Deals on Wheels 502 February 2024

Welcome

And we're off and rolling for 2024

Crowds at the recent Tooradin Truck Show

Image: Prime Creative Media

The results are in from this year's Tooradin Truck Show and there's not only a long list of winners in the truck section, but a great list of winners in the local community with nearly 7,000 people taking the time to check out the event, buying their tickets, and helping the organisers to be able to donate more than $50,000 back to regional charities and support organisations.

The weather was kind to the organisers this year, which certainly helped, but there was also a strong feeling of camaraderie among the attendees, with plenty of first timers bringing their trucks along to find out how it feels to have wheels in the game, rather than watching the action from the sideline. From the drivers and owners we spoke to on the day and after the show, it's clear the joy of sharing their trucks and their passion for the industry made all the polishing and preparation well worth it. It was a great day out and a credit to the organisers. We

have plenty of photos and stories to share from the day too (starting from page 40).

For the Kenworth lovers we've taken at look at the evolution of the brand, with a timeline of model releases, photos and production milestones stretching from Kenworth's formation in 1912 in the United States, to the delivery of its 80,000th Australian truck last year (see page 12).

The passion for trucks and transport is clear to see in our feature stories this month, ranging from a driver who took up racing to see how fast his truck could really go, to the owner of a classic Mack who has held on to the first truck that he bought brand new for nearly four decades, and reckons it's better now than when it rolled off the production line.

I hope you enjoy this month’s read.

Geoffgeoff.crockett@primecreative.com.au

Volvo launches Europe’s most powerful truck engine

Volvo Trucks have kicked off 2024 with a bang, announcing the launch of various new products and services.

Perhaps the most exciting comes in the form of its new FH16 engine, which has overtaken Scania to become Europe’s most powerful production truck.

Launching a 780hp (3,800Nm) version of the FH16, the truck is powered by an all-new 17-litre engine.

Certified to also run on HVO, the D17 features a single turbocharger, which Volvo says boosts engine responsiveness and improves the driving experience.

The new engine comes with three power levels; 600 hp, 700 hp and 780 hp, with torque levels increasing to 3000 Nm, 3400 Nm and 3800 Nm in the top version.

Volvo Trucks product manager Marcos Weingaertner says the new engine is “the strongest engine in the industry.”

“I’m proud to present our new engine. It really is a masterpiece and the result of world-class engineering,” Weingaertner says.

“The 780 version is the strongest engine in the industry. When climbing steep grades on a road with maximum loads, you don’t want to get stuck with too little torque and power. That is why we have focused all our efforts on making the D17 engine very powerful, reliable and responsive.

“For our customers, this translates into getting the job done faster with improved fuel efficiency,” says Marcos Weingaertner, product manager at Volvo Trucks.

The new engine uses the truck maker’s patented wave piston design, which optimises combustion and reduces emissions. A new injection system aids fuel economy and increased peak cylinder pressure enables the higher power output.

The 700hp version is also certified to run on 100 per cent biodiesel (B100).

The gearbox has been updated to handle up to 3800 Nm, and internal gearbox efficiency has been further improved on the 3000 Nm and 3400 Nm versions.

“I’m confident that customers and drivers will appreciate the higher engine brake power as well as the ability to run on HVO and biodiesel,” Weingaertner says.

“The D17 is a fabulous engine for a fabulous truck, and all our customers who rely on the Volvo FH16 in their daily work will now have an even more powerful tool to help them.”

The new engine is available in the all-new Volvo FH16 Aero and the latest version of the Volvo FH16.

Sales start for the Volvo FH16 with the new engine is in mid-2024 with production due to start in the second half of 2024.

Volvo has also launched a new heavy-duty truck range for Europe, Australia and markets in Asia and Africa; the Volvo FH Aero.

With a focus on energy-efficiency and CO2 emission reduction, the new Volvo FH lowers energy consumption and CO2 emissions by up to five per cent.

The new range comes with a choice of propulsion systems including electric, biogas and diesel for significant fuel savings.

The launch also includes the company’s first model developed only with a batteryelectric powertrain, designed for city transport.

In total, Volvo Trucks’ electric offering expands from six to eight models, covering a large part of the transport needs worldwide.

The new Volvo FH Aero will be rolled out market by market during 2024 and 2025, with sales starting in the first quarter of 2024.

Volvo's new 780hp FH16 model, powered by a 17-litre turbocharged engine, is set to put the brand at the top of the power race in Europe, nudging just ahead of Scania's biggest engine, production 770hp.

Image: Volvo Trucks

AAA SIDETIPPER TRAILER

2023, NEW. With hydraulic top and spring suspensionheavy duty

AAA11. TA1100440.

�93,000 +GST

AAA TRI-AXLE CONVERTER DOLLY

2023, NEW. With spring suspension

AAA12. TA1107640.

AAA 28000L POTABLE DRINKING WATER TANKER

2023, NEW. Trailer with spring suspension

AAA16. TA811044.

�90,000 +GST

AAA DROP DECK-B CURTAINSIDE TRAILER

2023, NEW. With spring suspension

AAA17. TA1100444.

�85,000 +GST

LANE Memory

The first fully-built Kenworths were imported from the US in 1962

Kenworth has played a major part in Australian trucking history since manufacturing began in Bayswater back in the 1970s. Here, we take a look back at where it all began, the brand’s evolution over the years and where it is today.

Words: Kayla Walsh

Images: Kenworth / Voss Photography

1912

The Kenworth story began in Seattle, Washington, where brothers George T and Louis Gerlinger Jr ran a car and truck dealership known as Gerlinger Motor Car Works.

1914

The Gerlinger brothers designed and built their own truck, with a more powerful six-cylinder engine than the typical four-cylinder engines of the time. It also had a cab with steel framing rather than wood.

1916

The company attracted the attention of businessman Edgar Worthington, and the following year, he and his business partner, Captain Frederick Kent, bought it.

Kenworth’s Bayswater manufacturing plant opened in 1970

1923

Worthington, along with Kent’s son Harry, reincorporated the business in Seattle as the Kenworth Motor Truck Company. The “Kenworth” name was formed from both their surnames put together.

1962

Two enterprising Australians, Ed Cameron and George Blomfield, imported the first fully built Kenworths from the US. Cameron went on to set up Australian Kenworth Truck Sales Pty Ltd, which imported and sold over 100 Kenworth prime movers, before PACCAR’s predecessor Pacific Car and Foundry bought the business in the late 1960s.

1970

Pacific Car and Foundry opened Kenworth’s 56,000 square foot factory and office complex in Bayswater, Victoria. It continues to produce trucks there to this day.

1971

The first Australian-made Kenworth – a cabover K125CR nicknamed the ‘Grey Ghost’ – was born, using locally manufactured parts where possible.

The W900AR, or ‘Long Nose’ as it was known, rolled off the production line not long after.

1972

Kenworth introduced a computerised inventory management system, which made customising their trucks easier. The

company then began exporting fully-built trucks overseas, to countries such as New Zealand and Zambia.

1975

The brand launched the first Kenworth that was fully designed Down Under - the W900SAR.

Made specially for Australian conditions, it boasted a unique angled bonnet and was able to utilise a high horsepower engine while still getting maximum payload, all within existing length limits. It was a huge hit.

1977

Despite the success of the W900SAR, the W900AR had gained such a following that Kenworth decided to reintroduce it after length limits were increased.

1978

Kenworth expanded its manufacturing plant to double its original size, creating 300 new jobs.

1981

Kenworth launched the C500AR – a true workhorse specifically built for off-road trucking.

C500AR was built for offhighway applications

A Kenworth prime mover carries Australia’s most famous yacht and its winged keel – Australia II – through Melbourne after its historic America’s Cup victory (1983)

The K100E was released in 1986

The T650 was launched in 1987

The controversial T600 was dubbed the 'Anteater’

The

DEALS Nostalgia

The C500T replaced the C500AR

The T900 arrived in 1991

The T480 was introduced in 1993

Kenworth celebrated 25 years of manufacturing in Australia in 1996

The C510 first rolled off the production line in 1998

Only 75 of the limited edition Legend 950 trucks were made.

The Legend 900 was unveiled at the 2017 Brisbane Truck Show

1986

PACCAR opened its state-of-the-art PACCAR Parts warehouse and distribution centre. That same year, the K100E was launched.

1987

Kenworth launched the revolutionary – and controversial – T600.

Nicknamed ‘The Anteater’ because of its sloping, aerodynamic bonnet, it looked so different to other trucks on the market that purists struggled to accept it – but they soon changed their tune when the fuel figures came in.

The entirely Australian-designed and built T650 also rolled off the production line in ‘87 – a great all-rounder just as suited to urban deliveries as carting livestock on regional roads.

1988

Kenworth celebrated its 10,000th Australian-made rig, a T600 for Cleveland Freightliners. The C500T was also launched, replacing the C500AR.

1991

Despite a crippling economic recession, Kenworth continued its growth throughout the 90s. In 1991, the iconic T900 was launched. Modelled on the legendary W-model, it combined style with practicality.

1994

In another big year for Kenworth, the Bayswater plant became the first PACCAR plant to gain International Quality Standard ISO 9001 accreditation, and the first New Zealand dealership was appointed.

1996

Kenworth celebrated 25 years of manufacturing in Australia – and added another 10,000 square feet to its Bayswater plant.

1998

The expansion of the plant didn’t stop there, and in 1998 the PACCAR Parts warehouse was enlarged to over 100,000 square feet. More new models were added to the mix too: the C510, T604 and T904.

2000

Kenworth looked to the future with a preview of its T604 “Technology Truck”, fitted with an array of safety features including a collision avoidance radar, infrared night imaging sensors, and advanced GPS.

2004

The T404SAR was launched, paying tribute to the popular W900SAR, which went out of production in 1987.

2007

The largest Kenworth yet designed in Australia, the C540, is launched. Made especially for off-highway mining applications, it ulitises a 19-litre engine with a GCM of 350T, without any power-assisted trailers.

To meet ADR 80/02 emission standards, the entire Kenworth range was redesigned ahead of the 2008 range launch.

2009

Kenworth capped off the decade by delivering its 40,000th truck, a T608, in 2009. The company also implemented the latest brake safety technology, Electronic Brake Safety Systems, across their entire range.

2010

Kenworth revealed its 2011 models ahead of the launch the following year, meeting ADR 80/30 emissions standards across the entire range.

2013

Kenworth delivered its 50,000th Australianmade truck, a K200 purchased by Rodney’s Transport Service, a longtime customer.

DEALS Nostalgia

2014

Kenworth delivered its 60,000th truck in 2017

The “next level” K220 was released in 2022

Kenworth handed the keys of its 80,000th Australian truck to Booth Transport in 2023

The PACCAR MX-13 engine was introduced in the Kenworth T4 series, and the limited edition T909 Director Series was launched. Celebrating 90 years of Kenworth manufacturing, it brought together the best in classic and contemporary features.

2015

Kenworth released another very special limited edition – the Legend 950. Only 75 of these beauties were made and they sold out within just a few days.

2016

After over 100,000 Australian design hours and more than 10 million kilometres of testing, the T610 was launched. The T610 is the single largest investment in product development Kenworth has ever made and is still one of the brand’s most aerodynamic and fuel-efficient trucks.

2017

A second truck in the Legend Series, the Legend 900, was unveiled at the Brisbane

Truck Show. That same year, Kenworth produced its 60,000th Australian designed and built truck – a T610SAR sold to Wickham Freight Lines.

2021

In a double celebration, Kenworth marked 50 years of manufacturing in Australia and the production of its 70,000th truck. The first fully Australian-built Kenworth, the Grey Ghost, returned to its origins at Kenworth’s Bayswater plant for the occasion.

2022

Kenworth released the K220, marking the next step in the evolution of the K200 model.

2023

Kenworth officially turned 100 years old, and handed the keys of its 80,000th Australian truck over to Booth Transport.

In a record year for truck sales, Kenworth defeated rival Volvo to come out on top in the heavy-duty sector – proving that the trucking giant’s popularity is going nowhere.

UNIQUELY

FOR DRIVERS... THERE’S ONLY ONE CHOICE

We’re not all made the same and neither is a Kenworth. With a huge range of options, a Kenworth can be customised for the driver and the task at hand. Drive something to be proud of; a truck that’s uniquely yours.

kenworth.com.au

Smashing records

2023’s truck sales results highest ever

It’s official, Australia loves trucks. So much in fact, we bought 47,757 of them in 2023, setting a new record for volume of commercial vehicle sales, ever, in our country.

Results from the Truck Industry Council’s T-Mark data, released on January 3, show that in the race home to the end of the year, 12,305 vehicles were sold, beating the 2022 fourth quarter record sales figure of 12,144, by 161 trucks.

Heavy Vehicles – Monthly Sales

Medium Vehicles – Monthly Sales

Light Vehicles – Monthly Sales

Kenworth dominated the heavy duty sales race in 2023, delivering 3,653 trucks.

Image: Prime Creative Media

In December, 4,111 heavy vehicles were delivered, just one vehicle less than the December monthly record of 4,112 set in 2022.

When it comes to overall sales results for the year, Isuzu was a clear winner with 13,658 heavy commercial vehicles delivered, followed by Hino with 5,909, Fuso with 4,822, Kenworth with 3,655 and Volvo with 3,552.

Heavy Duty Trucks

Defined as cab-chassis type vehicles (both rigid and prime mover application) with a) Three or more axles; or b) Two axles, a Gross Vehicle Mass greater than 8,000 kg, AND a Gross Combined Mass of more than 39,000 kg.

The race for big brand supremacy in the Heavy Duty Truck segment fell in favour of Kenworth in 2023 with the Bayswaterbased manufacturer delivering 3,653 trucks over 12 months. Volvo came a close second with 19.8 per cent of the market sales for the year, a total of 3,476 trucks sold, followed by Isuzu with 2,393, Scania with 1,383 and Mack with 1,097.

Rounding out the top 10 were UD Trucks (1,014), Fuso (776), DAF

DEALS Data

Heavy Vehicles – 2023 results

(827), Mercedes-Benz (993) and Hino (717).

Heavy Trucks accounted for 36.8 per cent of all heavy vehicles sold in 2023, making it the dominant segment last year.

Medium Duty Trucks

Defined as cab-chassis type vehicles with Gross Vehicle Mass of greater than 8,000 kg, but with a Gross Combined Mass up to and including 39,000 kg.

While Isuzu’s Heavy Duty offerings took it to number 3 in that segment of the market, its array of light duty trucks saw it dominate the Medium Duty segment in 2023, delivering 3,937 vehicles and capturing 49.2 per cent of the overall Medium Duty market.

Coming in second behind Isuzu in terms of sales was Hino with 2,264 deliveries, with Fuso (1,208), Iveco (113) and UD Trucks (162) rounding out the top 5. All up there were 724 trucks delivered in the Medium Duty category in December 2023. All up, 8,004

Medium Vehicles – 2023 results

Light Vehicles – 2023 results

medium duty trucks were delivered in 2023, falling short of the all time record of 9,923 medium duty trucks sold, set in 2007.

Light Duty Trucks

Defined as cab-chassis type vehicles with Gross Vehicle Mass of 3,501 kg to 8,000 kg inclusive..

The race for a new record for Light Duty truck sales in 2023 fell just 267 trucks short of last year’s record 16,433 total sales of small trucks in Australia, but it still accounted for 33.6 per cent of all heavy vehicle sales for the year.

In the brand race, Isuzu dominated with 45.3 per cent of the market, accounting for 7,328 sales. Hino delivered 2,928 light trucks, followed by Fuso (2,838), Iveco (1,199), Fiat (742), Hyundai (220), Renault (190), Mercedes-Benz (533), Volkswagen (102), Foton Mobility (71) and Ford (15).

Privacy Act changes likely to be on the table in 2024

How safe is your stored customer information?

That’s a question you’ll probably need to ask yourself if you’re part of a small road transport operation in Australia in 2024.

The Albanese Government released its response to a review of the Privacy Act late last year. The review had proposed changes like removing many current exemptions and upping the ante in the penalties for its enforcement. The Government agrees in principle on both those points, so it looks like we will see the biggest changes to privacy legislation since the Privacy Act was first introduced in 1988.

Small businesses with an annual turnover of $3 million or less have been exempt from the Privacy Act since it was introduced in 1988. The reasoning was that they posed a low risk to privacy and making them comply would impose an unreasonable burden on them. Times have changed and the rapidly rising tide of cybersecurity breaches in businesses of all types have raised community expectations. The possibility is small business may be subject to elements of the Privacy Act in the future.

It wouldn’t happen overnight because it would involve amending legislation. One legal opinion I have seen suggests we won’t see any re-drafted law until 2025 at the earliest. A certainty is that the Government will have to consult first with small business before changing anything.

NatRoad will formulate its own position after consulting its members, but my own view is that small road transport operators

could have room to move. Most don’t collect biometric information or retain large amounts of personal information from their customers.

The Government accepted various other proposals aimed at improving protections for individuals. This include giving The Information Commissioner additional powers to enforce the Privacy Act and introducing a tiered system of civil penalties.

Law changes can carry unintended consequences if not thoroughly discussed first with stakeholders. At the very least, small businesses will need considerable assistance and time to make any changes. That could mean the government providing e-learning tools or even tax breaks for appropriate software purchases.

The Federal Government had to move on privacy issues following the massive data breaches involving Medicare and Optus in 2023. They resulted in the introduction of penalties in upwards of $50 million for big businesses not taking sufficient care to protect customer information. Nobody is suggesting small businesses will be subject to penalties anywhere near that severe.

There’s a lot to be said for being proactive when it comes to storing customer data anyway. Auditing your business’s data collection and storage makes sense - and that includes hard copy information.

Paying for decent cybersecurity software and educating employees in good password practice are simple things we can all do to make our businesses more secure.

Protecting the privacy of your customer data could become more important than ever this year.

Image: Stratocaster / stock.adobe.com

Warren Clark, CEO of the National Road Transport Association

The Wacol headquarters of Rocklea Truck Parts offers cutting edge support for truck owners

treasure TRANSPORT

TROVE

Rocklea Truck Parts has everything you need to keep your transport dreams rolling

From humble beginnings in 1996 as a truck wrecking yard based in the southern Brisbane suburb of Rocklea, Rocklea Truck Parts (RTP) has grown to become one of Australia’s top parts and wrecking businesses.

General Manager Ben Rayner says the RTP story is one of consistent growth, driven by a desire to help customers find cost effective ways of staying on the road.

As the business rolls into 2024 it is operating from two sites in Queensland,

with 22 staff and a nationwide service capability.

Ben says the values of helpfulness, value for money, offering the best warranties and always providing prompt callbacks had strengthened the business.

“We’ve cultivated a culture that resonates with our customers, fostering growth and satisfaction,” he says.

Over 27 years RTP has certainly grown up to offer much more than salvaged parts from wrecked trucks.

Images: Rocklea Truck Parts

“In 1996, Rocklea Truck Parts began its journey and, recognising the need for expansion, made a pivotal move to Wacol in 2002,” Ben says.

“This relocation marked the establishment of our state-of-the-art new modern facility, equipped to serve our customers with unparalleled efficiency and quality.”

That site, at 1136 Boundary Rd, Wacol, continues to serve RTP’s needs in Brisbane.

A second site, added in 2019 at 4 Werribee St, Kawana (Rockhampton) has added to the RTP footprint, offering new tyres and batteries to customers traversing Queensland’s north.

“Over the years, we've expanded our services, from a focus on just truck wrecking in 2002 to the introduction of new truck tyres in 2006, truck sales in 2008, new truck seats in 2016, and new semi-trailers in 2023.

“The evolution has been a journey of continuous improvement and adaptation.”

A desire to offer customers cost-effective, quality, trailer solutions for their transport

tasks prompted the move into trailer sales last year – a step Ben describes as a “natural progression driven by market assessments”.

Whether customers are looking for a truck to buy, a trailer, parts for a restoration project, tyres, batteries, seats or engines, the RTP team has them covered.

Whatever comes next on the transport scene there’s a fair bet RTP will be there to offer support and partnership to its clients.

“The journey doesn't end here,” Ben says. “RTP is committed to exploring new horizons, supporting our customers, and exceeding expectations.

“Stay tuned as we continue to drive success in the ever-evolving world of trucking and transport.”

To check out the full range of parts and services on offer at Rocklea Truck Parts visit www.rockleatruckparts.com.au or phone 07 3271 6996 and let the team know what you’re looking for.

We aim to provide exceptional

service that meets your needs

New trailers, secondhand trucks, parts, and more at RTP

The Rocklea Truck Parts team aims to be number 1 for service

The good news for buyers is that right now a new, multi-purpose, 4.8m long hi-tensile body with 800mm drop sides, a swinging tailgate and front mounted hoist is getting fitted.

Scan with your Smartphone camera to check out this deal!

If you’re needing to move machinery from site to site and looking for a cost-effective addition to the fleet, then this 2003 Beavertail tandem trailer could do the job for you.

A four-springer set up, with full hydraulics and double rear folding ramps, coated in a good dose of green paint, this used trailer is available now in South Australia at North Side Trailers.

For more information phone North Side Trailers on 08 7007 6827

2003 Beavertail Tandem trailer

$38,500

08 7007 6827

KENWORTHT40270TAUTO 2010, CumminsISX,2pedalauto,70Trated,4.3 RT46-160diffs,verytidyversatiletruck, comesworkshopchecked,servicedand completewithNSWRW.j1477. TA1207988.

KENWORTHT359 2012,daycab,cummins ISME5440hp,13spR/R,Hydraulics,50T rated,Bullbar,4.7mtrwheelbase,only 658kklms,verytidytruckhasmultiple uses,comesworkshopcheckedand completewithNSWRW.j1480. TA1206812.

KENWORTHT409CUMMINSE5,AUTO WITHMATCHINGQUAD 2016,4.6mtrx 1.6SloanbuiltRocklinedbin,complete withmatching2016SloanbuiltQuaddog 8.2mtrx1,6bin,electrictarps,verytidy package,comesworkshopchecked, servicedandcompletewithNSW RW. j1482. TA1204575.

KENWORTHT609 2015,CumminsE5, 18sp,113Trated,hydraulics,Xlock, RT46/160@4.3ratiodiffs,5060wheel base,verytidytruck,comesworkshop checked,servicedandNSWRW.j1265. TA1199241.

VOLVOFH540AUTOB-DOUBLE,ONEOWNER FROMNEW 2019,D13,auto-12speedIshift, briskairbunkcooler,slideoutbunkfridge,alloy bullbarwithlightbar,Jost50mmturntableVolvo 8bagsuspension,GCM70,000kg,GVM26,000 kg,tare9300kg,only734kkms,one owner, VolvoMaintenanceplan,workshopcheckedand RW.10identicalunitsavailable.j1383. TA1188833. $220,000

KENWORTHT401 2007,CatC12,18sp, Alloybin,ringfeder,setupforTruckand dog,verytidyunit,comesworkshop checked,servicedandcompletewithNSW RW.j1490. TA1207987.

KENWORTHT359,440HP,AUTO 2012, 2012KenworthT35936inchITBunk, Cummins440hp,auto,Hydraulics,very tidyoneownerunit,comesworkshop checkedandcompletewithaNSWRW. J1445. TA1205483.

MITSUBISHIFIGHTER2427 2021,2021 Fusofighter,Auto,only52,000klms, airbagsuspension,14pallettautliner,alloy tailgatelifter,truckpresentsanddrives likenew,suitnewtruckbuyer.j1287. TA1203036.

KENWORTHK200 2015,CumminsE5(just hadarebuildwith$74Kworthofreceipts) 18speed,verytidyunithasmultipleuses, comesworkshopchecked,servicedand completewithNSWRW.j1460. TA1199239.

KENWORTHT350 2003,CumminsISM410hp, HMFcranewiththreeextensions,factorybuilt truck,original578kklms,tare6065kg,GCM 38000,completewithECMdownload,coupled witha2016Beavertaildropdeck,32TGVM hydraulicramps,9.2mtrslong,hydraulicramps, hardtofindcombo,workshopchecked&ready togo.j1364. TA1185488. $149,000

Mobile:

KENWORTHK200 2017,3X2017 KenworthK200FlatroofPM's,Cummins X15,18sp,70Trated(canupgradeto97), verytidyunitssuitmultipleapplications. j1507. TA1207840. $189,000

MACKQUANTAM470HPALISONAUTO12 PALLETTRAYWITHFORKLIFT 2004,(nonegr oradblue)AlisonAuto,6x4,difflock,lowklms onrebuild,12pallettray,underdecktoolbox, fittedwitha2010Stonehallshuntyforklift, onesideoffloadingcapability,3,6mtrlift height,3wd,difflock,workshopchecked, serviced.j1497. TA1205486. $110,000

KENWORTHT350,410CUMMINS,18SP 2003,daycab,CumminsISM( pre EGR) 18sp,twinstacks,airbagsuspension,4.33 ratio,4.250wheelbase,comesworkshop checked,servicedandcompletewithNSW RW.j1491. TA1205496. $89,000

KENWORTHT409 2016,oneownerfrom new,workshopchecked,servicedand completewithaNSWRW,wecanmodify thistrucktosuityourrequirementsetc Chassis,tipper,trayetc.j1371. TA1199268. $159,000

VOLVOFH540AUTOBDOUBLE 2019,auto-12 speedIshift,briskairbunkcooler,slideoutbunk fridge,alloybullbarwithlightbar,Jost50mm turntableVolvo8bagsuspension,GCM70,000 kg,GVM26,000kg,tare9300kg,only813kkms, oneownerfromnew,underVolvoMaintenance plan,truckcomesworkshopcheckedand roadworthy .j1378. TA1188095. $195,000

KENWORTHT408 2010,2010Kenworth T408,CumminsISX( pre DPFandAdblue) only661kklms,18sp,106Trated, Hydraulics,verytidyunit,comes workshopchecked,servicedandcomplete withNSWRW.J1479. TA1203040. $129,000

WESTERNSTAR4800CUMMINSX15, AUTOALLOYBIN 2017,11/17Western star4800,CumminsX15,Eaton18spAuto, difflocks,4.6mtralloybin,1.7sides,all weatherelectrictarp,setupfortruckand dog,verytidyunit.j1483. TA1205488. $198,000

KENWORTHT409SARCUMMINSAUTO 2016,2016KenworthT409SAR,Cummins E5(lowklmsonrebuild),18sp,97Trated, verytidyoneownertruck,workshop checked,servicedandcompletewithNSW RW.j1464. TA1201884. $189,000

KENWORTH2XT409'S0KLMSONREBUILD 2016,SAR's,daycab,18sp,Cumminse5 70/90Trated,fixedturntable,4.1ratio, 46/160diffs,verytidytrucks,matching identicalbuild,workshopchecked,serviced andcompletewithRemainderofNSWRego, wecanmodifytheabovetruckstosuityour requirementsetcTipper,Chassis,trayetc. j1443/j1444. TA1197742. $198,000

WESTERNSTAR4800FX,CUMMINSISX(PRE DPF)90T 2011,CumminsISX525hp(non DPF),18sp,90Trated,4.11Ratio,GVM24.5T, difflock,verytidyunithasMultipleuses, Workshopchecked,servicedandcomplete withNSWRW.j1380. TA1195535. $129,000

Scan with your Smartphone camera to check out this deal!

Blue

One look at this 2023 quad axle low loader from AAA Trailers and it’s easy to picture it rolling down the highway with a major piece of machinery on board.

Made from high tensile steel, this trailer’s features include two-speed Jost landing legs, 16 235/75R17.5 tyres on 10 stud steel rims, and heavy duty airbag suspension.

The hydraulic deck widens from 2.5m to 3.5m and the trailer’s loaded with a diesel power pack, heavy duty hydraulic bi-fold ramps and a full set of LED lights.

For more information phone

AAA Trailers on 02 8315 0171

$129,000 + GST

Helensburgh, NSW

02 8315 0171

2023 AAA Quad Axle Low Loader Widener with Bi-Fold Ramps

Scan with your Smartphone camera to check out this deal!

2019 Western Star 4800 FXB

DD15 engine

18-speed Road Ranger manual gearbox

$159,000 inc GST

Wacol, QLD

07 3073 8122

SHINING

Star

With just 336,375km on the clock this 2019 Western Star is powered by a Detroit DD15 engine producing 377kW and has the ability to haul 106,000kg. The well-maintained machine has been fitted with a Stratosphere sleeper, making life on the road a more comfortable affair, and it features an 18-speed Road Ranger making shifting gears a breeze.

For more information phone Rocklea Truck Parts on 07 3073 8122

FROM $78,000*+GST (ON SPRING)

CAR CARRIER

This 25-year-old grey and red workhorse comes loaded with a 2006 Fassi 310 XP Crane with a ticket current until 2027.

The crane features full wireless control and a 15m reach making it simple to load goods on to the solid 7.5m tray of this 1996 International T2700 model truck.

Inside, the 15 speed Road Ranger transmission is easy to find in the tidy old school interior.

For more information phone

WTP Pty Ltd on 02 4721 7889

Australian-made

FOR 49 YEARS

Gorski Engineering, family owned and operated since 1975

When it comes to the big events of 1975 in Australia, the double dissolution of parliament to dismiss Gough Whitlam as Prime Minister takes the cake for general history.

In the history of the transport world, the year marks the beginnings of one of the country’s longest serving trailer manufacturers, Gorski Engineering.

While rock band Sweet’s classic song, Fox on the Run, dominated the airwaves in ’75, father and son team Walter and Ken Gorski recognised a need for quality tipping bodies for the transport industry and stepped up to do something about it.

As we roll into February, 2024, Gorski Engineering is in its 49th year of operation, with a third generation of Gorski family

members playing active roles in a business that employs 60 people and produces a high volume of tippers and trailers each and every year.

Ken’s children, Amelie, Tim and Jeremy each hold a role in today’s Gorski Engineering business which remains familyowned and run – with a corporate structure befitting a company of its size.

From a 5,000sqm workshop on the Hume Highway at Somerton, to Melbourne’s north, the Gorski team fabricate all manner of trailers.

The factory is a testament to the family’s belief in the future of the industry. A recent upgrade sees the workshop playing host to a total of 9 overhead Stahl cranes, a 13m MN spray booth, modern WIA welding machines, and Miller gantry weld booms primarily for the fabrication of Hardox™ Rigid Tipper and Trailers.

As trailer demand has risen, Gorski have also invested in more real estate, including an 1800sqm factory for all of its aluminium works.

The investment has allowed Gorski to report a record-breaking year for 2023 with the projection of 2024 being even better.

Gorski Engineering production manager Paul Baker says the growth of the business has come from its strong relationships with the customers it serves.

“As a company we have made a big shift towards customer centric products and service,” Baker says.

“We see our customers day in, day out, and

Gorski trailers are regularly spotted on Australia's highways

Gorski has made a name for itself when it comes to high quality tipper trailers

hear the niggles and stresses that can arise within this industry.

“It is through our customers and with the feedback we receive we can design and re-design certain elements of our trailers to ensure greater usability.

“Product development is something that we thrive on and with the continual effort our team put in we have been able to streamline our processes and maintain very reasonable lead times for our customers. “

Gorski’s growth has seen supply shift from predominantly Victorian-based customers to supporting dealers and end-users alike in most states and territories.

The business has a sales team out on the road at least once a week touching base with its customers and dealers both within Victoria and interstate, allowing for further ability to service the industry.

A team of highly skilled employees and engineers ensure Gorski bodies are built to the highest standard and live up to the company's “Built Tough” motto, as well as using on the best materials including Sweden’s premier steel Hardox™.

When it comes to the components required to bring their trailers to market, Gorski uses key auxiliary suppliers including TMC axles and suspension, Jost Australia, Alliance laser, Air Brake Corporation, Truck Hydraulic solutions, Bridgestone, and Camilleri Tarps.

With nearly 50 years in the industry, Gorski’s knowledge of the market ensures they are at the forefront of tipper design and innovation. Its loyal and strong customer base has helped Gorski to become one of the country’s premium tipper suppliers in both wear plate (Hardox) and aluminium for the quarry and grain industries.

With a promise of continually upgrading its designs and combinations to meet the needs of today’s market, the Gorski team are sure to be a key part of the Australian industry for many, many, years to come.

If you want to arrange a quote or speak to one of Gorski’s knowledgeable sales team members or engineers, call (03) 9308 5433 or email sales@gorski.com.au

The distinctive mudguards are hard to miss

We have made a big shift towards customer

centric products and services

Another happy customer rolls off into the sunset

Images: Gorski Trailers

DID YOU KNOW WE OFFER GRAIN / VOLUME TIPPERS ACROSS ALL COMBINATIONS

For more information call our sales team (03) 9308 5433

NEW 2024 GORSKI TTRU

ALUMINIUM 3 AXLE SEMI TIPPING TRAILER

“Grain Spec Road Train Rated” complete:

Aluminium Body, Grain Spec Lead Tipper, Drum Brake with 50mm Rockinger Coupling and Manual Roll Over Tarp.

10.3m Long x 1900 High @ 45m3 capacity approx

$183,176 inc.GST + ON ROADS

NEW 2024 GORSKI TTRU

ALUMINIUM 4 AXLE DOG

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Aluminium Body, Drum Brake, Electric Tarp, PBS

8300 Long x 1550 High @ 27m3 capacity approx.

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NEW 2024 GORSKI TTRU

HARDOX 3 AXLE SEMI TIPPING TRAILER

Hardox Body, Drum Brake, Electric Tarp, PBS. 9200 Long x 1200 High @ 24m3 capacity approx.

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NEW 2024 GORSKI TTRU

HARDOX 3 AXLE DOG

TIPPING TRAILER 48T SPEC

Hardox Body, Drum Brake Electric Tarp, PBS. 6000 Long x 1050 High @ 14m3 capacity approx

$110,898 inc.GST + ON ROADS

Rounds MAKING THE

January has proven to be a star-studded month in the truck show circuit, with vehicles new and old popping out to get some sun and their moment in the spotlight

Words: Tiarna Condren Images: Prime Creative Media

With the new year also comes new faces, with first timers beginning to show up and join in on the fun of the truck show circuit.

Deals on Wheels took a stroll down the aisles at Tooradin and caught up with a few truck show enthusiasts who happily travel the country to share their passion projects with other enthusiasts and to see what's new in the show scene.

Wild Western Star

Attending his first ever truck show, Tristan Duncan and his 2007 Western Star 4800 made waves.

“This is the first ever truck show for me and the first show for this truck. It was all a learning curve,” Tristan says.

Purchasing the rig a year ago, Tristan says it was “a pile of junk” and needed some serious TLC before it was ready to hit the circuit.

“It pretty much needed a full makeover,” he says.

“It needed new paint, new wheels, tyres and airbags. The body was cut down, and we got all new mufflers.

The Western Star now shines in a metallic blue painted cab with silver accents.

It’s hard to believe the original condition,

with the impressive chrome work making it look brand-spanking-new.

“Basically, everything you see that is new and shiny has been replaced,” he chuckled.

The only thing left untouched was the Caterpillar C15 engine that was in fighting condition. Used to cart sand, topsoils and crushed rock, the truck looks as good as it performs on the road.

Tristan says he has always been keen to start attending the shows and had a wonderful experience at Tooradin.

“I had a ball. It was really, really fun and was great to catch up with all the people I work with,” he says.

“And it was good to show off my piece of artwork,” he laughed.

Keep an eye out for Tristan and his 4800 at future events as he plans to head out as much as possible this year.

“We would love to head out to whatever is coming up this year. We want to get out there and get the truck out there.”

Mighty Mack

Tooradin seemed to be the place for newbies to step out and show off, with Steven Kapahnke and his boss’ 2018 Mack Trident tipper making their debut.

Tristan Duncan from TNJ Tippers with his blue 2007 Western Star 4800

Buying the rig just over a year ago to join Reverse Pools’ fleet, the team had it converted from a brick truck to a tipper.

“It’s only done 295,000 kms and was in great condition when we got it,” Steven says.

“We needed something smaller because we do a lot of residential work, but when the Trident popped up we said, why not?”

“It’s become the centrepiece of the company in a way.

Running on a Mack MP8 with 535 hp, Steven says the most interesting thing was switching to driving its 12-speed automatic transmission.

“I never really thought it would be a good idea. But after driving it, it's actually been kind of a nice change.”

Steven says he has been itching to enter a truck in a show for years, and after pestering his boss Tom Burns, he was finally living out the dream.

“I had a moment during the day where I was almost holding back tears of joy, like I've made it.”

“I've dreamed of doing this for so long.

Growing up my dad used to have trucks and I've grown up watching them and being around him my whole life and finally got the opportunity to drive them.

“And then when the boss told me he got this truck, I pestered him all last year trying to get it in and finally convinced him to do it on the weekend.

The team aims to get some super chrome wheels for the Mack to really get it standing out in the line-up at future events this year.

Snazzy Scania

Mick Courtney and his 1997 Scania 450 however are not new to the scene.

The rig was purchased four years ago and has made its fair share of appearances on the circuit.

To get it show ready, Mick says they were lucky they bought it in “pretty good order”.

“It was just a work horse, so they never washed and shined it up,” he says.

“Since we’ve had it, we’ve changed the guards, put a bull bar on it and put a sports muffler on it because it’s a V8 and it sounds cool.

Mick says his favourite addition was gold anodized pipes in the bull bars, after having to convince his wife Fiona and daughter Molly it was a necessity.

“I got my signwriter to wrap my pipes with gold stickers to give it that old school cool.

“I also got a mate to put four seven-inch driving lights in the middle of the bar, so with the gold pipes, it looks tough I reckon.”

The Scania is currently running a 14L V8 which Mick says was the biggest Scania produced at the time it was released.

“It was a bloody big truck back then.

Working for Mick’s business, Courtney Cartage, the rig spends most of its time delivering domestic water, livestock and hay.

Mick says while the Scania's great, the thing he is the proudest of is having his wife and two daughters in the transport industry.

“My daughter Molly is only 20 years old but she loves driving trucks. She has her semilicense so she drives the Scania most of the time now.”

“We all love coming to the shows and winning trophies and being part of it all."

Mick, Fiona and Molly Courtney with Courtney Cartages’ 1997 Scania 450

Steven Kapahnke from Reverse Pools at Cheltenham and the 2018 Mack Trident Tipper (and mini tipper)

CALENDAR Events

Walcha Antique Machinery and Truck Show

February 17-18, 2024. Walcha, NSW

Walcha Antique Machinery and Truck Show is hosted by Oxley Riders at the Walcha Showgrounds. The event includes a tractor trek, street parade, vintage - trucks, bikes, cars, engines, chainsaws and more. Late model trucks and forestry machinery, a tractor pull, market stalls, food stalls and kids’ corner.

ADMISSION: $10 ADULTS, $5 CHILD, $20 FAMILY

For more information visit the Facebook page www.facebook.com/ events/661774799044258/ or contact Oxley Riders on 0419 188 534

The Gulgong Show Society Beaut All Vehicle Show

February 17, 2024. Gulgong, NSW 10 acres at the Gulgong Showground are waiting to be filled with a variety of vehicles. Welcoming new or old trucks, utes, cars, bikes and machinery, drive it in or tow it! The Turtle Woods Memorial B&S Display will be on full show, with food, bar and show attractions available all day. Don’t miss out on the live entertainment, rodeo, wood chop and more!

ADMISSION: ADULTS $10, SENIORS $6, CHILDREN $5 (TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE FROM 123TIX)

For more information call Rooster Andrews on 0408 615 341

Livestock Bulk and Rural Carriers Association Conference

February 23-24, 2024. Wagga Wagga, NSW

Held at the Range Clay Target Shooting Range and Function Centre. The annual LBRCA is a gathering of fellow truck owners and drivers, government, suppliers and industry representatives to focus on the needs of rural and regional heavy vehicle transporters. Issues range from unfair infringements and regulation to unsafe loading and unloading facilities. Plus trade exhibition, the Young Driver of the Year Award presentation, Gala Dinner and Auction Spectacular.

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

The Heavy Commercial Vehicle Club of Australia's 2023 event at Yarra Glen was a hit!

Lockhart Heritage Truck Show

March 2, 2024. Lockhart, NSW. Celebrate road transport history, past and present, at the annual Lockhart Truck Show. Held at 111 Federal Street, 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. A bar, café, car parks and coach parking will be available.

ADMISSION: $5

For more information call (02) 6929 5237 or visit the Facebook page https://www.facebook. com/LockhartTruckShowlaunch

Heritage Rally

March 9-10, 2024. Bungendore, NSW

For its 14th year, the Canberra and District Historic Engine Club will be hosting its Heritage Rally! Held at the Bungendore Showground, the event will showcase a plethora of vintage engines, machinery and tractors. Camping is available on-site for exhibitors.

For more, contact Brock on 0423 637 800, or email him at brock679@gmail.com.

HCVCA Ballarat – Clunes Historic Vehicle Show

March 10, 2024. Clunes, VIC

Presented by HCVC Ballarat, the Clunes Historic Vehicle Show is back again! Held at the Clunes Showgrounds, the event hosts vehicles over 25 years old. Trucks, small engines, cars, caravans, tractors and more are all welcome! With gates opening at 9am, be sure to pop in and check out the food stalls and history.

ADMISSION: $10 ADULTS, UNDER 16 FREE

Harden Truck and Tractor Show

March 10, 2024. Harden, NSW

Hosted by the Harden Historic Truck and Tractor Club, the 10th Annual event will be held at the Murrumburrah Harden Showgrounds. With family-fun activities like free face painting, displays and stalls, there is something for everyone. Classic trucks, cars and tractors will be on display, as well as buses, fire engine and military vehicles. Gates open at 9am for the public. Camping is available on-site for $25 per night, with a free BBQ on Saturday for exhibitors who chose to spend the night.

ADMISSION: DONATION

For more information, visit the Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/Trucktractorclub/

DEALS Events

44th Corowa Swim-In & Military Vehicle Gathering

March 11-17, 2024. Corowa, NSW.

With a 2024 theme of Year of the Blitz, the 44th Corowa Swim-In & Military Vehicle Gathering celebrates the iconic wartime Blitz trucks built by Chevrolet and Ford. Other military vehicles are, of course, welcome to join in on the fun, from motorcycles to trucks and armour. Held at the Ball Park Caravan Park, the multiple day event includes parades, swap meets, displays and more.

ENTRY FEE: $30 FOR PARTICIPANTS

For more information contact Jan at 0412 078 096 or jan.thompson1@optusnet.com.au

For further details see the Facebook page www.facebook.com/corowaswim-in.org

Kyabram Mack Muster

March 16-17, 2024. Kyabram, VIC.

After years of cancellations due to the pandemic, the Kyabram Mack Muster will finally be held at the Kyabram Showgrounds! Featuring all Mack models and associated brands, but also open to all truck makes, the Mack Muster celebrates all things Mack! With a Friday night barbeque offered at the showgrounds, and a Saturday night meal available at the Kyabram Club, the weekend is full of fun. Free entry for exhibitors. For further details see the Facebook page www.facebook.com/profile. php?id=100076068750770

or phone Dave Willis on 0428 692 753, John Laffan 0427 484 247 or Tim Daws 0458 868 988.

Korumburra Working Horse and Tractor Rally

March 16-17, 2024. Nyora, VIC

Held off the South Gippsland Highway, this vintage machinery show is a whole family event. The rally features an infamous tractor pull, Clydesdale horses, a blacksmith and woodchop, sheep shearing, and all the vintage machinery one could dream of. From trucks, tractors to engines and cars, allow yourself to be transported. Exhibitors in the event receive free entry and onsite camping. A Saturday night meal is also on offer.

ADMISSION: $15 ADULTS, UNDER 16 FREE. For more information call Viv Carfrae on 0487 286 250 or visit the Facebook page www.facebook.com/profile.

php?id=100064420040347

Trundle Back in Time – Vintage Stationery Engine and Truck Show

March 16, 2024. Trundle, NSW

For the first time, Trundle Back in Time will be featuring a Truck Show! Held at the Trundle Showground, the fair features vintage cars, bikes, trucks and machinery, a swap meet, market stalls, live music, kids’ entertainment and much more. Prizes will be awarded in many categories. Camping will also be available, with a booking link found on the Facebook page. The much-loved dog jump and sheaf toss will be back again to give guests even more entertainment.

ADMISSION: $5

The trucks lined up at Castlemaine Truck Show 2023

The Train and Hobby Show

March 16-17, 2024. Springvale, VIC.

Held at the Sandown Racecourse and Entertainment Centre, The Train and Hobby Show is a showcase of the best hobbies have to offer. Large and small model railway layouts from around the country and the best radio-controlled vehicles are on show. Model railway displays, radio-controlled car, planes, helicopters, boats, trucks and tanks. There is even live steam engines, ride on train rides, kids activities and Thomas the Tank train rides. Gates open at 10am.

ADMISSION (SINGLE DAY): $22.08 ADULTS, $6.34 AGED 4-15. Visit www.trainandhobbyshow.com.au/main/ for more information and to buy tickets.

Mid America Trucking Show

March 21-23, 2024. Louisville, KY, USA.

Arguably the largest annual heavy-duty trucking industry event in the world, the show attracts 70,000-plus attendees and 1,000-plus exhibitors from throughout the United States and abroad. The event is held each year at the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville, KY. The mainv reason attendees participate in MATS is to see new products in person. With hands on exhibit displays, MATS provides the perfect forum for industry professionals to experience new equipment and technology. Includes the PKY Truck Beauty Championship. For further info see the website at www.truckingshow.com

Trucking Australia 2024

April 17-19, 2024. Canberra, ACT. Be part of the action as Trucking Australia tackles

the industry's most significant challenges in the productivity, sustainability, workforce and viability space. Held at the National Convention Centre in Canberra, the industry event aims to unite to drive the transport industry's future forward.

For all ticket enquiries, contact: ataevents@ truck.net.au

Lockington Vintage Rally

April 27-28, 2024. Lockington, VIC. Enjoy a great day out exploring vintage tractors, engines, trucks, motorcycles, cars, and farm machinery at the Lockington & District Living Heritage Complex. Held at Lockington Community Hall from 9am to 4pm both days. Free entry for rally exhibitors.

ADMISSION: $10 ADULTS, PRIMARY AGED CHILDREN FREE

For more information contact Beryl on 0428 862 353 or visit www.facebook. com/lockingtonvintagerally/

Heyfield Vintage Machinery Rally

May 18-19, 2024. Heyfield, VIC. The Heyfield Vintage Machinery Rally will become host to steam engines, working horses, vintage trucks, cars and motorbikes, woodworking, blacksmith demonstrations and more. Held at the Gordon Street Reserve, visitors can expect a grand parade, tractor trek and good ole classic tractor pull. On-site catering is available.

ADMISSION: ADULTS $10, 16-18 YEARS $5, UNDER 16, FREE. For more information, contact Barb Cook on 0428 480 534, or email at barbara.cook5@bigpond.com

The convoy rolling through at Kilcoy Truck Show in 2023.

Image: Warren Aitken

JOB#PEN2 TA1195586. $99,000

speedsyncmeshgearbox,RT41-145Rockwellairbag

length-8700m,Width-2490m,HydraulicrampBeavertail length2500m.JOB#2641 TA1199309. $33,000

HINOFM1J 1999,turbochargedenginewithasynchro RoadrangergearboxonHinobogieandsuspension. Fittedwith7.2mX2.5flattoptray,chequeredfloorand containerpins.AlsoHMF1060rearmountedcrane.

MITSUBISHICANTER515 2019,Fittedwithfridgepan body,ThermokingV600,3600longx2600widex1900 high,verycleanunitandreadyforNSWregistration. JOB#2638 TA1202425.

MACKMETRO-LINER Fittedwithcummins285engine, worldseriesauto,RT40145onrubberblocksuspension,

MACKMETROLINERDROPONCAB ..PARTS2B#316 TA1087413. $8,800

MACKMETRO-LINER 2009,8x4,fittedcommonrail cumminsengine,9speedroadranger,RT40145rockwell diffs,airbagsuspension,10studalloyrims,fittedwith

VOLVOFM9 2003,FittedwithVolvoengine,Volvomanual gearbox,MeritordiffsonVolvosuspension,rearcross locks,discbrakes,10studrims,hardoxtippingbin, electricmeshwindbacktarp,ringfeederandreadyfor

MITSUBISHICANTER 2016,Fittedwith4P10Bdiesel engine,autobox,steeltraybody3330longx2100wide, 231274kms,verycleanunitandreadyforNSW registration.JOB#2637 TA1202058. $27,500

FASSIF95A22 7MTR.TONCRANE SERIALNO.0906-6648.JOB#2648B TA1205319. $8,800

INTERNATIONALT2700 1996,8x4,2006Fassi310XP Crane-ticketexpiry2027,fullwirelessremote,15m reachcrane,solidtray7.5mwithcontainerpins,15 speedroadrangerContact:Chris0432145138.

IVECOACCO2350G 1996,CumminsCseriesEngine,9

suspension.Goodworkhorse.SoldasTraded.Body

ISUZUGIGA 2006,Fittedwith6cylinderturbo,13speed roadranger,rockwelldiffsonairbagsuspensionand readyforNSWregistration.JOB#2626 TA1195537. $44,000

TIPPINGBODYGRANITE Rocklinedtippingbody, grainchute,electrictarp,nomotor.4.7mlongx 1.4mhighx85cmchassisrunners.JOB#WP482 TA1202785. $8,800

speedroadranger,46160'sdiffsonKW8bag,M&S bisalloytipper,alcoarims,ringfeeder,alloybullbar, raisedtanks,registeredinNSWandreadyforwork.Call Frank0404089773.JOB#CAM200 TA1207762. $165,000

FRUEHAUFTANDEMAXLE Skeletaltrailerwithcontainer pins.Ontubelesswheels/tyres.Goodcleantrailer.SOLDas is.JOB#2487/2490/2491 TA1087849.

TIPLINEDROPDECKTRAILER 1997,Withhydraulicramps, with9.5R17.5tubelesswheels,checkerplatefloor,10160 longx2450wideandregisteredinNSWuntilAugust2024. JOB#YN13YI TA1202763.

FRIEGHTLINERARGOSY 2008,CATC15Acertengine,18 speedtransmission,Airline46-160differentialwith airbagsuspension.429ENGINE430GEARBOX431DIFFS 432CAB.PARTS2B429-432 TA1120902. POA

UNKNOWNWATERTANK 16000litres,length4875,width 2300,height1540andchassisrunner860.PARTS2B379 TA1144439. $27,500

HINOGDRANGER 2005,fittedwithrearloader

HMADETRIAXLE 1979,10-1spread tri-axleflattop, checkerplatetrailer.Fittedwith3waycontainerpins andtubelesswheelsandtyres.Sellingastraded. JOB#2627 TA1189563.

MACKMETRO-LINER 2007,Cumminsengine,Allisonauto, RT40-145onrubberblocks,10studalloys.Twotochoose from.JOB#2602 TA1182112. POA

HOMEMADETWO-AXLETAUTLINER Airbagtrailer,rear barndoor,5400longx2750highx2500widex2500 drawbar,spidertubelesswheelsandreadyforNSW registration.JOB#2623 TA1189564. $19,800

KENWORTHK200 2013,Fittedwithcumminsengine,18

MUSCATALUMINIUMSUPERDOG 1994,6100longx 1500high,BPWonairsuspension,newfloorand12 monthsNSWregistration.JOB#1938 $27,500

FREIGHTLINERARGOSYPRIMEMOVER 2004,Cab:Parts#353 $6,600IncGST,nongoerEngine:Parts#354$3,300IncGST, bogie:Parts#355$6,600IncGST,gearboxasis:Parts#356 $3,300IncGST,chassis&Components,wheelsandtyres: Parts#357.PARTS#2B353-357 TA1064506. POA

RIGS Retro

Truckies went all out for the Geelong Classic Truck and Machinery Show this year

Words: Kayla Walsh

Images: Truckspotting Ararat

There were smiles all round at the Geelong Classic Truck and Machinery Show in January as thousands of people converged at the local showgrounds for a weekend of family fun.

Close to 100 eye-catching trucks were on display at the event, as well as vintage cars, tractors, farm machinery, and steam engines.

Organiser Steven Moore says truckies from all over Victoria came to Geelong with their classic rigs, and some had even travelled from as far afield as NSW, SA and Tasmania.

“Bringing a truck over from Tasmania –that would have had to be planned far in advance,” he tells Deals on Wheels.

“People made a big effort to be there.”

Moore prefers not to include a competitive element in the show, as he doesn’t like to pit vehicle owners against each other.

“I don’t like trophies – they've all done an amazing job,” he explains.

“It’s not a competition, it’s a catch up and a day out.

“It doesn’t matter whether a vintage truck is an original, or it’s been through a workshop and detailed, made better than new.

“They’re all worthy of recognition.”

Various hobby clubs were present at the event, with Moore declaring there was “something for everyone” over the two days.

He adds: “If you’re a military buff, there was lots of older-style military gear and vehicles.

“There were three different powder guns used by reenactment groups to do a demonstration firing.

“We also had a strong turnout from the Melbourne Meccano Club, with working models of machinery they had built.

1978 Dodge from G.M. Gilcrist, Lake City Transport, Mount Gambier

1980 Kenworth (below left), and a 1985 Kenworth (below right)

Decked out in the livery of J.W.G Harvey Pty Ltd this 1975 Atkinson was in great condition

This Skylift Rentals 1974 Kenworth Tower is a bit of a work in progress

1966 Ford tray truck carrying the Bendigo Freight Company Pty Ltd colours

A 1972 Bedford tray truck

McColl’s brought along their 2023 Kenworth and tankers

A classic Kenworth brought a shine to the show

Rawlins Transport from Murray Bridge rolled out their Atkinson 3800

“Then there was the Geelong Model Boat Club, who had remote control model boats on a big pond.

“They also ran a competition for children to make a boat out of a milk carton, put it on display and see if it operated!”

Moore, who has been running the event for 12 years, says it started out with just engines and trailers, before he introduced the truck element and invited hobby groups to attend.

“With so much going on, people hang around for a lot longer, especially families,” he says.

“Some people said they had intended to only stay an hour or two, but they couldn’t drag the kids away!

“I think the public really enjoyed themselves, and so did we.

“We’re looking forward to bringing the show back again next year – there would be a lot of long faces if we didn’t!”

Lynch Transport's 1984 Kenworth K125CR

Check out the rear guards on this 1965 International

There's no missing the exhaust set up on this custom Kenworth

It’s been a long time since this Mack P model rolled off the assembly line in 1986

This 1986 Mack is still hauling gear

The Year was 1984 when this Mack rolled off the line

Unit

Ph:

VOLVOB12BUS

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TerrificTOORADIN

Thousands of truck, tractor and car lovers rolled into the small coastal town of Tooradin on January 20 to celebrate engines, chrome and the first truck show of 2024

Words | Geoff Crockett • Images | Prime Creative Media

The Tooradin Tractor Pull and Truck Show is the sort of event you hear going on, even before you make it to the gate to see what’s happening inside

up against the sled’s blade forces them to stop. The vehicle that travels the longest distance – wins.

While the tractor pull contest sends local seabirds flying skywards startled by the roar of the V8s, the popular burnout sessions at the burnout pit see parents reaching for ear mufflers for their kids and fanning away clouds of rubber smoke with smiles all round as they try to catch a glimpse of the cars spinning wildly for everyone’s entertainment.

For the truck lovers, a third of the grounds for the event have been given over to a celebration of trucks and transport, bringing drivers and their vehicles from all over Victoria and beyond.

Committee member Danii Reeve, who also has a tractor in the competition with fellow committee member and tractor puller Matt Reeve, says the show continues to grow each year, increasing its ability to give back to the local west Gippsland community.

Mick, Molly and Fiona Courtney – all drivers, with the Courtney Cartage 1997 Scania 450

Born out of the sport of tractor pulling and held at the official Tractor Pull stadium at Tooradin, the heart of the show involves heavily modified tractors and cars being strapped to a weighted sled on a long dirt track then travelling as far as possible in a straight line before the weight of dirt backed

More than 6,800 people attended this year’s 25th incarnation of the event, and Danii expects the committee will have more than $50,000 left after costs this year to donate to a range of local community groups who not only help out on the day, but also provide ongoing support to the local community each and every day.

Since 2016, the event has donated more than $100,000 to local organisations including the primary school, Koo Wee Rup Men’s Shed, and local sporting clubs.

“We are only getting bigger! And we’ve already started planning the 2025 event,” Danii says.

For the truck drivers and owners who made their way to this year’s event it was a chance to share the pride they have in their vehicles with other like-minded enthusiasts, to catch up with friends, and to put the names of their businesses out there in the local market.

Dean Notman, of Notman Transport, brought along his 1973 Atkinson hoping to attract potential buyers for the truck itself and also to be part of his local show.

A qualified baker, Notman says he had taken the long road back to the transport industry.

He grew up with his father and grandfather in the game and had opted to learn a different trade, only to find himself drawn back to trucks after years of early starts in the bakery game. He likes the older trucks and is looking for his next project to get stuck into.

Attending the show was a family affair for

Dean Notman of Notman Transport with his red 1973 Atkinson

DEALS on show

Courtney Cartage. With two trucks on show, Mick, Molly and Fiona Courtney were never too far away from the pride of their fleet, a 1997 Scania 450 with a big V8, custom bullbar and high shine on show.

Mick says the family tries to get along to three or four truck shows a year to support the organisers and bring something a bit different along for people to look a – “even though I cop it a bit for driving a Euro”.

For amateur truck photographers Melissa and Mark Eldridge and Craig Johnson, Tooradin offered plenty of subjects for their lenses.

The trio were taking their time checking out the hundred or so trucks on show, chatting to drivers they’ve met before and looking for new angles to shoot photos from, including some with Western Port Bay in the background. They showcase their work under the names Make a Mile Photography and Big Aussie Truck Vids (on YouTube).

Andrew Humble, who spends his days working on truck bodies, came along with his son Dylan, to check out the chrome and modification work on the trucks.

The duo, who were admiring the Blue Mule Kenworth when Deals on Wheels dropped by said they were enjoying the atmosphere of

From old to new, the line up of trucks was impressive to behold

Damian Boswell and Corey Redford coming up the hill from the sideshow alley

Dylan Humble and Andrew Humble with the Blue Mule Kenworth

Stewart Turner with the 2001 Kenworth T404 he drives for South East Organic Fertiliser

Melissa & Mark Eldridge (Make a Mile Photography) and Craig Johnson (Secret Squirrel & Big Aussie Truck Vids on YouTube)

The Southern Sons' Kenworths were a hit with show goers

Reverse Pools brought along the big and the small with their Mack Trident

The bonnets were up for judging as the crowds wandered through

Dallas Smart and Billy Turner in front of the Turner Express 2020 Kenworth T909

the event and the variety of trucks on show.

Among those trucks was a stunningly well-maintained 2001 Kenworth T404 driven by Stewart Turner for South East Organic Fertiliser.

Michael Cloney, Craig Murphy and Brent Moloney on the Hallam Trucks stand

While the truck may well be 23 years old, the shine on the paint and the chrome, and the absolutely immaculate condition of the interior have it looking like it’s just rolled off the showroom floor.

For Turner, who has returned to driving for the company after a couple of years away, the pride in his truck is palpable.

He says the business provides him with a truck to look after, and he takes that job seriously, to the point where there are no shoes allowed in the cab.

Hauling chicken poo and fertiliser all week across dusty farms and dirt roads sees the truck looking worse for wear pretty quickly - but Turner says he aims to always turn up on a Monday morning with a pristine truck, ready to represent the business well and to get working again.

Outside of checking out the trucks, visitors to this year’s event were spoilt for choice when it came to activities.

A local business had set up helicopter flights over Western Port Bay and the local coastline from a neighbouring paddock, and food vans offered all manner of tucker to keep the hunger pangs away.

Classic memorabilia, information on new trucks and all the gear from Kenworth’s range of retail products could be bought at the grounds, along with information about new trucks from local dealers.

The show kicks off at 10am and rolls on until 10pm, with the stands filling up later in the afternoon to watch the action on the tractor track as teams such as Russian Devil, Sledgehammer, Disorderly Conduct, Woteva, Flat Stick and Plum Crazy fight it out for glory in their categories.

An aerial performance by a local stunt plane group drew plenty of attention in the afternoon, and the kids’ corner, with rides and activities saw a constant stream of activity throughout the day.

For those wondering who won what on the day when it comes to the truck judging, we have the winners list on the next page, supplied by the Tooradin Tractor Pull and Truck Show committee.

DEALS on show

TOORADIN TRACTOR PULL AND TRUCK SHOW

Saturday 20th January 2024

INDIVIDUAL TRUCK CLASS RESULTS

PRIME MOVERS

Under 1 Year:

1st SOUTHERN SONS TRANSPORT

Kenworth T909

2nd ASHMORE EXCUVATIONS

Kenworth SAR Legend

1-3 Years:

1s SOUTH EAST ORGANIC FERTILISER

2nd BROWNS STOCKFEED

Kenworth SAR Legend

4-6 Years:

1st G&D INVERNO

Kenworth T900 Legend

2nd SOUTHERN SONS TRANSPORT

Kenworth T909

7-10 Years:

1st LAWRENCE TRANSPORT

Kenworth T950 Legend

2nd SOUTH EAST ORGANIC FERTILISER

Kenworth T659

11-16 Years:

1st WYLAZ TRANSPORT

Kenworth T408 SAR

2nd G&D INVERNO

Kenworth T408 SAR

17-25 Years:

1st SANTAS AND SONS

Kenworth K104

2nd MAGNET TOWING

Kenworth K104B

RIGID 6 Years and over:

1st COURTNEY CARTAGE

Mitsubishi FM618

TIPPERS

Under 1 year:

1st SDP TRANSPORT PTY LTD

Kenworth T610 SAR

2nd ANCORP CIVIL

Kenworth SAR Legend

1-3 Years:

1st PIROTTA CARTAGE

Mack Trident

2nd BROWNS STOCKFEED

Kenworth T909

4-8 Years:

1st GOLDSMITH

Kenworth T950

2nd ASHMORE EXCUVATIONS

Kenworth T409 SAR

9 Years and Over:

1st NICK CROSS EXCUVATIONS

Kenworth T908

2nd CAMILERRI TRANSPORT

Kenworth T658

TILT TRAYS & TOW TRUCKS

HEAVY VEHICLE (bogie or more drive)

1st MODERN TOWING & SALVAGE

Kenworth T409 SAR

2nd EAGLE TOWING

Kenworth 610

VETERAN TRUCKS any truck:

26-34 Years:

1st SUMMIT TRANSPORT

Kenworth T950

2nd G&D INVERNO -Kenworth T401

35 Years & over

1st ARMSTRONG FARM SERVICES

Bedford J3

2nd McLAUGHLIN TRANSPORT

Mack R Model

BOB SEARLE MEMORIAL RIG OF THE SHOW

Wilken Bulk Haulage

Mack Superliner

STUART BAKER MEMORIAL

Best Kenworth Legend

G&D INVERNO

Kenworth T900 Legend

STEVE GREGSON MEMORIAL

Best Local Truck (within 25km radius)

G&D INVERNO

Kenworth T900 Legend

BEST FLEET

South East Organic Fertiliser

TO RACE Destined

Ever wondered how fast your truck could go, Frank Amoroso did

Words: Tiarna Condren Images: Frank Amoroso

Sitting in the driver’s seat, the adrenaline slowly starts setting in as you buckle up.

On the way to the races

One of the members of the family, a Western Star

Waiting, you turn the key to hear the hum and roar of the engine start mumbling underneath. And within seconds, as you begin finally settling into the cushion of the seat below you, it’s time to take off.

That start up sequence stepped up to include truck racing in Australia in 1988 at a rain-soaked Calder Park raceway in Melbourne.

While the fledgling sport raised some eyebrows at the time, Frank Amoroso was enamoured.

As a long-time transport fanatic and business owner, Frank had loved motorsport from an early age and it didn’t take long before curiosity and enthusiasm got the better of him, leading him to test his daily runner, a Kenworth K100 Aerodyne, on the track.

“I started with the Aerodyne because I couldn’t afford a proper race truck,” he says.

With the rig needed for work and play, Frank had to come up with a temporary modification kit.

“I have been a very good customer of Re-Car over the years, I was good friends with Alan Browne that owned it, and Brian Ginger who managed it.”

“We took the truck down there and we modified it. We put a roll cage in the cabin without destroying it, so it looked quite good.

“We got all the skirts and everything on it.

“The Aerodyne was a 10-tonne truck, and we had about 900 horsepower coming out of it,” he says.

“But it handled it well.”

“I’d race it on the weekends and then convert it back Sunday night to get to work on Monday.

Frank says converting the truck from road to track was easier than most think.

“What we mostly had to do was handling, and all the type tyres so you can get off the line a bit quicker,” he says.

“Another big thing was motor wiring, switching it over from 300 horsepower on the road to 900 on the track.

Over the years, Frank has seen three of his trucks trading paint on the tracks.

In 1990, he attended an army auction where he picked up an old Diamond Reo.

“We converted it to single drive so it didn’t have dual diffs in it and modified the engine of course.”

“We raced that truck for two years.

“It would also get converted back over the weekend and go back to working around town pulling containers.

Today, Frank races an iconic 1986 Kenworth W900.

The rig is one of the first race trucks that raced in Australia in 1987.

“It’s been refurbished Christ knows how many times, and we’ve modified coils.

“It’s actually a race car on steroids,” he chuckled.

“The only difference with racing a car is that if you were going to go to a race shop anywhere, you would be able to find your parts.

“Whereas with us, there is no place for that. You have to manufacture everything yourself.

“The rear of it is coils, watts leakage to

It’s all smiles at the track

Frank’s custom Ford LTL9000

Frank Amoroso back in the day

DEALS Showcase

stop the suspension from moving side to side, it’s a fair bit of mucking around.”

Frank says balance is a key component to a successful racing truck.

“You put your batteries on one side, and the steering box on the other. So with me sitting in the driver’s seat, it’s balanced at each corner like a race car.”

Frank doesn’t show any signs of passing the keys anytime soon.

“I’ve still got a few more years left in me, and

I don’t plan on giving it up,” he says.

The team is currently preparing for the 2024 race season.

“We’ve got a bit more work to do on the truck over the break but we will have another real good crack at it next year,” he says.

Super Truck race dates: racingcalendar.net/championship/ australian-super-truck-nationals/2024

Trading paint on the track

The FATE Racing transporter ‘George’

Piecing IT TOGETHER

When Bruce Gunter first saw Max Keough’s Kenworth K125 when he was just eight years old it stuck so hard in his memory bank he tracked it decades later and brought it back to life

Words & Images | Warren Aitken

CDarren Freed, another lifelong friend of Bruce’s, starts working on the original lines as the 125 starts to return to its past

an you name the truck that fired up your love of the transport industry?

Most of us have one or two trucks that we just drooled over as a kid, trucks that inspired us and led us into this line of work. I had two – number one was a Mainfreight eight-wheeler Mack Ultra-Liner that used to navigate New Zealand in the early ’90s. Number 2 was the old Wilson’s Transport FR Mack my Uncle drove. That was the truck that my holidays were spent in and it was the truck that launched my love of trucking.

For Bruce Gunter, his raison d’être was Max Keough’s Kenworth K125. This was the truck that became etched in the mind of an eight-year-old Bruce when it first hit the road in 1978 and stayed camped in his memory bank throughout his career behind the tools, behind the wheel and behind the desk. This was the truck that never faded from Bruce’s mind. After decades of work, the man whose life has revolved around trucks finally got his dream. He got his hands on Max’s 1978 Kenworth K125.

Now there are so many different avenues this story has to cover. From the 87-year-old Max Keough who, as I write this, is only just

considering hanging up his passport and not going back over to the United States to drive again. Yes, he has still been a regular roamer on the US interstates well into his 80s. There is the history of the truck itself, which went from Max’s colours, into Donny Turner’s colours then through several other hands before ending up in Queensland towing a tipper around and coming within weeks of being cut up for scrap metal.

Then there is Bruce himself, an automotive upholsterer, a truck driver, a podcaster, a truck event organiser, a transport safety expert and one of the luckiest drivers in the world. Did I forget anything? Most likely. But we are going to focus on Bruce and the decade long restoration of a legendary Kenworth.

Chances are the name Bruce Gunter is familiar to you. If you haven’t heard his podcast, Copy Southbound, which he uses to immortalise the Australian transport history with interviews of legendary trucking figures, then you may know his name from the annual Clarendon Kenworth Klassic where he is one of the leading figures behind this amazing weekend of trucks, turps and tall tales. There is also a chance you know

his name from his company ProDrive Compliance, where he has become a leading expert in safety and compliance and assists companies with education and training. Whichever way you know the name, you will know this man has a passion for trucks and trucking, rivalled only by his knowledge of trucks and trucking.

In case that resumé didn’t make it abundantly clear, Bruce loves trucks and transport. He was born into it really. His dad Geoff was a driver for as long as Bruce can remember, starting in an old Commer Knocker and eventually ending up driving the Channel Ten outside broadcast van. Van is a bit of an understatement – it was huge and Geoff drove it everywhere, often with Bruce alongside, up-schooling his vocabulary courtesy of the old CB radio.

But like every good truck-driving dad, Geoff insisted his son gain a trade rather than follow him into the industry. Contrary to many who end up underneath trucks, Bruce opted to learn the interior trade and became an upholsterer.

It was a profession he enjoyed and one he found he was extremely good at. It still

wasn’t trucking though. That was where his heart was and it wasn’t long before he found himself behind the wheel, tanning his right arm to earn a dollar. From there, his natural ability to manage people and wrap his head around the big picture meant that a managerial role was the obvious next step. Admittedly the decision to step out from behind the wheel was more forced on him. Turns out that breaking your neck in a car accident leads to some pretty uncomfortable days. Especially for a Kenworth fan.

However, it wasn’t just nonstop allocating and long lunches in the management seat. Bruce would still find his way into the driver’s seat whenever possible. He also started to take a keen interest in the safety and compliance side of the industry. In 2013 he started ProDrive Compliance, a consulting company that allowed Bruce to take his passion for the transport industry, in particular the safety and compliance side, and help companies upskill their procedures and their staff. In 2019 he joined forces with his Copy Southbound Podcast partner, Brendon Ryan and formed ProDrive Compliance Group, now one of

A tight fit in Bruce’s garage beside his ’57 Chev sport sedan – there’s also the old Commer behind the Kenworth cab

Sydney’s leading specialists in training and compliance within the transport industry.

That’s pretty much the cliff notes on Bruce. We’ve skimmed over a lot and I’ve had to miss out on a bit, but you get the gist of it. The main thing to learn is Bruce has done a lot in the transport arena.

Commer connection

Now let us focus on his hobbies. In between his work, getting married, raising a family, starting a business and driving when he could, Bruce also kept his hand in the motor

Back on the trolley and back in the shed

trimming game while restoring old cars. Particularly classic American cars. It was this side hustle that would eventually lead to the project truck before you.

You may be thinking it’s a pretty big jump from a 1969 Ford Ranchero to a 1978 Kenworth K125 – and you would be right. There was a bridge though, an old Commer Knocker like his dad drove.

“I’d kind of always wanted to restore a truck but never really thought I’d be in a position too,” Bruce admits. “I never thought I’d have the shed space or anything like that. I loved cars but I really loved trucks.

“Then one weekend I was at a mate’s place and he was showing me photos from a show in Queensland and I saw a picture of a green and silver Commer. That was my seed and I just watered and fertilised it.”

That idea kept growing until Bruce found a running Commer for sale down in Victoria in 2007.

“I wanted a Commer because of Dad and, because it’s small, I can fit it in the shed. I looked at a few, even bought one but it was petrol. Then I found this runner in Victoria

This is the state Bruce found his childhood dream truck in

and it had a Knocker engine in it,” Bruce recalls. “I stripped it, did a basic rebuild and put it back together.

“Then, after a couple of years of driving with earplugs, I decided to pull the cab off and do it properly including reupholstering as well as soundproofing it. I also had a dear recently departed friend and mechanical genius, David Kent, expertly rebuild the intricate TS3 ‘Knocker’ engine for me. I loved the process and I had a lot of great people doing it with me.”

It was around the same time he was finishing off the Commer that Bruce started to think about Max Keough’s K125.

As mentioned earlier, Max’s K125 was the truck that ignited Bruce’s love of trucks. He was a mere eight years old when he first saw the behemoth.

“I remember Max used to take it to the local cricket ground when he was playing and I’d ride my bike down and wave at him from the gate when he left,” Bruce recalls. It didn’t stop there though. That first encounter stayed with him as he grew older.

“When I had my licence I’d drive all the boys home ’cause I didn’t drink, then I’d tear around Thornleigh because I knew it lived on one of the side streets. I drove around hoping it was home.”

That bond with Max’s truck never diminished. Hence when the Commer was wrapping up Bruce had this idealist fantasy in his head: “I’ll try and find Max, imagine if

he had it in his backyard, covered in shit and I could restore it.” Step One was to track down Max.

“I looked up Max in the phone book and found his number, gave the number a ring and he answered. It was very lucky. As Max said, he lives in the States now and was just home for a couple of weeks,” Bruce tells me.

“He came down to work and showed me a heap of old photos and we became really good friends. Unfortunately, all he knew of the truck was he’d sold it to Donny Turner.”

Max headed back to the US and Bruce was left to go hunting by himself. But the two of them were in regular contact and Bruce kept Max abreast of his pursuit.

Finding the needle in a haystack

Six months after Bruce started chasing down the truck and the truck’s history, one of the other sleuths he had on the case had a breakthrough. Cameron McFayden, another good mate was up in Brisbane and happened to be talking to another friend, Dave Collard. Dave, who used to have a heap of subcontracting tippers, was telling Cameron about another project he was involved with: “I’ve got an old Kenworth I’m playing around with, it’s got an aluminium chassis, aluminium wheels and it’s got an 892 in it.”

After further questioning Dave confirmed it was in Don Turner’s old colours and he had only bought it about five weeks earlier after the owner was looking to scrap it. Cameron

The Kenny was like a can of Pringles – once you start it’s hard to stop and the tear down just kept tearing

couldn’t believe it and informed Dave that Bruce had been on the hunt for that truck for the last six months. At the time Dave wasn’t looking to sell, he was happy to play around with it, but Bruce would be his first port of call when he was ready to sell it.

The interior was showing signs of 40-plus years of hard living

While Bruce had arranged somewhere to store and work on the truck, and also planned out a feasible restoration plan, he still had to find a way to buy the old girl. Then in steps Max.

The two mates had been in constant contact since Bruce’s first call and Bruce had made his intentions clear. “Max asked what I was planning to do with it, and I said I wanted to do it back up. He asked what colours I was going to paint it, I said, ‘How it should be, back in your old colours’. He asked what name I would put on the door, and I said, Your name, it was your truck’,” Bruce relates.

At this point in our chat I was introduced to the term ‘conehead restorers’, of which Bruce is one. Coneheads put everything back to how they were, as close to original as they can.

When Max heard all this, he offered to assist Bruce in purchasing the truck when he found it, such was the bond the old K125 had built between the two mates.

Bruce flew to Queensland to pick the truck up in early 2011. Dave Collard had given the old Kenny a bit of a service so Bruce could drive it back down. “He was great,” Bruce says, “though he forgot to clean the ant’s nest out of the back ‘cause they bit me all the way home.”

The original rims took a fair bit of bringing back to showroom shine but Bruce got it done

Roll on 2011 and Bruce gets the call he has been waiting on since he was eight years old. Now this is the part where I get to quote the US country rock group Little Big Town and their song ‘Good People’ and its lyrics, “good people know good people”.

It was a trip Bruce admits was packed with sweat and emotion. Sweat because it was over 40 degrees with no aircon, and emotional because he was in the truck of his dreams, albeit half naked and covered in ant bites.

Once he arrived home, the next steps began. It was always a long-term project but for the first couple of years Bruce just patched the truck up and took pleasure in owning it.

“I did take a jigsaw to the plastic guards to make them look like quarter guards, and I removed the hub covers.” But it wasn’t until 2013 when the real work began.

“I didn’t really know how far I was going to pull it down,” Bruce says. “I took the cab off, we built a frame so we could get it in my garage and I could pull it all apart and work on that side of it. It was a very tight fit. In fact the air horns tore down my facia off the carport on the way in.

“I couldn’t afford to send it to a shop and spend 300 grand doing it up, so it was done over a long period, very slowly. I had a lot of good people helping me with so much of it.”

Those people included mates like Glenn Dawson who spent countless hours on the engineering and mechanical side, plumbing

it all back together. The 8V92 was sent over to the mechanical genius Dave Kent in South Australia, the man behind the old TS3 Knocker engine rebuild who took control of breathing life back into the old Detroit workhorse.

Darren Freer had the unenviable job of painting the cab back in original colours with original stripes, while another mate Matt Stephenson took care of painting the chassis. There are also countless mates that need mentioning for appeasing Bruce’s conehead desires, like Nathan Smith who supplied an original 13-speed box to replace the 18-speed double overdrive that the truck now had.

There was also Pat Vassallo who donated a set of original quarter guards to replace Bruce’s makeshift jig-sawed versions, Mick Cefai who arranged and carefully fitted tyres to the original Budd rims Bruce had tracked down, as well as guys like Rob Woolley and Gerard Kovic who supplied countless little parts that Bruce never even envisioned needing. All those little things that count

when you are doing a conehead project. Bruce concentrated on the interior that was to be his masterpiece. “I was really keen on doing it right. I found the original driver’s seat which Max had taken it out because it hurt his back. Seeing as mine was worse I never looked at putting it back in, but I measured it up and used the same vinyl for a new seat. It was originally ordered in a Splendour Kit, in blue and yellow, and wanting to replicate that I ended up sending one of the original curtains to the States to get 10 yards of vinyl made over there. Then I had enough to do the whole interior.”

By June 2021 everything was slowly coming together, slowly being the operative word. The chassis was being worked on and stored at another mate’s place, Ray from Parklea Sand & Soil. The interior was complete and the cab was ready to go back on. Dave Chapman and the team from Northwest Trucks along with Glenn and Bruce took on the task of getting the cab back on and ready for the final stretch.

Another of Bruce’s mates, and a legendary figure in the world of Kenworth Restorations, Paul Cox in the US helped Bruce get original factory woodgrain panels for the dash

The boys from Northwest Trucks helped Glenn align the cab as the project started to get to the exciting end of things in 2021

Unfortunately David Kent, the mechanical genius that restored and rejuvenated the old 8V92 is no longer with us, but it was his work that had the K125 set for another million kilometres or more

Bruce Gunter (far right) and Max Keough with Max’s nephew Gavin and daughter Kayla, who has been introduced to the Kenworth addiction

Head-on accident

Like any good Hollywood story, there has to be a curveball thrown in when the end is in sight. This time it was another car accident for Bruce. Do you remember at the start of the story when I mentioned Bruce was a lucky driver? Well, he broke his neck back in 1995 when he was rear-ended. That put paid to the likelihood of a career in truck driving. Then just days before New Year’s 2021, Bruce was hit head-on and broke his neck again. More operations and more rehabilitation, mixed with choruses of ‘how are you still alive’ followed. This accident would put a question mark over Bruce ever driving again and due to his injuries put a major handbrake on the finishing of the K125.

It was a bleak time, physically and mentally for Bruce but once again I refer back to those US country singers, Little Big Town and “Good people know good people”.

Bruce’s passion for the old Keough K125 had spread to all those around him and his good mates Chappo and Glenn made the call that they would all pitch in to see Bruce’s dream fulfilled before the 2022 Kenworth Klassic. There was still a fair bit to do, courtesy of Bruce’s conehead restoration standards.

“I had the build sheet and wanted it as close to that as possible. It had the wrong wheels on it. When I got it, it had eight-and-a-quarterinch wide Budd rims but originally it had seven-and-a-half-inch, and I wanted it to run 11Rs to have the skinny look like it did.”

While Bruce was limited with how much and how long he could work on it, he had a team that all pitched in to help and by September 2022 the truck was ready for its official unveiling at the Clarendon Kenworth Klassic.

I was actually there when Bruce drove into the showgrounds on that day and it was a sight to be seen. Along with all the other Kenworth truck nuts, Max Keough had returned from America for the unveiling and the atmosphere was extremely emotional with his entire family there.

There are countless people Bruce would like to thank for all their assistance and countless people happy to hassle Bruce for his purism. But it paid off. The end result is a 45-year-old truck that looks as good today as it ever did and a slightly older truck nut that has managed to find and restore his childhood objet petit a.

I am curious though, what’s next?

Everything in this truck is as it was in 1978, no smart wheel or digital UHF. No fancy aircon. Just as it was

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BYRNEBDOUBLEDOUBLESTOCKCRATETRAILERS 2010,BPWairbagsuspensionnewbrakesbearings alcoasfullwidthrampBtrailersideloadsloadthrough goodcondition.TQH1234/1235. TA1181118. $198,000

HAULMARKTRI-AXLEDOLLY 2021, tri-axleroadtrain dollyhendricksonHXL7airbagsuspensionalcoas sidtipperhydraulicsjostturmtable50/90mm.4 availablealsoavailableforlongtermhire.TQR060. TA1146162.

LOUGHLINTRI-AXLEROADTRAINDOLLY 2021,K-hitch springsuspensionrubberguardsgoogcondition. TQH1246. TA1170093. $55,000

HAULMARK45FTPRAIRIEWAGON 2023,Forhire45ft tri-axleprairiewagonavailableforshortorlongterm hireunlimitedkilometres$1500plusgst$150total $1650perweeksubjecttotermsandconditions. TQR108. TA1193609. $1,650perweek

HAULMARKTRI-AXLEDOLLY 2021, tri-axleroadtrain dollyHendricksonspringsuspensionalcoasrubber guardsexcellentcondition.TQR038. TA1179899. $71,500

KRUEGER45FTDROPDECKCURTAINSIDERWITHMEZZ DECKS 2022,K-hitchairbagsuspensionalcoas mezzaninefloorsindropsectionhanginggates toolboxeslowkilometresgoodcondition.TQR150. TA1183635.

HAULMARKEXTENDABLEFLATTOP 2019,extendable flattopspringsuspensionalcoasextends13.5mto 21.5msetupforsteelcartagetimberboxtoolboxlow kilometresgoodcondition.TQH1229. TA1170083. $143,000

HAULMARK10PALLETFLATTOPA-TRAILER 2023,For hire10PalletflattopA-trailerwithpinsavailablefor shortorlongtermhireunlimitedkilometres$1000plus gst$100total$1100perweeksubjecttotermsand conditions.TQR176H. TA1194240.

MAXITRANS34PALLETFLATDECKCURTAINSIDERB DOUBLE 2021,airbagsuspensionsteelrimshanging gatestoolboxesgoodcondition.TQR130/133. TA1179898.

HAULMARKR/TCOMBINATIONSTOCKCRATES 2022, combinationstockcratesBPWspringsuspension.Front trailerfullwidthrampatfront.Backtrailerfullwidth rampatrearloadthroughssideloadstoolboxesbelly tankonleadtrailer.TQHST. TA1140726. $770,000

TA1193733.

longtermhireconditionsapply.TQR127. TA1185743.

termhire.TQR072. TA1185737. $2,200perweek

HAULMARKB-DOUBLESIDETIPPERS 2023,sidetippercombination airbagsuspensionhydraulictarpsunlimitedkilometresavailablefor shortorlongtermhireconditionsapply.TQR080. TA1185738. $4,400perweek

VAWDREY34PALLETDROPDECKBDOUBLECURTAINSIDER COMBINATION 2023,tautlinercombinationairbagsuspension mezzaninefloorshanginggatesavailableforshortandlongtermhire conditionsapply.TQR144. TA1185744. $2,860perweek

VAWDREY34PALLETDROPDECKBDOUBLECURTAINSIDER COMBINATION 2023,tautlinercombinationmezzaninefloorshanging gatesunlimitedkilometresavailableforshortandlongtermhire conditionsapply.TQR110. TA1185736.

KRUEGERBDOUBLECURTAINSIDER 2023,tautlinercombinationairbag suspensionhanginggatesunlimitedkilometresavailableforshortor

HAULMARKSIDETIPPER 2023,sidetipperairbagsuspensionroadtrain leadhydraulictarpunlimitedkilometresavailableforshortandlong

HAULMARK45FTFLATTOPTRAILERROADTRAINLEAD 2023,airbag suspension3waycontainerpinsroadtrainleadpipebolstersunlimited kilometresavailableforshortorlongtermhireconditionsapply. TQR034. TA1185742. $1,100perweek

HAULMARKEXTENDABLEFLATTOPROADTRAINLEAD 2023,airbag suspensionroadtrainleadextends13.7mto21.7munlimitedkilometres availableforshortorlongtermhireconditionsapply.TQR177. TA1185741. $1,650perweek

SWINGLIFTSIDELOADER 2023,sideloaderairbagsuspensionremote cranes20-40containersroadtrainleadunlimitedkilometresavailable forshortorlongtermhire.TQR076. TA1185739. $2,750perweek

HAULMARKTRI-AXLEROADTRAINDOLLY 2023,springsuspension 50/90mmturntablesunlimitedkilometresavailableforshortandlong termhireconditionsapply.TQR035. TA1185734. $770perweek

HAULMARKDROPDECKEXTENDABLE 2023,airbagsuspensionextends to17.4moverall4waycontainerpinsroadtrainleadunlimited kilometresavailableforshortandlongtermhire.TQR090. TA1185740.

HAULMARKTRIAXLEROADTRAINDOLLY 2023,airbagsuspension 50/90mmturntablesunlimitedkilometresavailableforshortandlong termhireconditionsapply.TQR161. TA1185735. $880perweek

HAULMARKBOGIEROADTRAINDOLLY 2023,airbagsuspension50mm turntableunlimitedkilometresavailableforshortandlongtermhire conditionsapply.TQHAIRB. TA1185733. $660perweek

DEALS Tech

App your service

Truckies can sometimes be reluctant to embrace technology, but in many ways, tech has made life on the road much easier. Here are some of our favourite truckie-friendly apps that

you can download to your phone before your next run

Words: Kayla Walsh

Logbook Checker

Compability: iPhone and Android.

Price: $1.49 initial purchase price (up to 21 days of usage), $13.99 for a 3-month subscription, $24.99 for a 6-month subscription, and $39.99 for a 12-month subscription.

Most of our readers will probably have already heard of the logbook checker app, developed especially to suit the needs of Australian truckies. This handy download can help you track your driver times and avoid being slapped with hefty logbook fines. It verifies log entries for drivers using standard hours (solo and two-up), and can be used for all fatigue rulesets in Australia apart from AFM. It tells you when you can drive next, and how long before you have to take your next break, and you can also set alarms and reminders. At the end of a long day, no-one wants to be stressing about miscalculating

There's an App for everything these days!

Image: hedgehog94 - stock.adobe.com

hours or forgetting to take a break. And if it helps you avoid a fine, it will be well worth the subscription fees.

Fuelly

Compatibility: iPhone and Android.

Price: Free. Premium (no ads) version available for $0.49 a month.

Fuelly is a handy app that tracks your fuel usage, helping you to see what you’re spending and improve your fuel economy. It also compiles community data, so you can compare the real-world costs of different trucks and make better choices. Other features include tracking vehicle maintenance, sending pre-set reminders for servicing, and monitoring how your vehicle is performing over time and if your fuel consumption has changed.

The National Public Toilet Map.

Image: toiletmap.gov.au

National Public Toilet Map

Compatibility: iPhone.

Price: Free.

Sometimes, you just gotta go. The National Public Toilet map shows the location of more than 23,000 public and publicly available private toilets and showers across Australia, as well as their opening hours. Many reviews describe it as a “lifesaver” if you’re in a pinch.

Healthy Heads

Compatibility: iPhone and Android.

Price: Free.

Life on the road can be stressful and lonely, and truck drivers have a higher chance of

developing depression than the general population. Lack of physical activity and poor availability of healthy food choices can also contribute to a range of health conditions, from obesity to diabetes. The Healthy Heads app is designed to provide everyday access to mental health and physical wellbeing resources and information. Features include wellbeing check-ins, fitness content like stretching exercises, and links to crisis support.

The BOM Weather App

Compatibility: iPhone and Android.

Price: Free.

Truckies need to be aware of the weather, especially in the case of severe weather events that could leave them stranded or endanger their lives. The BOM Weather App provides access to hourly and 7-day weather forecasts, with notifications for fire weather, floods, heatwaves, severe thunderstorms, tropical cyclones, and more. You can also check everything from sunrise and sunset times to total rainfall that day.

Traffic apps

Compatibility: Varies.

Price: Free.

Depending on where you’re based in Australia, certain traffic apps can keep you updated on road closures and events like crashes, breakdowns, fires, floods, public events and roadworks. Examples include Live Traffic NSW, which provides real-time information about unplanned and planned incidents that affect your trips in NSW and across borders into QLD, SA, VIC and ACT. VicTraffic is the equivalent app for Victorians,

and is updated during peak traffic periods of Monday to Friday, 6:45am to 6:45pm, as well as after hours during significant emergency events.

NHVR Registration Checker

Compatibility: iPhone and Android.

Price: Free.

The NHVR Registration Checker app allows you to check the registration status of any heavy vehicle registered in Australia, except heavy vehicles registered in the Northern Territory without a national heavy vehicle plate. It’s definitely not the most exciting app in the world, and you might not want to be reminded of the NHVR every time you look at your phone, but it can help drivers meet their pre-checks and Chain of Responsibility obligations.

Test Your Tired Self

Compatibility: iPhone.

Price: Free.

Designed by the NSW Government, this app allows you to test how tired you are before you get behind the wheel. Features include games and questions to test your reaction time, focus and memory.

CamperMate

Compatibility: iPhone.

Price: Free.

This app may be designed for campers and backpackers, but it’s a goldmine for anyone on the road, especially if you’re driving long-haul. Things it can help you find nearby include public toilets and showers, service stations, free WiFi, supermarkets and more. App users also get access to exclusive deals.

The Healthy Heads app is packed with resources and information.

Image: healthyheads.org.au

CamperMate app – a goldmine for anyone on the road.

Image: campermate.com

The BOM Weather App provides access to hourly and 7-day weather forecasts.

Image: bom.gov.au

Angles are important, but don’t be afraid to experiment with new ideas and heights

Tiarna Condren caught up with Truckspotting Ararat’s Darryl Edwards for some photography tips

images: Darryl Edwards –Truckspotting Ararat

STRIKE A Pose

When investing time and money into something as large and powerful as a truck, it comes as no surprise that people take pride in their rigs and want them memorialised in photographs.

Whether it’s a simple work truck, a historical restoration or a kitted-up beast, everyone feels the urge to show it off.

Darryl Edwards exploded onto the scene in the past couple of years, photographing trucks as they passed through his town.

Beginning his journey photographing famous musicians, it wasn’t until he moved to Ararat that he saw trucks as a new subject matter. Shortly after, Darryl “caught the bug” and created the Facebook page ‘Truckspotting Ararat’ which has garnered over 11,000 followers.

With raw talent exuding from his fingertips, Deals on Wheels convinced him to spill some of his top tips for amateur photographers.

1. Equipment

With the newest Apple and Samsung phones rivalling brands like Sony when it comes to photography ability, Darryl says the key to a great picture is sitting in your pocket.

“With today's technology, mobile phones are actually really good if you want to do it without having to buy a separate camera,” he says.

For beginners, many phone cameras offer a simple way of introducing them to the art, mainly due to the automatic work that the phone is doing behind the scenes to adjust the image.

With DSLR’s and more expensive equipment, a large part of the camera is manually controlled, which can be confusing for those just starting out.

Besides, a phone camera is on you 24/7 and can be whipped out as soon as inspiration strikes.

2. Framing

“Framing the truck is first and foremost” Darryl says, “It’s all about the scenery and where the truck is.”

When taking pictures of trucks, a major part is capturing the essence of life on the road and the kilometres they have travelled.

“When I started, I was just capturing the trucks on the side of the road, so I’ve got the truck in the centre.”

Darryl says he always includes the surroundings in his pictures, ensuring the people can remember where they were when it was taken. He says it is important to focus on the angles, straight lines and placing the truck in the centre.

His go-to shot is having the truck coming directly at the camera from an angle, leaving enough room to show off the rigs in all their glory.

“Sometimes it can be fun to experiment with higher and lower angles even.”

Taking some shots up on a ladder or laying down on the ground can provide some dynamic perspectives that are often unseen.

3. Lighting

For photographers, lighting is the one thing that can make or break an image.

The position of the sun, time of day, and the timing of sunrise and sunset is important for all types of photography.

It determines the direction of sunlight, direction and size of shadows, availability and colour of natural light.

“Framing the truck in a good spot with a sunset or sunrise is amazing,” Darryl says.

One of his most important tips is working with the sun, not against it.

“I work with where the sun is, I always have the sun facing the truck and never behind it otherwise it creates too many shadows.

4. Editing

While editing pictures is a major component of many photographers work, Darryl says he tries to limit it as much as he can.

“I mainly stick to adjusting the brightness and contrast, they are the main things.”

Everybody’s taste in photography is different, and Darryl says filters can help people achieve a particular look.

“Nowadays you can even create your own filters and save them to use all the time,” he says.

“There are a lot of amazing editing apps out there that are incredibly powerful, like Lightroom and Snapseed.”

Black and white photography is popular within the truckspotting crowd, as well as over-saturated images. The choice is up to you and what you prefer.

5. Experiment

Darryl says when he started photographing trucks, he didn’t know anything about them.

“It took a lot of experimenting to find out what works and what doesn’t work.”

“Look for things around you and ways to make the image different. If there is water on the road, lay down and use that to get a reverse image in the water.

“Always experiment and find what works for you and how you want the images to look.

He says the key to loving the final product is by finding your unique style.

“Try things out, practice taking pictures of other people’s trucks, and if it doesn’t work, just try again.”

Darryl says the beauty of photography is that the possibilities are endless.

The sunlight will really make the chromework pop

Lighting is key! Direct sunlight on the truck makes for the perfect pic

Make sure to include the surroundings when framing the shot

Office

MACKVISION 2004,themackvision(sampleunitphoto)470h/p(in/chassisrebuildon motor/now.)18speedg/box46/160diffswithxcross/locks,allonnew rubber,fittedwithhightensilesheppardsteelbody4.50mx1200mm sideswithswingingtailgaterollouttarp(bodyasnew)fittedwithfull ringfeedermountsinextremlygoodcondition,revolvinglightscbradio comeswithqld/rwcreadyforrego.Totalresprayoftruck,body& chassis,100%newrubber,(rollouttarpoptionalextra).S170. TA1153744.

$110,000+GST+ORC+options

MACKTRIDENT

2002,done1.2millionklms,recentmotorrepairscarriedout,goodclutch /18spd,r/ranger,g/boxwithairbagsuspension46/160diffs,recentworks tohitensilebody,wholeunitresprayedallover,comeswith100%new rubberallround&rollouttarp.QLDRWC,readyforrego.S185.

UDCW445E

2002actualudtipper,with455h/p,18/speedroadrangerg/boxuddiffs ,withnewtyresalltubeless,unitfullyserviced,comeswithnewfront mountedhoist,swingingtailgate,rollouttarp,pintlehooksetupfortag trailer,comeswithqld/rwcreadyforrego,c/bradioetc,readytogoto work..S138. TA1102291.

$89,750+GST+ORC

UDCW445E

2007,newlyfittedwithmultipurposeHi-Tensilebody5mlongbody/800mm dropsides&swingingtailgate,frontmountedexternalhoist&towinghitch, new4stage.Airbagsuspension,18speedr/rangerg/boxonUDdiffs,alloy 10studwheels100%newrubberallround,gme/uhfradioetc.Pricecomes withQLDRWC,regoready

Optionalextras:*optionalpullouttarp$4,000+GST(extra) *optionsnotincludedinprice.S181. TA1171228. $110,000+GST+ORC(optionsextra)

Office

ABN:

UDCWA455E

2006,H/P375,000kms,alloybinfrontmountedhoist,4.5mlongwithring feedersetup,18spdr/rangerg/box,airbagsuspensiononu/ddiffs,asnew rubberallround,goodmechanicalcondition,veryclean&tidy,comeswith QLDRWC,workready.S186. TA1174343.

$95,000+GST+ORC

VOLVOFM400

2004,COMPLETESERVICETRUCK

H/Pwithautotransmission,Heavydutyhubreductiondiffson6rod suspension,fittedwithROPSguard.Fullserviceunitwithmultilubricants, fueltank,heavydutygreasingunit,withhydraulicdriveforthesystem. Comeswith90%heavyduty,asnew,rubberallround.Willbesandblasted &painted.Thisisacontractorsdream,unitpricedaccordingly.S173. TA1163819.

MACKQUANTUM

2003,hitensilesteelbodytipper,470h/p18roadrangerg/box,46160diffs withxcrosslocks,(willhave100%newtyresallround)rollout tarp,ringfeedermounts&hydlcs,swingingtailgateetc,comeswithqldrwc readyforrego.S192. TA1189343.

$89,750+GST+ORC

TEFCOQUARRYBOSS

Alloybinwithshute,in-tailgatecomplete.Body4.50mlongx1.50msides.In excellentcondition,itwillnotlast.Extremelytidyandavailable.Comeswith runnersandhoistandmountssuitetc.Americanchassis.S190. TA1185904. $25,000+GST

RETURN OF A

Family ties saw Andrew Derham tackle his first restoration and that experience prompted restoration number two

Words: Kayla Walsh

Images: Andrew Derham

Ripper

Most truckies know that restoring an old truck takes a lot of time and money, so it helps if you have a meaningful reason to do it.

For Andrew Derham, bringing a vintage Kenworth K100 back to life was a real passion project - even more so because it used to belong to his dad, David.

“My dad, who owns Derham Transport, had bought this truck new back in 1984,”

Andrew tells Deals on Wheels

“He had it for about 10 years before he sold it, when I was 18.

“It got sold into Melbourne and a bloke at FCL containers had it running around the wharf for many years.

“So, I could see it was still around, it was just painted red and cream.”

After the truck got sold on again, Derham found out who bought it – and approached him about buying it back.

“I caught up with him one day when he was in the truck and I told him the family history around it.

“I said ‘If you’re ever going to sell it, let me know.’

“He said he loved the truck and didn’t really want to sell it. But a couple of years later he rang me and said he was finally ready.”

Over two decades after it was sold, the Kenworth was back with the Derham family – and it was time for Andrew to get to work.

“The truck hadn’t been butchered, it was still a working truck,” he says.

“We had sold it at 1.3 million kilometres and I think it had 1.8 million on it when we got it back. But we stripped it right back and rebuilt it, so it was back in its original condition.

“We straightened the chassis and just made it look new again.”

The truck needed quite a few new parts, which weren’t always easy to find.

“It started off with just buying new brake valves and all that sort of stuff in the cab and then just went from there.

“We said if we were going to do it, we might as well do it properly.

The Derhams' restored 1989 Mack Valueliner

Andrew as a child with the Kenworth

Mack restoration went all the way down to the rails

The Kenworth in its original form, and during restoration

The

The Kenworth under different colours when Andrew brought it back to the family

“My mate Thommo [Steve Thomas], who did the bulk of the work, he was able to manufacture the parts that we couldn’t buy.

“He’s been my mate since primary school and he remembered the truck from when we were kids, so it was great for him to be a part of it as well.”

The restoration process took about a year, and Derham said his dad was delighted with the final result.

“He didn’t see it for a while during the process and when we showed him at the end, he thought it looked even better than it did when he got it,” he says.

The truck is now back working for Derham Transport in Victoria, but it definitely gets special treatment.

“We’ve got a tipper business so it can tow a tipper and do the right job when the weather’s right.

“We don’t want to get it too dirty but it’s fun to drive around at the same time!”

The truck has received quite a bit of attention over the years, from winning the Truck of the Show at the Koroit Truck Show to Best Working Truck at the Kenworth Classic.

“It gets a bit of recognition, that truck, for whatever reason. It just stands out.”

After his first rebuild, Derham wanted another challenge – and set his sights on a 1989 Mack Valueliner.

“I’ve always liked Macs, and the friend

I mentioned before, Thommo, found this one.

“It was in absolute disrepair – like ready for the scrap heap.”

Derham and Thomas rebuilt the Mac from scratch over the course of three years.

“It needed everything new. New chassis rails. A new roof.

“We had to put a wall in the back of the cab, the cab was basically rebuilt.

“New exhaust, new valves...Everything.”

Again, Derham and Thomas sourced parts where they could, and Thomas made some himself.

“We got the last roof for that truck in Australia and it was one of the last interiors that someone had too. So we were lucky.”

The two friends tried to keep the trucks they restored as similar as possible to the originals in appearance.

“We wanted them to be close to the originals because they just take people back to the older days when they look at them.

“All we’ve added is a sprinkle of a modern touch, with the shiny bits.”

Derham said restoring a truck is a “mammoth job” and he can see why people sometimes give up.

“It’s a lot harder than people think, and it’s a lot of money,” he says.

“You really have to be dedicated to it.

“Thankfully Tommo is an amazing fellow –when he hits a brick wall, he just finds a way through it.”

The restored Kenworth and Mack at Alexandra Truck Show in 2023

Phone

Mobile 0419 240 382

Murlaggan Road

MOORESEMIRO/ROHookliftTipper 2021, 2021MooreHookliftTipper,RollonRoll Off70m3BinTransporter/Tipper,Hendrickson IntraaxSuspension,HXL7LongLifeHubs,Front LiftAxle,AlloyRims...AsNewCondition..... CS-MT-RORO. TA1183797.

Pittsworth QLD 4356 sales@mooretrailers.com.au

MOORER/TLEAD/MID 2023, 45'Dropdeck, KHitch9LeafMechanicalSuspension,8/275Steel HubAxles,14New265/70R-19.5" Tyres/Steel Rims,4Toolboxes,Watertank,Timberbox,14' Bi-Fold/Lay-Back/Lay-DownHDRampswithDiesel ElectricStartPowerpac+TruckPTOCoilLines,Pipe Bolsters,3WayTwistlockswithRisers&HDCross Beam,FullRoadtrainSetupinc.RF50Ringfeeder Coupling...23-2015. TA1188729. $150,000

MOOREUNKNOWN 8'x5'- Tandem TippingBoxTrailer,HotDippedGalvanised(Rust Free)3450KGATM,One-pieceFullyWelded HeavyDutyChassis.WithSolarChargedBattery PoweredHydraulicPowerpac..TIP-BOX-03. TA1168194.

JAMIESONDOLLY 2011Jamieson Triaxle Dolly,10'1"SpreadAirbagSuspension,Long LifeBearing10/285StudAxles,Holland50mm Turntable,HDDemountableTowEye,Rubber Guards......614. TA1183285. $35,000

MOOREMEGATILTTRAY 2024,airbag suspension,remotehydraulicoperation, oversize/rotatingbeacon.S302. TA1038140.

MOORESEMI33'BulkTipper 2024, NowSelling-2024Moore33'x6'6"TOABulk Tipper,Airbagsuspension-10/285SteelHub Axles,TEBSElectronicBrakes,AlloyRims,Roll Tarp,Toolbox,Watertank,RoadtrainBracket.... 24-XXXX. TA1138097. $125,000

MOOREB/DLEAD/MID28'ASliding BulkTipper 2024, NowSelling-2024 Moore28'x6'6"ASlidingBulkTipper,Airbag suspension-10/285SteelHubAxles,Alloy Rims,RollTarp,LowLubeTurntable,Roadtrain Bracket.....2024-XXX. TA1138096. $140,000

MOOREDOLLY 2023, ImmediateDelivery!!!!! Moore2023TandemDolly.HendricksonHTairbag suspension,Khitch10/285PBAxleswithLSVvalve brakekit.4.2mToweyetoTurntable-JostJSK37 GreaselessTurntable.AlloyWheels,Polybelt Guards.AirandElecFrontandrearofturntable,oil lineandscalescanbefittedatextracost.. 23-D2117. TA1202533. $45,000

Trucking runs deep in the Fenech family

Words: Kayla Walsh

Images: Adrian Fenech

Fourth Gen

Adrian Fenech’s father, grandfather, and greatgrandfather were all owner drivers, and last year he finally got to follow in their footsteps with the purchase of his very own Kenworth K200.

“Becoming an owner driver has always been my dream,” he says.

“All I’ve ever wanted was to carry on the family tradition.”

Pretty much as soon as Fenech could walk, he was out in the truck with his dad, Rob.

“Every weekend and school holiday, I wouldn’t leave his side. I always loved trucks – especially Kenworths.

“My dad and my grandad taught me a lot of what I know and gave me the work ethic I have today.”

The Sydney native, 29, drove and maintained tippers for a local familyoperated business for eight years before going out on his own.

He admits he felt a little anxious about taking the leap, but was determined to give it a try.

“I was a bit nervous because it’s getting harder and harder for owner drivers as every year goes by,” he says.

“But the fire inside me overruled that. I wasn’t going to be happy until I gave it a go.”

Fenech picked up his first truck, a 2013 model Kenworth, from Raymond Scott Transport in Mount Gambier, SA.

“It was really well looked-after and very low kilometers for its age.

“I had looked at countless trucks before that but I found this thing and I went with it.”

While the truck was in good condition, it still needed some work.

“I stripped it straight away,” he says.

“I’m a diesel mechanic by trade as well so I did most of the work myself.

“I got it resprayed and added a whole heap of chrome accessories to it. Just gave it a bit of a facelift.”

Fenech has dubbed his new rig “Family Provider” as a tribute to his grandfather, Jimmy, whose first Kenworth had the same name.

It’s also an especially suitable moniker for the driving force behind his new business, as Fenech recently welcomed his first child with his wife, a baby girl named Elouise.

“It is quite fitting,” he says.

“Everything just lined up, timing wise.

Adrian Fenech, who won Truck of the Show at the Dane Ballinger Memorial Show, with his wife Aymie and daughter Elouise Having a stunning truck certainly helps when it comes to taking striking photos, both day and night

“My wife Aymie has been so supportive of me going out on my own – she knew it was always a dream of mine.

“She backed me 100 per cent, the whole way.”

Fenech now pulls pneumatic tankers,

running up and down the east coast between Melbourne and Brisbane.

He loves the freedom of being his own boss, as well as the pride of having his own equipment – and presentation is very important to him.

“When you get to a job site and your truck is well presented, it looks good for you and for the customer,” he says.

“That’s always been a priority for me.”

The Kenworth is certainly a looker – and has garnered plenty of attention since Fenech gave it a makeover, winning Truck of the Show at the Dane Ballinger Memorial Truck Show in 2023.

“I was blown away to win that, I didn’t expect that at all,” he says.

“People are definitely interested in the truck, I do get a lot of compliments on it.

“Everyone thinks it’s a new truck when it’s not.”

Sharing his advice for anyone who is thinking about becoming an owner driver, he said it’s important to be aware of your running costs.

“I’ve learned a lot about running a business in the last year, and I’m still learning as I go.

“It might look easy on the outside but in reality, it’s not.

“Work out your costs and be aware that it’s getting more and more expensive to run a truck these days.

“Make sure you’re working with good equipment and you’re on the right track.

“Oher than that, I would just encourage people to go for it!”

Adrian with his trophy for Truck of the Show

Lot 1-17 Jobson Road, Bolivar SA 5110

E: northsidetrailers@yahoo.com.au

Nick: 0407 832 164 Robert: 0419 032 327

484 Boundary Road, Derrimut, VIC, 3030

Email: northsidetrailers@yahoo.com.au

Ray: 0417 821 832

VICTORIA & SOUTH AUSTRALIA

LMCT 9569

2006,airbags, 10studalloy,liftaxle,wallacecontrol.S358. 85000+GST=$93,500

23000+GST=$25,300

MAXITRANSB DOUBLEULTRA LITE 2012,Airbag Suspension,10Stud

JTBTRIAXLEWIDENER 2006,45ft6,Airbag suspension,10Studalloys3.5mopening, Hydraulicsoperationalfromtruck.VeryClean Unit.S382.

AMTRAILERSSINGLEAXLE 2006,spring suspension,hydraulicramps,electricpowered selfcontainedhydraulicsystem,ATM12T .S355. TA1169437. 23000+GST=$25,300

KRUEGERTANDEMDROPDECKSKEL Springsuspension,15"Wheels.Tosuit20ft Container.S398. TA1204341. 25000+GST=$27,500

SWINGLIFTTRISIDELOADERHC40/20/35 2008,latticechassis,remotecontrol,10stud alloy,Yanmarengine.LocatedMelbourne. S293.

TANDEMTAGTRAILER 2013,springSusp,10 studalloy,lowprofiletyres,FullHydRamps andleg.Approx7mdeck&1200Beavertail. S367. TA1182936. 38000+GST=$41,800

KRUEGERA/BSET A-2000,B-2004. Airbag,container A/Bskel.S349. TA1167668. 50000+GST=

12X3MAUSCOPORTABLEOFFICE 1xroom, sidedoor,4windows,2xairconditioners.

A1BOGIETANKER 1988,springsuspension, approx22000Lalloytanker,spiderwheels,5

STEELBROSIDELOADER 2001,41Ft,airbag, spiderwheels,T/box,cablecontrol.Located Adelaide.S258. TA1088614. 70000+GST=$77,000

Raffle RIG

What’s the biggest thing you’ve ever won at a raffle?

Words: Tiarna Condren

Images: Andrew Mede and Rules Haulage

At the raffles I’ve attended, you’d be considered lucky to receive a free pint. A gift voucher may grace the prize pool, or a meat tray if you stumbled in on a particularly cashed-up day.

Never have I seen a 1982 cab over Kenworth as second prize, but that is precisely where Andrew Mede’s truck originates.

Fascinated by trucking history, when Andrew purchased the Kenworth in 2016, he was immediately drawn to find out its past.

Through some digging, Andrew found that the first owner won the rig at a Jerilderie Apex raffle in 1982.

With a man called Butch claiming the first prize W model Kenworth, a couple from

Western Australia went back home with the cab over and put it to work.

Pulling two trailers for Southern Transport, the cab over rotated carting cotton and grain around the Albany area for two years.

Shortly after, the couple decided to give up the rig, eventually selling it to Kevin Rules of Rules Haulage.

“He had that truck for a while, I believe it was around 20 years,” Andrew says.

Kevin made his mark on the three-year-old truck with a fresh coat of yellow and brown paint, and some snazzy decals.

Andrew eventually got into contact with Kevin’s wife, who came strapped with a loaded history on the truck.

It turns out the rig was used to cart roof

The Kenworth now has historical registration in Sydney

The Kenworth was the lead truck at the first Convoy for Kids WA in 1993

It didn’t have the iconic yellow and brown colourway in the beginning

The rig spent two years carting cotton and grain around the Albany area

Back in its glory days

A local advertisement for the raffle

tiles, bricks and timber around the Albany area.

Having stints transporting cow hides and wool as well, “it was running heavy most of the time.”

Kevin and his wife had even helped organise the first ever Convoy for Kids in Western Australia in 1993.

Taking the front spot in the line-up, the Kenworth led the Convoy and became synonymous with the history of the event.

When Kevin sadly passed away, his wife sold the truck to one of their drivers who eventually took over the business.

After a couple more years in the fleet, the Kenworth changed career paths and landed on a farm in WA as a run-around.

Now, we know being a farmhand is no easy task, and after 10 years in the paddocks getting dirty, it needed some desperate TLC.

The Kenworth eventually moved off the farm and into the arms of Maurice Murphy, with the intention to restore it to its original glory.

However truck restorations do not always go as planned..

Despite his best intentions, Maurice had to give up the dream as time wasn’t on his side.

It was then 2016 when an eager Andrew Mede stumbled across the advertisement for the truck to be sold and decided he just had to have it.

“So yeah, I ended up buying it and brought it over to Sydney,” he says.

Buying it in June, he anxiously awaited the arrival of his new toy until October.

With work to do, Andrew buckled down and began fixing it up.

“It's had an engine rebuild in 2017, and it’s got the original motor,” he says.

Andrew says his friend Adrian Tanner and his late brother Chris were instrumental in helping with the engine rebuild and getting the truck back on the road.

The truck is a K124CR powered by a Detroit Diesel 8v92ta @ 445hp.

The Kenworth has a 14-speed overdrive Spicer SST and 4:11 DS440p diffs, while the engine and front diff are original.

However, the rear diff had a bearing collapse at approximately 1 million kilometres.

“It’s done just under 2.4 million kilometres, which is probably a great deal for a truck of its age.”

Keeping the original colours that Rules Haulage had it painted, Andrew eventually got his friend to make up the stickers of the company to go on the cab.

“I want to preserve the history of where it spent most of its life working,” Andrew says.

“If I come across the money, eventually, I’ll probably restore it exactly how it was.”

The original truck on display in Jerilderie as a raffle prize

A lot of work had to be done to bring it back to life

Andrew wants to honour where it spent most of its life working

Andrew loves making the rounds at the truck shows

The Kenworth now holds historic registration in Sydney, where Andrew takes pride in taking it around and showing it off at truck shows.

“I go to the Kenworth Classic every year, and usually do the Haulin the Hume run, from Sydney to Yass,” he says.

“It’s been on the Crawlin the Hume run too, from Melbourne to Albury.”

Andrew says it’s a highlight being able to take the rig around and he hits the road to “take it to whatever shows I can, when I can.”

KRUEGER45FTFLATTOPTRAILER

Tarp,straighttidytrailer,goodtyres,readytogotowork. ft1223. TA1202639. $52,800

BRUCEROCKENGINEERINGA-SECTIONSIDETIPPER 2023, HardoxsteelAsectionsidetipper,Kiairsuspension,Con metKHitchhubs,Aluminiumwheels,HydraulicrollTarps, Joistgreaselessturntable,Lowtareweight,Availablenow. st1223. TA1202635. POA

BRUCEROCKENGINEERING!9METERSIDETIPPERB Double 2024,4mmHardoxbins,KHitchaxlesonairbag suspension,aluminiumwheels,lowtareweight,app34 cubicmetercapacity,hydraulicrolltarp,inbuildsecurethis

KENWORTHK200AERODYNE 2013,Credittoprevious ownerverytidytruck,Cumminsengine,18sptrans,Dual crosslockrearaxles,KWairbag,lostofstainlessextras.. 11223. TA1202623. $151,800

TRAILERMOUNTEDTHROUGHCLEANFirefighter&Dust suppression 2023,1000litreWatertank,Dieselpump motor,sprayreel&hose,Battersprays rear, pressuredown

GRAHAMLUSTYTRAILERSROADTRAINGRAINTRAILER TOA 2009,1GLTx1BryneTOAtippingtrailers,33ftx6ft, onlybeenusedongrain,tidytrailersfortheage,goodtidy bins,spideraxles,valveformoney.11923. TA1192736. POA

ELPHINSTONEBDOUBLE 1998model.Air Rider. Excellentconditionforit'sage.ElphB. TA1105677.

GERGETRIAXLEFOLDINGSKEL withheadboard.Airbag suspension.Tyres,brakesandsuspensionok.Gerge. TA1068955. $22,000+GST=$24,200

PLUNKETTTRILOGSKEL Plunkett Tri LogSkel.S754. TA1189339. $18,000+GST=$19,800

ABBEYD758CHERRYPICKER 250kgcapacityhydraulic basket,readytofitoncab/chassis.cherry. TA843322. $3,500+GST=$3,850

FREIGHTERMINIBDOUBLESKEL Airbag'A'trailer, hydraulicallyloadedspringreartrailer,brakesok, painted,readytowork.BDouble2. TA657165. $19,000+GST=$20,900

KENNEDYFOLDINGSKEL 1998,airbag.Airbinders.Cab guard.Turntablescalesand carry bars.S737. TA1176699. $27,500inclGST

THTLOGSKELBDOUBLESET 'A'trailerwith Elphinstonelowlogger'B'trailer.THT. TA1056515. $50,000+GST=$55,000

KENWORTHT650 radiator.Variousotherpartsavailable. Radi. TA874526. $1,000+GST=$1,100

FREIGHTERTRIAXLELOGSKEL frontandrearracks, airbagsuspension,loadbinders,nearnewdrums& linings.Roadworthy.Picks. TA968311. $28,000+GST=$30,800

KENNEDYMINIB-DOUBLE 2009Model,c-lock.minib2. TA1144223. $30,000+GST=$33,000

VARIOUSCABGUARDSALUMINIUM&STEEL cab guardsavailable;also carry barguardsetc.Prices startingfrom.S618. TA1051728. $1,000+GST=$1,100

INTERNATIONALACCO510A V8petrol,1700litrewater tank,11hpmotor&pump,dribblebar,hoseandhose reels.1016. TA52218. $5,000+GST=$5,500

FREIGHTERTANDEMSEMITIPPER 22fttandemsemi tipper.Rebuilthoist.Goodbrakes.Airtailgate,good honesttrailer.S764. TA1202630. $12,000+GST$13,200

SAMAIRLOGGER 2003,Samjackconvertedchivers, triaxlejinker.Airandelectricscales.Goodtyres,Nice lighttrailer,nearnewbrakes.S756. TA1198879. $10,000+GST=$11,000

KENWORTHK100E 12.7LDetroit.Hendrickson suspension.Goodhonestoldertruck..S766. TA1202632. $30,000+GST=$33,000

KENWORTHT658 2009modelwithISXCumminson 540,000kmsincerebuild.Fullcrosslocks,CTI,scales. With2009modelKennedyminiBdoubleC locker. KWT658. TA1057579. $135,000+GST=$148,500

BYRNETRAILERSSTOCK 1990,40ftstocktrailer.7.5 bay.Electricrampwinch.Internalloadinglights.Tyres 80%,brakes80%.Twinsparetyrecarrierandtwin toolboxes.S758. TA1198881. $45,000+GST=$49,500

TAG-A-LONGTRIAXLEDECKWIDENINGLOWLOADER Structurallysound,goodfloat.Everythingworks.Can paintatextracost.S763. TA1202618.

ELPHINSTONEAIRIDER withcabguards,onairbag. 2000model.airrider. TA1098149. $12,000+GST=$13,200

MACKTRIDENT 2001,E7470hpmotor,rebuilt18spdMack gearbox,bothdiffsdonerecently,allbrakesnew,newdrive tyres,steers80%,brandnewhoist,goodreliabletruck.

BARKERTRAILERSBOGIE float.Goodcondition. BARKERSBOGIE. TA1180995. $30,000+GST=$33,000

FREIGHTERTRIAXLESEMITRAILER Willstretchto19m overall.Springsuspension.Goodtyres.Alllights functional.Frontandreargates.S765. TA1202631. $20,000+GST=$22,000

KENWORTHK108 flatroofprimemover.10speedEaton Gearbox.Cumminsengine.Ken108. TA1189224. $50,000+GST=$55,000

VOLVOFH12 1995,420HP,airbagsuspension,Bisalloy body,pintallhooktowhitch.FH12. TA1168316.

BORGENGINEERINGTRIAXLE tagtrailer.2014.Pintle hook.TT. TA1204579. $38,000+GST=$41,800

DEALS People

Breaking OUT

Lewis Broad threw off the shackles of civil service to become an owner driver

Words: Kayla Walsh

Images: Lewis Broad

Leaving a stable civil service job to become an owner-driver is definitely a leap of faith – but Geelong truckie Lewis Broad was happy to take the risk.

Broad was working in the correctional system in Brisbane when he and his fiancée Clare found out they were going to have a baby.

Their son, Billy, was born with a condition called clubfoot – so they decided to move home to Victoria to be closer to their support networks.

Broad got a new job in another prison, but soon came to the realisation that maybe there was a better way to earn a living.

“I had a stable, government job, great perks, great super, good holidays, quite flexible,” he tells Deals on Wheels

“But at the end of the day, the money wasn’t really enough for us to have a comfortable lifestyle.

“I needed something that would give us more financial freedom and allow my partner to stay home with our baby for a few years.”

Having grown up in the transport industry and previously worked as a truck driver, Broad thought starting his own trucking business could be a good bet.

“I’ve had my truck licence for about 10years,” he says.

“My father owned a relatively large transport company, WR Logistics. I worked in

and out of that in my teens and my early 20s, and for a few other companies as well.

“I knew that working for myself would be a far better outcome financially than working for someone else, so I spoke to Clare and to a family friend who is a business consultant.

“We ran some numbers and we thought this was the best move for our family.”

Having sold their house in Brisbane, Broad had enough money to buy a truck outright, but decided to keep some money in the bank.

In the end, he purchased a 2016 Hino 700 series tipper truck and trailer for about $200,000.

It needed some general repairs and replacements, which ended up costing him another $25,000 or so, but he thinks that was pretty reasonable for a truck of that age.

“I spoke to two or three diesel mechanics I know, and the Hino came recommended as an affordable brand but also easy to fix and reliable,” he says.

“I was initially looking at buying a $300,000 to $400,000 Kenworth, which would have been a nicer and better truck.

“But that would have essentially doubled my loan, so we went with the Hino as we figured it would do the job.”

Broad admits he was nervous going out on his own, but has no regrets so far.

“It definitely came with some stress,” he says.

“I was spending nearly a quarter of a million

Lewis and his Hino 700 tipper set up

on a truck, and there was no guarantee that the equipment was going to operate perfectly.

"But so far, so good.”

Although he’s his own boss, he currently works as a sub-contractor for just one company, Scope Australia.

“They are a Victorian-based earthmoving company, one of the bigger movers on the west side of Melbourne.

“It’s a bit of a golden ticket, it’s guaranteed work and the rates aren’t bad so I definitely want to stick with them.”

He is enjoying the freedom of setting his own hours and having more family time.

“I usually do three trips from Geelong to Melbourne a week. That’s about a three-hour round trip. But because I’m my own boss, I can choose whether to do one, two or three trips.

“Obviously the more you do, the more you get paid. But this week, for example, it works better for me to do two trips because we’re getting family photos taken today.

“I can plan my days a bit more and have that flexibility that I wouldn’t have if I was working for someone else.”

He says his partner Clare has been a huge support to him and has taken over the admin side of the business.

“She’s been fantastic, I would struggle without her.

“The admin was something I was prepared to do but she asked me if I wanted her to take over, and she’s been great at it.”

In the future, he hopes to expand his business and purchase a fleet of trucks.

“My plan is to get another truck on the road with Scope in the next 12 months, and then hopefully another truck the following year.

“After that I would like to keep expanding my fleet and diversify, have revenue coming in from a few different industries and businesses. Cover all our bases.”

When asked if he had any advice for other aspiring owner-drivers, he says experience is key.

“You definitely need to have experience driving trucks before you buy one yourself. The little bits of maintenance that you can do yourself can save you thousands of dollars.”

He admits he has some worries about the way the transport industry is going, but remains optimistic.

“The industry has definitely slowed down, with the economy and the government starting to pull back funding on some major infrastructure.

“I have some concerns, but I’m lucky to be in a position where I have the contacts to keep working for the company I’m contracting to, to keep running even when jobs slow down.

“I’m hoping that they will be able to keep producing work, to keep this truck on the road.”

The Hino tipper and trailer ready to work

The Hino is a regular sight driving from Geelong to Melbourne

Baby Billy with mum Clare and dad Lewis

SAMS45FTDROPDECKMACHINERYTRAILER

2018,(3.50mtopdeck&9.50mdropbedwithbeavertail)leadtrailerforroad train,fittedwithcontainerpins,(20ft&40ft)ringfeedermounts,newair bagsuspension&newaxlesondiscwheels265x19.50/stud,new4mlong ramps,withnew12voltp/pack,allnewtyres,sandblasted&paintedready togowithQldrego(QldRWC).S196. TA1203056.

$79,500+GST

BARKERSAMS

2018,45ftFlattoproadtrainlead,fittedwithRingfedermounts,etc,fullset ofgates,toolboxes,dualtyreracks.ToolboxesETC,onspring&Rocker suspension.Allbrakes&wheelbearingsdone.Beensandblasted,painted, immaculatecondition,Allnewtyres,Cannotbefaulted.READYTOGOTO WORKNOW.S200. TA1207956.

$45,000+GSTwithQldRego

MACKCLRV8525

SpecialRebuildProjectHeavyDutyPrimeMoverV/8525h/pwith18 speed/Mackgearbox,Mack44,000lbsdiffswith120tonrating,alloybullbar completerunnerwouldsuitrebuildingwithsecondcompleteunitforspares, withheavyduty50inchMacksleeper/bigkingalloybullbaretc.S197. TA1203057.

Completeforbothunits$150,000+GSTONO(bequick, veryrare)

MACKTRIDENT

2013,doneunder400ks535h/p,12speedauto,pto/pumpinggear,mini sleeper,comeswithallnewtyresallround,110tonroadtrainrated,46/160 diffs,withxcrosslocks10studalloywheels,qrtt,qldrwcreadyforwork, PTO.Pumpinggearincluded.Cannotbefaulted.S191. TA1189342.

$155,000+GST+ORC

LUSTYREBUILTJRMDOLLYNECK

1994,fullhydraulicwidening,lowloader2.50mto3.60m(hydraulic widening)10.50mdeck,fullyrecon,hydraulicsuspensionoverall,newbpw /axlesfitted,allnewalloyrims,lowprofile255x70x22.50tyres,Honda powerpackforhydraulics,comeswithreconditioned2x4lowloaderdolly tosuit,fullycheckedoutwith4springsuspensionon9.75x17.50tubeless tyres*rims(85%cleanskinswit2xspares)capacityloadto45tonswhole package,withrego.S194. TA1203052.

$215,000+GST/QldRWCinc

DOLLYCONVERTER

2010,2X4Dollyhasbeenthroughtheworkshop.Allbrakes,wheelbearings &suspensioncheckedout,sandblasted&paintedwhitechassis/redframe, silverwheels,fittedwithallnewtubeless9.75x17.50tyres&rims,led lightsetc,dropinpins50/90mmpricedtogotowork,comeswithQLDRWC, readyforrego.S180. TA1167777.

$49,750+GST+ORC

DRAKE3X8UNIT

2001,TheunithashadafullrebuildbyReidEngineering,allsuspension /axles/brakes/wearpointsetc,Hondapowerpack,fullhydraulicwidening 2.5mt0to4.20mjustfitted100%newrubberallround/beenmaintained& servicedbyReidEngineeringregularly,coupledtofullyrebuilt2009drake2 x8dollycannotbefaulted&readytogo,availablebeforeXmas..S199.

TA1203061.

POAexBrisbanewithQLDREGO/QLDRWC

DRAKE2X8DOLLY

2009,Dollyconvertor,fullrebuild,&sandblast&paint(rubber95%avgall round)checkedoutfullyatworkshopincallbrakes,wheelbearingand hydraulics.90/50mmdropinpins,Newdieselpowerpackfittedwith4x spares,readytogo,ex/Brisbane.QLDRWC.S152. TA1130833.

$130,000+GST+ORC

Til death DO US PART

Sunny is the last surviving original B Model Mack owner in Australia

Words: Tiarna Condren

Images: Sunny Warby and Bruce Gunter

When standing up at the altar, you are promising to spend the rest of your life together. For richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to remain faithful, till death do you part.

Well, after meeting Sunny Warby and his 1965 B61RT Model Mack, it seems they have a better track record of upkeeping these vows than many married couples.

Since purchasing the Mack brand-new in 1965 when he was just 23 years old, Sunny is now the last surviving original B Model Mack owner in Australia.

Sunny’s love affair with Macks began in the 50s when he attended the Sydney Show grounds.

“There was a display of Macks from America with sleeper cabs and all that,” he says.

He was immediately impressed by the rigs;

unlike much he had seen before.

“I thought to myself, one of these days, I'm going to buy me a Mack.”

Growing up on a farm, Sunny decided to branch out from the family business and found himself working for United Dairies carting milk and doing various other services.

It wasn’t long before the urge to step out on his own took over, and he decided to finally bite the bullet and buy a truck of his own.

Needing guidance, he began to correspond with Norm Lee from refrigeration hauler company Frigmobile.

“I wanted to keep my options open, so I went and got prices on Mercedes, Foden, Internationals, MAN’s and Diamond Ts.”

“However, Norm just kept insisting I buy a Mack,” he says, “every time I came back he would say ‘look, just buy a Mack.’

“Looking back, the funny part about it is he was just trying to make a commission off me purchasing one,” he chuckled.

The shiny red Mack Sunny had his eye on had an asking price of 9,250 pounds (roughly $17,200 AUD).

“I paid 9,000 pounds for it. It was originally 9,250 pounds, but they gave me 250 pounds off because I didn't do a trade in.”

“I needed to have a 3,000 quid deposit and had to pay it off within three years. At 245 quid a month, you had to work pretty hard.

“When the boss would tell you what to do, away you'd go and do it,” explained Sunny. “You needed the money.”

The B-Model came complete with a 211hp

The Mack prior to start of restoration

Taken 49 years apart! They both still look well, even though both are registered as vintage now

The rig was completely stripped down

Slowly bringing back the cherry red colour

Sunny wanted to make sure the Mack shone

“It’s also got a 64 m/h diff, which should be around 108 km/h.”

Sunny was also persuaded to add on a pair of West Coast mirrors, a sun visor, blinkers and a turntable.

As was done back in those days, the deal was finalised with a smile, a handshake and after some convincing, a promise of regular work.

Sunny soon took up a job with Frigmobile, hauling the company’s own

“I used to go all over, wherever they wanted to send me,” he says.

“It’s a big learning curve going from a farmer to a truck driver.

“But the thing is, it's not hard if you set your mind at what you want to do.

“If you want to achieve something, you have to set your mind to that and if something goes wrong, just be determined and think positively.”

Sunny and his Mack travelled around

The team behind the makeover

Nearly done!

trailers and the trailers owned by Streets Ice Cream.

711 thermodyne engine and an 18-speed Quadruplex twin-stick transmission.

Australia for years, clocking in over 1.5 million miles.

“When I told people I’d had the truck since 1965 they would think I sounded a bit silly.

“A friend of mine told me that you should upgrade your truck every three or four years, but honestly I was pretty happy with what my truck could do.

“I achieved with my truck what I wanted to do, and I made a darn good living out of it,” he says.

After a lifetime on the road, Sunny decided to give the truck a much-deserved break and retired it to his shed.

As the years went on, despite regular maintenance from Sunny, the Mack began to show her age and was in need of a refresh.

“A fella said to me, ‘oh you should paint it all up and put it back how it was.

“And so we did.”

Restoring the rig was a team effort, using the help and expertise from Matt Stephenson and Mick Drew of MLS Truck Repairs in Riverstone, as well as David Chapman of Northwest Truck repairs, Steve Brown and Bruce Gunter.

“There was a little bit of rust in it, so that had to be cut out. They basically took the whole

thing apart and made it brand new again. It was a full restoration.”

Three years later, after having caught the resto bug, Sunny decided to spruce her up even more with a new paint job and chrome work.

One of the main goals was giving it back its cherry red paint, stripping away the old TNT colours and making it stand out once more.

“I got the mirrors chromed, and the radiator chromed, and I put a bull bar on,” he says.

“It was as flash as a rat with a gold tooth.

“Between you and I, it looks more flash now than it did when I bought it.”

Sunny now enjoys showing her off on the truck show circuit, with his wife saying the duo are both registered as vintage.

“It is a big thing when someone compliments you, it's like having a flash car,” Sunny says.

“It’s great to know that you have something that people think is pretty special.

“I appreciate what I've got. And I think I'm pretty lucky to still have it. And that's a big thing, that's a big incentive for me to get out of bed in the morning.”

It’s come a long way from how it was back in the day

Sunny with his pride and joy after the restoration

We’ve got a fresh new look, simplified search options, and thousands of listings to choose from.

Power HORSE

Words: Kayla Walsh

Images: Darran Bairstow

Darran Bairstow never wanted anything to do with trucks.

His dad was a truckie, and having seen how often he was away from home during his childhood, he wanted a different life for himself.

So he trained to become a boilermaker –but then the company he worked for closed down.

“After that I kicked around for a bit, doing a few little jobs, until Dad asked me to come

and drive a truck - just for one harvest,” he tells Deals on Wheels

“That was 33 years ago. I’ve been driving trucks ever since.”

Bairstow worked for his parents for over a decade before branching out on his own, starting with one truck and a few trailers.

He now owns a fleet of 10 trucks, carting grain and fertiliser in and out of Perth.

The star of the show is a light blue 2023 Mack Superliner with eye-catching

The Mack loaded up with trailers

Darran and his wife Carmen

airbrushing that has a bit of a story behind it.

“We live on a small, 180-acre property and my wife has Waler horses, which were the original war horses from World War 1,” he explains.

“My wife is also part of the 10th Light Horse Troop from Albany, they ride at Anzac Day and other special events with the horses in full kit.

“I was in the Army Reserve for three years when I was younger, so I’ve got a bit of military history myself as well.

“We decided to go with a horse theme for the Mack because my wife is into horses, and I’m into horsepower.”

Bairstow approached City Panel Beaters in Perth about creating the murals on the side of the truck, and they assigned the task to airbrush artist Wayne Harrison.

“He had done this type of work before, so I just gave him some basic drawings of what we wanted and left it to him,” he says.

“It has some extra details hidden in there as well – there's the coat of arms for the 10th Light Horse.

“It all came together looking pretty stunning!”

The Mack is now in the capable hands of Bairstow’s youngest driver, Ben Ward.

Ward came to the company with no experience driving trucks, but Bairstow was happy to give him a chance – and it’s paid off.

“I’ve trained him and he’s come up through the ranks, he’s doing a great job,” he says.

“We started him off slow with just a single

trailer and now he’s driving the road train, and he’s just about to step up to the B double and dog.

“I believe it’s up to employers to be training the next generation of drivers, to put that time and effort in.”

For someone who was initially reluctant to be part of the transport industry, Bairstow has become very passionate about it over the years.

“I just got hooked,” he says. “It’s a good

Serious horsepower is on tap in the 2023 Mack Superliner

The Mack has been photographed from all angles

industry, despite its challenges.”

The Dumbleyung man counts himself lucky to be based in WA, which isn’t regulated by the NHVR.

“Regulation is probably one of the hardest things that we have to navigate in the industry these days.

“I’d probably rather be in WA than other parts of Australia at the moment.”

However, he says the transport industry in WA faces its own issues.

“There are still regulations that we’re trying to get changed.

“I’m part of the Livestock and Rural Transporters Association and we fight to make the industry better.

“We want to make it a better job for those with families, so we can attract the drivers that we desperately need.”

Bairstow, who is a dad of three, says he tries

his best to be a decent employer.

“I started with one truck as an owner driver and put in a lot of hours and hard work to get my business where it is now.

“I remember what it is like to be out on the road.

"I’ve got a good fleet of drivers and I try pretty hard to look after them.”

As his line of work is seasonal, his drivers still have to work six days a week during the harvest – but generally he says they have a good work/life balance.

“I schedule my trucks so the guys get more than enough time for rest.

“Generally, I get most of the drivers home every night and they only work five days a week.

“You’ve got to look after your employees and remember that they are people, they’re not machines.”

The airbrushing on the side of the truck is a stunning tribute to the Light Horse regiments

2013,VolvoFH16 globetrotter,prime mover,600HP/12SP auto(120tonne),rated fullsleeperwithair+ wingkit.S175.

2013,2013MackMetroliner 8WheelerTipper Cummins,AutoG/Box,Bogie WithCrosslocks&DiffLocks, 10Studd,AlloyRims AirSusp,NewShephard HardoxSteelbody,TwoWay Tailgate,Airlock,NewElec MeshTarp,LEDLights,New Hoist&Body,2PacWhite, NewDriveTyres,80%Steer, PUPSBumper,T/Box& W/Tank,TwinREVLights& StrobeLights.S172. TA1153852.

2012,MackMetro-Liner,8 WheelerTipper,6Cylinder CumminsEngine,AutoGear Box,10StudAxles,DiffLocks +CrossLocks,New Hydraulics,NewBissAlloy SteelBody,NewPaint (White),TwoWayTailgate. S174. TA1153856.

RESLowLoaderDolly 19.54springsusp,2xspare carriers,dropinkingpinfull guards,90mmturntableon rear,LEDlights,2pacpaint, newrims&tyres.S134. TA1024432.

2013MackTridentBogieTipper

Keeping up WITH THE JONESES

If you’re involved in the transport industry, you’ve probably heard of Heather Jones.

With decades of experience in trucking, she has driven every vehicle combination you can imagine, from end and side tippers to oversized loads on 100-tonne floats.

But Jones is perhaps best known for her tireless work as an advocate, fighting for improved road safety and promoting heavy vehicle operation as a rewarding career opportunity.

Her passion for helping drivers who are new to the trucking industry get a foot on the ladder led her to set up the Pilbara Heavy Haulage Girls in WA.

There, she provides support and mentorship to new drivers through a unique, in-depth training programme.

Many of these drivers are women, and about 50 per cent of them have escaped domestic violence and abuse situations.

Jones says these women are some of the most inspirational people she’s ever worked with.

“Some of them are coming from the most horrendous situations,” she says.

“They are homeless, they don’t have anyone to look out for them, and they come to us.

“They get extensive training from us, they get a really good job, and they get somewhere to live as well, because if they need to they can sleep in the truck.”

“I also set them up with a mentor, who is usually a man. The reason for that is, they meet them and they get to know them and that reinforces the idea that not all men are like the abusers that they left.”

Jones’ training programme has also helped both men and women struggling with depression, including people who have

previously tried to take their own lives.

“Many of the people who come to us have been lost, they are looking for something to give them a purpose.

“We offer them support, we build them up and encourage them.

“We have watched them blossom and they are amazing, productive members of society now.

“I find it so rewarding because at the end of our training, these people have got a job within two weeks earning $100,000, $150,000 a year.

“You know you’ve just changed someone’s life.”

Jones says the motivation to offer a helping hand to new drivers came from a few different sources, including a personal experience she had when she was working for a company in Perth.

“The company put me in an American truck, and I hadn’t driven American trucks before, only European ones,” she remembers.

“When you’re a truck driver there’s an assumption that you know every single truck that’s ever been built, and how to operate every single knob and button, and every trailer configuration, whether it’s tippers or tankers or flat tops.

“That’s extremely far from the truth.”

The Harvey, WA native says she was thrown a set of keys and left to attach the truck to a dog trailer, without any help or guidance from her colleagues.

“Everyone had left the yard by this stage, and I was trying to work it out and read the gauges but all the words on them had rubbed off.

“So I called out on Channel 40, asking if anyone could help me figure out how to release the brakes, and about 300 people told me how stupid I was.

Words: Kayla Walsh

Images: Pilbara Heavy Haulage Girls Inc

The striking colours of the Western Australian outback in bloom

“I didn’t want anyone to have to go through what I went through that day, so I decided I wanted to train new drivers and help them.”

She also wanted to pay forward the kindness of a friend, who offered her a job driving trucks for them and allowed her to bring her children along.

“I had driven Haulpaks in the mines when I was younger but then I got married and had my family, which took me out of work for a few years.

“After my marriage broke down about 30 years ago, one of my friends gave me the opportunity to drive their trucks and bring my two young girls with me, as long as I promised they wouldn’t step out of the truck.

“That’s what really started my career, and I don’t know where I would have been otherwise.

“I feel I must pay it forward and every single driver that I train I ask them to pay it forward to at least one other person.”

Jones thinks it’s difficult for those without experience to break into the trucking industry, despite there being a major shortage of truckies in Australia.

“When the Occupational Health and Safety

Act came in in 2004, that took passengers out of the trucks.

“Before that, young people used to be able to do an apprenticeship as they were growing up, going out in the truck with their father or their uncle etc.

“There just aren’t as many opportunities for young people now, it’s harder to get a start if you don’t have any experience.”

While getting an entry-level job in the yard and working your way up seems to be becoming a thing of the past, Jones says inexperienced and unsafe drivers are causing havoc on our roads.

“By putting untrained drivers on the roads, we’re actually losing hundreds of senior, experienced drivers,” she argues.

“Experienced drivers are quitting because it’s too dangerous on the roads, there are too many drivers who take risks and they are causing serious accidents and deaths.

“I would like to see truck drivers being trained for at least a month before they are allowed on the roads.”

She says the in-depth nature of the training she offers at Pilbara Heavy Haulage Girls can often particularly appeal to women, who are

There's no missing the distinctive pink colours of the Pilbara Heavy Haulage trucks

statistically less likely to take risks than men.

“Women generally want to be trained well. They want to know how safe the truck is. They want to know everything about the trailers, and the braking systems, and how to load correctly.

“We teach them that. We cover everything from how wide the road is to how the construction of the road will affect trailers, to how to pull into a truck bay.

“We also talk about things like how to keep yourself safe on the roads as a woman. Like when Billy says on the UHF ‘Where are you pulling up tonight, Mary?’

“You don’t tell him! Because there could be 5,000 people listening to that channel.”

Though women still make up just 2.5 per cent of truck drivers in Australia, the mum of three thinks sexism in the industry is far less common than it used to be.

“The older generation, years ago, had the opinion that women shouldn’t be in the trucks unless they had a husband and they were a two-up team.

“My daughters’ generation, those drivers are much more respectful because they have seen their mothers go to work.”

Sharing her advice to new drivers, Jones says you’ve got to put your head down, do the work and leave your ego at the door.

“Don’t think you know it all because you’ve been there two minutes,” she says.

“Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

“You can always ask the older drivers, or there are hundreds of organisations that are willing to help new people to the industry, you just need to get in touch with them.”

Heather Jones and the Pilbara Heavy Haulage Girls' Mack

andrubberguards. Tri AxleRoadTrainDolly,AirBagSuspension,10SetAlloyWheels, GreaselessTurntable,AirWeightGauge,1.5mDrawBar,HydraulicFittings.NIL. TA1195082.

2010,AlloyBody,SetUpforQuadDog,ExCompanyFleetMaintenance withMackTrucksAustralia,MP8500,18SpeedRoadRangerGearbox,46000lbRear EndonPrimaxAirBagsSuspension,GoodCondition.6FMN12G56AD801715. TA1195099.

WESELOADMASTER 2021,Refurbished-2HeightDollyDrawBarpositions,newpaint

3AXLETRIAXLE AllcanAlloyBody,SteelChassis,TrisAxleBPWAxles,Spring Suspension,8.5mAlloyBody,ManualWindOutTarp,SpiderWheels.S23. TA1195087. $15,400(14000+GST+ORC)

Love LABOUR OF

A childhood present turns into an adult dream

come true

Words: Tiarna Condren

Images: Rhys Sheppard

The Mack’s chassis has been completely repainted and the cab and bonnet polished numerous times to get ultimate shine.

Rhys and his grandad

When you were eight years old, what did you want for Christmas?

For some it was Barbie dolls, or new clothes, maybe a Nerf gun to chase around your siblings with.

When Rhys Sheppard was eight years old, he wanted a truck. And not a plastic toy one, but a real one.

On one unassuming Christmas morning, his grandfather passed him a little blue box with a set of keys tucked inside.

“At first I really didn't know what it was. I was just starting school, so I thought it might have been my own set of house keys,” Rhys says.

“But that wasn’t quite what it was.”

Walking outside, it took Rhys a moment to register that his grandfather, John Sheppard had gifted him a 1978 Mack R600.

John is a third-generation transport driver and owner operator from Warrnambool. He owned multiple transport businesses and drove interstate for decades. Rhys always loved seeing the trucks pull up in his grandfather’s depot.

“It was always my favourite truck in grandad’s fleet.

The rig from back in the day

The plate reads the Macks name, “Just my Grandad and me”

The interior seats were upgraded, and custom floor mats were created for the rig

“Whenever it used to come in the yard, that'd be the first one I'd go to. It was the first one I'd want to try and wash or clean up or something.

As you can expect from an eight-year-old with no experience or steady cash flow, the restoration process took a while.

The R-series Mack was in very poor condition when Rhys first received it. Retired from John’s fleet, it had seen better days.

“I would work every school holiday and break on fixing up that truck. Every cent I had was going to it.”

“You can imagine how hard it is for an eight-year-old to earn money. I had to work for six months at a time without a single dollar in my pocket just to buy a set of rims to put on the truck.

Rhys says every holiday break it would be his goal to earn enough just to buy one new thing for the Mack.

“The whole restoration has just been a labour of love between myself and my grandad,” Rhys says.

“But that’s not to say there wasn’t heaps to do.”

Over the years, the Mack’s chassis has been completely repainted and the cab and bonnet polished numerous times to get ultimate shine.

“We put a new bumper bar on it, new rims and new mudguards,” Rhys says.

The interior seats were upgraded, and custom floor mats were created for the rig.

“We even put a twin exhaust in it, a light bar and two new horns.”

Rhys sneakily had a stainless string plate made up for his grandfather that goes in-between the mud flaps and on the front bumper bar.

The plate says simply - “Just my Grandad and me”.

Despite all the flashy additions, the Mack still has its original 285 Mack motor, purring as well as it did in 1978.

After a decade of hard work and dedication, Rhys and his Grandad decided to unveil their ‘labour of love’ at The Koroit Truck Show in Warrnambool in 2023.

“That’s our home show, that’s where Grandad is from. He knows everyone there,” he says.

“The reception we received when we unveiled the truck with all of his family and friends around, it was very, very special.”

Rhys and his grandfather now travel around and showcase the rig at numerous truck shows around Australia, most recently Castlemaine.

“I’m only 20 years old at the moment, but I am hoping to start driving in March 2024.”

The orange and white Mack stands out in the truck show crowd

ANDAST3 2022,DropDeck,Airbag, ATM45t,HydraulicRamps,3Way ContainerPins,45FtLength,Road Train.DD. TA820949. POA

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ANDAST3 2022,ExtendableDrop Deck,HydraulicRamps,RoadTrain. DDEX. TA820960. POA

ANDAST3 2022,FlatTop&DropDeck B-Double.FDAB. TA1085496. POA

ANDAST3 2022,DropDeckLT,Tare 7.65t,Airbag,Containerpins.DDLT. TA864656. POA

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ANDAST3 2022,DropDeckB-Double. DDAB. TA1072229. POA

ANDAST3 2022,DropDeckATrailer. DB. TA1085505. POA

ANDAST3 2022,FlatTop12Pallets A-Trailer.FA. TA1085502. POA

Muscle DAF FLEXES

Destined to make DAF a stronger competitor in every sense, Paccar Australia is intently ticking all the boxes in the lead-up to the launch of its highly anticipated XG models. Trial units are now running full throttle with several hard core fleets, among them Lindsay Australia. After sharing the steering on an overnight shuttle run, Steve Brooks filed this inside story on the evolution of a truck tailored exclusively for the Australian market

Words | Steve Brooks

If it’s true that all good things come to those who wait, then Paccar Australia’s people would be entirely justified in thinking they’ve waited long enough for a DAF with the muscle to rumble among the big players in the European cab-over class.

It has, indeed, been a long wait but in just a few months – most likely May –the Cumminspowered XG models will make their official debut and, in the process, mark that point where DAF finally has the muscle and the merits to be far more things to far more people. In effect, to step into the heavyweight ring with a top-shelf, high horsepower contender genuinely capable of going toeto-toe with the top toilers of Volvo, Scania and Mercedes-Benz. And ultimately, almost certainly, even have a crack at Kenworth’s classic K-series.

Whatever, there’s no denying XG and the flagship XG+ are exciting newcomers, designed entirely to fill the void which has seriously hamstrung the Dutch truck’s capacity to challenge its continental competitors in the top end of the Australian market. And in a broader corporate context, perhaps realise the potential Paccar’s global powerbrokers have long sought for the brand in our part of the world.

Still, it has been a long and occasionally rough road to this point, stretching far

deeper into DAF’s evolution than the ‘light bulb’ moment almost seven years ago when Paccar Australia’s brains trust first proposed the coupling of a radical new Cummins 15 litre engine with a completely reworked lineup of flash flagship models.

What we’re about to see in these new trucks is, in fact, a precisely localised version of an absolute triumph in revival and renewal forged over almost three decades.

It all stems back to a road first trekked in late 1996 when Seattle-based Paccar Inc. rescued a severely ailing DAF Trucks from what was almost certainly the corporate scrap heap, paying US$543 million for the Dutch truck and engine maker.

This was not, however, Paccar’s first venture across the Atlantic. In 1980, Britain’s iconic Foden became part of the Paccar portfolio but by 2006, after largely failing to ascend to heights hoped for, the Pommie brand was discreetly shelved. Yet while Foden wafted into obscurity, a rejuvenated DAF was careening its way back into commercial consciousness.

Nonetheless, economic analysts and industry observers in the late ’90s openly wondered about the DAF acquisition, questioning the wisdom of such a highpriced purchase for what was plainly a company teetering on the edge of extinction.

Lindsay Australia linehaul shuttle drivers Hayden Rogers (left) and Nathan Senenikow give the DAF XG+ a quick spruce before another Coffs Har bour to Sydney leg. Lindsay Australia is one of four prominent fleets putting DAF’s flagship through its linehaul paces

Yet, with the advantage of hindsight, it’s easy to suggest that analysts and observers alike failed to comprehend Paccar’s vision for DAF or perhaps more accurately, the conviction of Paccar Inc’s leader, Mark Pigott, to turn the tables on Europe’s powerhouse players.

Little doubt, Mark Pigott was on a path to take Paccar beyond Fortress America and DAF was the weapon of choice for what would become a determined assault on Europe and beyond. In 1997 he took the executive reins of Paccar Inc. following the retirement of his father Charles ‘Chuck’ Piggott, becoming the fourth generation of Pigotts to lead the famously profitable company and to put it mildly, he did not delay in sharpening a course which would make Paccar a truly global player.

In the US, of course, Paccar’s Kenworth and Peterbilt brands are household names and in arguably the corporate world’s most successful example of sibling rivalry, each brand has built formidable followings among North American truckers. However, not all American truck brands had done nearly so well and in the early ’80s, European giants Daimler and Volvo were quick to take advantage, building a US beachhead with acquisitions of several high profile but financially troubled truck makers.

Volvo started the ball rolling by buying White and later acquiring Mack via the Swedes’ takeover of Renault. Likewise, German giant Daimler didn’t hesitate to grab Freightliner and much later, Ford Trucks. Thus, under the guidance of European executives, the Swedes and Germans cut deep into the North American market and it would be immensely naïve to think Paccar hasn’t felt the pain of Europe’s incursion.

Even so, Paccar’s later purchase of DAF caught many by surprise but from the outside looking in and again with the clarity of hindsight, it was a stunningly smart move. Mark Piggott was masterminding Paccar’s lunge into the highly competitive European market based around a truck maker complete with its own engine production capacity. In fact, the engine aspect of Paccar’s purchase cannot be overstated with the remarkable acceptance of Paccar MX engines in all three brands –DAF, Kenworth and Peterbilt – on both sides of the Atlantic and beyond.

It took time, but Paccar’s acquisition and subsequent rebirth of DAF could nowadays be fairly ranked as the greatest achievement and most successful initiative in Paccar’s history, with DAF today in daily battle for

overall leadership of the European heavyduty truck market.

Obviously enough, it is a similar battle Paccar Australia aims to provoke with the addition of the XG and its premium XG+ partner.

DAF down under

However, facts and figures tell the story that DAF hasn’t yet come remotely close to replicating its continental conquests since becoming part of Paccar Australia’s portfolio in 1998. True, the last few years have seen improvement in the Dutch truck’s annual sales tally, with last year’s spectacularly strong heavy-duty market delivering DAF a 4.7 per cent stake of the sector on the delivery of 827 units, easily the best result in the brand’s Australian history.

Overall though, DAF’s Australian presence has largely fallen far short of corporate expectations since Paccar took control.

Why?

Well, long story short, DAF got off to a rough start in Australia. Really rough!

In pre-Paccar days, for instance, the brand came here as a fully-backed factory operation from the Netherlands before being unceremoniously offloaded to entrepreneurial types looking to cash in on the heavy-duty cab-over class: Former Transpacific and Western Star supremo Terry Peabody comes quickly to mind.

Worst of all though, early attempts by Dutch executives to make a mark in Australia saw formative models being carelessly sold into applications where they simply weren’t suited and subsequent shortcomings created a poor reputation which in some quarters has endured despite dramatic improvements under Paccar’s parentage.

Yet despite the drawbacks, including a

At the wheel. Comfort, road manners, switchgear functions and overall ease of operation are high on the list of likes from the driver’s seat

limited model range, the DAFs of Paccar have evolved to become far more appealing machines but typically perhaps, old opinions can sometimes die hard in the trucking game, not least in our neck of the woods.

But then, Paccar Australia hasn’t always been kind to DAF, either. Australia is one of the very few markets where DAF and Kenworth sell alongside each other and to put it as delicately as possible, the Dutch truck has not always fared well in Paccar’s local structure. Or as a salesman candidly commented some years back, “It’s a lot easier and a lot more profitable to sell a Kenworth than it is to sell a DAF.” What’s more, there’s no question some previous administrations at Paccar Australia were less than enthusiastic about the European truck, despite the urgings of head office in Seattle.

Fortunately, attitudes have improved dramatically over the past decade but more to the point, so has the brand’s reputation and reliability. Sure, Kenworth is king but within Paccar Australia, DAF is today recognised and accepted as the brand with the greatest growth potential for the company. In fact, it’s not so long ago that a family member of the vast Brown & Hurley dealership group remarked that the Dutch truck was accounting for up to 30 per cent of all its truck sales.

Simply stated, DAF has steadily filled gaps that aren’t always able to be filled with

Kenworth, notably in single trailer and rigid applications where the versatile CF range has made solid gains powered by Paccar’s MX-11 and MX-13 engines, the latter now pumping out up to 530hp and 2600Nm (1918lb-ft) of torque.

Therein, however, has dwelled the dilemma for DAF in the big end of the business: Simply not enough grunt! Try as it might with much the same MX-13 powertrain as the CF, the existing XF model just hasn’t had the performance muscle or market appeal to match it with the Swedes and Germans, specifically in the burgeoning linehaul B-double business.

As Paccar Australia sales and marketing director Michael Long commented several months back, there are at least 1200 European cab-over trucks of 600hp or more being sold annually in Australia and as things stand at the moment, DAF has no presence in that sector of the market.

This is, of course, a void Paccar Australia is particularly eager to end and the XG and XG+ with the all-new, lighter and markedly more powerful Cummins 15 litre engine are the keys to cracking into the big boy business where demand for heavy-duty trucks continues to set sales records and defy assertions of a downturn. Last year’s total of 17,569 heavy-duty deliveries, for example, was a new record few would have imagined following the previous record result in

Hayden Rogers. No hesitation in stating he’d be happy if they left him in the new DAF permanently

2022, indicating that Michael Long’s ‘1200 European cab-over trucks of 600hp or more’ may be now a tad on the conservative side.

Simply put, these are boom times and given the extraordinary interest in the new DAF flagship during a surprise appearance at last year’s Brisbane Truck Show, timing for the new model’s release probably couldn’t be better.

Yet after more than six years of fastidious engineering, intricate planning and extensive testing spanning the vast global networks of Paccar and Cummins to create a continental cab-over like no other, Paccar Australia is taking nothing for granted as the official launch of the new models now looms into view. Paccar’s local leaders know only too well that opportunities like this, moulding the features of the superbly equipped XG family with the most advanced big bore truck engine every created by Cummins, are a once-in-a-lifetime occasion.

Obviously, cab and chassis components of the new generation DAFs went through years of extreme testing prior to their European launch in 2021 and so, too, had Cummins put a huge effort into ensuring the durability and efficiency of the engine which has become broadly known as the M15. Australia, however, demands a great deal of its trucks – especially those at the top of the tree – and testing and validation of the cab and powertrain under real world conditions have been arguably more intense than anything ever before undertaken by Paccar Australia.

As the spearhead of DAF’s emergence from the fringes of Australia’s heavy-duty ranks to a level which at the very least is designed to challenge every premium player in the continental cab-over class, Bayswater’s boffins know as well as any that there are no shortcuts to success. More to the point perhaps, particularly given the brand’s history here, there’s the blunt awareness these top-shelf DAFs will need to be ‘on the money’ from the outset.

Test drives

In what is probably a case of stating the obvious, the entirely new Cummins engine is the most critical component in Australia’s XG program. Ensuring the engine’s reliability and efficiency continue to be top priorities and as we’ve reported in previous articles, detailed field tests saw engines installed in Kenworth K200s before the arrival and subsequent on-road evaluations of the first DAF XG+ trial units.

Despite being physically smaller and significantly lighter than the current

Cummins X15, the highly advanced newcomer boasts a considerably bigger bite and will hit the market in two ratings – 660hp with 3200Nm (2300lb-ft) of torque and a 600hp setting with 3000Nm (2212lb-ft) of torque. On the figures alone, neither rating will be timid in the tugging department.

However, the engine will be badged ‘Paccar’ rather than Cummins and reinforcing the corporate message even further, it will be painted black instead of the usual Cummins red. A move, in effect, signifying Paccar’s total control of the program which sees DAF electrical protocols commanding a powertrain stirring through ZF’s highly regarded Traxon automated transmission rather than the usual Cummins connection to an Eaton shifter.

As we reported in our November ’23 issue, we were fortunate to be given an exclusive

Lindsay Australia general manager of operations Rob Dummer. It’s early days but there’s ample faith Paccar and Cummins will get it right

DAF first entered the Lindsay fleet in 2015 with the versatile CF model, building a strong reputation for reliable, efficient operation in rigid, single trailer and local B-double work. Now, two XG models have been ordered

update on the XG program by Paccar Australia senior executives and the same day, granted a short drive of a fully loaded XG+ B-double trial unit on suburban and arterial roads around Melbourne. The truck was, in fact, one of four running around-theclock to notch up mileage and operational data before being delivered to high-profile fleets for intense duties in the real world of linehaul freight.

Typifying the new model’s initial specification, the XG+ trial truck sat on a 3.9 metre wheelbase and carried a gross combination mass rating of 97 tonnes. Importantly, it also carried fuel and AdBlue capacities of 1200 litres and 130 litres respectively.

Underneath was the 660hp version of the new Cummins stirring through a 16-speed Traxon transmission into a Meritor drive tandem on Paccar’s Airglide rear suspension, with disc brakes all-round.

While time behind the wheel was limited, it was at least long enough to form the view that over a set-back front axle, it’s an easy climb into the cab on well-placed steps, fit and finish appear finely crafted and gratefully, it didn’t take long to become familiar with the digital dash layout, major switchgear and control functions. Overall, first impressions of build quality and operational layout were undeniably positive.

The only dislike was the use of cameras and internal digital screens in place of standard glass mirrors. We’re told, however, that traditional glass mirrors will be the standard in production models. Wise!

We were, of course, keen for more time at the wheel but with the countdown to the new models’ formal release winding down,

we’ve had to wait a while. The intensity to streamline and evaluate every detail of the specification has been Bayswater’s top priority and it wasn’t long after those initial tests that trial units were deployed to several major fleets.

One of those fleets – along with Victoria’s Cahill and Dyer companies, and Nolan’s in Queensland – is Lindsay Australia where a 660hp XG+ is pulling B-double reefers on a linehaul shuttle operation between Sydney and Brisbane with the only scheduled stop being a daily driver change and fuel top-up at the company’s Coffs Harbour base.

Working under the fiercely pragmatic gaze of Lindsay Australia general manager of operations Rob Dummer, the truck had six weeks’ work under its belt when the goahead came to share the truck with Lindsay driver Hayden Rogers on an overnight return run of almost 1000km between Coffs Harbour and Sydney.

Originally from New Zealand, the affable 34 year-old father of three lives in Coffs Harbour and in six years with Lindsay Transport, has moved through the driver ranks from rigids to semi-trailers on local deliveries before starting B-double shuttle duties three years ago. He’s quick to admit liking the job that sees him home with his wife and children in the mornings before heading to bed and in the afternoons, stepping back into the truck when long-time Lindsay driver Nathan Senenikow arrives back in Coffs from Brisbane.

On this particular run, it’s early evening before we’re southbound from Coffs with Hayden at the wheel of a combination grossing 60.7 tonnes, loaded with Queensland produce and with little more

Conventional conjuring

Historically, the Dutch are an industrious lot with a liking for stretching the envelope, literally and physically.

Take this image, for instance, of a slick conventional almost certainly conjured from DAF’s new generation XF and XG cab-overs and currently doing the rounds among truck spotters across Europe.

On the face of it, you could be excused for thinking it’s something secret from DAF’s inner sanctum, but you’d be wrong.

As a close colleague from the northern

New DEALS

From cab-over to slick conventional. Latest of the Dutch ‘Torpedo’ projects, this one developed by a Dutch DAF dealer

hemisphere tells us, the Dutch have an interesting habit of converting cab-overs to what they call ‘Torpedo trucks’. Effectively, conventionals based on an existing cabover design.

In this case, and as the personalised number plate reveals, it’s a creation by Dutch DAF dealer Bakker Bedrijfswagens. But don’t hold your breath waiting for it to become a production reality.

Simply, it’s unlikely to happen but that obviously didn’t stop the dealer from conceiving and then going to considerable lengths to create the bonneted DAF.

However, this isn’t the first time a Dutchman has turned a cab-over into a conventional. In 2012, Dutch haulier A. Jansen Transport worked with his local DAF dealer to create what they called the XT105 model from an XF cab-over, all to celebrate the transport company’s 40th anniversary.

There was a time, however, when DAF was actually involved with conventional models such as the DAF-badged International Paystar pictured here in 1973, equipped with a DAF engine and later replaced by the DAF N-2500 series in a further development with International.

Fortunately, the latest ‘Torpedo’ at least looks far sleeker and more appealing than some previous shots.

Blunt bonnet. From 1973, DAF N-2500 was a joint development with International

Created to celebrate a Dutch transport company’s anniversary, the XT105

than 61,000km under the DAF’s belt.

Our first run in an XG+ was in this trial unit in Melbourne several months ago. First impressions were undeniably positive

The conversation flowed easily with Hayden declaring that while it’s still early days he’d happily stay in the truck permanently, adding that Nathan Senenikow holds much the same view. Comfort, road manners and practicality all rate highly, he insists, and there hasn’t been the slightest hint of a squeak or rattle anywhere.

Likewise, he cites easy familiarity with the various control functions and switchgear, particularly after early tuition on the model’s extensive features. Critically, the DAFs extensive suite of standard safety functions also figure favourably in this family man’s estimations.

Meantime, performance of the Cummins has been impressive, he remarks without hesitation. “Yeah, it’s going really well and getting better all the time as it gets more mileage. There’s definitely nothing shy about the way it pulls.”

The XG+ first arrived at the Coffs depot with almost 21,000km on the clock and since being scheduled into the fleet, has been notching around 10,000km a week. Asked about fuel consumption, Hayden simply scrolled through the truck’s on-board computer to reveal that in the previous 17,000km, fuel usage had averaged 2.1km/ litre, or a fraction under 6.0mpg in the old measure.

Kilometres rolled past quickly down the highway and it was easy to sit back as Hayden steered into the night, the engine pulsing calmly at 1350rpm with cruise control set at 100km/h. It’s quiet in the cab, but not so clinically quiet that you can’t hear or appreciate the healthy hum of the Cummins burbling underneath. It might be

PACCAR Australia is taking

for granted nothing

a totally different engine but the note has a distinct family resemblance.

However, one notable difference between this truck and the unit I’d driven a few months earlier in Melbourne was the transmission, with the Lindsay truck running a 12-speed Traxon shifter instead of the 16-speed version. At this stage it’s unknown if Paccar was simply trialling the 12-speed box or intends to offer both speeds but either way, partnered with the considerable grit and grunt of the livewire Cummins, the 12-speeder certainly lacked nothing in slick selection of the right slot at precisely the right moment.

The only other noticeable difference from the truck driven earlier was the replacement of digital mirrors with excellent glass mirrors. Again, a wise move.

Despite relatively few kilometres on the clock, the Cummins was responsive and strong, cresting the sharp Coolongolook climb in 8th gear at 1500rpm with road speed dropping no lower than 40km/h.

A few hours later, the longer and marginally tougher run up Moonee briefly pulled the truck back to 38km/h in 7th gear at 1800rpm.

Midnight wasn’t far away as Hayden uncoupled trailers at the Berowra siding on the old Pacific Highway and just minutes later, a northbound B-double set arrived and was quickly transferred to the DAF.

For the record, the on-board computer showed fuel consumption for the southbound leg of almost 500km at 1.9km/ litre, or 5.37mpg.

From here on, Hayden had his first run in the passenger seat but rather than the truck hauling produce, express freight bound for

Brisbane meant a modest gross weight of around 43 tonnes.

Clearly, the Cummins made easy work of the return run and behind the wheel, familiarity with the DAF’s various control functions was soon second nature. Just as first impressions months earlier were positive, so too was it easy to forge considerable regard for the DAF’s road manners on the highway back to Coffs Harbour.

Simply stated, the XG+ was a sweet truck to drive in every sense. Perhaps steering could be judged a tad too light but then, it’s certainly not so soft to be wayward. Meantime, there were no squeaks, no rattles, controls are well sited, the dash layout is pleasing and practical, ride quality and road noise on the perpetually cracked concrete around the NSW Central Coast raised no issues, throttle response of the Cummins was quick and strong, and overall, the XG+ trial truck gave the distinct impression of solid strength and inherent quality.

Sure, these are very early days but at the distinct risk of jumping too soon with a blunt opinion, this new DAF appears to have all the hallmarks that will allow it to do what it has done so successfully in the northern hemisphere; compete head-to-head with Europe’s finest top-shelf toilers.

Dawn was a hint of colour on the Pacific horizon as the DAF turned into the Coffs depot, the trip computer showing fuel consumption of 2.2 km/litre for the 968km run, or 6.2mpg. Either way, a highly respectable result.

With well-practiced routine, Hayden and northbound driver Nathan Senenikow soon had the truck refuelled, washed of the night’s bugs and grime, and heading to Brisbane, continuing to build the mileage and the credibility Paccar Australia is so keenly seeking as the new DAF’s debut races to reality.

An hour or two later, Rob Dummer would quickly peruse the previous night’s reports of all the equipment in the vast Lindsay operation, the new DAF just one among the many.

Cautious confidence

A man who doesn’t mince words when it comes to the estimation of all forms of transport equipment be it trucks, trailers or rail cars, Rob Dummer offers a shrewd smile when asked about the new DAF’s prospects. “Too early to tell,” he says simply. “Ask me again when we’ve put another hundred thousand kays on it.”

As for the point in the XG’s future when

a decision to purchase might be made, he says sharply, “It’ll need 500,000km under it before critical decisions like that are made. Price will be a deciding factor, for sure.”

Funny thing though, he admits that while Paccar Australia hasn’t yet finalised pricing of the flagship DAFs, two of the new XG models have already been ordered, due off the Bayswater production line in the next few months. Set to replace Lindsay’s only two Volvo FH models, a succinct Dummer says the DAFs will be “… a continuation of the testing exercise for us”.

Nonetheless, there’s no hiding the fact that Rob Dummer has developed a considerable regard for DAF since the first units joined the Lindsay fleet in 2015. In our exclusive feature report on Lindsay Australia early last year, he remarked, “We still have our original DAF and seriously, we can’t fault it.

“As a single trailer truck and eight-wheeler rigid, and even on local B-double work, we can’t go past DAF,” he said, referring to the 100-plus MX-powered CF models in the fleet.

However, as a linehaul B-double truck, DAF’s opportunities within the Lindsay operation have been basically non-existent. Until now!

In late 2022, Rob Dummer was among a group of Australian truck operators given a close look at the new XG range during a visit to DAF facilities in Europe. He didn’t deny there was a lot to like in the new DAF cab and the installation of the lighter, more powerful

New DEALS

Cummins underneath certainly fired his interest.

Meantime, while Lindsay’s early testing of the new Cummins engine in Kenworth K200s was effectively a first step with somewhat marginal results, it’s an upbeat Rob Dummer who admits to considerable faith in the long and mutually beneficial relationship between Paccar and Cummins and vitally, their obvious intensity to “get it right” in the new DAF.

“There’s definitely a lot at stake in this new truck for both companies,” he said recently, voicing a strong opinion that in a project of this scale with so much riding on its success, there’s little likelihood that anything will be left to chance.

Subsequently asked if the new DAF could ultimately be a preferred choice over Kenworth’s perennial K-series cab-over, a thoughtful Rob Dummer explained, “The DAF tares about half a tonne lighter than a K2 but even so, we’re not a big cab-over user

on linehaul and shuttles. There are about 340 prime movers in the fleet and right now, only about 30 of them are either K200s or K220s.”

Still, his close involvement with the XG program doesn’t disguise a cautious confidence in the future for the new DAFs.

Again though, he maintains that price will be a potent factor in purchasing decisions. Like, when asked last year if the top-shelf DAF had the ability to gnaw at Kenworth’s cab-over business, a shrewd Rob Dummer said simply, “Could be. The K220 is an expensive truck.”

Whatever, for Paccar Australia it has never been a question of DAF versus Kenworth. It is entirely about a clash of the continentals, with DAF finally having the performance, the appeal and the operational credentials to do what it has never before been able to do in this country. That is, go head-to-head, toe-totoe with Europe’s big boys.

Bring it on!

Key to the success of the DAF XG range will be the reliability and efficiency of the new Cummins 15 litre engine. Lindsay’s K200 was one of several early test beds

Mirror, mirror! Initially equipped with digital mirror cameras, the Lindsay test unit was swapped to conventional glass mirrors, though the front camera was retained to enhance safety. Wisely, glass mirrors will be the standard

90tairlinersuspension.S2551. TA1185879. POA(sellcompleteorwreck)

MACKTRIDENTCMHT 2017,mp-8engine,m-drive transmission,46-160MerritordiffsonPrimax suspension.S2548. TA1189136. POA

ISUZUFVD165-300 2021,doneoriginal300kms, DUALCONTROL,cabchassissingledrv.S2558.. TA1189138. POA

INTERNATIONALPROSTAR 2016,needsrepair,Cummins x-15engine,Eatonautoshifttransmission,46-160 merritordiffs,Primaxsuspension.S2562. TA1192667. POA

KENWORTHK200 2018,sellcomplete,needsrepairing CumminsX-15engineEatonrtlo20918gearbox,46-160 diffsonAirglide460.S2521. TA1181755. POA

KENWORTHK108

accertengine,eatonrtlo20918gearbox, airglide460,spicer46/170diffs.s2593. TA1204783. POA

KENWORTHK200 2013,cumminsisx egrengine,eatonrtlo-20918gearbox, airglide460suspension,46/160merritor diffs.S2595. TA1207838. POA

WESTERNSTAR4800 2004,Detroits-6014ltr engine,Rtlo-20918gearbox,Eaton462 diffs dual axlelocks,Airlinersuspension.S2559. TA1192639.

KENWORTHT-402TIPPER 2010,cumminsisx egrengine,18spdgearbox,Airglidesuspension, 46-160merritordiffs.Goodalloytipper.S2586. TA1202742.

FREIGHTLINERCASCADIA 2022,truckdone original35,000ks,Detroitdd16engine,Dt-12 transmission,46-160Merritor diffs onairliner suspension.S2549. TA1192637.

FREIGHTLINERARGOSY 2016,cummins e-5engine,eatonautoshifttransmission, merritor46-160diffsonairliner suspension.s2592. TA1207837. POA

KENWORTHT610 2022,cumminsx-15 engine,eaton fo-22e318b-mxptransmission, merritormt21-165gdiffs,airglide460 suspension.s2591. TA1207836. POA

FREIGHTLINERCENTURYCLASSCST112 2013, Detroitdd-13engine,Eatonautoshift,Airliner65t suspension,Merritor40-145diffs.s2585. TA1202745. POA

MERCEDES-BENZ2653 2017,needsrepair(sell completeorwreck)Mercedesom471engine, Mercedesbenzpowershiftg281-12transmission, Mercedesbenzrt440 diffs onMercedesairbag suspensionNeedsrepairs.S2570. TA1199433. POA

FREIGHTLINERCORONADOFLX 2018,Detroit dd15engine,Rtlo20918gearbox,Airliner suspensionon46/160merritordiffs.S2579. TA1199436. POA

2008,caterpillarc-15

MACKCH 2002,Mackea-7engine470hp,Eaton 18spdgearbox,Hendriksonairbagon46-160 Merritordiffs.S2531. TA1178008. POA

POA

MACKSUPER-LINER 2019,mp-10engine, m-drivetransmission,46-160merritordiffs, Primaxsuspension.S2566. TA1192641. POA

WesternStarcabinshell32inchsleeperglazednewcabin withdoors.S/N.SMP26.

t-409 , 2018 ‘low roof integrated Mack new breed cab shells with doors bare ( new)

cabs argosy / century class Cat ct-610 , 2013’ low roof integrated

range,usedworkshopchecked&reman available.S638.

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KENWORTHCABINSHELLS numerousnewbare cabinshells.Suitt-series,2daycabs,1 intergrated,1suitmodularbunk.S650. TA1185881. POA

MACKTITANTriDrive 2003,s-60,14ltr engine,18spdeatongearbox,Mackdiffs onnewaysuspension.Strid. TA1199440. POA

sleepercabinshellcompleteasperpicsellcomplete. SMP2. TA618821. $4,000

WESTERNSTARDAYCAB 2004,dropon,sell complete.S2277. TA1130000. POA

CUMMINSX15 SeveralCummins enginesavailablenow,x-15,e-5andisx

TA1173879. POA

KENWORTHC540 2008,sellcomplete. S540. TA1199441. POA

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Wrecking all makes and models

CHMACK

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VOLVOFL7 1988, BogieTiltTraywithlatemodeldead straight8.2mslidetray.Truckruns wellbutisrusty.Willselltray separately.#T1102. TA1199182. POA

HINOGD1J 2005, ExcellentJ08CUJengine,smooth changing6speedgearbox, tubelessrims,niceinterior,good doors.#T1021. TA1123937.

MITSUBISHICANTERFG6494WD 2004, Withturbo4D34dieselengine, goodgearboxandtransfer,5.71-1 diffsandgoodtipperbody.#T1057. TA1157676. POA

HINOBUS

BUSFORSALE$37,500

HINOFTRANGER4WD 1997, PriceReduced! showing,6speedgearbox,lotsspent

NISSANUDMKB37 2008, WithlowklmJ08Eturboengine& MLS6speedgearbox.(Cabsold). #T0997. TA1106490.

AlsoWreckingCW45CW46andCW70

NISSANUDCWB450 1994, WithexcellentPF6Tturbodiesel engineand13speedRoadRanger gearbox.#T1044. TA1157678. POA

MITSUBISHICANTERFG44WD 1992, Withgood4D34engine.#T1071. TA1167693.

Top money paid for damaged trucks and 4WD’s

ROSABUS

WRECKINGBUSES! RosaCoaster RangerCivillian EarlyT3500

MITSUBISHIROSABE64 2012, with4M50engineand6speed gearbox.Alsohaveearly4D34TAuto

IVECOSTRALIS

HINOFS1K

HINOFS1K 2004, withK13engine-runswellbut needsanECU,18speedRoad Ranger,6mtipperwithcattlecrate, RoadTrainrated.#T1100. TA1199183.

DUTRO

IVECOSTRALIS 2006, 8wheelerwithgoodCurser10 engine,manualgearbox,mreitor diffswithcross-locks.#T1094. TA1199184.

MITSUBISHIFV458 1993, verygood6D22engine!Late modelcraneandtipperbody.. #T1098. TA1207766.

HINODUTRO300 2018, withlowklm,N04CUSengineand goodautomaticgearbox,hasnice alloytraywithtoolboxes.#T0967. TA1065889.

ISUZUNPR 2023, 155HP4HK1engine,only1400klm, (autogerboxandtraysold).#T1104. TA1199181.

ISUZUNPS3004WD 2011, With155hp4HK1turbodiesel engine,goodgearbox/transfer,ROPS frameandheavydutybulbar. #T0761a. TA1081164.

HINOGT1J4X4 2005, withexcellentJ08CUM,turbodiesel engine,and6speedmanualgearbox withgoodtransferanddiffs.#T0944. TA1065907.

TILTTRAY

POA

HINOGD1J

4WDCANTERFG6494WD

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MKB37

CWB450

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4WDISUZUNPS4WD

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KENWORTHK104

CATERPILLARCT630

KENWORTHK100E

GERARD ELLIOTT

0417 523 300

27-29 Centre Road, Morwell, VIC, Australia, 3840 empireparts@dcsi.net.au

20 SERIES

18 SPEED R/R $5,500

RECO 18 SPEED R/R TRANSMISSION, DOUBLE OVERDRIVE $5,000

DETROITDDECIII fullreconditionednew headnewturboetc. Beenstartedandrun.6 monthswarranty.S22.

$24,000

DETROIT14L Series60fully reconditionedmotor. Hasbeenstartedand testedandcomeswith 6monthswarranty.Two instock.S13. TA1111168. $33,000

3208T CAT MOTOR ONLY DONE 6 HOURS FROM NEW. $12,000

DETROIT14LITRE 2002,Reonditioned Blockandheadfully done.Crankshaft Checkedturbo. 06R0739059. TA1171233.

$33,000

DETROIT871T Exfiretruckmotor. Doneagenuine17,000 milesfromnew.370HP. S21. TA1157915.

gerard-elliott.tradetrucks.com.au

DETROITDDECVI EGRmotor,1fully reconditionedlong DDECVlDetroitEGR motor.Recoblockand headwithfrontandrear cover'sandsump.With warranty.S17. TA1137305. $22,000

CATERPILLARC12 Reconditioned.Block MachinedBrandnew head.2KS59579. TA1171236.

KENWORTHT404ST 2004,Well maintainedtruck,hascatc15 with400kkmonarebuild,18 speedroadranger,Danadiffs

ISUZUFSERIESFVR900 Very goodcondition,reliablewith allaccessoriescostover $1000,JADFVD34R67000112. VIC. DIY1207133. 0459 579 398.

TAG-A-LONGQUADAXLE HEAVYDUTYFLOAT1/2005 Tag-A-Longquadaxle[all BPW,2steerable],one new, completewiththemultiple items, 6B9TAG4GR5BBEG015.QLD. 0417 112 666. $121,000

SCANIAR580

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ALLMODELSWELDFORM

2010,Truck Tray 6.4mx2.48m Excellentcondition,Na.QLD. DIY1207745. 0408 861 414. $10,500

0407 013 387.

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2008,ScaniaR5802008.Goodcondition.Ownerdriver,one driversincenew.WellmaintainedbyScaniatrainedmechanic, XLER6X40075169658.NSW. DIY1207547.

$203,500

BCICRUISER57SEATCOACH 2016,202,000k.m.inperfectcondition.Verywelllookedafter, servicehistorysinceweacquiredit,secondowner.Cummins enginewithZFGearbox.sellingduetoreceivinganewunitwith toiletrequiredforouroperations.,BS10OH.VIC. DIY1206053. 03 8750 0323.

2023,HIno/Kyokuto19metersqueezepump.BrandnewDirect from

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BYRNELIVESTOCK Wellmaintainedgoodconditioncattle leadandtagtrailerset.Serviceandmaintenancerecords available,viewingsinToowoombeQLD, 6b9tabbbwa2ac0661.QLD. DIY1206735. 0487 987 887.

ISUZUNPR45/155SWB

IVECOACCO2350G

2018

2015

2019

2015

2018

2018 HINO 300 SERIES

170 HP turbo diesel, 6 speed manual transmission, fitted with a steel tray top - 3600mm L x 2250mm W, 3 x tray mounted tool boxes, high/low range 4x4

2014 HINO 300 Series

170 HP TURBO DIESEL, 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION, FITTED WITH FACTORY TIPPING BODY3100mm L x 1900mm W (INTERNAL), ALLOY BULLBAR

Just $46,900!

Scan code to view, or call 02 9064 7200

2012 HINO 500 SERIES

280 HP TURBO DIESEL, 9 SPEED EATON MANUL GEARBOX, FITTED WITH A WOOD CHIPPING TIPPER, CHASSIS MOUNTED TOOL BOX, REVERSE CAMERA, CRUISE CONTROL.

Just $133,900!

Scan code to view, or call 02 9064 7200

2018 ISUZU F SERIES

260 HP TURBO DIESEL, 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION, FITTED WITH A STEEL TIPPER BODY, TWIN UNDERBODY HOISTS, 2.3 TONNE TOWBAR, REVERSE CAMERA, HILLSTART ASSIST.

Just $165,900!

Scan code to view, or call 02 9064 7200

Canter

Scan

2010 Isuzu NLR200S 4x2

2009

2011

2012

2008

2008

8m

8m deck, 1m beaver tail, 9 leaf spring suspension. Hydraulic checker plate ramps 900mm x 2800mm (can be made to suit customers specs).

7.5m

2023 FWR 3 Axle Dog Trailer

2023 FWR Elite Tri Axle Tag Trailer

2023 FWR Elite Single Axle Tag Trail-

2023 FWR Elite Tandem Axle Tag

2022

2 AXLE Dog

2023

2023

2023

2023 FWR 4 Axle Dog Trailer, FD2

2022 FWR Tri Axle Drop Deck

2023

2018

2014

2002

2019

2016

2015

2015

2013

2023

2022 Astra WT22000 Water Truck

New. Plantman 6x6, cab chassis fitted with ROPS, ASTRONIC transmission, 440 horsepower, Euro 5 turbo diesel engine, new steel water tank, ba led 22,000 litre capacity.

2023 Isuzu FVZ260-300 Plantman

DT16000

New. 6 x 4 bogie drive cab chassis fitted with ROPS, automatic transmission. A/C cabin, air suspension drivers east with canvas seat covers and tropical window tint.

2017 Scania G400 8x4 Service Truck

Twin steer cab chassis fitted with ROPS, factory GVM 50t, 228,250km (subject to change), 20,600 engine hours.

Scan

2005 Caterpillar 735 Water Truck

Serial Number - CAT00735JB1N00299,, current SMU showing 14365 (subject to change), mine spec electrics, used water tank (advised 30kl), PTO powered hydraulic water pump.

Scan code to view, or call 08 6336 7788

Turbocharged and inter-cooled 4-cycle diesel engine with upgraded exhaust retarder, upright exhaust, Allison MD World series 6-speed automatic transmission, safety interlock. Just

2013

Tray

2019 Custom Built Rear Tipper and Subframe

2011

2006

2023 Plantman DT16000 Diesel Tank

Chassis mounted diesel tank. Design code ADR2019. Eliptical shape barrel, manufactured from carbon steel SS400. Dished head (DD type) -shell ba

2023 Plantman DT6000 Diesel Tank

Chassis mounted diesel tank. Design code ADR2019. Eliptical shape barrel, manufactured from carbon steel SS400. Dished head (DD type) -shell ba le partition all 4mm.

2023 Custom Plantman DT6000 Diesel Tank

Chassis mounted diesel tank. Design code ADR2019. Eliptical shape barrel, manufactured from carbon steel SS400. Dished head (DD type) -shell ba le partition all 4mm. Just

2018 MACK

Tri axle, spring suspension, 10 stud rims. super singles. 385/65R22.5 wheels & tyres. Bolt in king pin. Holland landing legs. Rear stablising legs. Rear access ladder.

Bogie

10 pallet refrigerated curtainsider pig trailer. Bogie axle, airbag suspension, 10 stud rims, 11R22.5 wheels & tyres, Bartlett hitch, toolbox x3, water barrel.

Semi

1989 Marshall Lethlean Bulk Tanker

2008 Vawdrey Refrigerated

1987 J Smith & Sons Dog Tipper

2005 Marshall Lethlean

1983 Custom Lusty Vacuum Suction Tanker

Tri

2020 Panus Skel A Trailer

2010 Runge Bogie Car Carrier

Bogie

2010 Schmitz Cargo Bull Bogie

16

1999 Tieman Quad Dog Tanker

Quad

2001 O’Phee 41FT Flat Top

2001 SFX Engineering Plant Trailer

Two

2004 MAXITRANS 44FT 22 PALLET PANTECH

Tri

2001

Tri

2016

Tri

1994

Tri

2005

Tri

2008

33FT FLAT TOP

1887

2007 Barker 12 Pallet Dropdeck Curtainsider A Traiiler

Tri axle (BPW), airbag suspension (BPW), 10 stud hubs, chequer plate floorJost , 275/70R22.5 tyres & wheels, LED lights, toolbox, twin position king pin, jost turntable.

2005 Customquip 30FT Tri Axle Skel Road Train Lead

Tri axle (KHitch), spring suspension, spider hubs, 11R22.5 tyres & wheels, LED lights, twin position king pin, stabilising legs, road train Llead, ringfeder, 20FT container pins. Just $41,990!

Scan

2014 Vawdrey 20FT Retractable Skel

SN# 230512, tri axle (KHitch), airbag suspension, 10 stud alloy hubs, 11R22.5 tyres & wheels, LED lights, twin position king pin, landing legs, raise/ lower valve, 20FT container pins.

Scan

1981 Krueger 20FT Skel

SN# 230423, bogie axle, spring suspension, spider hubs, 11R22.5 tyres & wheels, LED lights, bolt in king pin, landing legs, 20FT container pins.

1978 Freighter 20FT Skel

SN# 230425, bogie axle, spring suspension, spider hubs, 295/80R22.5 tyres & wheels, LED lights, bolt In king pin, Holland landing legs, 20FT container pins.

1979 Krueger 20FT Skel

SN# 230424, bogie axle, spring suspension, spider hubs. 11R22.5 and 295/80R22.5 tyres & wheels, LED lights, welded king pin, Maxus landing legs, spare tyre carrier. Just $9,900!

Scan code to view, or call 03 9116 6693

1999 Freighter 22 Pallet Curtainsider

Tri axle (Hendrickson), airbag suspension (Hendrickson), spider hubs, J loader steel floor, 295/80R22.5 tyres & wheels, LED lights, toolbox x2, bolt in king pin.

Scan code to view, or call 03 9116 6693

2016 AAA Dropdeck with Ramps and Manual Outriggers

Tri axle (Fuwa), spring susp, 10 stud hubs, chequer plate floor, 235/75R17.5 tyres & wheels, LED lights, twin position king pin, jost landing legs, chain lashing points, hyd ramps. Just $69,990!

or call 03 9116 6693

We’ve got a fresh new look, simplified search options, and thousands of listings to choose from.

2011

2016

2006 Barker Semi 53 Skel

Bogie

2010

2003 Barker Semi 53 Bogie Skel

Bogie

New.

New 8.7m tilt tray truck. Available in civil or mine spec. Also available on a range of other cab chassis. In-house finance available. Compatible in 6x4 or 8x4. Just

2023

2023

2023

2023

2023 Isuzu FVZ260-300

New 6x4 auto diesel fuel truck. Trucks can be fully customised to suit your requirements. With mine spec options additional. 6 years factory warranty.

Scan code to view, or call 03 9116 6700

2009 Iveco ACCO 8,000L Water Truck

Approx. 101,000km with a brand new 8,000L water tank. Automatic water cart - Strongest tank on the market!

NO MORE RUST. Also available in 15000Lt, 13000Lt.

Scan code to view, or call 03 9116 6700

2023 Volvo FMX11

BRAND NEW 8x4 cab chassis with automatic transmission. Hot dipped galvanised. Also available in 3,0008,000Lt modules.

Scan code to view, or call 03 9116 6700

2023 UD Quon TT8700

BRAND NEW 8.7M tilt tray truckr. Available in civil or mine spec. Also available on a range of other cab chassis. In-house financing availability. Compatible in 4x2 or 8x4.

Scan code to view, or call 03 9116 6700

2012

2014

300 Series -

2017

2012

2008

2007

2013

620hp

12

420hp,

2023 BTE Alloy Grain Chassis Tipper

2ft6”

2003 Kenworth T950

2004 Volvo FM12

2006 Scania R420

Breathe easy

Workplace exposure standards for welding fumes are being strengthened – these tips can help you meet them

Work Health and Safety Ministers across Australia will strengthen workplace exposure standards (WES) for welding fumes, creating a new statutory maximum upper limit for the concentration of total welding fumes within a worker’s breathing zone when legislated in each jurisdiction.

The new WES for welding fumes not otherwise controlled by the standards is a time-weighted average of 1 milligram per cubic metre – cut from the previous average of 5 milligrams per cubic metre – over an eight-hour working day in a five-day week.

Safe Work Australia says welding fumes are a complex mix of hazardous chemicals, which can result in occupational lung diseases – including lung cancer – among people who are exposed to them.

With the changes set to be implemented, employers and other people carrying out a business or undertaking (PCBUs) will need to either eliminate or minimise the risks to worker safety that these fumes pose.

To do this, Safe Work Australia recommends that PCBUs identify the hazardous components in the welding fumes at their workplaces, either from the safety data sheets from welding rods used or air monitoring data.

It also suggests PCBUs assess work processes and the work environment, consulting with workers and reviewing any incident reports to find other ways to reduce the risk of exposure to fumes.

Local exhaust ventilation systems may help employers meet the new workplace exposure standards for welding fumes.

Image: Fotogrin/Shutterstock.com

Weld Australia recommends the introduction of at-source fume controls method, such as local exhaust ventilation systems like a hooded fume extractor or on-gun fume extraction - with any captured fumes to be filtered and exhausted into atmosphere, preferably outside the workshop.

Weld Australia also suggests personal respiratory protection such as Powered Air Purifying Respirators or air-fed helmets for welders, particularly where the welder’s head is likely to be near the weld plume.

Seeking specialist advice about workshop ventilation from an occupational hygienist, or another form of fume exposure monitoring will also assist, Weld Australia says.

The group is currently developing new online safety training courses for welders, welding engineers and supervisors that is due to be released this year, Weld Australia says.

Weld Australia CEO Geoff Crittenden says the group is revising its Fume Minimisation Guidelines for Welding, Cutting, Brazing and Soldering, to be released soon.

“Welding can and should be considered a safe occupation; when proper precautions are taken, welders have no cause to fear accident or injury,” he said.

“Safety must be taken seriously in the workplace, to avoid the risk of long-term impacts.”

Plant & Equipment

Lithium-ion battery forklifts are becoming more popular in China and parts of Europe.

Image: Ratchapon/stock.adobe.com

Charging ahead

The roll-out of lithium-ion battery forklifts is speeding ahead in China, but less so throughout the rest of Asia, according to a new report

Sales of new lithium-ion battery powered forklifts will overtake those of lead-acid batteries by 2030 worldwide, according to a report from a UK-based market research group.

Interact Analysis research manager

Maya Xiao, the group’s lead analyst for Liion battery and forklift research, predicts lithium battery-powered forklifts will become the top seller in China and parts of Europe by 2025, with Class 3.1 forklifts leading the way.

“By 2030, the global market share of lithium-ion models will exceed 50 per cent in all classes, and Class 3.1 will become the first forklift type to achieve over 50 per cent lithium-ion rate,” the report said.

Xiao also predicts that all Class 3.1 forklifts will be lithium electrified before 2032.

Along with China, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom will see the proportion of lithium-ion/ electric vehicle models sold exceed 50 per cent by next year, and by 2026 for the rest of Europe.

Xiao writes that the rapid pace of change in both regions is driven by their respective focuses on shifting to the new technology – with lithium-ion powered forklifts already popular in those places.

At the same time, the volume of lithiumion forklifts in Africa is expected to reach 50 per cent by 2029, primarily due to the dependence of the region’s market on imported forklifts from China.

More than half of all new Class 1 forklifts sold by 2030 will be lithium-ion models, Xiao predicts, except for Japan and South Korea, where local manufacturers dominate the market and have responded more slowly with lithium-ion electric vehicle models.

For Japan, South Korea and the rest of Asia, Xiao predicts that it will not be until after 2030 that most forklifts sold new have lithium batteries.

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