jump outside Brisbane and the Gold Coast and in the heart of Queensland’s Logan region.
Set for May 31, outside of providing a great day out and a rallying point for the local community, Scenic Rim is supporting an incredible cause, the KIDS Foundation.
For this charity, everything about it is in the name. The KIDS Foundation is a not-for-profit that was started back in 1993 to help make a difference to child safety, wellbeing and injury recovery. It exists to help ‘Kids in Dangerous Situations’.
It primarily supports those who have experienced terrible injuries and trauma caused by burns, accidents, dog attacks,
crime, neglect, abuse and environmental events, and educates and empowers children to stay safe.
Currently, it says it reaches 400,000 children per year through its programs.
It’s this honourable cause that has helped prompt STA Trucking’s Tracey Armstrong to organise the truck show alongside her business partner Janet Smith.
Tracey has been toying with the idea of putting on a truck show for some time, and she says the stars have finally aligned to produce what promises to be a brilliant day out.
Now, she’s calling on the Scenic Rim community, and those in and around Jimboomba, to rally behind the show and the cause.
“My husband and I have had our own business for about 12 years,” Tracey says.
“He was born into the business, and I came into it. We’ve used all our contacts within the industry to hit them up for sponsorship to help get the event up and running.”
At the time of writing, Tracey hadn’t
approached the local community yet, but she is hoping to get even more support from them.
“The KIDS Foundation is a great cause that is very close to our hearts,” she says.
“It helps children who have, for example, been badly burned by fires.
“A friend of ours has actually been involved with the foundation for a number of years, because she was severely burnt as a child.”
Even though the show is still months away, it’s already shaping up to be a brilliant event — even aside from the obvious drawcard of the incredible trucks that will be on display.
One of the ways in which Tracey is hoping to get the local community involved is through supporting everything around the trucks themselves — all the additional parts of the show that will help make it an unmissable event and memorable occasion.
“I think we’re going to get a fabulous response from the community in Jimboomba,” Tracey continues.
“We’re having the show at the local primary school, and they’ve donated the grounds to us.
“There’s going to be a bar run and all profits from that will go back to the local school.”
Tracey and Janet have already contacted ride operators and they’ve got some local musicians lined up who are kindly donating their time.
“The local community loves to get out for events, because there aren’t enough events in Jimboomba,” Tracey adds.
“There are also a lot of truckies who live in and around the area.
“We want this show to support a great charity, but we also want it to support this brilliant local community as well.”
Anyone and everyone is encouraged to get involved now to help make the event as successful as possible.
A variety of sponsorship packages are still available, while donations are actively being sought for entrant merchandise bags and auctions.
Tracey says there are only a limited number of spots for trucks to be displayed on the day, and only pre-registrations will be accepted — so get in quick!
“We’re not taking truck entries on the day because we have to monitor our numbers, but pre-registration will be open right up until 8pm on May 30, the night before the event,” she says.
Volunteers are also needed to help the day run smoothly, and anyone who is interested in putting up a stall can also get in contact.
“We’ve been taking the contact details of interested parties, and we’re going to get out there and start contacting people to work out what stalls we’re going to have,” Tracey says.
Aside from kids’ rides, music and an auction, there’ll be trophies up for grabs across approximately 20 categories of trucks.
There’ll be a $50 fee for trucks to enter and you’ll get a goodie bag on arrival, and entry for the general public is by gold coin donation.
“You can jump on our website at scenicrimtruckshow.com and send us an email, all the contact details are there.”
For those interested in the auction, there is already one hell of a prize up for grabs, with more undoubtedly set to come.
“Brown and Hurley have donated a trip for two to Melbourne to go to the Kenworth factory, for us to auction off on the day,” Tracey says.
“Hopefully it’s really successful, because if it is we’d like to do it every 12 months, or failing that every two years, just depending on how much time it takes and how it all goes.
“It’s going to be a massive event.”
Tracey runs her business, STA Trucking, alongside her husband Steve. Image: Warren Aitken
Scenic Rim Truck Show organisers Tracey Armstrong and Janet Smith. Image: Tracey Armstrong
Golden
OPPORTUNITY
Peter Dymott bought a 1942 army truck a decade ago, but never got around to the restoration he’d planned — now it’s ready for someone to rescue it
Words: Kayla Walsh
Images: Peter Dymott
A historic US military truck is hiding in plain sight in a Brisbane suburb — just waiting for someone to take it up as a project.
Peter Dymott, who lives in Forest Lake, bought the 1942 Chevy Inline 6-cylinder truck almost ten years ago.
of army truck is otherwise known as a "Yankee Joe"
How this model of truck looked back in the 1940s
He had hoped to take it on as a restoration project but ended up buying a house instead.
“I had dreams of doing the truck up a little bit, keeping it how it is now but getting it running,” he said.
“I bought the truck because it had a short wheelbase and a four-wheel drive.
“It’s only got the single axle with the two dualies on the back, and I was told there are only a couple of them around so it’s pretty unique.
“I’ve had people tell me I shouldn’t sell the truck, but my interest has faded and the money isn’t available now.”
The type of truck Peter has is nicknamed a “Yankee Joe” and was used by the Australian army, but originally imported from America.
He would love to see someone preserving the original patina of the truck but fixing it up so it runs again.
“Given that it’s a Chevy model, it’s easy to replace parts,” he said.
“I’ve got all the brake lines and things like that, which would need to be made again — which isn’t a big job if you have the knowledge and interest.
“You can copy the style of the old ones to make new ones.”
Peter is selling the truck for $4,500 including some spare parts.
“I’ve got the original engine as well as gauges, headlights, a spare windscreen and a couple of dashes,” he said.
“There’s lots of bits and pieces you’ll be able to go through and see what you’ve got and what you’d need to bring it back to life.
“There are a couple of holes in the roof and things like that but it would be a great project for someone who knows what they’re doing.”
For more information, call Peter on 0402 507 418.
Do you have a truck for sale? Sell it on TradeTrucks.com.au, with online and print ad packages from just $30.
Peter recommends keeping the original patina of the Chevy
The project is perfect for someone with the right knowledge Peter still has the original engine
stands proudly with
She has put nearly 750,000 kilometres on the
UD and there seems to be no slowing it down
Career IS ALL GO
It was an eye-catching UD truck on show at an event that led our writer to find out more about Jessica Baker and her transport journey
Words & Images | Warren Aitken
I really loved the idea of being
my own boss
MJessica and her dad with Jess’ ‘I just like it’ truck.
The big K123
y apologies everyone, this story has been a long time coming. Years actually.
I am pretty sure it was either 2020 or 2021 when I first met the lovely young Jessica at the Dane Ballinger Memorial Truck Show in Bathurst.
I was absolutely captivated when circling the truck show and I saw this beautiful little thing sitting down near the back of the show–the sun beaming down on it like a supersized spotlight. I was just drawn in.
As a photographer, I broke out the camera immediately, super keen to capture such beauty, with a heavenly glow to highlight the shot.
Just when I was about to snap the perfect pic, Jessica Baker walked around the corner and ruined my shot. I couldn’t complain though — it was her little UD freight truck I was trying to photograph.
Not that I knew it at the time, but Jessica was also walking around the truck admiring
it, hence I figured she was just a fellow enthusiast like me, so I waited for her to move on so I could snap my shots.
She proceeded to get into the little UD, and it all made sense. She was a truck lover like me, and she was admiring how cool and colourful the UD was; however, she was doing it as the owner. I had to introduce myself and see if she would be interested in a story.
Four years later, here we are, finally getting to share Jessica’s story. Due mainly to my procrastination, it is a very different story to the one I would have told back in 2021.
Back then young, Jessica was a one-woman, one-truck operation. In 2025, her business is now a one-woman, one-partner and fourtruck operation. The origin story will be the same, but the progression of All Go Express has added three more trucks and a lot more work to Jessica’s expanding fleet.
Jessica Baker is a born and bred truckie. She grew up surrounded by trucks and with a toy
cabinet devoid of Barbie dolls and devoted to all things trucking. Her parents were at the head of the table of their own family transport company, under the banner that Jessica would later use as All Go Express. The family-owned business had one B-double, a trio of semis, a handful of rigids and about 60 contractors. Due to the sensitive nature of All Go Express’s contracts, the family’s trucks were kept very plain, very non-descript and without any signage.
What mum and dad carted was not of importance to Jessica as a kid. She just loved everything trucking.
“I used to love finishing school and going with dad, because most of his freight was transported at night,” Jessica says.
“I’d go to the warehouse and help him load trucks or wrap pallets or label stuff, I just loved that side of it.”
School was not her favoured vocation – she endured it – but working and following in mum and dad’s footsteps was where her heart lay.
“I went in a truck when I was like three months old,” she laughs as she tries to put
Whilst the UD is her backbone, Jessica loves the 5800 to drive. It also offers more opportunity for the bigger loads. Like this truck full of pipes she was delivering into Western NSW
a finger on when her passion first became evident.
“It was either three or six months, I have a photo somewhere.”
Whatever the age, that passion was flamed through her teenage years and into young adulthood. Even getting her driver’s licence while at high school became a trucking experience.
“With dad being in trucking when we did our Learners, that’s me and my brother and sister, we did it all in a three-tonne Mitsubishi Canter,” Jessica says.
I did make it clear there wasn’t anything Jessica wouldn’t have a go at carting right? The little UD has seen just about everything under the All Go Express title
“That’s how I learnt to drive, in a little Canter. Dad said it would be better for us because you sit up higher and have a better view.”
The advantage of the 5800 Western Star is the ability to throw the dog trailer on and extend the loading capacity. This was one of the more varied loads shes had, this time working alongside her partner Michael
It was after Jessica gained her licence that school became just a constraint of her day. She would turn up and do the work, but after school Jessica was already in the process of building her future.
“I took out a loan to buy a Sprinter van and I was contracting to mum and dad on the weekends and in school holidays,” she recalls.
“I also picked up some work delivering flowers as well, so I ran under Elegance by Jessica.”
That after-school job became the stepping stone for Jessica. The Sprinter van went from a weekend worker to a full-time gig for the young lady, and she was loving it. She continued to contract to All Go Express and grow her own client list at the same time.. It soon got to the point where the little Mercedes-Benz van couldn’t hold it all in and Jessica had to start re-evaluating her options.
“I really liked the idea of being my own boss, and loved the driving, so my dad convinced me to buy a truck and go bigger,” she says.
“I got a loan and went looking for the perfect truck and I found the UD, which had 100,000km on it, but was in great condition
and I bought it.”
When Jessica purchased the UD, her company was still running under Elegance by Jessica. Her parents had the All Go Express banner with their company, as they had for 25 years. Jessica continued contracting to them and picking up a little work of her own on the side.
Then everything changed; after decades in the transport game, Jessica’s parents decided to pull up stumps and enjoy some time off. It was a well-earned retirement for Carmen and Warwick, but it could’ve been a major hurdle for Jessica. While she had built a small list of private clients, the majority of her work was still with the All Go Express contract.
The young lady didn’t let it phase her. She was never shy of doing work, and when needed she showed she was never shy of chasing it either. Soon enough, she had found more contract work for her little UD, although this time not under her Elegance by Jessica business name. Instead, as a tribute to the history her parents had forged, Jessica took over the All Go Express name and reimagined her little UD as a moving memorial to her parents’ company, complete with Aussie flag artwork over her little workhorse.
“I got a little bit scared when mum and dad
got out, because I had a loan over my head and now I was having to go out on my own and find more work,” she says.
“But I just carried on and found something else.”
That work initially came from Minto Based RevTrans, who had Jessica doing a lot of local Sydney work. The Revtrans work soon gave way to work with Komatsu, carting parts to mines all around New South Wales.
“The Komatsu work was very different, mainly very heavy, with solid sprockets and things to various mines,” she recalls.
“When I was doing the flowers and pharmaceuticals it was all really light, now all of a sudden it was extremely heavy.”
The Komatsu work really was the leadin to where Jessica is now. At the time, the Komatsu deal meant she was unable to cart any other freight out of Sydney. This was fine – she would head north-west out of Sydney, covering mines as far up as Mudgee. Jessica built solid relationships with many of the businesses on those routes and was soon getting work coming back to Sydney as well. By the time the Komatsu work finished up Jessica had massive support from businesses in the Mudgee, Dubbo and Bathurst areas and her little UD was running flat out every day.
It seems many businesses were loving the personal touch and friendly personality that Jessica hit the road with every day. Her love of trucking and enjoyment of being her own boss shone through with her service and this, in turn, was reflected in the work she was picking up.
The downside of a strong work ethic and happy customers, paired with one small UD to do all the work, is that eventually it becomes too much. This led to the expansion of the fleet. As you will pick up in the photos, there are now four trucks in the All Go Express fleet, the ‘OG’ being Jessica’s UD. It’s still the busiest of the fleet, however, now Jessica also has her 5800 Western Star truck and dog to help.
One of her first jobs with the second-hand 5800 was carting hay. It was a learning curve for Jessica but one in which she thrived
From machinery to plant life, All Go Express will cart it all
Another adventurous load for the All Go Express 5800 Western Star
The latest addition to the fleet is this immaculate Western Star 4900. The flat roof and big CAT make it another favourite for Jessica to get out and about in
The two work horses of the All Go Express fleet. The UD and the trusty 5800 Star
Jessica is right at home in the transport world. She loves the challenges, the stresses and most definitely the trucks. She has made a great go of All Go Express and there looks to be no hint of slowing down in the future
love
If you anyone can do it
trucks
I should have been polite and given Jessica a hand on wash day, but someone had to work the cameras
“I bought the 5800 because it was a really good set up,” she says.
“The truck would allow me to get the heavier stuff I wasn’t able to get on the UD and, if it was really busy, I would have the dog trailer to load up as well.”
She was also quick to point out that her tarping and tie-down knowledge was extremely limited when she purchased the flat top set up.
“I had never dealt with tarps or anything and wasn’t going to until a guy saw my set-up and asked if I could cart some hay for him,” she says.
As is the young lady’s mentality, Jessica didn’t hesitate to increase her skills resume. She went and bought a set of tarps and proceeded to learn all she could about loading and tarping flat tops. As for the Western Star itself, it’s now her favourite truck
to drive, as it has a CAT in it too that she loves.
Her latest acquisition is another Western Star, this time a flat roof 4900 with a C15 underneath.
“We picked up some work that will require a drop deck and, at the moment, we kind of have the horse without the cart,” she says.
“I saw the Star for sale – I love flat roofs and I love CAT motors – so we grabbed it.”
You will notice I have moved to ‘we’ now rather than ‘I’. That is because Jessica’s partner Michael is a big part of the company these days. If he isn’t covered in grease and oil servicing one of the trucks, he is most likely behind the wheel of one helping to get all the work covered. Jessica has come a long way from weekends in a Sprinter van – she now has multiple vehicles and dozens of loyal clients that support her due in large part to the enthusiasm she has for her craft and industry.
I could rabbit on about her drive and passion, however I think it is best summed up by focusing on the final vehicle in the fleet photo – the one we haven’t talked about yet, the Kenworth K123 with its whopping great Texas bumper.
“Honestly, I bought that because it just looked cool,” she admits.
“I tell people it’s a project truck, which it is, but I saw it sitting in a paddock doing nothing and I love flat roofs. Then I saw it had a CAT in it and I just wanted it.
"Simple as that, it’s a cool truck. I’ll use it for hay runs or something, but I just loved it, so I bought it.”
It is that passion for trucking that has seen Jessica shine and thrive. The pride she had in her UD that first time I met her has never diminished. She loves her trucks and loves her job, and that is inspiring. She is not afraid
of work – the fact that she’s put nearly threequarters of a million kilometres on her UD shows that. I’ll leave the final word to her.
“I love trucks," she says. "It's not a matter of if you are male or female – if you love trucks anyone can do it. It’s a great industry to be part of."
There is no slowing this trucking lady down. Starting with the Sprinter Van in school, to now having a full fleet in her back yard. Jessica Baker is following her passion and kicking goals with each load
STONESTARDECK WIDENERWITHPTO ANDDIESEL POWERPACK
BrandnewStonestarWidener withDieselpowerpackand Ptoplumbingforwidening system price:plusgst.S49. TA625085. $87,000
STONESTARFLATBED Flattop45ftwith3waypins onAirbagsuspension.S89. TA1044677. Price:PLUSGST $72,000
STONESTARLIVESTOCK TRAILER
Availablein2deckand4deck setup Instocknow! price:plusgst. STONESTARLIVESTOCKTRAILER. TA1173504. $170,000
STONESTARVACUUM SEWAGE
26,000litreVacuumtanker withHyvaHoistandbigrear opendooronspring suspension price:plusgst.S22. TA624868. $112,000
Moe and Richard 03 9580 9788
STONESTARDROP DECKAIRBAG
BrandNewDropDeck45ft Trailer PRICE:PLUSGST.S91. TA1055907. $72,000
STONESTAR EXTENDABLEFLATTOP
StonestarNewExtendableFlat Topextendsto21monairbag suspension priceplusgst.S55. TA624908. $75,000
STONESTAR900H DROPDECK
EXTENDABLE
Lengthis:13.575-19.67m,40 tonATM,autoaircontrolled lockingpin,900mmdeck heightonairbagsuspension price:plusgst.S98. TA1186043. $84,000
STONESTARSIDE TIPPERTRAILER25M3
BrandnewSideTipperon SpringSuspensionwith ElectricTarp price:plusgst.S19. TA624830. $85,000
STONESTARTRIAXLE TAGTRAILER
NEWSTONESTARTRIAXLE TAGTRAILER
KHITCHAIRBAGSUSPENSION AND22.5AXLE 10STUDSTEELWHEELS TOOLBOX
CHECKERPLATESTEELFLOOR price:plusgst.S102. TA1232141. $55,000
STONESTARQUAD AXLE
BRANDNEWQUADAXLE TRAILERwithrearsteerand frontliftupaxleonairbag suspension price:plusgst.S85. TA823268. $147,000
STONESTARLOW LOADER
BrandNewTri-AxleLow LoaderwithTopDeckand manualoutriggers price:plusgst.S57. TA624921. $75,000
STONESTARTILT SLIDER
Brandnew45ftDropDeck TiltSlider(nonextendable) price:plusgst.S76. TA728799. $130,000
STONESTARSPRAY WATERTANKERSSA3
Brandnew,32,000Ltspray watertankeronspring suspension price:plusgst.S60. TA622975. $85,000
STONESTARTANKER
Brandnew,32,000ltwater tanker price:plusgst.S59. TA622977. $75,000
STONESTARLOG
BrandnewAustralianmade loggingtrailer,38ftand40ft. S47. TA625111. $60,000
STONESTARALUM TIPPER
BrandNewAlloyTipper comeswithAlloywheelsand Electrictarp InStockNow! price:plusgst.S94. TA1143443. $115,000
Memory
LANE
When hunting for his next resto project, Peter Wiffen couldn’t look past the 1980 Ford LNT 9000 that reminded him of his first truck
Words: Tiarna Condren
Images: Peter Wiffen
After 18 months, the old girl is back on the road
There are many things I’m sure if given the chance, you would go back and relive.
A first date with a romantic partner, a special vacation, a particular birthday celebration.
For many, the chance to revisit a particular memory is high on the list of dreams and aspirations, yet only a few will ever get that chance.
When it comes to Peter Wiffen however, a broken down 1980 Ford LNT 9000 was his shot.
With a father in the transport industry, and a keen interest in cars and trucks stirring at a young age, it was no surprise that Peter decided to head down a similar route as a teenager.
“I started out as a diesel mechanic back then, finishing up my apprenticeship when I was around 20 years old,” Peter tells Deals on Wheels
“My father has a trucking background, and so when that apprenticeship finished up, I decided to bite the bullet and buy my own truck.
“When I was 21, I ended up getting my very first, a 1980 Ford LNT 9000.”
As with many in the industry, a truck isn’t forever, with the constant need for upgrades and new technology eventually requiring truckies to retire or sell their much-loved rigs.
“I had always loved that truck, and for years after, kept my eyes open for other ones for
sale,” Peter says. “It's the type of truck that I wanted to try and do up as a hobby.”
One such Ford that he kept an eye on was owned by the Ford Motor Company in Geelong.
“I had seen it there for quite some time, and then I watched as it got sold and passed on,” he says.
“It went to a gentleman that turned it into a truck and dog trailer.”
Not long after, the Ford was then sold once again.
This time, to a man with intentions of restoring the old rig and putting it to work.
“He knew that I had been keeping tabs on the truck,” he says.
“I was talking to him and told him that if he
gets sick of doing it, I would happily take it on.
“About four or five months later, he rang up and said it's going to go. He said that I had first option if I wanted it.”
Jumping at the chance to once again own his first truck, Peter immediately said yes and headed out to have a look.
“We knew it was a hell of a task, but we gladly took it home.”
Bringing it home on the back of a truck, Peter says the LNT was in rough shape.
“The interior was all gutted, it was covered in rust, and it was going to need a lot of help to get it back up and running,” he says.
Luckily for him, Peter had a team of helpers who were more than happy to lend a hand.
“My father was there with me every minute
The Ford had to be stripped down to the chassis The vibrant red was the perfect accent colour
of the day when we were fixing it up,” he says.
“I also had a very good family friend who's pretty clever with spray painting and a cousin who does very good sign writing.
“They were all a massive help.”
Jumping in head-first, he stripped the truck back to the chassis rails and started rebuilding it from the ground-up.
Pulling everything out of it, including the gearbox, the first point of call was removing some of the rust that had collected across the chassis.
“Luckily, the previous owner had started us off, so that was a fairly easy thing to get us going,” he says.
“We sandblasted and painted the chassis rails, and then we just started to piece everything back together.
“We put all the front end back in it, worked on the brakes, changed out the gearbox and rebuilt it from the ground up.”
The Ford is running a Detroit 6V92 engine, one of a variety of engines that originally came with the model.
“We wanted to try and keep everything as original as possible, working with what came with this particular truck, particularly the grill,” he says.
“We built the grill up at different parts, and we wanted to have the original suspension and all that in it.”
The final step was taking the old girl over to get some stainless work done, marking the
end of the 18-month restoration.
Peter says a wave of relief washed over them when it started up for the first time.
“There were a good number of times where I sat in the corner of the shed having a drink, wondering what the hell I've done and whether I was smart enough to get it back together,” he says.
“I didn't think we'd be able to get it back together and actually make it run.
"But between the three of us here, we all chipped away and did our bits, and she's come up pretty well.
“We're pretty happy with it.”
The hardest part of the project, Peter says, was tracking down the parts needed.
“We spent a lot of time on computers and Facebook.
“I actually had to be taught how to use Facebook for this resto as I had never used it before!
“It ended up being a big help, with word of mouth and people online steering us in the right direction.”
The rig ended up making its truck show debut at the recent Geelong Classic Truck and Machinery Show, garnering a lot of attention from attendees.
“Everybody gave it the thumbs up,” Peter says.
“They told us what a good job we had done, and it’s inspired us to take it to a couple more shows.”
Peter had to build the rig from the ground up
DEALS Profile
Lifetime
OF MEMORIES
In the aftermath of his 39-year career in trucking, David Findlay has seen it all, including a Gold Nugget. But it’s his family legacy that shines the brightest
Words: Sean Mortell
Images: David Finlay
What were you doing when you were 16 years old? For many, getting up to no good with friends seems to be a common answer.
Back in the early 1960s, David Findlay wasn’t your normal 16-year-old. Instead of spending his days either between school or with friends, David and his brother Robert bought a truck and hired a driver.
“Our dad helped us buy the International truck for $1200 and employ a driver,” David tells Deals on Wheels
“We didn’t make money out of it, but that truck was ours.”
This set the scene for a career in trucking that spanned the best part of four decades and ended with David being inducted into the Road Transport Hall of Fame in 2011.
In the years that followed David’s first truck at age 16, he became a popular transport industry figure as he carted everything from potatoes to steel around Australia’s eastern seaboard.
Like many who became truck drivers at that time, hopping behind the wheel was already in David’s blood.
His father Jock Findlay had already
established Findlay’s Livestock Transport by the time David was born in 1946 in the Victorian country town of Mirboo North. This meant David’s career options never strayed from trucks.
“I grew up in the industry, courtesy of my father’s livestock transport business in Leongatha – I had a lot to do,” he says.
“We had a depot with half a dozen cattle trucks, so by 16 I was racing cars and had a truck.
“I thought it was all normal, but as I get older, I realise how lucky I was to have that upbringing and introduction to trucks.”
Two years after his first official foray into the trucking industry, David was behind the wheel of his own truck.
With Jock handing over the tray truck side of Findlay’s Livestock Transport to David to focus on the semi-trailer side, David also had his own business. It was quite a rapid journey for an 18-year-old to be on.
“I started by carting livestock to Dandenong and Newmarket in my own truck with a 20foot rigid stock crate,” he says.
“I had no money at the time, but I had work,
so that’s how I started on my own two feet in the industry.”
A year later he was married and his career was well underway. Add on a couple more years and David felt confident enough to graduate from local work and begin interstate trips.
With an International ACCO also part of his fleet after he had bought out Peter Devine Transport and built a dog trailer, David traded it in for a MAN model.
Exchanging livestock for potatoes, David stepped out of his dad’s shadows and began making a name for himself.
“I had just a dog trailer on a MAN that carted potatoes out of Leongatha,” he says.
“I also started backloading various freight out of Sydney for the trip back to Melbourne.”
A clear theme of David’s career is his penchant for always being on the move. While constantly on the road, he soon realised he could make his operations more efficient if he moved his young family to Sydney. With his wife and daughters in tow, David pulled up roots in Leongatha and headed to Sydney to expand his operations.
“We bought our first house in Campbelltown because it was easier to live in Sydney due to the days I spent waiting to get a load home,” he says.
“Getting out of Sydney to go home was hard, so by instead switching it around, it was easier to leave Melbourne and Leongatha and get to Sydney on the same day to spend more time with my family rather than remaining interstate for a couple of weeks.”
The move proved fortuitous, but not for the reasons David may have predicted.
The house in Campbelltown happened to be next door to the sales manager of B&D Garage Doors. After striking a rapport
with him, David had his first major contract running garage and roller doors between Sydney and Melbourne.
The contract allowed David and his company to take off. By also buying an extra tri-axle to leave in the dock, David could also complete rapid turn arounds and maximise his runs between the two cities.
“Getting on well with my neighbour was the best thing that happened to me,” David says.
“I only had the one truck then, but getting that contract soon allowed me to buy my first Kenworth. It was a second-hand silver truck with a sleeper cab on it, and I quickly painted it in my colours so it was familiar to everyone.”
Over the next 11 years, David kept upgrading until he could buy his first new Kenworth in 1978 in the form of an 892GM.
The journey to the new model involved plenty of roller door runs from Sydney and Melbourne to other cities such as Adelaide and Brisbane. After reaching each destination he’d take a few hours to unload and lock, usually all done by hand, one at a time, before heading back to his home base.
“It was a good job and allowed me to buy an extra trailer,” he says.
“It got going because, while in Melbourne, they’d load the next one up for you to make it quicker. It was a great highlight in my career and I made some great friends out of it in the form of my drivers who worked for me.”
Over the years, B&D’s operations began to decrease in Sydney, meaning David ended up carting steel out of Melbourne and potatoes from Leongatha to Sydney, Brisbane and North Queensland.
At that time David was carting plenty of produce, reaching as far north as Atherton and the Tablelands Region of Queensland. It all changed when David landed another
Back in the early days, carting between Melbourne and Sydney
major contract, this time with State Express.
David's trucks continued get more impressive over the years
With two trucks and three drivers, David was part of a clever rotating roster that saw two drivers working at all times while the third rested between runs. With one driver in Melbourne and the other in Adelaide doing overnights, the third would rest and prepare to relieve one of the others and keep the trucks constantly on the road.
“This allowed me to buy a lot of other stuff along the way, and I soon shifted from Sydney and bought a little 360-acre farm in Bungonia in 1983,” he says.
“It was along the Melbourne route, so I’d come in on Friday, do my unloading and loading and then head home for the weekend. I made enough to pay for the farm, and that’s what mattered.”
With his brother-in-law in Sydney helping him buy the cattle to fill the farm, David soon had another venture in his life at Bungonia.
Roughly a decade later, this approach led David to head further out to Griffith, where he bought a few farms.
On the trucking side, it was at this time that he peaked when he ‘downgraded’ to a special Kenworth model that has become a cult figure in Australian trucking history.
“That was when I got a Gold Nugget series Kenworth and drove it from Sydney to Melbourne and to North Queensland,” he says.
“It was beautiful and had a big plate on the dash saying it was custom-built for me,” he says.
“It was one of only 30 and was wonderful. I
had all the great Kenworths in my career, but the Gold Nugget was something different.”
Despite the fond memories David has of the Gold Nugget, he only had it for a few years. While it was his, it carted steel and returned with produce from the Atherton Tablelands.
In 1989, David pivoted yet again, selling his farm at Bungonia and then offloading the special truck to Len Hilder Transport.
In the years since, David’s grandson Tommy Carr still feels the impact of David’s love for Kenworth. Nowadays, Tommy has his own T401, following in the footsteps of his father and uncle, and most famously his grandfather.
“Tommy is mad on trucks and is a clone of me, he wanted to find out where the Gold Nugget went after I sold it,” David says.
“A couple are now on display, but Tommy found mine a little while ago. It was at a driving school out at Broken Hill, but it had everything taken off it, such as the motor and sleeper cab.”
After selling the Gold Nugget, David turned to broad-acre farming in the Riverina. He soon bought another Kenworth and two farm rigids to enable him to market and sell his own grain interstate and locally. His career in transport came to an end in 2001, when he sold up the truck a year after the passing of his wife Helen.
Now retired on the Sunshine Coast, he has plenty of glowing memories of his time in the trucking landscape.
“Being in trucks for 39 years and doing lots of interstate work, I have lots of wonderful
stories, but I only had the one accident,” he says.
“I was 19 and in the tray truck business, going through different farms around Leongatha. Coming back one morning after working all night, the back of my truck got cleaned up by a train. It didn’t hurt the cabin or the livestock, but it put the truck out of action for a while so they could fix the tray.”
Another defining moment of David’s career was the 1979 Razorback Blockade.
With convictions of drivers rising in the ‘70s, stand-offs with the union and a lack of government meetings meant approximately 500 truckies drove up to and around Sydney’s Parliament House before five drivers parked across the Hume Highway at the top of Razorback Mountain.
With international recognition soon arriving and interstate blockades occurring in Queensland, Victoria and South Australia, it took some discussions before a vote was taken that saw truckies return to work with changed rules and no road tax.
Nowadays, David reflects on his career with plenty of pride. Being inducted into the Road Transport Hall of Fame in 2011 was a highlight of his time in the industry, but he now has another factor bidding for his attention.
“I view my career really positively, being inducted was fantastic,” he says.
“I’m so glad to see Tommy do so well nowadays, buying his own house and trucks. I had a lot of women in my life and 12 grandkids, so it’s nice to have Tom
following in my footsteps.”
Nowadays, David lives on the Sunshine Coast with his partner Maureen. When it comes to family and his time in trucking, David now realises how much he owes to his parents for nearly 40 years of fun behind the wheel.
“It’s only now, when I’m older, that I realise how large of a role my parents played in my career,” he says. “Jock and Mabel were both wonderful. I wouldn’t have gotten a truck at such a young age if it wasn’t for dad, and mum used to have a shed out the back that would feed drivers. I used to take it all for granted, but now I’m so grateful.”
David moved his family to various farms in NSW to make his runs from Melbourne to Sydney easier Now retired for more than 20 years, David recalls his career fondly
Family
AFFAIR
The Geelong Classic Truck and Machinery Show is a staple of the Skidmore family’s calendar
Words: Daniel Woods
Images: Robbie Skidmore and Ron Grant
The Skidmores have had this International S-Line for about eight years.
Image: Ron Grant
An original C1100 International ute and an almost fully restored C1500. Image: Ron Grant
The Geelong Classic Truck and Machinery Show is a highlight in the calendars of truck lovers Australia wide and, despite the Saturday’s oppressive heat and the Sunday’s bucketing rain, the 2025 edition was yet another smash hit to add to the list.
The success of this show, like many others, should not just be measured by the number of trucks on show and people through the gates. This year’s show had 2000 attendees and 100 trucks, but the true success lies in the community surrounding the annual event.
Robbie Skidmore and the wider Skidmore family are near fixtures of the show and, once again, they rolled in with a convoy of impressive trucks and tractors – 15 in total – to catch up with the region’s trucking community in earnest.
Despite being a staple of the show, Robbie says it’s more than just an opportunity to show off some of the most impressive vehicles in his family’s collection. The real gains to be made from the event are the chance to reconnect with the community and spend quality time with friends and family.
“We had two road train loads,” Skidmore says. “We actually took, I think it was seven trucks and eight tractors down for the weekend to Geelong.
“It helps that people like to see the trucks!
“We’ve always supported Geelong; it’s something we’ve done every year, and we’ve made a lot of good friends out of the show down there.
Robbie has been around trucks all his life, as his father used to run a transport company.
“He had nine trucks at one point in the early 2000s,” Robbie says.
“As soon as I could get my truck licence I did, and kept stepping up through the ranks.”
Robbie says the Geelong show is great for people who like both vintage trucks and shiny ones.
“It just turns into a good catch up and a mateship thing,” he says.
“It’s great to see people you haven’t in a while.
“It’s also a good way to remember some of those we’ve lost along the way, who have passed away.”
Load them up! There was plenty to take to this year’s Geelong Truck Show. Image: Robbie Skidmore
Robbie’s 1980 SAR Kenworth was the subject of a brazen theft back in 2013. Image: Robbie Skidmore
The 1980 SAR Kenworth will almost certainly be at future shows. Image: Robbie Skidmore
The S-Line carrying a friend’s 1948 KB6 International. Image: Robbie Skidmore
Setting up. Image: Robbie Skidmore
The famous 1980 SAR Kenworth is currently in pieces. Image: Robbie Skidmore
Tractors, trailers, the Skidmores brought the lot! Image: Robbie Skidmore
Robbie and his family headed to Geelong on Friday afternoon, getting in early for a weekend of fun.
“The old man took his F350 ute down with the fifth wheeler on it, he also drove one of the trucks down, his partner drove the ute down, and my brother drove one of my trucks down as well,” he says.
Among the trucks taken by the Skidmores to Geelong were a 2016 K200 Kenworth and an ex-Greenfreight 2010 K108, both of which are used to haul grain, machinery, hay, and just about everything in between.
One truck that was notably absent from the Skidmores’ 2025 display, though, was a vehicle owned by Robbie that made headlines around Victoria just over a decade ago – his 1980 SAR Kenworth.
The former Eastoe’s Transport truck went missing from the site of Robbie’s father’s business in Sebastopol back in 2013, where it was eventually found in a ditch near Wallan after being used to smash through a fence.
It was found with an empty toolbox and fuel tank, and the radio had gone missing.
At the time, Rod Skidmore estimated the damage to be in the range of $4000.
“I would have been about 13 when that happened, so it was about two years before the first Geelong Show,” Robbie says.
“The whole reason we actually found it back then was because of social media. We posted it all over and got so many leads.
“Then, we got a phone call from the police on the morning we were setting things up for my sister’s birthday. The truck had been found, and we drove it home.”
Since the truck’s kidnapping, it has remained a firm favourite of the family’s, despite blowing up on the way home from its first Geelong show.
It’s currently in the process of being repaired, with parts of the vehicle currently spread out over the workshop floor.
“I’m trying to find the time to restore it,” Robbie says. “There’s bits and pieces everywhere.
“These days everyone’s time poor. It’ll get fixed up, but in the transport industry you either have lots of time and no money, or lots of money and no time.
“When it’s back together I’ll probably take to Geelong again. Actually, I definitely will.”
Two of the Skidmores’ hardest working trucks got loaded up for the show. Image: Robbie Skidmore.
The S-Line International in action. Image: Robbie Skidmore
DEALS Tech
Electric
ESCALATION
There’s more funding than ever available for trucking businesses looking to make the move to electric vehicles
Words: Alex Catalano
$12.8 million was committed to electrifying 112 zero-emission trucks for freight and logistics provider ANC. Image: ANC
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency, also known as ARENA, is the federal government’s response to the lack of infrastructure and investment into the future of electric heavy vehicles in the country.
Since its founding in 2012, it has invested nearly $10 billion across the Australian renewable energy industry, with a direct $2.25 billion in grants funding for projects related to electric trucks and infrastructure.
It’s not just transport that ARENA focuses on — in 2024 alone it has also provided funding to projects in aviation, mining, consumer energy, food manufacturing, robotics, wastewater, buses and more.
In November it announced that $100 million in funding was available under its ‘Driving the Nation’ program dating back to 2022, which tackles three focus areas in transitioning heavy vehicles in fleets across the nation to electric.
Major operators including Linfox ($19.6 million) and Toll ($9 million) are set to benefit from this investment, but smaller transport businesses have also been reaping the rewards across various sectors of the transport industry.
This year is now set to be one of the biggest ones yet for the funding of electric projects through ARENA, and could set the scene for major change in how Australian fleets look.
“We’re going to have $100 million in funding to support other recipients over the next year or year and a half,” says ARENA
knowledge sharing manager Adrian Salinas.
“There are currently about 20 projects in different stages of completion. Some of them have already been announced, with people working and completing milestones.”
Several projects in Western Australia have been completed over the past few years, which Adrian says they are particularly proud of.
Operators Patrick Terminals and Centurion have both previously received funding to transition their fleets and upgrade their infrastructure to support a higher volume of working electric trucks.
This funding is removing one of the biggest roadblocks for those interested in moving to electric, being the cost, which has continually been referenced as one of the major challenges in making the switch.
Patrick was awarded $2.5 million in an effort to reduce its emissions at what is WA’s largest container port in Fremantle, which sees a massive volume of both freight and vehicles moving through it.
That money allowed them to deploy nine battery electric terminal trucks and set up fast chargers in a first for the port.
“Patrick takes all these small trucks that move cargo containers in the port, uses them to take the containers from the ship and put them in the trailers themselves,” Adrian says.
“So now all of their operations inside of the port happen with zero emission vehicles.
Linfox – Linfox has continued to take on more electric trucks through ARENA funding.
Image: Linfox
Those are heavy trucks that are moving containers inside of the port.”
The funding for Centurion’s project was another major one, providing them with both a massive addition of electric trucks to their fleet and the infrastructure to go with it.
Some $15.8 million from ARENA was put towards 30 battery electric trucks and 15 dual port chargers to not only cut their emissions, but increase their capacity to operate their new trucks.
“Centurion’s issue that they had was there’s not enough electricity on the grid to power their trucks,” Adrian says.
“What they did was utilise land that they had next door, and they installed a solar farm to power the trucks. That was a big project for Western Australia.”
While ARENA is continuing to grow the amount of transport projects that it is funding, it wasn’t even initially a focus area.
But as they’ve continued to talk to industries across the country, transport continued to come up. Initially they had looked into light vehicles, including commercial
vehicle fleets, but the heavy sector needs greater investment to impact the path to decarbonisation.
“We’ve looked at a number of different jurisdictions, in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, and they’re all talking about heavy transport,” Adrian says.
“Going back, transport wasn’t part of the plan to start with, but the opportunity came when looking at renewables in the future, and
Centurion and Daimler – Centurion received $15.8 million for battery electric trucks.
Image: Daimler Truck
the largest user of electricity will be transport. We started in the light passenger sector to start with, but in 2022 we decided to start in heavy transport for two reasons.
Patrick Terminals has nine new battery electric trucks. Image: Patrick Terminals
“The main one is that transport operators are really keen to decarbonise because all they think about is total cost of ownership. They’re not running trucks across the country for fun, they’re a business.
“In terms of emissions, the heavy transport sector is one disproportionately representing the amount of emissions with transport. We need to start taking care of that sector if we really want to decarbonise transport as a whole.”
Infrastructure focus
One of the funding areas that ARENA announced under the Driving the Nation program in 2023 was a focus on electric vehicle charging solutions and infrastructure, with $70 million committed.
While this particular funding round was focused on public charging and innovation in the management of charging, they have since looked to privatised infrastructure.
ARENA funded a project to the tune of $8.5 million for fleet electrification specialist Zenobē, which is incorporating off-site charging as one solution for electric fleets that lack the infrastructure needed to operate efficiently.
This is being put towards establishing an ‘electric charging hub’ in Mascot, Sydney to
be used by Woolworths to charge its electric vehicles.
It will contain 22 dual-port chargers, all equipped with smart charging software to optimise energy use while also using stationary battery storage made from repurposed batteries from old electric vehicles.
The site will support a fleet of 60 electric trucks leased to Woolworths and will also have the capacity to expand, creating a multiuser charging facility.
This particular hub is servicing trucks that are doing local deliveries – all on the smaller end of the scale at predominantly 4.5 tonnes.
While they won’t travel far from South Sydney, they still require a full day’s worth of charge to operate their routes.
With the hub being leased to Woolworths, this opens the door for other companies to lease out the space to charge their trucks in the future.
This could be a solution to provide charging infrastructure across a number of fleets without needing as much space as would be required for companies operating a full fleet of electric trucks.
“Let’s say I wanted to put a charging hub next door to a trucking company," Adrian says. “The main thing I need is access to the land, and the second is connection to the grid.
“We’re talking years back and forth to negotiate your lease agreement for the land and your connection agreement. What
Zenobē did very cleverly is they partnered with Ausgrid, so the land belongs to the electricity company.
“Having the approval to connect and the access to the land is not an issue. From day one, they are a couple of years ahead of someone that might have a good plot of land, but then has to start a lengthy conversation with an electricity company.
“The charging hub in this case is not installed on your premises or your depot, only servicing you. It’s like a petrol station of the future for heavy transport.
“The Zenobē project is one step closer in the right direction, with land close to the airport and Woolworths as an anchor customer.”
Electric education
The process of progressing the decarbonisation of the transport industry has been addressing the widespread concerns that many within it have when it comes to make the move to electric vehicles.
With other options becoming more viable, like hydrogen and renewable fuels, businesses big and smaller have a choice to make about which path they are going to follow. With that choice comes a significant financial investment, which for many could make or break their futures within the industry.
Helping operators and businesses to understand where the advantages in electric lie has been another focus of ARENA’s.
“Part of putting the business case forward for this new funding round was
spending time with the transport operators themselves,” Adrian says.
“We went to all the conferences throughout 2024. We were everywhere, and what we hear from transport operators is ‘I’m ready, I want to do it, but I don’t know which door is for me.'
“And while the market is still looking at three doors at the moment, people are still not necessarily sure which technology fits the most to their operations and also when that technology is going to be available.”
Attending industry events, conferences and forums has given ARENA a solid picture of what businesses and operators are thinking and the challenges they’re facing on the ground.
They attended an industry forum with more than 150 stakeholders from the heavy transport sector late in 2024, which provided valuable feedback.
“We use opportunities like these to get industry experts communicating to us as a group,” Adrian says.
“We can lay out the benefits of working with hydrogen, the benefits of working with electricity, the benefits of working in the future with low carbon liquid fuels.
“There’s one technology out of these three that you can invest in today, which is electric trucks and electric chargers. If you were on the hydrogen path, that might be more of a 2030 scenario, and by 2035 we’re going to have solutions on the low carbon liquid fuels.
“So right now the funding that is available is for electricity, but we also have plans in the future to invest in these other technologies when and if the time is right.”
ARENA awarded Linfox $19.6 million in funding. Image: Linfox
STILL
truckin’
Jake Goodwin shares the story behind his eye-catching rig and why he loves being an owner-driver
Words: Kayla Walsh
Images: Jake Goodwin
The truck is in great condition despite its age
Getting a bit of a tidy up
For a truck that’s over four decades old, Jake Goodwin’s 4300 International is an absolute trooper.
Built in Dandenong in 1979, Jake purchased the truck eight years ago from a man named Paul Barey.
“He did the same job that I was doing when I was driving for my father, carting steel out of Wyalla in South Australia,” he tells Deals on Wheels.
“When he retired, he sold the truck to me.
“He offered it to me for a very good price and was good enough to let me have it immediately and pay it off in installments, without me having to get a loan.
“Every week for a year, I paid him back until I owned the truck.”
Jake says Barey took great care of the rig, and it was “mechanically perfect” when he bought it.
“All I really did was freshen it up cosmetically,” he says. “I added fuel tanks and a different bull bar, and put a different bunk and Alcoa wheels on it.
“It needed a bit of paint here and there — the chassis has been painted, but the cab is original paint from when I bought it from Paul.
“I put a new gearbox in it, it just needed to be replaced because of wear and tear.
“But fundamentally, it’s the same truck.”
Not all that interested in modern machines, Jake always wanted a vintage rig.
“I'm not particularly old, but I think a lot of us truck drivers tend to pretend we’re living back in the 80s or 90s, the hey days of trucking,” he says.
“I don’t think modern day trucking is all that exciting!
“Each to their own, but when you start going down the electronic road with trucks, and computers and speed limits and European influence...It’s just not for me.
“A common thing I hear when people see my truck is ‘Now that’s a real truck!’ and they say that for a reason, because trucks today aren’t quite as robust as they used to be.”
DEALS Showcase
The International with another of Jake’s trucks
Loaded up and ready to go
The International is popular with truckspotters. Image: Truckspotting Ararat
Despite his stylish piece of gear, Jake doesn’t often attend truck shows.
“I don’t really go to shows for two reasons.
“One — I’m usually working on the days the shows are on. Two, my truck doesn’t have the paint job that a lot of people are looking for.
“It’s still very much a working truck, with stone chips and marks here and there, but it’s in good order for what it is.”
The Broadford, Victoria man is a busy owner-driver, doing general freight throughout South Australia and beyond.
After working for his dad for years, he wanted to make his own way.
“I’m a fourth or fifth generation truckie — being an owner-driver is what I know,” he says.
“My dad and grandad were both ownerdrivers, and my great-grandfather was in farming, but he started carting timber with bullock teams.
“So we go back to where it all originated really. I was bred with a sense of pride about trucks and the transport industry.”
Jake says being self-employed can be tough, but he has tried working 9 to 5 jobs in the past and the lifestyle just wasn’t for him.
“Being an owner-driver isn’t an easy way to earn a dollar, but it’s still viable,” he says.
“The idea of being a driver for a company is unappealing to me.
“I like being my own boss — I can stop when I want to stop, go when I want to go.
“I don’t like being confined to one place, and trucking gives me a lot of freedom.”
Like many truck drivers, Jake fears the transport industry has become “overregulated”, but he hasn’t let it get him down.
“I think the industry is being suffocated,” he says. “Unless that changes, I don’t know what it means for the future.
“But do I still like trucking? Yes. I love it.”
Jake gets to see the sights of Australia while he works
Looking large
MACKCLXTSuperliner 2019,doneapprox390,000km's,Mack mp-10engine,m-drivetransmission,46-160Merritordiffs,on m-ridespringsuspension.S2460.
ISUZUFXR1000 2017,doneapprox.500,000ks customtrayfortankcartage.S2539. TA1199439. POA
ISUZUGIGACXZ 2015,doneapprox.230,000ks,one owner,sellcomplete.S2560. TA1199437. POA
KENWORTHK200 2012,(sellcomplete)cumminsegr engineeatonrtlo20918manualairglide460on46-160 merritordiffs.S-2596. TA1226217. POA
CATCT630Tipper 2014,steelbody,4.7long,electric tarp,ringfeder,caterpillarc-15accertengine eatonrtlo-20918gearbox merritor46-160diffswithdualaxlelocks primaxsuspension.s2511. TA1232652. POA
MACKTRIDENTCMHT 2017,mp-8engine,m-drive transmission,46-160MerritordiffsonPrimax suspension.S2548. TA1189136. POA
ISUZUFVD165-300 2021,doneoriginal300kms, DUALCONTROL,cabchassissingledrv.S2558.. TA1189138. POA
MACKTRIDENT 2014,mp-8engine m-drivetransmission 46-160diffsonhendriksonhassuspension.S2582. TA1219934. POA
FREIGHTLINERCOLUMBIACL112SteelWaterTanker 2014,Cumminsisle-5engineapprox140,000ks Eatonrtlo14918gearbox Merritormt40-14xgdiffs,Tufftracsuspension.S-2628. TA1242930. POA
MACKANTHEM 2022,Mackmp-8 engine,doneapprox223,000kmm-drive transmissionVolvo8bagsuspension& diffs.S2639. TA1255091. POA
FREIGHTLINERARGOSY 2007, Caterpillarc-15engine,Eatonrtlo-20918 gearbox,Merritor46-160diffsonairliner suspension.S2637. TA1251580. POA
MERCEDES-BENZ2653 2017,needsrepair(sell completeorwreck)Mercedesom471engine, Mercedesbenzpowershiftg281-12transmission, Mercedesbenzrt440 diffs onMercedesairbag suspensionNeedsrepairs.S2570. TA1199433. POA
IVECOPOWERSTAR6700 2002,Caterpillar c-15engine,rtlo20918gearbox, Hendriksonhassuspension,46-160 merritordiffs.S2632. TA1255092. POA
FREIGHTLINERCOLUMBIACL112 2011, Detroitdd13engine,Rtlo16918gearbox, Merritor40-14xgpdiffs,Airliner suspension.S709. TA1250029. POA
MACKANTHEM 2022,mp-8enginedone approx120,000ksoriginal m=drivetransmission,volvorear suspension&diffs.s2624. TA1232653. POA
FREIGHTLINERARGOSYTipper 2003, Caterpillarc-15engine,RTLO20918gearbox, Merritor46-160diffs,Airlinersuspension,Steel Tipperbody.S-2631. TA1242933. POA
MACKGRANITE 2017,Mp-8engine m-drivetransmission Hassuspensionon46-160diffs.S2609. TA1219935. POA
KENWORTHK200 2012,CumminsEGR engine,Spicer50-170 diffs onNeway ad246-10,suspension,130tonrated,Eaton fo-22e318-mxptransmission.S2602. TA1240869. POA
FREIGHTLINERCORONADOSD 2011, Detroitdd15engine,Rtlo20918gearbox, Merritor52-185diffsonneway suspension.S2445. TA1251581. POA
MACKCLR 2003,caterpillarc-16engine, eaton18spdgearbox,mackdiffson newaysuspension.S2636. TA1250028. POA
KENWORTHT403 2014,Cumminse5 engine,Eaton18spdgearbox,Spicer dsh-40diffs,airglide400suspension. S-2629. TA1242932. POA
2022'kenwortht-610droponcabcomplete s2591. TA1207836. POA
KENWORTHBUNK new36''aero1bunk,bulk headdoors.Saero1. TA1185880. POA
WesternStarcabinshell32inchsleeperglazednew cabinwithdoors.S/NSMP26. TA742846. $26,000
ENGINES AVAILABLE NOW
Large range of cummins x-15, e-5, isx, isx egr, m-11 engines ready to go
Re-man & used workshop checked & some original low km engines available Also caterpillar c-15, c-15 accert, c-12 engines
Detroit dd-16 genuine 32,000km, dd-15 & dd13 engines
Mack mp-10, mp-8, ea7 several models, e6 Paccar & daf engines available
CABINS AVAILABLE
New & used,some need minor repairs
Kenworth t-610, t-604,t-904, t-409, k-104b, k-108
cabinshell36inchintegratedsleeperwithdoors.Entry doorsglazedpaintedwhite,sellcomplete.S/N.SMP13195. TA618906. $22,000
KENWORTHC510 2005,Sellcomplete. S510. TA1199442. POA
Mack trident, ch, chr, new breed cab shells new Freightliner argosy, century class Cat ct-630, ct-610 Westernstar 4800 International 7600 new shell & doors
MACKTITANTriDrive 2003,s-60,14ltr engine,18spdeatongearbox,Mackdiffs onnewaysuspension.Strid. TA1199440. POA
sleepercabinshellcompleteasperpicsellcomplete. SMP2. TA618821. $4,000
KENWORTHCABINSHELLS numerousnew barecabinshells.Suitt-series,2daycabs,1 intergrated,1suitmodularbunk.S650. TA1185881. POA
CUMMINSX15 SeveralCummins enginesavailablenow,x-15,e-5andisx range,usedworkshopchecked&reman available.S638. TA1173879. POA
KENWORTHC540 2008,sellcomplete. S540. TA1199441. POA
3 WOODHOUSE ST, MAREEBA, NORTH
Fax: (07)40 926 574
FREIGHTLINERAGROSY 2004, hasbeenforaswim,straightpanels, Hydraulics46-160withcrosslocksWRECKINGNOW.#T1154. TA1254045.
MACKR6X6MILITARY 1985, trayback6x6withjust42,000 showing. CallJohn0414666776.#T1168. TA1251541.
NISSANUDCW445 2007, hasniceGE13engineand18 speedgearbox.#T1165. TA1251547.
NISSANUDPKC265 2007, GoodFE6turboengine;6 speedMLS62box;nice doors;skipbodysold. #T1136. TA1232484.
WreckorSellComplete(POA)
HINOFB4J 1999, withonly192klmshowingona JO5Cengine.Cleantruck. #T1150.
BUSES
WRECKING BUSESANDVANS-MANYTO CHOOSEFROM-WRECKING All busesandvansavailableforparts, manytochoosefrom-Coaster, Rosa,HiaceandCivilian.Many. TA1254040.
AlsoWreckingCW45CW46andCW70
NISSANUDCWB450 1994, WithexcellentPF6Tturbodiesel engineand13speedRoadRanger gearbox.#T1044. TA1157678.
IVECOSTRALIS
2004, withK13engine-runswellbutneedsan ECU,18speedRoadRanger,6mtipper withcattlecrate,RoadTrainrated.#T1100. TA1199183.
IVECOSTRALIS 2006, 8wheelerwithgoodCurser10 engine,manualgearbox,mreitor diffswithcross-locks.#T1094. TA1199184.
MITSUBISHIFV458 1993, verygood6D22engine!Latemodel craneandtipperbody.#T1098. TA1207766.
4WDCANTERFG64WD WRECKING! MACKCH 1998, 435hpE-TecE7engine; 13speed; RockwellAirbag rear. #T1148. TA1232476.
AlsowreckingFG439andFGB71 4WDCanters
MITSUBISHICANTERFG637 2001, Withgood4D33engine,5 speedwithcabletransfer, gooddiffs-WreckingNow.. #T1171. TA1167693.
2013, hasgoodmechanicals-4P10engine andverynicetipperbody.#T1167. TA1251892.
(autogerboxandtraysold).#T1104. TA1199181.
KENWORTHT408SAR 2008,CumminsSignatureEGR Rtlo20918BRoadRangergearboxonBurnt6 rod suspensionwithRockwell%2/1604.3rationow wrecking.319. TA1250326. POAinc.GST
KENWORTHT608 2010,CumminsEGRSigengine RTLO20918BRoadrangergearboxonSpicer46/170Diifs 4.1ratioonAirglide460suspension.Nowwrecking..312. TA1238859. POAinc.GST
KENWORTHK200 2013,CumminsISXE5engine RTLO20918BRoadRangergearboxonAIrglide460 suspensionwithRockwell46/160diffs..303. TA1232337. POAinc.GST
MACKCSMR 2010,CumminsISCcommonrail315HP engineRTLO12913RoadRangergearboxonHendrickson HAS400suspensionwithRockwell46/160Diffs4.3 ratio.Tipperbody4500mmlongand1500highinside diameter2230mm..315. TA1240486. POAinc.GST
KENWORTHT608 2010,T608Cabinwithtraditional doorsbrowntrim50inchsleeper.WiringforEGR Cumminsengine.T608. TA1252006. POAinc.GST
FREIGHTLINERCORONADO122 2011,Cummins SignatureEGRDPFengineRTLO22918BRoadRanger gearboxonNewayAD246Suspensionwith52/185 Rockwelldiffs4.56ratioPtopumpkitaswell.318. TA1250327. POAinc.GST
WESTERNSTAR4800FXB 2007,CumminsGen2 SignatureengineRTLO20918BRoadRangergearboxon AirlinerheavysuspensionwithSpicer46-1704.3ratio diffs.NowwreckingIcePack..313. TA1238860. POAinc.GST
CATERPILLARCT610 2010,CatC13Assertengine RTLO18918BRoadRangergearboxonHendricksonHAS 400suspensionwithRockwellldiffs4.3ratio.Cabinsell complete..316. TA1241570. POAinc.GST
KENWORTHT908 2010,CumminsSignatureengineRTLO 20918BRoadRangergearboxonAirglide460 suspensionwithRockwelldiffson6 rod suspension burnt.Nowwrecking.320. TA1252007. POAinc.GST
FREIGHTLINERFL112 1998,CumminsM11plusengine RTLO14713RoadRangergearboxonAirlinerlight supensionwithRockwell40/145diffs4.1ratiotipper body4.160mmlongx1200mmhighand2360inside width..317. TA1242107.
POAinc.GST
INTERNATIONAL3600 1996,DetroitSeries60 14LTR engineRTLO16713RoadRangergearboxonHendrickson HAS400suspensionwithRockwell20/1454.33ratio. Completecabin..310. TA1231655. POAinc.GST
INTERNATIONALWORKSTAR7600 2009,CatC13Engine RTLO16918BwithRockwalldiffs46/1603.91ratioon Primaxsuspension.Completebonnetwithgrill.Now wrecking..314. TA1239617. POAinc.GST
KENWORTHT409SAR 2012,CumminsISXEGRengine RTLO20918BRoadRangergearboxonAirglide460 suspensionwithRockwell46/160diffs4.3ratio..295.
INTERNATIONALWORKSTAR7600 2007,CatC12Engine RTLO16918RoadRangergearboxonIROSairbag suspensionwithSpicer46/170diffs41ratio.Tipperbody
KENWORTHK200 2019,CumminsX15engine RTLO20918BRoadRangergearboxonAirglide460 suspensionwithRockwell46/160diffs.Cabinsold
CATERPILLARCT630 2010,CATC15ASSERTEngine RTLO20918BRoadRangergearboxonRockwell46/160 diffs3.9ratiowithHendricksonPrimaxsuspension..288. TA1201245. POAinc.GST
FORDLTS9000 1994,Series60D/DEC3engineRTLO16618 RoadRangergearboxonRockwell40/145diffs3.9ratioon HendricksonHAS400suspension.Goodcabinnomajor
KENWORTHT401 1998,CATC12(nsengineRTLO14713 RoadRangergearboxonAirglide200suspensionwith EatonDSH40P4.11ratioNowWrecking..294. TA1219030.
MACKCHR 1991,MackE7400mechanicalenginewith MackgearboxandcamelbacksupensiononMack38 pounddiffs.Nowwrecking..277. TA1190226. POAinc.GST
FREIGHTLINERCORONADO114 2016,DetroitDD15 engineRTLO20918BRoadRangergearboxonAirliner suspensionwithRockwell46/160diffs4.3ratio..296.
INTERNATIONAL9900 2008,CATACERTengine RTLO20918BRoadRangergearboxonPrimax suspensionwithSpicerDyandiffs46/1704.1rationow wrecking..268. TA1182009. POAinc.GST
CUMMINSSIGNATUREEGRENGINE Rebuiltorworkshop checkedavailable.Soldwithwarranty.SIGEGR. TA1112548. POA
UNKNOWNOTHERWOODCHIPPERSUITABLETIPPING BODYEMTW45 PintleHookTowbarandHoistIncluded, 4.0mLongincludingtoolboxes,3.5mLongx1.8mHighx 2.3mWideTippingBodywithRoof,870mmSubframe Width.emtw45. POAinc.GST
CUMMINSSIGNATUREGENII CumminsSignatureGEN2 engineouterchassisrebuildkit.Kitconsistoffpistons,liners, rings,bearingsloweranduppergasketkit.Bothheadsfully checkedandhavebeenbothbeenpressureandcracktested newstemsealsfittedtoCumminsspecs.Availablenow.CALL FORPRICE.#Eng43. TA1178033. POAinc.GST
FORDLSERIES RHSandLHSdoorsasperpictures completeotherthannodoortrims.minordintsinLHS
FREIGHTLINERHOODFREIGHTLINEREMTW50
EATONTRANSMISSIONEATONEMTW17 18/13/15 SpeedRoadRangergearboxes.Directsingleanddouble
Freightlinervariousmakesandmodelbonnetssome withslightdamageandothershavenodamage.From $2750Incgst.EMTW50. $2,750inc.GST
KENWORTHT609 KenworthT609bumperbarssoldas takeoffsnomounts.Soldasperpictures..EMTW86.
FREIGHTLINERFLC112 1995,Series60D/Dec3 Rtlo16718BRoadRangergearboxonFreightlinerairbag suspensionwithRockwell40/1454.3rationow wrecking..276. TA1189743. POAinc.GST
ALOCAWHEELALOCAEMTW87 American285pcd polishedoutercompletesetsonly. 4Outerpolished4innerrimsonlyreadytogoavailable bequick..EMTW87. TA1170879. $2,200inc.GST
FREIGHTLINERFLC112 1993,FLC112bonnet93model
ROCKWELLDIFFS Rockwelldiffs52sto38pound Rockwells.Differentratiosavaiable. EatondiffsDs521toDs401frontandreardifferent ratiosavaiable.
Workshopcheckedandcomewithwarranty..EMTW18. TA918442. POAinc.GST
DAFSHOCKERASSEMBLY
SuspensionDAFSHOCKERASSEMBLY565007
.565007.TA1166418. POAinc.GST
IVECODISC BRAKES
EngineBrake060.316
.060.316.TA1071546. POAinc.GST
VARIOUS AIRBAG
Newaftermarketairbagsfor allmakes&modelsof Europeantrucks
.SP556416-K/SP557803-K. TA820964. POA
VOLVOFH
VOLVOI-SHIFTLEVER CONTROLUNIT
(22647913,21937971, 21456378,21073035)
.034.221-01.TA1242820. $825
DAFVISCUS FANBLADE
OtherDAFVISCUSFANBLADE 541481 .541481.TA1166419. POAinc.GST
TRT 4X8LOWLOADER 2014,Immaculatecondition, hardlyused,Genuine low kms28,503.AlwaysGaraged. Newcost638k+GST.CallPaula0409456467, 7A9AS0184EH002004.QLD. DIY1254799. 0409 456 467. $484,000
VOLVOFH16GLOBETROTTER700 2013,Immaculate conditioninsideandout.Genuine low kms29,766. Alwaysgaraged.Newcost550k.CallPaula0409456 467,072075.QLD. DIY1254797. 0409 456 467. $352,000
ISUZUNQR450AMT 2009,IsuzuNQR450servicetruck, JAAN1R75 M87 100534.QLD. DIY1253912. 0459 506 999. $55,000
HINOHIAB TruckCrane,Chassis no. 11596,2.5Tonne CapacityLift,5.7metretray,idealfarmtruck,hasrust, $8,700ONO,phoneJohnformoreinformation,allhours, 11596.SA. DIY1253378. 0417 088 305. $8,700
VOLVOFM500 2015,VolvoTruck&Dog,XQ96TW.QLD. DIY1253870. 0409 276 145. $200,000
KENWORTHC509
VAWDREYVBS3 2003,VawdreyFlat Top Trailer48ft Readyforwork--CompletewithElectricLoadScales, RatchetStraps,DunnageBox-SlidingrearAxlesetfor weightdistribution11mthsRego.,YB78EG.QLD. DIY1253297. 0418 354 696. $37,500
2014,Fulloutofchassisrebuild5000klmago.140000KGRoad TrainRated.Slipperfrontend.6Rodsuspensionon52x185. 4.88Ratio.60"Bunk.Icepack.Bunkairwhiletravelling. Twin SteeringBoxes,520WGV.QLD. DIY1253332. 0418 876 025. $324,500
STERLINGOTHER 2005,CleanDaycabprimemoverwith PalfingerPK18500cranefitted,cranecertifieduntil2026 andballraceturntable.Radio,UHF,andfridge. 595,098kmregularlyserviced.Comeswithnewtyreson rearandDurabriterims.NSWregistrationuntil11/2024. Tidy reliabletruck,YJN82K.NSW. DIY1225491. 0421 380 334. $50,000
ATKINSONT3866C 1977,AtkinsonT3866primemover.CumminsKT450airstart. Spicer1214-2a.DT482onsixrod.120tonGCM.Onlyworkedfor first5years,S36635.QLD. DIY1255326. 0412 991 224. $55,000
ISUZUNQR450AMT 2009,IsuzuNQR450servicetruck, JAAN1R75 M87 100534.QLD. DIY1253912. 0459 506 999. $55,000
VOLVOFH VolvoFH540,2012truck&dog,95cubebins, goodtarps,newtyres,$180,000.00incneg,XB54BZ. QLD. DIY1253136. 0409 276 145. $180,000
HINO300SERIES-616 2008,CAMPER/VENDING/ ESCORT/SERVICEVEHICLE ready totraveldoingShows, FieldDays,Marketsetcoreasilyconverttofull camper. Rollout Awning. 4.0ltrTurbo5speedcruiseson110 kmh&candriveoncarlicense.PowerSteering,AirCon, Alarm,CentralLocking,NewTyres&Turbo.174,000kms, AV63QF.NSW. DIY1249355. 0419 925 924. $45,000
MITSUBISHIROSA
3AXLETRIAXLETIPPER 1999,Moses30x5triaxlesemi tippertrailer, Very goodcondition,Springsuspension, $32000+GST($35200).PHONEDAVID0408282101,Can beregistereduponpurchasestraightaway,SY55GE.SA. DIY1242188. 0408 282 101.
$35,200
VOLVOFM12 2003,VolvoFM12380watertruck,mine spec,isolators,e-stops,2xuhf's,7sprays,watercanon control,southerncrosshydraulicdrivenpump.$125,000 incgst(Neg),XQ35FD.QLD. DIY1253077. 0409 276 145. $125,000
ATKINSON4870 1986,7.2mtrflattopwithremovable bolsters.Pigtrailerincluded.Truckstillatwork, XN51JZX.NSW. DIY1246814. 0427 490 038. $25,000
ISUZUFVL240-300AUTO LWB 2021,FVLfrieghtpak 240-300,Auto77,547KM,GenuineIsuzuBullbar,Dump AirvalvefittedonlazyAxle,DashCamwithreversed cameraalltimerecording.Serviceevery10,000km.14 pltCurtainsider,XO27CZ.NSW. DIY1253005. 0412 468 638. $180,000IncludingGST
2002,Agreatstartupbusinessopportunity.Afullyservicedand CoachAccreditedMitsubishiRosaBE6ManualMiniCoach includingnewtrailer.DeluxeInteriorincludingrecliningseatsand seatbelts.Licensedtocarry19Passengersallowingrearstorage space.HappytoprovidethepurchaserwithallAccreditation documentationtoestablishyourowncompliantbusiness, BS08TW.VIC. DIY1254054. 0418 131 733. $38,500
KENWORTHK104
2000,10x4WaterTruck,previousshow/charity truck.CumminsSignature,18-speed,20,000Ltank, 6"pump,PTO,newtyresallround,freshpaint,lazy axle,A/C,ROPs,autogreaser,wellmaintained, readyforwork.$278,000+GST,4ULOC.QLD. DIY1225518. 0407 490 280. $305,800
CHEVROLETARMYTRUCK 1942, was importedfromthe USandservedinthe Australianarmy.It'sa1.5ton 4x4 truckwhich stillhasthe originalengine,aChevy235 cid,inlinesix,ohv,PR3867547. QLD. DIY1254391. 0402 507 418. $4,500
HINO500SERIES-FE1426 2013,streetsweeper1426. Auto.Dualcontrol.57000kms. Goodcondition.Roadwash sprays.Rear vac hoist. Recentlyservicedand ready to go, JHDFE7JJMXXX10095.QLD. DIY1255327. 0432 149 958. $39,990
FUSOFIGHTER14 2006, tray, cancarry12ton,14pallet,8.5 mtrtray,airbags,manual9 speed,unregistered,asitis, $28000plusgst, JLFFN63FU0KK00144. QLD. DIY1252178. 0403 942 504. $30,800
FOTONAUMARK 2015,Power ByCumminsEngine.Serviced by anyCumminsDealerin Australia.Cheaptorun.Goes verywell,90,000kms, Lvbv3jbbxej049162.VIC. DIY1244569. 0416 136 256. $16,500
STEERABLE VESSEL
VOLVOFL250 2002,250HP speedbox,320,000km.25ft traytopwithcontainerpins. Very cleantoprunningunit, firstRWCdonenotmuchto finish,yv2e4cca11b29737.VIC. DIY1248487. 0416 136 256. $33,000
1985, New remote control petrol pack motor, 11.6m bottom deck,
VOLVOFM11
2015,410hp,automatictransmission,500,000km Twinsteer8x4,daycab.Fittedw/8.4m ATM tilttrayw/remote control.15twinch,containerpins,containerpusher,Newsteer tyres,Fittedw/Effer175cranew/remotecontrol,Cranereaches 17.5mat500kg,Cranecomeswith10yearinspectiontil2034 Soldw/RWC,0000.VIC. DIY1232840. 0418 592 822.
1996, ATM 35tonne,Airbagsuspension,10ratchets,Timberrack andtoolbox,Fittedw/plasticmudguards,Steelspiderwheels, 6F8T25003TB056264.VIC. DIY1232841. 0418 592 822. $25,000plusGST
KENWORTH K200
2013, 18 speed manual, Cummins 550hp, Diff locks, cross locks, Bunk cooler, alloy wheels all round, Alloy bull bar, automatic greaser, Flashing lights, Oversize sign, Full engine rebuild, driven 20,000km since rebuild. 6F5000000CA448598. VIC. DIY1232837. 0481 592 822. $160,000 plus GST
FREIGHTLINERCOLUMBIA
2008,C13CAT,450hp,18speedroadranger,Difflocks,cross locks,Verytidytruckinsideandout,Fittedw/alloywheels,alloy bumper,Fittedw/HIABcrane166withremotecontrol,Crane reaches15mat800kg,Flashinglight,Oversizesign,UHF, 1FVJF0DE09L999535.VIC. DIY1232839. 0418 592 822. $60,000 plus GST GST
WESTERNSTAR4800
2017,WesternStar48002017DetroitDD15,18SpeedRoad Ranger.46-160MeritorDiffs4.3ratio.Airlinerrearsuspension.40 inchflatroofsleeperwithairconditioning.Hollandlowprofile ballraceturntableonElphinstoneairslider.IsriBigBoydriver seat.Wrappedstainlessontanksandbatteryboxcovers. Superchromerims.Immaculateconditioninsideandout.Ready forwork.786,603kms,5KKHBEDR7HPJE7996.NSW. DIY1251952. 0409 229 713. $155,000PlusGST
$115,000
HYSTERH16.00XM-6 2010,lowhoursandin greatconditionwithMichelinXZMradialtyres, forkpositioningsideshiftand2,440mmForks. R3525. TA730601.
ForSaleorHirePOAPh:1800688788to Inspect
HYSTERH12.00XM 200811,740kg4500mm lift,sideshiftcarriageand2440mmforks.Hire orBuyFreeCall1800688788.R3405. TA369982. POA
HYSTERH18.00XM-12 withforkpositioning sideshiftcarriage,2440mmforks,Cummins engine,fullyenclosedairconditionedcabOption20x40sideliftcont.frame.R3632. TA1124211. POAForSaleorHirePh:1800688788
KALMARDRT450-65S 2013,Stacksladen 20x40containers5high.CumminsQSM11 dieselengine.Dana15.5HR36000XMSN. H10300280. TA1153805.
ForSaleorHirePOAFreeCall1800688788
OMEGA16-12W Idealfurnitureremovalist solutionRated12,000kgwithELME558 sidesliftabletostackuptofourhigh20and40 footcontainers..353AUFL443. TA1154000. ForSaleorHirePOAFreeCall1800688788
ISOLOADER21RubberTyreStraddleCarrier LoadUnloadandTravelwith32t20'andor27t 40'containers.Lowcostlightweight containerhandlerideal for lessrobust pavementorgoodhardstand.S113. TA1222701. POA
HYSTERH18.00XM-12 2008,stacks12,000kg highcube20'&40'3high.ELME55820x40 spreaderwithtopentrytwistlocks.Frontline unitreadynow.R3547. TA829125.
ForSaleorHirePOAFreeCall1800688788
ISOLOADERHL-PC-35 2006,Two(2) ISOLOADERPrecastConcreteHandling RubberTyreGantriesbuyoneorboth for tandemliftandtraveleachwithSWL 35,000kg.R3696R3697. TA1222670. POA
HYSTERH650C 6newContinentaltyres, Cummins6CTenginethisbudgetpriced forkliftisready for work.Option20'or20x40 toppickcontainerspreaders..R3712. TA1216675. ForSaleorHirePh1800688788POA
HYSTERH10.00XM 2006,Cumminsengine. WideForkPositioningSideshiftCarriage wouldsuitlongloadse.g.pipe.R3689. TA1216676. POAForSaleorHirePh:1800688788
KALMARDRT450 2014,SOLD-Another Available.Only11081hourswithoriginal Cumminsengine.Stack45,000kg1strow 31,000kg2ndrow.ReadyNow.R3603. TA998021. POAForSaleorHirePh:1800688788
PRENTICE7,000KGSWL forklifttruckramps (8)topickfrom.Ideal for shippingcontainers. Forsaleorhire.R3274. TA96974. $12,000+GST=$13,200ForSaleorHire
Safe practices
HiReach Training offers a variety of high-risk and nationally recognised training courses to ensure optimal safety on the jobsite
Safety is paramount when working with industrial plant, so to ensure this, HiReach Training (RTO 40973) offers a variety of training courses to learn how to safely operate equipment such as elevated work platforms, forklifts and telehandlers.
A subsidiary of HiReach Rentals Australia, HiReach Training offers not just theory, but also practical training from its three locations in Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast.
If training is required onsite instead, HiReach has the capabilities to do this, thanks to its huge range of equipment.
Several nationally recognised courses are offered, including operating an elevated work platform (EWP) under 11m, High Risk Work Licences for EWPs over 11m, and industry training Elevated Work Platform Association (EWPA) Yellow Card.
As a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) delivering nationally recognised training courses, HiReach’s trainers are industry experts who have worked within the industry for more than 20 years.
HiReach Rentals managing director Colin Fox says the business is one of the very few rental companies that sells and rents underbridge units, with HiReach Training also offering a course on this.
“We developed the underbridge training course that is now
the nationally recognised unit of competency,” he says.
“That’s a big differentiator between us and other RTOs.”
Verification of competency is another key aspect of HiReach Training, as workers will often be asked to present this before starting a new job.
If a certification is out of date, HiReach will help to make sure the worker has the right verification of competency for a plant’s make and model that they’ll be using on-site.
One of the advantages HiReach Training has over other RTOs is its ability to be flexible with customer requirements.
For example, Fox says employers will often call the business midweek needing certification for workers starting the following week.
Plant & Equipment
HiReach Training offers several nationally recognised courses as a registered training organisation
In this situation, HiReach Training will do everything in its power to create a plan, whereby the workers get the right training and certification in a short time frame.
Instead of workers having to wait for the next scheduled course, HiReach can make it achievable through the creation of a group-specific course, and rearranging its resources to meet those needs.
HiReach Training is also a Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ) registered training supplier, providing subsidised training courses to eligible building and construction workers, unemployed construction workers, and apprentices in the state.
This means compared to other RTOs, HiReach will only charge the gap fee – generating significant savings for trainees.
While many RTOs focus on theoretical training by the books, Fox says HiReach Training is much more than just making sure workers tick the boxes.
“With us, we train people to be competent, not just to pass a test,” he says.
“The whole point of HiReach Training is to make sure people are going home safely at the end of the day.”
For more information on HiReach Training, visit www.hireachtraining.com.au or call 1300 661 400.
1.5TonneElectricReach.
2.5TonneBrandNewManual.PALLETJACK. DPLIn53187. $523
2.5TonneLPGForkliftWith4.59MetreLift ClearviewMast..P040. TA1207778. $13,200
EnforcerWalkie-ElectricTowTug(NO42).NO42. TA1198251. $5,500
2.5TonneLPGForkliftwith4.3MetreLift ContainerMast.P003. TA1206087. $13,200
HysterLPGForkliftsForHire! AsLittleas$100+GSTPerWeek!.D017. TA644792. $110
1.2tonneelectricwalkiereachtruckwith4.27 metrelift.N054. TA1178245. $13,200
viper. TA1160389. $21,450
19-29 Curlew Cresc
Tamworth NSW 2340
www.philhuntparts.com.au
brendan@philhuntparts.com.au
JOHNDEERE770GP JustinforDismantling,17.5x25 RimsandTyres,New14FootMoldboard,RearRipper Assy,6090Engine,CircleandDraftinVGC,Front SpindlesinVGC,AllPartsAvailable,PhoneBrendan02 67624466.S187. TA1234373. POA
JOHNDEERE670DGRADER JustinforDismantling,12 FootMoldboard,RearRippers,6068HEngine,DF180 Transmsission,14:00x24Rims&Tyres,LowHour Machine,AllPartsAvailable.PhonePeter0267624466. S125. TA974288. POA
PHIL HUNT PARTS PHIL HUNT PARTS
The HUNT stops here
NEW AND S/H PARTS
ALLIS-CHALMERS/HANOMAG/MASSEY
JOHN DEERE INDUSTRIAL
PARTS FOR Dozers, Loaders, Drotts, Graders, Scrapers
WRECKING DOZERS
ALLIS-CHALMERS: “M”, HD5B, HD6B, HD6E, HD6G, HD7W, HD7G, HD9B, HD10W, HD11B, HD11E, HD11EC, HD11EP, HD11 Ser B, HD15,C, HD16A, HD16AC, HD16D, DC, HD16DP, HD19,20,21A, HD21B,C, HD31, HD41B FIAT: 451C, 555, 605C, 50CI, 70CI, 8, 8B, AD10, BD10B, FD10E, AD12, 14B, 14C, BD20, DX175
HANOMAG/MASSEY: 2244, 200, 300, 3366, 400, 500, L400C, L600C, D600D Super, D700C
JOHN DEERE : 1010C, 850 LOADERS
ALLIS-CHALMERS: TL12D, TL14, TL20, 545, 605B, 645, 745B,C FIAT: FR20B
LD3, LD5, LD6, LD7 and LD9 Scoopmobile HANOMAG/MASSEY 22,33C,44, 55, CL55C,66C-D, 77 GRADERS
ALLIS-CHALMERS: D, DD, M65, 65B, AD30-40, 45, 145, M100A, B, FG95 DRMCO/CHAMPION 562, 600, 720, 740
JOHN DEERE 570, 570A, 670, 670A, 670B, 770, 770A, 772A, 770BH, 670CH, 670D, 672GP, 770GP, 772GP
ALLIS WHEEL TRACTORS
AC D17, D19, D21, XT190, 7000, 7010, 7020, 7040, 7060, 7080, 8010, 8050, 8070, 7580, 8550, 440
ALSO AVAILABLE
Track Chains, Rollers, Idlers, Sprockets
Various 4-1 Buckets, POA
JOHNDEERE772GP Justinfordismantling,6Wheel Drive,14FootMoldboard,SweetRunning6090Engine, 17.5x25TyresandRimsAllRound,RearRipperAssy,All PartsAvailable,PhoneBrendanon0267624466.S191. TA1239667. POA
JOHNDEERE670CH Justinfordismantling,12foot moldboard,frontcounterweight,DF180transmission, 6068Tengine,allpartsavailable.S161. TA1116745. POA
Allis Chalmers • Fiat Allis • Hanomag • Massey • JD Industrial
KUBOTA BE READY
SNORKELTB42JDZ
42fttelescopicboom lift.4WDDiesel.S30.
$15,000+GST
GENIEGS3268RT
4WDDieselScissorLift -Goodallround condition,Stillworking inRentalFleet.Only2 left.S1.
$13,000+GST
SNORKELAB50J 4WD
Snorkel15m Articulationboomlift. S28.
$18,000+GST
SNORKELPRO126
126ftstraightstick boom,diesel,4WD, workingheight40.2m, goodworking condition.S36.
$30,000+GST
JLG43FTRTSELF LEVELLINGDIESEL SCISSORLIFT
VeryGoodValuefor money,tidymachine, stillworkinginour rentalfleet.S27. $30,000+GST
GENIEGS3268RT
4WDdiesel.Recently 10yearinspected,new paint,goodreliable machine.S35.
$25,000+GST
JLG460SJ46FT STRAIGHTBOOM LIFT
4WDdiesel15mboom lift-goodsafeworking order.Stillworkingin rentalfleet.S33.
$15,000+GST
HAULOTTE COMPACT14
2014,12melectric scissorliftverypopular unit.14mworking height.1unitavailable. S21. $8,000+GST
SNORKELMHP13/35
2012,TrailerMounted articulatedboomlift featuresasafeand stableworkingheightof upto12.6m.Stillinhire fleet,verygood condition.S38.
$20,000+GST
GENIEGS1932
GenieGS1932Electric Scissorlift.S29.
$4,000+GST
NISSANPKC245 2003,GMJT24.250EWP,major5yr rebuilddoneJune2023($41KSpent),24mworking
BAUERMEISTERUT42/USCH 1978,BauermeisterGrinders are idealforfinegrindingofsugar,spices,grains(in pieces),gypsum,limestone.Thismachineis reconditionedandfittedwitha0.8mmscreenforultra fineproducts,comeswitha75kwmotor,103083.QLD. $29,500
CUSTOMBUILTNOMODEL
ExRestauranttable,perfectWorkshopBenchc/whighandlow sections.Solidsteel.Overlaywithasheetofplyfortheperfect workbench.850(W)x2700(TotalL),750(H-lowside),1100(HHighside),1250(L-Lowside),1450(L-Highside),HD Steel Bch. QLD. DIY1247630. 0418 883 962. $350
HYSTERLIFTSMARTWRT15-4500 2022,TheLiftsmart WRT15isanergonomicallydesigned,highlysecure electricwalkie reach stacker,24414-6. WA. DIY1251904. 0417 955 658. $25,300
SHARPLESJP-SQ477-4
SharplesDecanterCentrifuge.Goodworkingcondition,316 stainlesssteelconstructiononproductcontactareas,maxbowl speed3250rpm.Maximumoperatingtemperature100degree celsius,slottedliquidplatedam,weight:950kg,Hitachiinduction motor,willcomewithsoftstarter.,J76-P3400F603.QLD. DIY1238721. 0437 054 239. $40,000 WASTEQUIPGL32120 2024,Underwarranty.neverused&inbrandnew condition.Unfortunatelynolongerrequired.Setup forproductdestructionthismachinecanhandle tyres,e-waste,pallets,drums,plastic,MSW/RDF, wood,bottlesandcans.Hydraulicdrivesystem, electricalcontrolpanelwithSiemensPLCControl Systemrequiring3phasepower. We canworkwith youtoarrangetransportandcommissioning, 240547.NSW. DIY1254597. 0498 500 509.
WTP PTY. LTD.
MACKMETRO-LINER 2010,FittedwithISCCommon rail,Allisonauto,RT40-145.16,000litrewatertank. Withrearandsidesprayers.All are hydraulicdriven.
MITSUBISHICANTER515 2019,Fittedwithsteel chequeredplatetraywithdropsides,4540long,2290 wide,300dropssides,1600headboard,verycleanunit andreadyforNSWregistration.JOB#2638
VOLVOFM9 2003,FittedwithVolvoengine,Volvo manualgearbox,MeritordiffsonVolvosuspension, rearcrosslocks,discbrakes,10studrims,hardox tippingbin,electricmeshwindbacktarp,ringfeeder andreadyforNSWregistration.JOB#2640 TA1199275.
$66,000
KENWORTHT359 CumminsISLengine,World seriesauto,Rockwelldiffonairbagsuspension. Aluminiumrims.JOB#2703 TA1246912. POA
ISUZUGIGA 2006,Fittedwith6cylinderturbo,13 speedroadranger,rockwelldiffsonairbag suspensionandreadyforNSWregistration. JOB#2626 TA1195537. $44,000
INTERNATIONALT-2670 CompleteSleeperCab $11,000,BigCamCumminsengine$11,000, Gearbox$3,300,Diff$5,500,Aluminiumbulbar $3,300,Radiator$1,100,STRbox$1,100,Fuel tank$1,100,FrontAxle$2,750,Wheelsandtyres $3,300,2xaircleanassembly$1,100. JOB#PARTS2B527-531 TA1216803. POA
MACKMETROLINERDROPONCAB Mack MetrolinerS/Hdrop-onCab.PARTS2B#316 TA1087413. $8,800
MACKMETRO-LINER 2007,FittedwithISCCummins engine,WorldseriesAutotransmission,RT40-145on rubberblocksuspension,10studAluminium-tubeless wheels.Slightrustinchassis.Sellastraded.JOB#2669 TA1225782.
$27,500
TEFCOSUPERDOG 2011,TEFCOTriaxle Trailer, Superdog Rocklined,Alcorimsandelectrictarp.ATM25.5 TONNE.Length6100mHeight1600m.JOB#2682 TA1227001.
10tochoose from $16,500-$38,500
IVECOACCO2350G ISCCumminsengine,World seriesauto,RT40-145Rockwelldiff.onrubberblock suspension.Mechanicallysound.Withlongwell
$33,000
BPTSUPERDOG 2006,Steelchequeredtraywith containerpins,threeaxleairbagsuperdog trailer. Tubelesswheelsandtyres,alloyrimsanddolly lock.TrayLength6540,Width2440,trayheight 1400anddrawbarlength2300.ReadyforNSW registration.JOB#2588 TA1216349. $33,000
WTP PTY. LTD.
MACKMETRO-LINER 2012,FittedwithCummins ISL,Allisonauto,RT40-145,rearleftaxle,factory 10wheeler,freshlypaintedandreadyfor REGO.. JOB#2689 TA1252004.
IVECOACCO2350G 2009,CumminsISCengine,
MACKENZIEFLATTOPTRAILER 1985,Steel floor, withtubelessspiderrims,soldastraded. BodyMeasurements:5.4mlongx2.5mwide Drawbar:2.1mlongand65cmhighfromthe ground Tare4200GVM12000.JOB#2714 TA1249933. $8,800
FRUEHAUFTANDEMAXLE Skeletaltrailerwith containerpins.Ontubelesswheels/tyres.Good cleantrailer.SOLDasis.JOB#2487/2490/2491 TA1087849. $8,800
HINOGDRANGER 2005,CabChassis. NeedsChassisWork..JOB#2629 TA1192393. $11,000
MACKMETRO-LINER 2009,8X4,fittedwithISC commonrailengine,315hp,274469kms,9 speedlo.loroadrangergearbox,RT40145on Hendricksonairbag,crosslocks,difflocks,10 studaluminiumrims,livedrive,36000GCM, 30000GVMandreadyforNSWregistration. JOB#2660 TA1219676. $66,000
4tochoosefrom
MACKCSMR ISCCummins,AllisonAuto, RT40-145onairbagsuspensionwithcross&diff lock.Aluminiumwheels.Runswell.Fourto choosefrom.JOB#2707 TA1246922. POA
our inventory at wtp.tradetrucks.com.au
FREIGHTLINERARGOSY 2017,FittedwithDetroit, eatonauto,46,000pounddiffsonairliner,alloy bullbar,quadtanksandreadyforNSW registration.JOB#2649 TA1211247. $77,000
STERLINGLT7500 2009,FittedwithISCcommon railcumminsengine,Alisonauto,rockwellbogie onairlinersuspension,7.5mDavcronBarrel,GVM 28500,Tare10760.Noregistrationandno roadworthy,soldastraded..JOB#2715 TA1250293. $22,000
FREIGHTLINERFL80 1994,FittedwithCseries Cumminsengine,Worldseriestransmission,RT 40-145onDynalasticsuspension,10studtubeless. SOLDastraded.JOB#2677 TA1225767. $13,200
HOMEMADETWO-AXLETAUTLINER Airbag trailer,rearbarndoor,5400longx2750highx 2500widex2500drawbar,spidertubeless wheelsandreadyforNSWregistration.JOB#2623 TA1189564.
$19,800
*According to T-Mark
2025 heralds Isuzu Trucks’ 36th year as market leader.* Number one in more than just sales, though, Isuzu Trucks has an unparalleled dealer support network, customer care program, truck range, and legendary reliability. To find out how Isuzu can support your business’ goals for 2025, get into your nearest Isuzu Trucks Dealer today or visit isuzu.com.au