14 minute read
Trailer Builder
It’s O’Phee for me
QUEENSLAND-BASED JARRATT TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS HAS INVESTED IN FOUR NEW SETS OF O’PHEE B-DOUBLE FLAT-TOPS (ONE IS A DROP DECK REAR) THAT HAVE BEEN PUT TO WORK PRIMARILY CARTING FOR CUSTOMERS IN THE ENERGY AND PROJECT SECTORS AND BALES OF COTTON FROM NEW SOUTH WALES AND QUEENSLAND INTO THE PORT OF BRISBANE AND REGIONAL WAREHOUSES.
The long-standing and mutually beneficial relationship between The Drake Group’s O’Phee Trailers and Jarratt Transport Solutions means that when the time came to bolster the trailer fleet, Managing Director Phil Jarratt was more than happy to continue the tradition. The business is based at the Port of Brisbane. It’s an ideal location given the large volume of freight Jarratt Transport Solutions moves on and off the port including large quantities of cotton bales from regional areas – everywhere from Emerald in central Queensland to Hillston in southwestern New South Wales. Jarratt Transport Solutions took delivery of four sets of the O’Phee B-doubles late last year and will receive another four sets in May this year, ensuring the team at O’Phee Trailers is kept on its toes. Phil Jarratt explains that he and his wife Jodie formerly owned a transport company that at its peak was loading up to 200 trucks per day. They sold it in 2007, meaning this is their second time around. One important thing both businesses have in common is an all-pervasive reliance on O’Phee Trailers to get the job done. “We’ve never owned a trailer that wasn’t built by Mick O’Phee,” Phil states. “We used to run convertible trailers and we bought the first one built at each of O’Phee’s new premises at Rocklea. “Our first O’Phee trailer was bought second hand in 1990 and by 1997 when our business was really cranking, we bought three B-double sets in one hit. At the time the business was sold we had around 35 O’Phee trailers and six dollies.” Phil explains that they sold that business in 2007 and “took a bit of gardening leave” before resuming activities in 2011, although from then until late last year the operation was run entirely with a loyal team of subbies, who are still with the business. Seemingly indicative of the calibre of the earlier business, Phil says that all of his current drivers were working with he and Jodie in the earlier years. “I rang the old crew and they said, ‘we’ve been waiting 14 years for this phone call – we’re in.’ “I made five phone calls within a week and gained four drivers, and we have a line-up of drivers waiting to come onboard when we get the new combinations this year.” Phil says the key to the success of their business is open communication, along with respect and appreciation of the drivers’ and abilities, work ethics and skill sets. “They like the way they can talk to our Transport Manager, Ops Manager and accounts people, or they can ring Jodie or myself and receive the same interaction from each of us,” Phil says. In addition to having his previous drivers back, Phil adds that, “it’s pretty nice to be dealing with Mick O’Phee again.” Phil explains that in addition to being a valued equipment supplier, Mick O’Phee is also a very close family friend. “We might not be his longest standing client, but we are right up there,” Phil says. “I reckon over 30 years is a pretty good crack – we’ve never placed an order for a
trailer with anyone but Mick O’Phee in that time.” Phil says after the next four arrive in May there will be eight B-doubles, giving the company versatility to operate either single trailer or double combinations everywhere from North Queensland to South Australia. “We also have four road train dollies and lead trailers coming through which will enable us to run four road trains and four B-triples,” he says – adding that this will assist with the necessary shifting of large volumes of cotton and other freight tasks in a short period of time. As for the prime movers, Phil says it’s Kenworth all the way. “I have a really good business relationship and personal friendship with Scott Walters, the Dealer Principal at Brown and Hurley, Kyogle, and we buy all of our trucks there,” Phil says. “Our latest units are T610 SARs and they are beautiful trucks. “I might not be the easiest bloke in the world to deal with but I’m very loyal to the companies that have stood by us through the good and not so good times,” he says. Alluding further to this, Phil says he insists on absolute commonality between every truck and trailer in the fleet, right down to the smallest detail. He says that one of the latest prime movers he bought had to have the lights replaced because they weren’t the same as the others. “With our earlier business both Kenworth and O’Phee had to respectively repaint a truck and a trailer because they weren’t the right colours,” he says. “They only did it once though.” Phil concludes that it is exciting to be building the fleet again and resuming the purchase of O’Phee trailers and dollies which, much like the relationship between the two companies, are built to stand the test of time.
Fast Fact
Now an integral part of The Drake Group, O’Phee Trailers has been building top-notch trailers and dollies for clients like Phil and Jodie Jarratt for well over 30 years.
Contact
The Drake Group of Companies 19 Formation St Wacol QLD 4076 Ph: 07 3271 5888 Web: www.thedrakegroup.com.au
A commitment built on experience
MID WEST TRANSPORT SERVICES RECEIVED ITS FIRST CIMC TRAILER A DECADE AGO. QUALITY BUILD, GOOD SERVICE AND COMPETITIVE PRICING MEANT MID WEST’S FOUNDER DENNIS LARSEN DIDN’T SHOP AROUND BEFORE CHOOSING TO STICK WITH CIMC FOR HIS BULK HAULAGE NEEDS.
With an annual fl eet average of 1.8 million kilometres, in both metro and country applications, Mid West’s fl eet gets a fair bit of workout. Construction freight application means its fl eet is moving on busy city streets or long distance on regional roads. However, after over 36 years in the industry, Dennis Larsen, who is the Managing Director of Mid West, knows exactly what works for his business and the different applications. Mid West Transport Services is a familyowned business, operating from the western Sydney suburb of St Marys for over 20 years. The business specialises in distribution of dangerous goods, construction equipment and general freight throughout Sydney and regional New South Wales. “Our current fl eet includes nine trailers, seven prime movers and 33 rigids,” Dennis
says. “We operate a single brand for each application. We prefer to stick to a brand that we know about and that works for us instead of swapping and changing all the time. We currently have eight CIMC trailers, with more to be delivered in June this year. “We’ve had a good run with the CIMC trailers. There has mainly been general servicing for our fl eet, with no major issues so far. Apart from quality, the other aspects that made us stick with the brand are that these trailers are competitively priced, and we’ve also not had any warranty issue over the years. “We have a mixture of different types of trailers including tautliners, fl at tops, drop decks, and extendables. Our fl at decks, drop decks and extendables are mainly used with the construction industry, hauling anything from lifts, escalators, scaffolding and other construction-related goods and equipment. Meanwhile, our tautliners are used in general freight applications.” The business took delivery of a new 45’ fl at deck CIMC trailer in February last year. Since then the trailer has been hard at work moving anything from a full truck load of dangerous good to a full load of lifts, escalators, other construction items within the Sydney metropolitan area and regional New South Wales. CIMC’s fl at deck trailers are built for a wide range of applications such as bulk and general freight haulage, container cartage, and road train operations. CIMC products are designed to meet customers’ needs with a special emphasis on design, durability, low tare weights, resale values and reduced maintenance costs. CIMC fl at decks are fi tted will a long list of standard inclusions such as container pins, gates, toolboxes, winches and tow coupling provision. “When I moved into the trailer market, I started buying CIMC and I was happy with the delivery times, sales, service, and the product itself,” Dennis says. “All our orders have turned up on time, there have been no warranty issues whatsoever, the chassis is solid, and the trailers have performed well in the areas they are assigned to, so we’re happy with the brand and its products overall.
Contact
CIMC Australia Web: www.cimc.com.au Ph: 1300 202 462
New horizons
PROUDLY OPERATING AS A DYNAMIC AND QUALITY-DRIVEN BUSINESS, HELENSBURGH-BASED AAA TRAILERS PROVIDES CUSTOM-DESIGNED TRAILING EQUIPMENT THROUGHOUT AUSTRALIA. TO MEET GROWING DEMAND, THE UP AND COMING TRAILER BUILDER HAS EXPANDED ITS NATIONAL FOOTPRINT.
With more than a decade’s worth of transport expertise, AAA Trailers specialises in delivering truck and trailer solutions. Its fitto-purpose products include drop decks, flat decks, low loaders, wideners, extendables and tankers. The designs accommodate for length, weight and shape, with most freight layouts being catered for. Built to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications’ Australian Design Rules (ADRs), AAA Trailers’ road transport equipment is constructed by highly skilled technicians who take pride in a job well done. Incorporating rigorous evaluation of each trailer into its work practice, AAA Trailers produces reliable gear that adheres to the ADRs’ core focus of vehicle safety, anti-theft and emissions. With solutions supporting a wide range of freight hauling and transport industries, the trailer builder understand the importance of ensuring its trailers can adapted for a variety of industry applications. The business-conscious company use Australian materials in its builds and places a strong focus on supporting local business. Offering genuine products at affordable prices, the company has earned the respect of customers and developed meaningful business relationships around the country. As an established brand in the market, AAA Trailers emphasises longevity and safety with the fitment of Electronic Braking Systems (EBS) on each trailer. EBS adds an extra level of safety due to its predictive nature, which can detect if the vehicle will roll and in some cases slow down engine speed. With
accountability being a driving factor for the company, a warranty system is also included in each sale. Making business with AAA Trailers an even smoother experience, the company registers its trailers for sales within New South Wales. Additionally, supplying a brown slip and weight certificate allows the manufacturer’s customers the peace of mind their trailer is good to go from the moment it is put into service. By having a continuous stock of equipment, AAA Trailers provides a rapid turnaround which is most desirable in this current climate. Acknowledging wait times are not ideal when it comes to transport, the team is committed to providing a seamless experience that ends with a ready-to-go vehicle. The brand has the unique ability to professionally manage an entire fleet thanks to the variety in application of their trailers, which has put the business in a good stride to expand. Customer feedback has enabled the business to grow at a rapid rate and is a result of a dedicated, friendly and approachable group of staff who know how to get the best result for the job. Thanks to the increased flow of business, AAA Trailers have been able to open a brand-new branch based in Perth, Western Australia. Welcoming Evan Arnold as the Western Australian Branch Manager, the new site offers over 20 styles of customerdesigned semi-trailers. Located in Canning Vale on a massive 6,000 square metre site, the branch provides access to major truck routes In the metropolitan area. The team at AAA Trailers are excited to begin working with more clients across the western region of the nation, and believe the expansion will create a convenient hub for new and returning clients.
Contact
AAA Trailers 159 Walker St Helensburgh NSW 2508 Ph: 02 9188 3322 Web: www.aaatrailers.com.au
Delivering better payload with BTE trailers
BULK TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT RECENTLY DELIVERED A FIVE-AXLE DOG TRAILER WITH GRAIN HAULAGE SPECIFICATIONS TO VICTORIAN-BASED MCCLINTOCK TRANSPORT SERVICE. AT 42.5 TONNES/65-CUBED-METRE PAYLOAD, THE TRUCK AND TRAILER COMBINATION HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO OFFER A LIGHTER TARE WEIGHT AND GREATER PAYLOAD AS THE FLEET BRANCHES OUT INTO BULK COMMODITY HAULAGE.
Safety, compliance and maintenance was top of the list for Blair – McClintock Transport Service (MTS) Director – when he moved to Bulk Transport Equipment (BTE) for trailer bodies in 2018. For the last 10 years MTS has been primarily involved in civil infrastructure in Melbourne and regional Victoria, with the business transitioning into long distance bulk haulage. In the past fi ve years, BTE has engineered several complete truck and trailer units for MTS – including two Performance-Based Standards (PBS) approved four-axle dog tippers and trailers, and the new fi ve-axle bulk body tipper and dog trailer. Built using BTE’s high-strength aluminium, the dog trailers provide lightest tare weight with class-leading durability. The trailers
Performance-Based Standards (PBS) high productivity combination.
Five-axle dog trailer.
are produced with aluminium quarry spec bodies, and feature quicksilver liners for quick release and abrasion resistance, and load cell scales. Blair is particularly pleased with the engineering behind the load cell scale system in the trailers, which makes it easy to maintain compliance and legal requirements. The latest fi ve-axle dog is a grain spec trailer that will be used to transport wheat, canola, barley and fertiliser, with the lighter tare weight offering payload effi ciency. “From engineering to the build, and fi nish – BTE have done a fi rst-class job,” Blair says. “In the last 10 years, we’ve built a total of 12 units with fi ve different manufacturers and the end result of the trailers by BTE is by far the most superior”. From production to aftersales, BTE continues to offer extensive support to Blair and the team. “I cannot speak more highly of Darren Jean, who is my direct contact at BTE – nothing is too much of a hassle for him,” he says. Blair runs the day-to-day operations of the business, along his wife, Amanda Dow, who looks after the backend, that includes compliance, fi nance marketing and administration. “We are heavily focussed upon compliance and maintenance within our operation – if the vehicle is not compliant, it is removed from service,” Blair says. “Full maintenance agreements are in place with Scania, which is imperative as it effectively becomes an extension of our business in meeting our chain of responsibility obligations.” No doubt, BTE trailer bodies are a perfect fi t for McClintock Transport Service.
Contact
Bulk Transport Equipment Web: www.bte.net.au Ph: (03) 9794 0313
