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ARTICLES
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From the Editor’s desk
Let’s talk robots
When considering what a future with robots could look like, for some, the picture of Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Terminator causing destruction in his quest to find and eliminate Sarah Connor may come to mind. Although the technology that I’d like to discuss isn’t quite as menacing.
In order to enhance productivity, efficiency and precision, welcoming robotics into the manufacturing industry is becoming more and more critical. The technology has the potential to transform our industries by contributing to advanced manufacturing abilities, cost savings and workplace safety while also supporting the transition to net zero. Some believe it could combat the everlasting issue of workforce shortages as well.
The smart technology already plays an important role in many sectors – whether it be in harvesting crops and monitoring environments, or in our neck of the woods, welding and manufacturing in production lines. Though, their implementation on a much larger scale could see significant economic benefits. The Australian Government reports automation could add up to $600 billion per annum to Australia’s gross domestic product and increase productivity growth by up to a whopping 150 per cent.
Officially endorsed by the VTA
That being said, the Government has published Australia’s first ever National Robotics Strategy and has set out its vision to unlock the vast advantages
that the technology can provide.
The strategy is essentially looking to position Australia as a world leader in developing, manufacturing and using responsible robotics and automation technologies. It aims to support Australian industries in maturing and using the technology to strengthen competitiveness, boost productivity and support local communities.
Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic, who released the strategy, said countries such as Germany and Japan which have invested in automation have been able to keep jobs and industries onshore in a competitive global environment.
Down under, he claims the machines will be important ingredients in helping the country sharpen its advanced manufacturing edge and grow secure jobs.
“Our strategy shows how we can develop our competitive strengths using these technologies, leveraging what we already do well,” he said.
As Sarah Connor noted in the second Terminator film, “The unknown future rolls toward us.” With a plan in place to increase the presence of robotics within Australia’s industries, it’s certainly interesting to imagine what factories and workshops could look like in the next 20 years.
Business partnerships, people movements, developments that bolster freight productivity and more.
24 Economy
Rio Tinto’s project is expected to position Western Australia at the forefront of the global effort to reduce emissions in the steel industry.
26 Refrigerated transport equipment
See the latest cold chain technologies in road transport.
32 Container equipment
Hammar is celebrating the 50th anniversary since Bengt-Olof Hammar founded the company and developed its first sideloader.
34 Fifth wheels
KS Easter is rolling JOST’s Loc-Light sensor system out across its entire fleet on all of its fifth wheels.
36 Weighing systems
Several suppliers weigh in with their services and solutions.
42 Trailer builder
Australia’s trailer manufacturing industry is as strong as ever.
46 Trailer building materials/components
A showcase of the products and services that keep trailers on the move.
56 Infrastructure Spotlight
What you need to know about Australia’s biggest road projects this month.
58 World map
Engineers in West Lafayette, Indiana, are changing the way electric commercial vehicles are charged.
60 Fleet of the month
Membrey’s Transport & Crane Hire Director, Craig Membrey, celebrated his 60th birthday with the purchase of new fleet equipment.
62 What’s on Upcoming
Centurion announces Healthy Heads partnership
Centurion has partnered with Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds (HHTS), a notfor-profit foundation for mental health and physical wellbeing in Australia’s road transport, warehousing and logistics sectors.
The collaboration underscores Centurion’s commitment to creating a safe and supportive workplace environment for its team members.
In a statement online, a Centurion spokesperson said HHTS’ mission aligns perfectly with Centurion’s values and
dedication to employee wellbeing.
“Centurion believes that its people are its greatest asset,” the spokesperson said.
“By partnering with Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds, the company is taking a significant step towards ensuring that its team has access to top-notch resources for maintaining both mental and physical health.”
HHTS provides a national approach to enhancing the lives of individuals within the industry.
It focuses on delivering essential tools,
Silk Logistics Holdings CEO steps down
Silk Logistics Holdings CEO and Managing Director, Brendan Boyd, has decided to retire from his current executive role due to medical reasons.
Boyd stepped down earlier this year on 22 May but is continuing to support and advise the company, providing stability and a valuable source of customer, industry and operational knowledge in his new non-executive Director role.
“On behalf of the Board, I would like to extend our appreciation to Brendan for his exemplary service to this company over the past 13 years,” said Silk Logistics Holdings Chair, Terry Sinclair.
“As co-founder and CEO, he successfully guided the company through a prolonged period of growth and transformation.
“We will continue to value and benefit
from Brendan’s ongoing presence and the depth of experience and the insights that he is able to provide, as a non-executive Director.”
Accordingly, the Board also announced co-founder and current Executive Director and Chief Customer Officer, John Sood, as Boyd’s successor.
“Brendan’s early retirement triggers the Boards’ established succession plan, which will see John transition seamlessly into his new role as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer,” Sinclair said.
“John brings exceptional sector experience, having worked alongside Brendan through all the company’s key milestones from the company’s inception, including its 2021 Initial Public Offer.
“Silk’s priority remains the continued
resources and programs designed to foster psychologically safe and healthy working environments.
The foundation’s initiatives include practical tools and resources that cater to businesses of all sizes, aiming to support both mental and physical health.
“By partnering with Healthy Heads, Centurion is embedding a culture of wellbeing within its organisation, ensuring that its workforce has access to the best possible support,” the spokesperson said.
growth and success of the company and our succession plan ensures our strong leadership team will continue to guide the company in order to meet its strategic goals.”
Image: Centurion.
Image: Silk Logistics
Silk Logistics Holdings Managing Director and CEO, Brendan Boyd.
Victoria 13-21 Bliss Court, Derrimut VIC, 3026
Tel -(03) 9369 0000
Queensland 1/15 SeeanaPlace, Heathwood QLD, 4110
Tel -(07) 3372 2223
Western Australia 5 Freight Road, Kenwick WA, 6107
Tel -(08) 9350 6470
Pacific National Managing Director resigns
Pacific National Managing Director and CEO, Paul Scurrah, has announced his resignation.
In a statement online, Scurrah confirmed he will step down as of 31 December 2024.
“This decision has not been an easy one for me, as leading this remarkable company has been a highlight of my career,” he said.
“However, after much reflection and consideration, I have come to the conclusion that it is the right time for me to handover to a new CEO who can continue to build positive momentum and ensure Pacific National continues on its journey to realise its enormous potential.”
Joining Pacific National in April 2021,
Scurrah embraced the challenge of navigating the business through the Covid-19 pandemic, focusing on stabilising the company, restoring customer confidence and establishing a culture reflective of a modern and progressive company.
Importantly, he also oversaw Pacific National strengthen its safety culture.
This recently saw the business champion a national awareness campaign on the dangers of level crossings, honouring colleagues who tragically lost their lives earlier this year when a truck collided with their train.
Scurrah extended his gratitude to the
Pacific National team, saying that their ‘unwavering commitment and drive’ will ensure Pacific National remains on the path to success.
“I am proud to say we have made great progress and take particular pride in the team that I have built around me,” he said.
“I am extremely grateful to the Board and shareholders of Pacific National and to our loyal customer base.
“I feel privilege to have lead the wonderful Pacific National people and appreciate the contribution each member of the team makes.
“Thank you all very much for your continued support.”
Image: Pacific National.
Pacific National Managing Director and CEO, Paul Scurrah.
Qube makes $332.5 million terminal acquisition
Qube subsidiary, Australian Amalgamated Terminals (AAT), has entered a binding agreement to acquire Melbourne International RoRo & Automotive Terminal (MIRRAT).
The total consideration for the acquisition is around $332.5 million (plus stamp duty and other costs) which will be funded from Qube’s available, undrawn debt facilities.
Following the completion of the acquisition, Qube intends to rebrand the MIRRAT business to the AAT brand.
According to Qube, MIRRAT is the only dedicated roll-on, roll-off terminal servicing the Victorian market. Spanning around 35 hectares, the MIRRAT facility features three berths, a 120-tonne gantry crane, 8,000 square metres of
undercover storage and two quarantine wash bays.
It also holds a 6 Star rating from the Green Building Council of Australia.
Automotive volumes, which represent the majority of the cargo serviced at MIRRAT, are serviced by 14,500 openair car slots on site and the business is expected to continue to benefit from growing imported car volumes (generally linked to population growth and vehicle turnover).
MIRRAT operates on a similar basis to AAT’s other terminals in Port Kembla, New South Wales, and Fisherman Island, Queensland, and is regulated by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) under an Undertaking pursuant to section 87B of
the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth).
“As the only dedicated roll-on, roll-off terminal servicing the Victorian market, MIRRAT plays a critical role in the Victorian and national economy,” said Qube Managing Director, Paul Digney.
“As a leading Australian logistics provider, Qube is delighted to acquire this highquality asset, which plays a critical role in efficient import and export automotive supply chains.
“This is a business Qube knows well, recognising that MIRRAT shares a common underlying customer base with AAT.”
Completion of the acquisition is conditional on ACCC and Port of Melbourne approval and is expected to complete in early FY25.
NHVR advice to bridge gap for livestock parties
Regulatory advice from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) aims to improve safety, efficiency and sustainability for Australia’s ‘dynamic’ livestock industry.
NHVR Chief Safety and Productivity Officer, David Hourigan said, unlike other sectors, the livestock industry isn’t always formalised, with many agreements for transporting livestock taking place on an ad-hoc basis.
“It’s a dynamic industry, with scheduling often dictated by immediate needs like upcoming sales or abattoir scheduling,” he said.
“There are additional challenges, like the need for thorough cleaning of stock crates, which not only affects biosecurity
and animal welfare but can also contribute to significant delays for drivers, impacting their rest and overall fatigue management.
“With our new regulatory advice, we’re looking to bridge these gaps and ensure all parties, from primary producers to transport operators to facility owners to stock agents, understand their responsibilities.”
The NHVR’s regulatory advice aims to improve safety and simplify and demystify the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) primary duty and Chain of Responsibility (CoR), focusing on specific topics or industry sectors.
This advice provides information that assists the livestock industry with:
• Clarifying who within the livestock
industry is a party in the CoR and what they need to do to meet their HVNL obligations.
• Understanding the risks associated with livestock transport activities.
• Identifying how collaboration between CoR parties can help manage risks.
• Understanding what each CoR party should do to manage risks.
• Ensuring that each party is doing everything reasonably practicable to maintain safety.
The regulatory advice is accompanied by additional educational material intended to raise awareness among livestock industry workers who may not know that their actions or inactions can impact the safety of livestock transport.
JOST recognises Stewart Lamb’s service milestone
JOST Australia has acknowledged one of its long-term employees, Stewart Lamb, who is celebrating 30 years at the company.
A then motorbike and now mountain bike enthusiast as well as a dedicated Area Sales Manager, Lamb began his career in 1994 with a small team in Sydney as a tradie specialising in boiler making and welding.
Considered an established jack-of-alltrades leader, he honed his skills across various roles, playing a key part in several projects across the company attributing to JOST’s growth over the past 30 years.
General Manager of the Sales and Marketing team, Corey Povey, emphasised the importance of the attitude Stewart has brought to his roles over the years and the significant impact he has had to the growth of the company.
“Stewart has what I call an old school
mentality, he is one of those hands-on people, he teaches you and always lends a helping hand,” he told Trailer
“He won’t tell someone what to do and instead he will mentor them and take them through the process of how something works.
“It’s this kind of attitude that has made him such a valuable employee here at JOST.”
Continuing to inspire those around him with his can-do attitude, Lamb is highly regarded across the company as he embodies his passion for the industry through his unwavering commitment to service and support, both internally and externally.
“He takes pride in making sure that we are delivering on our core values and delivering customer service excellence to all our valued customers.
“He really appreciates the challenges that the transport industry dishes up at times and loves being the ‘go to’ person within JOST when someone needs help,” Povey said.
“He sets a great example for any new employee joining JOST, and he’s not only a great role model but an example of being able to work your way up within a business with the right attitude and work ethic.
“My job is made easier with people like him on our team.”
50 YEARS AND BEYOND
Hammar is the world leading manufacturer of Sideloaders, self-loading vehicles for containers and more, able to handle up to 50 metric tonnes. A versatile solution for container logistics, special transports and terminals. Proudly made in Sweden, with half a century’s worth of experience.
JOST Managing Director, Guy Locke, with Stewart Lamb.
Port of Newcastle container terminal plans progress
After 24 years of advocacy, Port of Newcastle confirms compensation payment moving its ambitions to establishing a container terminal in Newcastle forward.
The penalty payments within the Port of Newcastle Port Commitment Deed now no longer exist.
Following a pivotal meeting, the Port of Newcastle Board voted in favour of paying the amount determined by IPART
Port of Newcastle CEO, Craig Carmody, said that with the legislative process now complete, the Port will now turn its attention to the NSW Freight Reform Program and in removing the last policy barrier.
“The door was once closed on Newcastle operating a container terminal, today, the legal and commercial restriction has been lifted, and we now turn our attention to removing the last regulatory obstacle,” he said.
“Since Port of Newcastle was privatised in 2014, it became apparent the market in the Port’s catchment did not want their own trade restricted, they wanted their product exported in the most efficient and cost-effective way.”
In an interview conducted with Carmody in 2018, he said the introduction of the container terminal will have ample benefits not only for the economy but also for the environment and the broader transport and logistics industry.
“A Newcastle Container Terminal will mean more jobs, a reduction in unnecessary road and rail movements, and cheaper freight costs for regional importers and exporters.”
Image: Port of Newcastle.
• 30 + years in the market place
• Clean, grease-free fifth wheel
• More cost effective
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since
Globavend to acquire logistics firm
E-commerce logistics provider, Globavend, is expanding its operations in Australia. Globavend has entered an agreement to acquire Top Logistics, a full-service logistics provider.
Top Logistics is headquartered in Sydney and has warehouses in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. It is reported to specialise in sea and air freight, import, customs clearance, cargo-deconsolidation, packing, fulfilment, transport and logistics and warehousing services.
“The proposed transaction aligns with Globavend’s strategy to solidify its business presence and expansion into Australia,” said Globavend CEO, Wai Yiu Yau.
“According to the 2024 Australian Post eCommerce Industry Report, eight in 10 Australian households shopped online in 2023 and 9.5 million households in Australia have received a parcel in 2023.
“Australian has spent $63.6 billion in 2023 in shopping online. Given the market presence of Top Logistics has, we believe the proposed acquisition will further boost our business performance and help our business to thrive in future.”
Globavend provides end-to-end logistics solutions in Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand.
Image: Maksym Yemelyanov/stock.adobe.com.
NHVR registers Code of Practice
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) recently registered a code that should improve safety for waste and recycling transport.
The Waste and Recycling Industry Code of Practice is sponsored by the Waste and Recycling Industry Association of Queensland.
It is reported to address hazards such as spaces being shared by pedestrians and heavy vehicles as well as emerging risks like the presence of lithium batteries in household waste.
NHVR Chief of Safety and Productivity, David Hourigan, said it is important to implement practical control measures that parties in the Chain of Responsibility (CoR)
can apply to remove or minimise risk.
“Waste and recycling transport is an intrinsically hazardous operational environment, and to ensure all operations are safe, these hazards must be understood and controlled,” he said.
“We have collated feedback directly from a broad range of industry experts to ensure the [Waste & Recycling Code –WRC] is comprehensive, up to date and can be utilised as a practical guide for anyone who uses or supplies waste and recycling transport services.”
An appendix within the WRC has also been established and provides a detailed guide on the safe restraint of certain types of waste bins.
Hourigan said CoR applies to all offroad parties in the supply chain, including businesses and local councils that work and manage waste transporters, waste disposal and those who are involved in the production and processing of waste and recycling materials.
“By combining industry knowledge and experience in proposing measures to reduce risk that can be implemented at each stage of the transport journey,” he said.
“From collecting and sorting, to transit and unloading, we can help make the waste and recycling transport task safer, benefiting not only those in the supply chain, but all other road users and communities.”
Image: National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.
MinRes sells $1.3B stake in autonomous road train haul road
Mineral Resources (MinRes) has entered into a binding agreement for the sale of a 49 per cent interest of the dedicated haul road for its Onslow Iron autonomous road train project.
The haul road is a key component of an innovative transportation infrastructure solution developed by MinRes which has unlocked stranded iron ore deposits in the West Pilbara region of Western Australia.
The 150km dual lane road, which links the Ken’s Bore mine site to the Port of Ashburton, will be fully sealed, fenced and equipped with fibre optic cabling to support the operation of MinRes’ autonomous road trains.
Following the completion of the deal with Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners for $1.3 billion, MinRes will retain majority ownership and exclusive rights to use, operate and maintain the haul road.
The arrangement will ensure seamless
mine-to-ship delivery of Onslow Iron product to customers.
“I am proud of the strategic relationships we have formed with global industry leaders and pleased to welcome Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners as a partner in the Onslow haul road,” said MinRes Managing Director, Chris Ellison.
Ellison said the transaction is a strong endorsement of Onslow Iron’s worldclass credentials, after the project last month delivered first ore on ship ahead of schedule.
“As the first transaction of its kind in the Australian iron ore industry, it showcases the considerable value of MinRes’ portfolio of infrastructure assets and our ability to unlock significant capital,” he said.
“The transaction also establishes access to a new pool of capital to further accelerate our growth and continue to
deliver returns for our shareholders.”
According to MinRes, it engaged with Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners following a competitive process involving leading global infrastructure investors.
MinRes expects total after tax net cash proceeds of $1.2 billion.
The transaction vehicle will receive a life-of-mine CPI-adjusted tolling fee per tonne of iron ore transported through the Onslow haul road of $8.04 (100 per cent basis), capped at 40 million wet metric tonnes per annum (Mtpa).
The tolling fee will be reset at a reduced rate after 30 years, and any tolling payments for volumes above 40Mtpa will be fully owned by MinRes.
“The introduction of a new partner at an attractive cost of capital is consistent with MinRes’ focus on long-term shareholder value creation and agile approach to capital management,” MinRes said.
Image: Mineral Resources.
heavy vehicle operators and other road users to lock down their loads.
Last year there were reportedly 1,500 lost load incidents (approx. four incidents a day).
Transurban General Assets Manager, Angelo Lambrinos, are seeing loads from a variety of vehicles becoming loose and are encouraging people not to risk their lives in retrieving any lost items.
“We know it can be tempting to get out of your car to retrieve something that’s fallen onto the road but this only puts your life and the lives of other drivers in more danger,” he said.
“Please, leave it to the experts.”
Lambrinos said the same applies for debris and ensures that if spotted on the motorway, their team of operators will likely already be on their way to the site to deal with the situation.
“We’re all about getting drivers where they want to go quickly and safely, and we have more than 1,500 CCTV cameras on our Queensland roads,” he said.
“This means we always have eyes on the road, looking out for drivers in need of help.
“We also have systems to automatically detect stopped vehicles, and a fleet of rapid incident response officers to clear debris from the road.”
NEPEAN Transport Equipment
Transport ministers agree on longer, heavier trucks
Transport ministers have received an update from the National Transport Commission (NTC) on the Decision Impact Analysis (RIS) that is being prepared.
It will seek decisions on proposed changes to regulations under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).
Infrastructure and transport ministers at a meeting in Brisbane recently agreed to recommendations providing access for heavy vehicles that are slightly longer and heavier, subject to adequate safety assurances.
The NTC is considering options for increasing general mass limits by up to five per cent, effectively replacing concessional mass limits; and increasing the length of 19 metre vehicles to 20 metres.
Ministers discussed the need for ongoing consideration of road maintenance and resilience, and joint investments that support productivity, liveability and sustainability.
Ministers also requested the NTC
undertake a review of the adequacy of licensing and accreditation arrangements for heavy vehicle drivers, and report back to the next meeting of ITMM.
Among those present were Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King, New South Wales Minister for Transport Jo Haylen, Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure Danny Pearson, Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Bart Mellish, South Australian Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Tom Koutsantonis, Western Australian Ministers for Mines and Petroleum David Michael.
Ministers noted the progress of the Infrastructure Decarbonisation Working Group and Decarbonisation of Transport Working Group to progress their respective workplans and agreed to add active transport to the work plan for the Decarbonisation of Transport Working Group.
“Ministers provided in-principle support for the use of a nationally consistent set of carbon values in the assessment of business cases for transport infrastructure projects over $100 million, with an aspirational commencement date of 1 January 2025,” according to a communique issued following the meeting.
Ministers also approved the Embodied Carbon Measurement for Infrastructure: Technical Guidance, which is reported to offer a nationally consistent approach to measuring embodied emissions in infrastructure projects.
The increasing number of people killed on Australian roads was also tabled as an issue and concerned ministers explored further key issues to drive change.
Ministers agreed that implementing road safety actions should be prioritised and an update provided at the next Infrastructure and Transport Ministers’ Meeting.
Linfox names award recipients
Linfox recently announced the winners of the Linfox Chairman and CEO Awards 2024.
Linfox Group Safety Manager, Chris Walks, was presented with the Chairman Award and Linfox Deputy Legal Counsel, Nick Avery, received the CEO Award.
Recognising valued Linfox team members for exceptional performance and for embodying the company’s values of loyalty, fairness and trust, the awards offer the recipients the opportunity to pursue further studies at some of the world’s most prestigious learning locations.
Linfox Executive Chairman, Peter Fox, emphasised the company’s dedication to developing and nurturing emerging talent.
“This is yet another show of Linfox’s commitment to grow our own,” he said.
Image: Linfox.
Leadership change at Fonterra
Image: Michael/stock.adobe.com.
Fonterra Global Markets CEO, Judith Swales, is expected to step down at the end of this month.
An established leader who joined the group in 2013, Swales has helped in future proofing the company by associating it with some of the world’s most trusted dairy brands.
Fonterra CEO, Miles Hurrell, emphasised the variety of leadership roles Swales has held over the years and the significant impact she has had to their Global Markets region.
“Judith has been an important part of Fonterra since 2013, having started her time in our Australian business,” he said.
“She has held a variety of significant leadership roles across the co-op and has been a critical part of the Fonterra Management Team.
“She is a high-performing executive with achievements including the standing up of our Global Markets region, which is currently performing very well; the successful turnaround in the performance of our consumer business, putting it on a pathway for a stronger future with some of the world’s most trusted and loved dairy brands; and leading our Velocity transformation program.”
As part of a change in strategic direction the company has also revealed that it is
exploring divestment options for its global customer business as well as its integrated business, Fonterra Oceania and Fonterra Sri Lanka.
Fonterra Chairman, Peter McBride, said that this move will ultimately set the business up to achieve long-term value for farmer shareholders and unit holders.
“We have conducted a strategic review which has reinforced the role of our core business,” he said.
“This is working alongside farmers to collect a sustainable supply of milk and efficiently manufacture products valued by customers to deliver strong returns to farmer shareholders and unit holders.”
Rio Tinto to reduce WA’s steel industry emissions
The project, according to the Western Australian Government, will position the state at the forefront of the global effort to reduce emissions in the steel industry.
Rio Tinto is investing $215 million into a new research and development facility in Western Australia. Located in the Rockingham Strategic Industrial Area, the facility will trial Rio Tinto’s BioIron process which uses raw biomass such as wheat straw and canola stalks to turn Pilbara iron ore into metallic iron, creating a low-carbon iron for steelmaking.
The process eliminates the need of coking coal in the steelmaking process and could see up to a 95 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from steelmaking, the WA Government claims.
Rio Tinto first proved the effectiveness of the BioIron process in a small-scale plant in Germany. The new Perth facility, however, will include a semi-industrial scale pilot plant that will be 10 times the size of its predecessor.
Rio Tinto Chief Executive Iron Ore, Simon Trott, emphasised the importance and potential significance the facility will play in achieving net zero and helping the steel industry in its decarbonisation journey.
“The world needs low-carbon steel to reach net zero, and we are working to make this a reality by finding better ways to turn our Pilbara ores into steel,” he said.
“BioIron is a world-first technology that has the potential to play a significant role in a low-carbon steel future.
“This research and development facility
will further test the BioIron process, showcase Western Australian innovation capability, and further demonstrates Rio Tinto’s commitment to supporting and enabling the decarbonisation of the steel industry.”
The BioIron facility is also expected to create around 60 construction jobs and support about 30 full-time employees, assisting in the development of skills in low-carbon steelmaking.
“Our plan to turn WA into a renewable energy powerhouse opens up massive economic opportunities for the future, like
producing low-emission steel right here at home,” said WA Premier Roger Cook.
“Processing iron ore in WA will create jobs, reduce the world’s carbon emissions and help to diversify and strengthen our economy for decades to come.
“This is another job-creating clean energy project in our industrial heartland of Kwinana and Rockingham, and part of our commitment to transitioning the industrial strip to a clean energy future.”
Fabrication of equipment for the facility is due to begin this year with commissioning expected in 2026.
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Keeping cool
ZJD Transport has obtained a new Schmitz Cargobull refrigerated trailer fitted with TrailerConnect telematics.
When it comes to transporting pharmaceutical products, several factors come into play that operators need to pay attention to. Under government regulations, for example, there are many policies and procedures in place to ensure adequate transport methods for safe, secure and timely delivery of medications.
One of the most crucial ones is that cold chain medicines should be transported under conditions that have been validated or are monitored to ensure that the relevant temperature range is maintained during transport, as stated in the Australian code of good wholesaling practice for medicines in schedules 2, 3, 4 & 8
Schmitz Cargobull’s refrigerated trailers themselves fulfil these precise requirements by meeting the exacting quality standards for pharmaceutical transport. With the launch of the Schmitz Cargobull telematics system, TrailerConnect, in the Australian market, operators can ensure even further protection of sensitive freight by having
the conditions of their refrigerated trailers monitored at all times.
ZJD Transport, based in New South Wales, has been trialling the TrailerConnects telematics system over the past couple of months through a new Schmitz Cargobull refrigerated trailer. The unit has been transporting pharmaceutical products such as medicines and vaccines to hospitals, and according to ZJD Transport owner, Zvonko Naumoski, it has been vital not only to his operations but to the end user as well.
“The trailer means a lot to our business because people are relying on the products that we’re carrying inside,” he says. “We have to deliver medicine to the hospitals at the exact temperature. If it isn’t transported at the right temperature and a patient gets the medicine, they could die.
“That’s why it’s so important to us. We need a trailer like this because it’s keeping the temperature exactly how we want it.”
While the trailer’s ability to retain its temperature so effectively is mostly
due to Schmitz Cargobull’s renowned FERROPLAST body, the TrailerConnect telematics system eliminates any potential risks during transport.
TrailerConnect, having already been proven overseas, can play a massive role in ensuring transparency and end-toend documentation of the refrigeration chain in Australia. With TrailerConnect FleetTrack, operators can manage, plan and monitor their fleet through one portal for refrigerated, pharmaceutical or general cargo transport.
FleetTrack provides accurate fleet visualisation by displaying the trailer’s exact geographical position and availability in real time, while also offering comprehensive notification and alarm configuration as well as personal reporting and a history of all events, positions and temperatures. It also offers permanent information about door and coupling status. Meanwhile, TrailerConnect’s TourTrack can follow vehicles and share information on a job-by-job analysis with targeted
Images:
Schmitz Cargobull.
and selected data for each route, coupled with route-based real time monitoring including estimated time of arrival (ETA) and automatic generation of order-related temperature reports.
In addition, TrailerConnect FleetWatch provides real-time monitoring of the refrigeration machines themselves to ensure temperatures are maintained. It has an automatic fault analysis with recommendations for remedial action, and in the event of breakdowns, it can refer operators to nearby service partners.
Furthermore, the TrailerConnect Data Management Centre essentially offers data integration all in the one place. This includes infrastructure and consolidated platform for all telematics data, individual and secure configuration of the data streams as well as visualisation of the entire transport network, including subcontractors.
“It’s really good how the system connects to the trailer so that I can follow everything from my app,” Zvonko says. “For my business, it is very important because Schmitz Cargobull monitors everything. They know exactly where I am, what I’m doing, how many kilometres I’ve travelled, what the temperature is inside the trailer and even when I’m due for a service.
“The telematics system that they’re putting into their trailers is very good. Because they’re always monitoring the trailer, they will notice if something is wrong before I will.”
Prior to his use of the new refrigerated trailer and telematics system in Australia, Zvonko utilised a fleet of over 20 Schmitz Cargobull units at his transport business back in Germany which consisted of a mix of refrigerated and curtainsider trailers. He was so impressed with the product and how it performed in transporting pharmaceutical products all across Europe that when he came to Australia, there were no second thoughts in returning back to Schmitz Cargobull.
“We were using Schmitz Cargobull trailers all the time in Germany, and they were the best,” he says. “A friend of mine bought one and he was very happy with it, so that’s why I chose to go with Schmitz Cargobull. I found that they were very easy to use and they weren’t too heavy either. They are very good trailers.”
Zvonko’s experience with the new trial trailer in Australia has been no different.
“I’m very happy with how it works and how it handles on the roads,” he says. “I
can’t say anything bad about it. Everything is perfect, from the box to the wheels to the chassis.”
The Schmitz Cargobull trailer is also a favourite among ZJD Transport’s customers – Zvonko says he often gets requests for the vehicle to be used specifically for jobs.
“My customers are always asking for this trailer,” he says. “They are really happy that I’m using this trailer, and that we’re using the telematics system as well because it’s following what we do. We haven’t heard one bad thing about it from our customers,
so it’s very good for everyone, not just for me.
“I’m very happy with the trailer and the service I have received. Schmitz Cargobull is a really good company and I’m looking forward to buying more trailers from them in the future.”
Contact Schmitz Cargobull Australia
Unit 2, 221 Browns Road
Noble Park North 3174 VIC
Ph: 03 8794 6600
Web: www.cargobull.com.au
Formula for success
To optimise its supply chain operations, Meredith Dairy specified a custom refrigerated transport build from Scully RSV.
Due to the perishable nature of dairy products, transportation can often be a task that presents its own set of challenges. With more than 30 years of experience in manufacturing refrigerated vehicles, Scully RSV meets the needs of industry with its tailored solutions.
After hiring trucks from Scully RSV for the past three years, on-farm enterprise, Meredith Dairy, approached the rigid body builder to create a custom design.
Established in 1991, Meredith Dairy has grown to become one of the largest goat and sheep dairy farms in Australia. It delivers nationwide, and due to popular demand, the company needed to increase its carrying capacity – particularly for the transportation of its hero product, a
marinated goat’s cheese stored in 320g glass jars which equate to 970kg per full pallet carried.
Providing an expansive fleet size ranging from 16-pallet capacity right through to B-double and tri-axle trailers, Meredith Dairy’s request was unique to Scully RSV as it required a 14-pallet jumbo truck.
“We had a very particular and almost peculiar requirement, but we knew from dealing previously with Scully RSV that they would be the manufacturer capable of producing it,” says Meredith Dairy Supply Chain Manager, Angus Cameron. “Our old truck was about six or seven years old with about 600,000km on it, so although we still use it, we knew it was time to get a new one.
“The team at Scully RSV were great, we’ve hired trucks from them in the past. Their body designs are exceptional, and they gave us a great price for the new jumbo truck.”
The aim of the build was to ultimately allow for a safer and more flexible loading experience while also increasing capacity.
So, Scully RSV’s team in Queensland crafted a jumbo truck with a unique set of features that have since allowed the farm to run a more effective and smooth transport operation. Built without side doors, the truck includes a four-axle twin steer chassis with a jumbo size body and barn door.
Angus explains that the addition of these features have helped revolutionise the business’ supply chain process especially
Images: Scully RSV.
popular goats cheese product.
“The twin steer chassis is a gamechanger,” he says. “The second front axle allows for twice the weight at the front of the truck, meaning we can transport more product from the farm to our Melbourne-based distribution centre.
“We have gone from a loading capacity of 500kg per pallet space to 1,000kg at the front of the truck. This makes it easier to manage and distribute the weight across the axels. If you have too much weight over axles it is not only illegal but also very unsafe to drive.”
Previously, Meredith Dairy had to load the truck in a particular way as the first six pallets could only weigh three tonnes while the back pallets could only be 8.0 tonnes. With the second front axle, it can now load an even 14 tonnes safely and flexibly.
“A full pallet of our popular goats cheese product is 970kg so the benefits this has had for us and our truck driver is twofold,” Angus says.
As a family run business Meridith Dairy carries out a lot of its own operations, limiting the use of external parties for transportation purposes.
With its cheeses available nationwide, demand for the product is high. Therefore, the need to transport more at any one time became a necessity and is particularly felt by the company during busy periods.
custom build have given the dairy farm more control and flexibility in this area, and how it has assisted the business with operating its own supply chain.
“The farm is an hour and half southwest of Melbourne,” he says. “Each evening, we load the cheese the day before it goes to our distribution centre. In the past we would have had to make two trips a day, which wasn’t ideal. Now, with the new build, we rarely have to do this. Not only is this more convenient but also more environmentally friendly. Being a sustainable farm is really important to us.”
The new design of the jumbo truck also includes a 4.3m clearance.
“Standard clearance is usually 4.1m so even with this little bit extra it makes all the difference,” Angus says. “As we grow, we need to be able to fit as much onto the truck as possible. In the past package materials have limited us in terms of volume, so even having the extra 200mm in clearance makes all the difference. Our cheese is distributed all over Australia and is growing internationally, so the additional volume capacity is important for our rapidly growing business.”
Angus says the truck body insulated well, which is an important consideration for transporting fresh dairy products.
“Temperature is a strict requirement when transporting chilled product,” he says. “The new Scully RSV truck performs
quality of our product will not be affected, even when it’s hot outside. The chill is very good, which really helps us to get products efficiently and in good condition to their destination.”
Along with the customised features, Meredith Dairy was also able to put a fun twist on the design of the jumbo truck.
“We have also been able to customise the design with pictures of our famous Meredith Dairy goats, and this has been a real hit,” Angus says. “We have a very proud truck driver, Mick Rooney, who loves the new build and couldn’t be happier driving it. He especially loves the reactions he sees from kids in other cars when they see our goats on the road.”
“We recognised how good the bodies from Scully RSV were when we used to hire their trucks,” Mick says. “It’s improved the transportation of the finished product immensely. I’m very proud of my truck.”
A leading provider for refrigerated transport vehicles, Scully RSV also offers a multitude of well-equipped vehicles for both short- and long-term rental. This includes utes, trucks and trailers, all designed and innovated to cater for any industry specific needs.
Contact
RSV
www.scullyrsv.com.au
Meredith Dairy driver, Mick Rooney.
Carrier improves Lynx Fleet telematics with new features
capabilities to Australia’s refrigerated trucks and trailers.
Carrier Transicold helps improve transport and shipping of temperature-controlled cargoes with a complete line of equipment and services for refrigerated transport and cold chain visibility. For more than 50 years, the company has been a leader in providing customers around the world with advanced, energy-efficient and
refrigeration systems and generator sets, direct-drive and diesel truck units and trailer refrigeration systems.
Carrier’s new Lynx Fleet offering enhances the company’s prior web-based application with an at-a-glance view of key refrigerated truck and trailer performance parameters. These visual indicators help
refrigeration equipment utilisation, improve operational efficiencies and maximise uptime by spotting and averting potential equipment issues.
Lynx Fleet for refrigerated trucks and trailers is part of Carrier’s award-winning Lynx global ecosystem, which applies advanced Internet of Things (IoT) analytics, machine learning and various big data technologies to connect the cold chain in the cloud, automate key processes and deliver real-time visibility and insights throughout the journey of cargo.
“Lynx Fleet continues to open up broad possibilities for value-added capabilities,” says Carrier Transicold Director of Telematics, David Brondum. “Our exclusive dashboard is a terrific example. From temperatures maintained in cargo areas to refrigeration equipment performance, Lynx Fleet monitors and collects scores of inputs from every asset – thousands of data-points fleetwide. It then distils, analyses and consolidates much of this mission-critical data into different insights so fleet managers can quickly spot assets that may require special attention.”
Based on customer input, Lynx Fleet provides key insights for many parameters – it can help to identify refrigeration units that require fuel so as to avoid emergency
Images: Carrier Transicold.
call-outs for refuelling and engine priming; identify vehicles in service that may have battery issues which could result in an emergency call-out if not addressed in time; alert operators when critical alarm conditions occur, helping fleets to prevent unit shutdowns and load loss; and assist fleets in understanding the number of times cargo doors are opened, helping to manage fuel costs and temperaturecontrol issues.
“Each insight displays summary information for the entire customer fleet that can be drilled down to isolate and display details about specific units, as needed,” David says. “Over time, fleets will be able to customise their dashboards to display whichever pieces of information are most essential to their operations.”
The Lynx Fleet Monitor and Enhanced Control plan, the highest level of the offering’s three service tiers, includes the diagnostic dashboard and insights. It also adds the ability to:
• Run pre-trip inspections remotely to verify that the batteries are charged, fuel tanks are topped off and equipment is ready to go.
• Monitor each unit’s performance and diagnostic status from the web-enabled Lynx Fleet dashboard and share reports with technicians on engine hours, operation of compressors, evaporators, temperature probes and other vital
need to bring the trailer to a technician.
• Upload and manage IntelliSet control configurations, synchronising every unit in the fleet with the same temperature configurations.
In addition, hardware used with the Lynx Fleet platform can be factory installed on Carrier Transicold X4 series and Vector series trailer refrigeration units as well as Supra truck units.
Lynx Fleet was developed expressly for Carrier Transicold transport refrigeration units and includes a factory-equipped 4G LTE communications module, antenna and wiring harness. Peripheral components like fuel sensors, temperature probes, door switches and solar panels can be specified
shared with most major transportation management systems (TMS) for one-way monitoring and two-way control. Lynx Fleet customers can also incorporate Lynx Fleet live data into any other system or platform via an Application Programming Interface (API) at no additional charge for ultimate flexibility.
Carrier Lynx Fleet telematics can also be bundled with a Carrier BluEdge Elite maintenance agreement to protect investments with comprehensive maintenance and repairs, including telematics for a fixed monthly fee. The system shares important maintenance information with Carrier Transicold service system so that it can help
Contact
Carrier Transicold
Web: www.transicold.carrier.com.au
Hammar celebrates 50th anniversary
Since Bengt-Olof Hammar founded Hammar and developed its first sideloader 50 years ago, the company has expanded into a global player while retaining its Swedish heritage.
Over the years, Hammar has held just one single focus – sideloaders. And it’s been this primary dedication, backed by the relentless commitment of Hammar owner and Managing Director, Bengt-Olof Hammar, which has allowed the company to truly develop.
From just one small factory in Sweden to more than 50 service stations worldwide, five subsidiaries and an estimated 65-70 per cent share of the global sideloader market, Hammar continues to stand as an international success.
“I understood that the market in Sweden was too little, so I had to go and export immediately,” Bengt-Olof says. “I was sure that if I didn’t grow, I would disappear from the market. So, I worked very hard and I bought three other sideloader manufacturers along the way.
“By hard work, good staff and God’s blessing, the market was growing. I got orders from many different countries, and today we have sold in 123 different countries all over the world.”
further expansion. Bengt-Olof says it will achieve this by investing into the future.
“We will soon make a big step forward in New Zealand, and we are also growing in the United States where we have opened up with new service partners,” he says.
Hammar’s sideloaders of today, compared to the first Hammarlift one built in 1974, Bengt-Olof explains, are more versatile, faster and safer. He says Hammar has ultimately achieved this by keeping all of its production in-house for complete control over quality, as well as by investing in the latest technology such as robotics and automatic cutting and welding equipment.
“We always try to get as much payload as possible, and we are also reducing weights all of the time,” he says. “When I started the weight of the equipment was 13 to 14 tonnes, but today we can make a 36-tonne sideloader with three axles under seven tonnes.”
Hammar is celebrating its 50th
models – Hammar 550, the ‘world’s first’ sideloader with a 50-tonne Safe Working Load (SWL) and the new flagship Hammar 500 model.
Bengt-Olof says Hammar 550 will be the world’s strongest sideloader. The lifter, initially being developed for handling large cable drums, is currently reaching the end of its testing phase and will also be usable for many more applications.
In 2011, Hammar set the world record for the heaviest weight lifted by a sideloader at 60 tonnes. According to the company, the new Hammar 550 Sideloader has broken the previous record by lifting 65 tonnes, although Guinness World Records wasn’t present to witness it.
On the other hand, the new Hammar 500 model is based on a range of proven technologies that have been merged and optimised. With a crane reach of six metres and support legs that provide significantly increased stability, the unit can load rail cars and trailers. At that range, it can also unload empty 20’ to 53’ containers with ease, depending on the chassis length chosen.
As Bengt-Olof reflects on the success of Hammar and the giant it has turned out to be, he’s nothing but grateful for the opportunities and help he received along the way.
“I am very thankful for what I have got, and I’m surprised over the success too,” he says. “I am not smarter than anybody else. I’ve got some good staff that have been working for me for a long time, so I am very thankful to them and to my family who have accepted that I have worked quite a lot.”
Contact Hammar Australia
Ph: 02 4577 7700
Web: www.hammarlift.com/au
Hammar owner and Managing Director, Bengt-Olof Hammar.
The new Hammar 550 sideloader being tested with 65 tonnes.
Images: Hammar.
Locked and loaded
After a successful trial of JOST’s Loc-Light sensor system, KS Easter is rolling the product out across its entire fleet on all of its fifth wheels.
KS Easter, a prominent Brisbane-based haulage company that has been in business for 48 years, holds the importance of safe equipment close to heart. The business, created by Ken Easter who started out as a single truck owner-operator, was founded in 1976 originally in Newcastle, New South Wales, until he decided to move its operations to Brisbane in 1988.
From a carrier of predominantly refrigerated, general and express freight, it has since developed into a linehaul specialist carting time sensitive goods and express freight nightly between Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, with the ability to transport anywhere else around the country as well.
Today, the fleet continues its freight tasks around Australia with an extremely high emphasis on safety and the wellbeing of its
drivers and the general public. Only now, it has JOST equipment standardised across all of its units.
Ken’s son, Kenny, who works in the role of General Manager, says KS Easter has been using JOST products exclusively for 20 years and counting.
“We have over 100 trucks and roughly 300 trailers all fitted with JOST equipment as standard,” he says. “We go to them for our turntables, kingpins and landing legs. All of our JOST gear runs to the east coast of Australia on time-sensitive linehaul work. They’re reliable and they stand the test of time.”
Over the last two decades of dealings, a bond between JOST and KS Easter has developed which has allowed Kenny to completely place his trust in the OEM. The relationship, he says, has also given him
opportunities to trial new products in his own applications.
“We have a very close relationship with JOST,” he says. “Knowing how much product we have of theirs in our fleet and how long we’ve been using them for, JOST will let us know if there’s something new coming along that we could trial to see if it works for our business.
“On top of that, JOST also comes around to our site once a year and does a training course with our workshop staff on any updates or improvements in products and processes that we might benefit from.”
In recent years, KS Easter has trialled JOST’s Loc-Light sensor system on its fifth wheels as an extra preventative for insecure coupling. Kenny says the trial came with great success, and because of that, he is now making the sensor system standard
fitment on all new equipment which enters the fleet.
“We’re always happy to jump on board and see what we can do to make the job safer and easier for everyone involved, whether it be drivers, businesses or other motorists on the road,” he says. “When you drop a trailer, everyone looks for excuses for why it happened and ways to prevent it from happening again. We think this is a major step forward into helping reduce those issues.”
JOST’s innovative Loc-Light system, featuring a dual sensor monitoring setup and LED illumination, ensures secure and reliable couplings by reducing the risk of errors.
The system is integrated with what JOST calls a ‘Go’/‘No-Go’ indicator light (green/ red) near the handle. When the handle and kingpin are properly locked, the light turns green which signals that the trailer has been coupled correctly. However, if the handle or kingpin is not locked correctly, the light flashes red and begins beeping.
“It takes out some of the concerns with coupling,” Kenny says. “You’d like to think that your driver is going to complete all of the proper steps when coupling
their own trailer, but for those that take shortcuts or those that have an issue with getting underneath trailers to inspect the turntable, this just helps indicate to someone whether the trailer is connected properly or not.”
Additionally, the LED illumination automatically activates and shines directly into the fifth wheel’s throat, providing a clear view of the lockbar for pre-trip inspections. As Kenny explains, this secondary step helps with the visual inspection by simplifying the process, saving time and improving accuracy.
“When the driver hooks up a trailer and plugs in the electrical lead, it turns on the light that is at the base of the turntable and lights up that surrounding area,” he says. “Having that green light there not only tells the driver that it’s right, but anyone that might be walking by can make sure that the driver is actually checking everything and can see that it’s okay.”
This ultimately saves valuable time during pre-trip inspections and allows businesses like KS Easter to gain enhanced safety, increased efficiency and peace of mind on every journey through its use.
visually when they were hooked up, but now they’ve got this indicator light which makes the job even easier,” Kenny says.
“The drivers have found it fairly good. It’s pretty new in the fleet, but I expect there will be a bit of commentary going around as more drivers use it.”
Based on his experience with the sensor so far, Kenny believes Loc-Light could be a solution for the greater transport industry.
“For the cost of having it, I don’t know why any new truck wouldn’t come out with it,” he says. “For what it can save you in terms of dropped trailer costs for damaged legs, floors, fuel tanks, toolboxes, or even upsetting the customer, I don’t know why you wouldn’t fit it.
“I think it will be a market leader. It’s simple and user-friendly, and it’s another innovation to help with safety in transport. It’s a good product, and I know it’s something that our customers will be excited by as well.”
High accuracy scales for Long Logger
Sunchip Group has relied on Elphinstone Engineering trailers and weighing systems for over three decades. Thanks to the proven reliability of the Queensland-based fleet’s original units, the business has ordered 10 more.
Roughly three hours’ drive north of Brisbane, hidden within the Tuan State Forest, lies a bustling hub of Queensland’s timber industry. As dawn breaks, iconic Elphinstone Long Logger trailers, led by bright green Mack SuperLiners, rumble along neatly graded gravel roads on their daily pilgrimage to transport plantation timber to a nearby sawmill.
What makes this operation unique, however, is the modern ingenuity of the Elphinstone Long Logger trailers. These behemoths of timber transport are more than mere carriers – they are architects of efficiency, designed to cradle vast loads of sustainable plantation timber with consistent high payload accuracy and unwavering stability.
“The Sunchip Group is a harvesting and haulage contractor based in the Fraser
Coast region in Queensland,” says Sunchip Group Transport Supervisor Tuan and Toolara, Michael Whish-Wilson. “We’ve been operating here for the last 26 years, and for most of that, we have been using Elphinstone logging equipment.
“Today, we run about 15 of their units. We predominantly use Long Logger trailers working around the clock 24 hours a day, five days a week.”
Sunchip Group owner and founder, Mark Blackberry, worked with Graeme Elphinstone to develop the Long Logger trailers which now allow the fleet to cart up to 1.5 million tonnes of sustainable plantation pine annually.
“The Long Logger trailers permit us to do such high volumes because they allow us to safely cart long lengths up to 18.3 meters on the B-double route and achieve
a 45-tonne payload with fast loading and unloading times,” Michael says.
The combinations, Michael explains, are essentially a hybrid between a skel trailer and a jinker, with the skel trailer being up front and the stinger-steered jinker connected to the rear of the front trailers.
The trailers themselves fold and unfold automatically. According to Michael, there’s virtually no manual input required from the drivers either as it can all be done from inside the cab. Most importantly, he says, the trailers are very user-friendly and dependable.
“You know they will work day in and day out,” he says. “The original Long Logger trailers that we started running back in 2008 had a lifespan of about 15 years and covered millions and millions of kilometres. To put that into perspective, we replace
prime movers every four to five years and merely connect the older trailers to them.
“Each of those original trailers carted well over a million tonnes per unit over their lifespan. That being said, we also have a comprehensive maintenance program to ensure all our equipment gets maintained in first-class condition.”
Also fitted to the fleet’s Long Loggers are Elphinstone’s EasyWeigh MultiReaders. Located in the cabin, the systems are connected to 1660 load cells mounted under each bolster on the trailers to weigh each load accurately.
“Our overload percentages are virtually zero, a terrific result given that we’re doing 100 plus B-double loads of timber a day and go months and months without a single overload,” Michael says. “In an environment with so many variables, still having such reliability out of the scales is just unreal.”
The investment in accurate onboard scales, Michael explains, certainly pays big dividends in the long run.
“If we underload each truck by as little as 1.5 tonnes per load, that means we’re
losing over 150 tonnes of productivity per day,” he says. “That’s 750 tonnes per week, which is the equivalent of about 16 extra loads we’d need to do to cart that same amount of wood. Therefore, I can’t emphasise the importance of Elphinstone’s accurate onboard scales enough.”
As the sun dips below the horizon and each day comes to a close, Sunchip Group’s pine logging operations linger, etched into the very fabric of the landscape. In the waning light, the imposing figures of the fleet’s Elphinstone
Long Logger trailers and prime movers stand tall, weaving their way through the labyrinth of trees.
Each laden with 45 tonnes of sustainable plantation timber, the Elphinstone Long Logger trailers echo in the distance with the promise of a bright future for Sunchip Group, for years to come.
Contact Elphinstone Engineering
Ph: 1800 030 019
Web: www.elph.com.au
Images: Elphinstone Engineering.
Scaling it all
Tramanco’s electronic weighing and data logging systems allow operators to weigh and monitor all types of vehicles regardless of their model and manufacture.
The Australian-designed and manufactured weighing systems by Tramanco are designed for steer-axle, drive-axle and trailer-axle suspensions, whether they are air, hydraulic or steel spring types. On top of that, they have the ability to be used in any type of vehicle combination.
Both of Tramanco’s CHEK-WAY and KwikCheck systems share components and feature back-lit LCD displays with overload and underload warning functions. They can be connected to Tramanco’s unique TRAKN-WAY monitoring software which records weights, speed, direction, location, vehicle IDs, any tampering or faults and the overall health of each system.
All this information can be viewed on Tramanco’s INS-COM server to minimise Chain of Responsibility (CoR) and OH&S issues while maximising payload each trip to legal axle limits.
Thus, operators can monitor each vehicle in real time and download vehicle activities for proof of delivery, invoicing, wages
and several other business applications, explains Tramanco owner, Roger Sack.
“This is done on Excel with the push of a button, so no special software is required,” he says. “Downloading or viewing does not delete the data either.”
In addition, all of Tramanco’s On-Board Mass (OBM) systems are software-based rather than hardware-based, meaning any system can be removed and refitted to any vehicle or application, regardless of the original application.
“This means Tramanco’s weighing systems are not limited to OBM use,” Roger says. “They can also be used in both portable and fixed weighbridge applications by simply installing the unique WAY-bridge software programme. As a result, an A-double system can become a truck and dog trailer combination, or vice versa, on a WAY-bridge with a simple recalibration.”
All Tramanco systems have a diverse range of features and functions available
on a plug-and-play basis such as direct connections to printers, Bluetooth devices and remote LED and LCD displays, or into a computer for monitoring of loads in and out of any depot. This is all achieved via Tramanco’s unique Phone-WAY software for Android and Apple devices.
Other software programmes are also available such as Load/Delivery, where each load and delivery is monitored with weight, time, date, location and vehicle ID. This applies to split loads and deliveries such as feed lot trucks, liquids, fuels, powder tankers and more where three or four different products may be loaded into different compartments and then different quantities delivered to several or more clients. All of this is completed and reported on in real-time.
Contact Tramanco
Ph: +617 3892 2311
Web: www.tramanco.com.au
The weigh forward
Through its flagship Air-Weigh product, E-Max provides an innovative and dynamic on-board mass system which improves efficiency while reducing unnecessary costs.
For truck operators and fleet managers, having a reliable On-Board Mass (OBM) system is essential, especially when it comes to avoiding overweight fees, out-of-route mileage and delays at weigh bridges.
Some OBM systems often rely on Bluetooth pairing between each individual scale on a combination which can be time consuming and require constant driver input. This manual input can often increase the risk of errors such as pairing the wrong trailer or pairing them in the wrong order, wasting valuable time and delaying deliveries. Recognising this, E-Max offers a refreshing alternative with its intelligent state-of-the-art OBM system, Air-Weigh.
Air-Weigh automatically assigns the correct truck-trailer configuration, ensuring compliance and allowing fleet operators to experience the benefits of a smart OBM system with little to no driver interaction.
E-Max prides itself on the simplicity of Air-Weigh which features dual-point calibration and several unique proprietary
technologies that enable customers to accurately read their specific axle weights at loading sites. E-Max Head of Sales and Operations, Ben Harris, emphasises the quality and precision of the Air-Weigh system as key factors in providing an effective product.
“The system is designed and manufactured in the United States, and it is ISO 9001:2015 certified,” he says. “This ensures that Air-Weigh enables operators to accurately measure their load, eliminating any guesswork. This precision helps reduce overweight fines and maximise each trip’s efficiency while also ensuring compliance.”
Instead of requiring manual input, the Air-Weigh solution utilises the existing seven-pin electrical Suzi coils to transmit data and auto-assign trailers. This eliminates the need for pairing, extra cables and manual configurations, and according to Ben, helps streamline processes for smoother operations.
“For those seeking a smarter alternative to cumbersome Bluetooth systems that require too much driver interaction, this feature is key,” he says.
To help minimise downtime, the system also features plug-and-play functionality which supports ‘hot swapping’ of trucks and trailers.
“The plug-and-play feature showcases the system’s true simplicity in action, enabling seamless transitions and efficient fleet management,” Ben says. “As equipment becomes more expensive, operating costs rise and drivers become fewer, the minutes wasted on manually connecting trailers and ensuring correct loads can significantly cut into the fleet’s bottom line.”
Supporting customers nationwide, E-Max also offers comprehensive aftersales support with a skilled team capable of training and educating fleets on implementing the Air-Weigh product. Whether a fleet consists of five combinations or an operation with 500-plus, E-Max ensures effective and efficient integration.
Contact
E-Max
Ph: 1300 850 575
E: info@air-weigh.com.au
Leading the way in vehicle safety and performance
Scully RSV is on a mission to have the safest vehicles on the road. Every day.
Scully RSV and SafetyCulture have partnered to develop an industry leading initiative for transport safety. The digital safety inspection captures the performance of Scully RSV vehicles each and every time they are used on our roads.
The SafetyCulture platform enables a more efficient and optimised inspection capture and reporting system for vehicle compliance and safety. Delivered via a QR code scan, users can launch and complete the vehicle inspection in less than 30 seconds.
Scully RSV is proud to be bringing this initiative to market with Safety Culture and leading the way in keeping our communities and their families safe. It’s another great example of delivering on the customer promise, that Scully RSV fleet is managed to the highest levels of quality, safety and reliability.
Coast to coast
The arrival of four new Vawdrey 34-pallet drop deck B-doubles and four straight deck Titeliners have resulted in significant productivity gains across Coastal Transport Services’ operations.
Coastal Transport Services, based in the Central Coast of New South Wales, is a leading logistics provider that specialises in transport and warehousing across NSW and Australia.
ago in 1986 and was privately owned by founder, Ray Graetz, up until November last year when a deal saw its ownership change hands to the existing management team of Managing Director, Graham Ryall, and Director of Operations, Kyle Elphinstone.
Coastal Transport Services now boasts a total of 116 trailers, 60 trucks and a just over 100 staff across the company’s head office in Warnervale and its second location in Wetherill Park.
“We do a bit of everything, but we predominantly do a lot of general freight and B-double work,” Kyle says. “We transport mostly construction-based materials such as pre-cast concrete tilt panels and we’re probably the biggest
four drop deck mezzanine B-double combinations and four straight deck Titeliners from Vawdrey into action.
The trailers were purchased to service a new three-year contract the business gained on the Central Coast, while bolstering its existing Vawdrey fleet at the same time. As a result two of the B-double mezzanine drop deck combinations have been dedicated to the contract, with the remaining two drop deck combinations and the four single Titeliners transporting general freight between Sydney, the Central Coast and Newcastle with the rest of the trailers in the fleet.
“We pride ourselves on trying to have the most up-to-date and attractive fleet across
a week for the contract, the trailers travel routes from Berkeley Vale to Warnervale and between Warnervale and Sydney. Kyle says the trailers, being put to the test nonstop, do the job effortlessly.
“They are very busy bits of equipment that just perform the task at hand,” he says. “I couldn’t be happier with them.”
The biggest benefit of the new trailers, Kyle says, is that the fleet has been able to increase its productivity significantly thanks to the greater capacity of the mezzanine floor units.
“We’ve come from straight deck B-double sets to these, so our pallet carrying capacity has doubled,” he says. “The ultimate goal across the industry is
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to have as much freight as possible on one combination and therefore have less trucks on the road. The more you can put onto one trailer and get down the road, the more money you can make. It’s better for operations, the roads, fuel, carbon emissions and everything.
“Taking delivery of the four B-double drop decks has allowed us to go from six straight deck combinations to four drop deck combinations, so we’re essentially gaining the efficiency of two whole B-doubles. Having that extra capacity with the mezzanine floors has made our operations so much better. Our customers are loving them and we’re loving them.”
Coastal Transport Services has maintained a close relationship with Vawdrey since it bought its first trailer from the OEM in 2015. The latest trailers join around 50 other Vawdrey units in the Coastal Transport Services fleet, consisting of a mixture of 48’ drop deck
Titeliners, standard 45’ flat tops and B-doubles.
“I couldn’t fault any of them,” Kyle says. “They’ve been great, and they’re the reason why we keep going back to Vawdrey.”
Throughout each delivery, Kyle says his business has gained from Vawdrey’s “unreal” support and impressive turnaround times.
“Vawdrey has been, without a doubt, our predominant supplier since we bought our first trailer from them,” he says. “They get all of our builds. The turnaround times on their deliveries has been impressive – they really pump units out for us, which is great.”
On top of that, Kyle says Vawdrey’s service and representation within the Central Coast has been exceptional.
“It’s great to have them near us to provide assistance,” he says. “It means we don’t have to go to Sydney all of the time.”
Kyle explains that this service is
replicated across the entire Vawdrey business, and it’s why he has chosen Vawdrey for so long.
“What I thoroughly enjoy about Vawdrey is how they cater to us,” he says. “You don’t just go to them and say, ‘I want this trailer, can you build it?’ They really try to understand your business needs.
“They can build you a trailer that might suit you better than what you had in mind. They’re always pushing the envelope in terms of getting more cubic capacity on a trailer, so just their background in the industry, how innovative they are with their designs and how they push the limits on capacities is what’s great and meshes well with our business.”
Drake Collectibles, formed in response to demand from avid diecast collectors and Drake Trailer operators alike, is now renowned as a premium diecast model manufacturer around the world.
Widely appreciated throughout the transport industry, Drake Collectibles creates exact replica diecast models of prime movers and trailers which are known for their quality design. Each 1/50 scale model features moving parts and very intricate details such as opening doors, sprung seats and sliding and locking fifth wheels, and as a result, have become favourites among diecast enthusiasts and collectors around the world.
Part of The Drake Group, which flexes 100 years of combined manufacturing in Australia, Drake Collectibles is headed by Bruce Hay who, being a diecast collector himself, was able to bring his own vision to life.
“Drake Collectibles came about after some discussions with John Drake about marketing the company differently,” he
says. “I thought about what I would want to see out of this product. Personally, I’d like something which is of high quality, has heaps of functions and features, and something to put in my display cabinet which I’d be proud to show people.”
From there, the idea started to take shape. Bruce began putting his plan together and thus, Drake Collectibles was born.
Drake Collectibles skyrocketed upon its launch. Within six months of its arrival in the market, Bruce was already reordering materials for the next production run.
“I think it was something that the collectors wanted,” he says. “It’s definitely the detail and the quality that they look for, but they can also relate to it. When they go to a truck show and they see all those trucks there, it might not be within their
reach to buy one of them but they can bring a little replica home to put in their cupboard.”
One of Drake Collectibles’ most recent releases is a blue and silver Kenworth T909 from Mactrans Heavy Haulage, a replica of the ‘famous’ real-life truck previously known as ‘Bender Two’ at Heavy Haulage Australia. Prior to that build, Drake Collectibles also produced a replica model of one of Ross Transport’s rainbow Kenworth T909s.
With regular special edition launches and several award-winning models, the popularity of Drake Collectibles has been outstanding.
“It continues to grow,” Bruce says. “We sell thousands of these models every year around the world. The market’s strong in Europe, it’s strong in New Zealand and it’s
Images: The Drake Group.
growing in Asia. It’s a respected part of The Drake Group’s business units.”
Drake Collectibles’ consistent attendance to industry events has played a key role in this growth. For example, Bruce explains that the Brisbane Truck Show, which takes place every two years, is the largest attraction for the business. The event sees Drake Collectibles release new models every day while promoting new products that are in the pipeline to the thousands of attendees which stop by.
As the team currently prepares for next year’s event, Bruce says he has some special guests planned to attend from overseas. There will also be product releases each day as well as new samples of tooling models and products on display. In addition, he hints that there will be
collectibles in forms other than diecast models being launched.
Around this event, Drake Collectibles also attends other truck shows around the country which allow the team to scout for new trucks to make models of.
“When the truck’s there and I’m there, it’s easier for me to gather the data that I need, such as photos from specific angles, to produce the model,” Bruce says. “Everybody can always tell you what colour the chassis is or what colour the cab is, but when you ask them what colour the pinstriping is, nobody knows. It’s important to get the little things right, so these shows are good opportunities for me to gather all the data I need.”
On top of this, Bruce regularly visits Drake Collectibles’ factories overseas to
discuss projects and review samples.
“I like to try and keep a very tight hand on quality and make sure that everybody’s on the same page when we’re looking at new product development,” he says. “So, I go there to discuss and follow projects, do new developments and check on some of the items before they ship.”
For Bruce, being a diecast collector himself, seeing what Drake Collectibles has become is truly humbling.
Contact The Drake Group 19 Formation Street Wacol
QLD 4076
Ph: 07 3271 5888
Web: www.thedrakegroup.com.au
Braking boundaries
To help improve efficiency and minimise downtime for fleet operators, Tuff Trailers has invested in the latest braking solutions provided by Knorr-Bremse.
Employing more than 33,000 people globally, Knorr-Bremse makes a significant contribution to greater safety and efficiency on roads by providing reliable and versatile braking systems – driving the shift to sustainable transportation and next-generation mobility.
For truck and trailer operators, one of the most common problems faced is braking system failure. Not only does this lead to unexpected downtime and maintenance costs, but it can also create serious safety issues.
Recognising this, Knorr-Bremse has designed a state-of-the-art Trailer Electronic Braking System (TEBS) which offers a range of key functionalities and solutions for its ever-growing clientele. For Tuff Trailers founder and Director, Denis Di Pasquale, providing top of the line customer experience and quality trailers is a priority. It is also why Tuff Trailers has partnered with Knorr-Bremse for more than 10 years.
Supplying trailers with not only braking systems but also forward-thinking solutions, Denis highlights why he has remained a loyal customer.
“We started dealing with Knorr-Bremse
in 2012 as a brake system supplier,” he says. “Originally dealing with their local rep, we wanted a braking system that was more advanced with EBS technology because we started using this in our trailers very early on. We could see technology was the future and our values and objectives aligned, so they seemed like the natural choice in terms of a braking provider.”
Standard braking systems in heavy vehicles can often be susceptible to fluid or air leaks due to strain with braking components also prone to wear and tear, contamination from dirt as well as corrosion.
Understanding the inconveniences and hazards this can pose, Knorr-Bremse’s TEBS integrates Anti-Lock Braking Systems (ABS), Roll Stability Program (RSP) and load proportioning. Being able to optimally distribute braking power, it’s the perfect solution for heavy loads and trailers.
“We push boundaries in our designs, and we are always looking at technology for the future,” Denis says. “Not all technologies are viable. When you have trailers like ours which have a lot of
wheels and brakes, you really need it to work efficiently.”
The advantages of electronic control over conventional pneumatic control includes a shorter response time and braking distance which ultimately results in increased road safety.
Durability and capacity playing a major role, Denis emphasises the benefits of having TEBS by Knorr-Bremse in place and the advantages it has to his trailers.
“Braking capacity is important as well as tyre wear, so having the right braking control system in the trailer plays a big part in terms of making all those avenues as efficient as possible,” he says. “As part of our steerable platform series, we produce a trailer in rows of eight which means they carry a significant amount of weight. With the TEBS system in place we are able to make them as effective and dynamic as possible in all areas.”
Building custom trailers is no easy feat and fitting them with the right braking systems is essential for several reasons, especially when manoeuvring in challenging terrain.
“We continually build large trailers and they get used in mining, infrastructure and
renewable energy projects,” Denis says. “They carry everything from transformers and excavation equipment to wind farm tower equipment.
“When you get out to a location, like the wind farms, your trailers need to be manoeuvrable. So, our trailers are designed and built to have the best in terms of steering, raising and lowering, and we use Knorr-Bremse braking systems to provide a superior braking performance.”
Working with Knorr-Bremse on the installation of smart braking systems goes hand in hand with Tuff Trailers’ mission to provide the most innovative trailers on the market.
“Every trailer that we build is fitted with Knorr-Bremse braking systems,” Denis says. “These systems are proven to be superior in design and application performance, and that’s one of the driving reasons as to why we have repeat orders.
“We work and design trailers to be the best that they can be and Knorr-Bremse also strives for this in terms of being
a solution provider – our values really align here.”
A recent example of this collaboration was seen in the manufacturing of a Tuff Trailers removable gooseneck low loader extendable trailer with independent suspension. The unit, being 45’ in length overall with a deck height of 520mm, could also extend in front of the suspension group to carry a 40’ flat rack.
“Mounting brake components was a challenge with limited space, but with Knorr-Bremse’s team, we were able to work it in and have everything fit correctly,” Denis says. “This allowed us to produce one of our best products.”
Response times, according to Denis, are also key especially when it comes to road safety.
“We build trailers in rows of four that are steerable, and they extend,” he says. “There are often difficulties as far as trailers go with response times. Knorr-Bremse have a great team and an electronic system that helps make things right.
“Braking is a safety factor in any trailer, and every trailer of ours since 2012 has had Knorr-Bremse braking systems. The particular braking system that they provide us with suits our trailer with rows of eight perfectly. Their engineer team is outstanding and have really helped in the fit out of this particular trailer design.” Knorr-Bremse engineers and qualified service partners of the Knorr-Bremse Expert Network operate Australia-wide which is ideal for Tuff Trailers and the fleets it serves across the nation.
“Whenever we have had an issue or required some help, even if the trailer is in another state”, Denis says.
“Knorr-Bremse has been able to assist in offering that service through either themselves or a partner, so it really has been excellent in terms of aftermarket support.”
Contact
Knorr-Bremse truck.knorr-bremse.com/en/au/
Images: Tuff Trailers.
Illuminating innovation
To help reduce fleet downtime, Shephard Transport Equipment has invested in the latest LED Lamp Distribution Box from HELLA Australia.
At the forefront of LED lighting requirements for trucks and trailers, HELLA Australia provides low maintenance quality parts and innovative lighting system solutions. It also offers broad solutions for its growing clientele to help navigate the ever-evolving transport and logistics landscape and its various challenges.
For truck and trailer operators, one such challenge that can often present itself is lamp outage which ultimately leads to unexpected downtime and maintenance costs. Recognising this, HELLA Australia has developed a low maintenance highperforming LED Lamp Distribution Box.
For Shephard Transport Equipment (STE) Purchasing Officer, Ben Weatherhog, reliability is a priority which is why the Australian trailer manufacturer approached HELLA Australia for a straightforward and dependable solution.
The problem, Ben notes, is that when a vehicle experiences a lamp outage it requires an electrician to fix it which in turn can lead to long and unexpected periods of downtime.
HELLA Australia’s solution is its stateof-the-art LED Lamp Distribution Box, a high quality, quick connect and simple fix for fitting LED lamps to heavy trailers. For
STE, the quality of the product immediately stood out.
“We use HELLA Australia for the quality in lights that they provide,” he says. “The quality is there, and we have no issues with it. Many of our customers are long-term, and they are because of the standard the HELLA product provides.”
Standard junction boxes can be complicated, prone to faults when opened and serviced. When a fault does occur, multiple lamps and circuits are often affected resulting in a vehicle not being safe to operate and therefore experiencing unforeseen downtime. A fault like this can
also cause labour costs which quickly accumulate, the largest cost of all being a non-functioning vehicle.
The knock-on effect of this can be significant, delaying drivers and delivery deadlines. Understanding the inconveniences this can lead to, HELLA Australia has equipped its LED Lamp Distribution Box with integrated Deutsch DT connector sockets that provide easy and reliable lamp connection. It isolates individual circuits to reduce lamp outage which, overall, ensures a more reliable lamp operation.
This means that if a fault occurs it can be identified almost immediately, and the repair is quick. For the operator this means no electrician is required and the vehicle is back up and running in a much faster time frame.
Seeing this in action, Ben explains how effective this feature is especially when it comes to increased productivity and reducing service cost.
“Truck and trailer lighting is a really big thing because it needs to be working day and night,” he says. “Previously, if something broke it would warrant getting an electrician in to fix it. Now, if an operator has a broken light or plug, they can just disconnect them and then we can send the parts out. Or, they can just plug it in at home themselves that night and they
don’t need an electrician. Therefore, the plug and play feature helps to minimise downtime effectively.
“It has definitely made life easier and has helped the customers who come to us. There is less maintenance involved and they don’t have to pay someone to do it because they can just do it all themselves. Eliminating this is important because staffing is really a key industry issue.”
To help combat the wear and tear caused by the harsh Australian climate, the HELLA LED Lamp Distribution Box also features sealed housing and durable materials. The IP6K9K rated housing therefore prevents any moisture, dust or other contaminants from affecting internal electronics.
In addition, since there are no serviceable parts, there is no need to open the junction box – making it easier to avoid potential damage to other circuits when replacing lamps. For STE, this is a gamechanger when it comes to preventative maintenance.
“The new HELLA box is fully sealed so the dust and the moisture can’t get into it, so you will never have any issues with it,” Ben says. “Previously we had an open-type junction box, so you would get a lot of dust and dirt in it, and over the years this would grow into electrical problems. This solution is a fully sealed unit so there is no access to it.
“With this we don’t have to worry about anyone playing around with anything or doing stuff they shouldn’t, and the Australian climate loves it, so it’s perfect.”
According to Ben it is features like these that not only play a major role in safety but in reducing costs for the business and their customers, which therefore adds value to both the manufacturer and the operator.
“Cost is the big factor here because there is essentially no maintenance,” he says.
“It’s the big key for us and that’s what we love about it, there is zero upkeep after it is installed, and the cost is cheaper.”
Based on his own experience, Ben also praises HELLA Australia’s other lighting innovations and how the reliability of its products has made them a standard on all of STE’s trailers and prime movers.
“HELLA lighting has become our standard, we use their products on every trailer now,” he says. “We can explain to anyone over the phone how to use and replace the product. It’s just simple, easy and maintenance-friendly, and that’s what we love about it. All our customers love their lighting too because they don’t have to maintain them.”
Ross Transport has obtained a new Roller Brake Tester from Nepean Transport Equipment , complete with shaker units and a compact scissor jack in one Australian-made package.
The city of Wollongong in New South Wales is renowned for being one of the toughest regions in Australia for brakes due to its challenging routes, such as Mount Ousley Road which houses a steep six-kilometre descent. As a result, it’s imperative that fleets which transport through the area have the right tools to ensure their equipment remains in peak condition.
Based in NSW, Ross Transport’s new Roller Brake Tester from Nepean Transport Equipment was designed to handle these challenges with ease while providing reliable performance and peace of mind. As Ross Transport Workshop Foreman, Jason Ring, explains, the stateof-the-art equipment is already playing a crucial role in helping the business maintain compliance and ensure its brakes are always in top condition.
“It’s incredible how easy it has made the job,” he says. “You’ve still got to know what you’re doing but it’s made everything so much easier. At the end of the day, we’re using the same machine
as the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) and all it comes down to is our discretion.”
For Ross Transport, the effectiveness of the Roller Brake Tester was demonstrated through the diagnosis of a broken drive spring centre bolt – a notoriously difficult issue to pinpoint. A regular driver had been reporting a strange vibration in one of their vehicles, and despite a thorough check completed by a technician, no visible issues were found. On the day that Ross Transport first received the machine, though, the situation was diagnosed straight away.
“We were sort of stumped on it,” Jason says. “We checked everything – the driveline, the wear of the tyres which we also sent away to be balanced up, and the bushes. But, when we got the machine working and put the truck over it we saw the axle kicking around. It just blew us away.”
From there, the issue was promptly repaired and the vehicle was re-tested and returned to service in optimal
condition. This swift diagnosis not only saved time and money but also ensured maximum fleet utilisation.
“There would have been no way for us to find that, so it was quite amazing,” Jason says. “As far as the jack itself goes, it takes so much time away which is a good thing. The platform is pretty big as well, so it’s convenient. You just roll your axle over it and it will actually pick up each axle. It’s very simple.”
With over 25 years of experience in refining its designs, Nepean Transport Equipment products have remained trusted by organisations and transporters across the nation. Its equipment is also locally made, demonstrating its commitment to help customers operate safely, reduce service fault-finding time and save money.
Contact Nepean Transport Equipment
Ph: 02 4647 6868
E: vis@nepeantransport.com
Web: www.nepeantransport.com.au
Nepean Transport Equipment.
Trailer building materials/components
Touchdown
The first two variants of ZF ’s Intelligent Braking Platform, iEBS, have arrived in Australia and are now making their way onto trailers around the country.
Australia is the first region in the world to gain ZF’s new Intelligent Braking Platform, iEBS, after the product found itself on local ground at the end of last year. Post-arrival, the Basic Air and Basic Steel versions are now being supplied by ZF’s local distributors around the country.
iEBS is ZF’s most advanced solution to date. The debuted Basic variant’s design includes lightweight composite material featuring an integrated pressure distribution module (PDM), anti-compounding and emergency function and an air suspension overflow valve which helps reduce the number of valves, piping and installation time while simplifying system layout and serviceability.
Marketed as the industry’s ‘game
changer’ for trailer brake control, Basic Air and Basic Steel (suitable for pneumatically and mechanically suspended trailers respectively) bring exceptional intelligence and safety to the frontline.
With a plethora of features, the iEBS unit leverages on more than 35 years of experience under the ZF umbrella which in turn has led to several improvements on its predecessors which are already proven around the world. This can particularly be seen with its multivoltage capability which ultimately improves system compatibility and vehicle connectivity.
“This is just one of the improvements that we’ve been able to bring to this generation,” says ZF Group Account Manager Fleet Solutions and OE Trailer
Systems, Wayne Durrant. “Australia has both European and American prime movers, so we have to supply a multivoltage ECU to be able to cope with those different platforms. Thus, the latest iEBS has a multi-voltage capability across all variants, meaning Australia is getting the same unit that gets supplied to the rest of the world for the first time ever.”
System assembly is also simplified with push-to-connect nylon hoses as opposed to rubber hoses and hose clamps. These fittings allow iEBS to be much easier and quicker to install, as well as being safer due to the likelihood of air leaks being decreased.
“It’s five to eight minutes quicker to fit a trailer with this iEBS which has nylon push-to-connect fittings than it is with
Images: ZF Group.
the previous version which has rubber hose clamps,” Wayne says. “We’ve also gone metric with iEBS, as the previous version had imperial fittings with the nylon material.”
Developed on the back of brake and suspension components, the platform combines a suite of intelligent Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS) and Electronic Braking Systems (EBS) which are suitable for almost all trailer types world-wide.
Leading this global product launch is Erik Schmidt, who also originally pioneered the introduction of WABCO EBS into Australia back in 2003. Having his wealth of knowledge available to bring iEBS to the market, Wayne says, has been invaluable.
“The lead product development engineer of this latest iEBS product happens to be the same person that brought EBS to Australia in 2003, and that just shows that Australia has been in the minds of our European headquarters for that entire period of time,” he says. “Erik’s past experience with the unique roads that we travel, the mix of vehicles that we have and the way that we test and certify our trailers has ensured that Australia’s specific requirements have been considered from the very beginning.”
ZF is now selling the Basic variants of iEBS through a network of three authorised ZF distributors. With its own global might and portfolio, ZF is also providing assistance with technical and service requirements through close collaboration between its German and local Australian teams.
“All of our three distributors in Australia –Air Brake Corporation, Air Brake Systems and Transport Engineering Solutions –have access to iEBS and are distributing it into the Australian market,” Wayne says. “We recognise the work that they have done in getting iEBS launched. Australian trailer OEMs were the first to install iEBS units anywhere in the world in April this year, and this is a credit to the capability of our distributors. Their continued support as valued partners through the whole process has allowed ZF to successfully bring iEBS to the Australian market.”
With the Basic variants available, Wayne reveals ZF’s Standard and Premium iEBS variants are now in production. They’re due for launch this month.
Meanwhile, ZF is also celebrating a significant milestone following the recent sale of its 100,000th EBS product into Australia and New Zealand.
“At the same time as we’re launching
the latest version iEBS, we also happen to have reached the milestone of selling 100,000 EBS units into the Australasian market,” Wayne says. “This has only contributed to making our roads safer, saving thousands of lives all through a little electronic braking unit that sits on every trailer now.”
Wayne, who has worked at ZF for 20 years, says it’s pleasing to know the company has made 100,000 trailers safer over the last 15 years.
“Without trucks, we don’t have a quality of life,” he says. “By the same token, somebody who goes to work should be able to come home. Everybody should be safe in the workplace, so we’re ensuring that the transport industry’s workers are returning home safely every night through the latest innovations in braking technology.
“That, to me, is by far the most important thing – that you get up in the morning, you do your job, and you know you’re going to come home because the equipment that you’re operating is safe.”
Contact
ZF – mobilised by WABCO Trailer Solutions
Ph: 02 9679 5555
Web: www.zf.com | www.wabco-auto.com
Passing the test of time
Equipped a complete setup of BPW Transpec braking and suspension components, B&J Catalano’s new 27.5m pocket road train continues a fitment tradition established many years ago.
B&J Catalano, a one-stop shop and provider for earthmoving, transport, bulk earthworks and civil contracting solutions, began operations in 1962 with a plan to service the local rural community of the South West region of Western Australia. The company was formed by Bill and Joe Catalano with just one truck on hand and a bulldozer which Bill found on a farm and restored. From there, the brothers set out with a purpose in hopes of making an impact.
Momentum began picking up for the business and two years later, B&J Catalano picked up its first major contract to develop the Marlston Hill BP fuel tank site. Over the years, it would continue to gradually evolve and cover a further range of services such as bulk haulage, civil and mining work, material supply, bulk storage, port services, equipment hire and contract crushing.
Having recently passed 60 years in operation, B&J Catalano has come a
long way from its humble beginnings. It now employs over 300 people, and with a comprehensive range of earthmoving and materials processing equipment complemented by an extensive fleet of trucks and trailers, it offers full end-toend transport, material supply and civil contracting services.
Today, B&J Catalano is still run by Bill, together with his son, Stephen, and Joe’s son, Clem, who serve as Directors alongside an experienced management team which oversee the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the business. And, by regularly purchasing new equipment to cater to its strengthening services, it continues to expand.
In the last couple of months, for example, the fleet took delivery of a new 27.5m pocket road train combination which consists of a new prime mover coupled with two end tipper trailers. The unit has been put to work where it has been operating 24/7 through Greenbushes,
Bunbury and all over the South West region of WA carting silica sand and spodumene from a lithium plant in Greenbushes to the Port of Fremantle, in addition to general products including limestone and gravel.
The combination itself is made up of aluminium bins in a bid to achieve low tare weights and better payloads, built by Boomerang Engineering. It features a large range of components from BPW Transpec such as the latest BPW TS2 disc brake axles with lightweight aluminium hubs, AL2 Suspension, a Transpec Electronic Braking System (EBS), BPW Ballrace turntable, Edbro hydraulic tipping hoists and a Ringfeder coupling and tow eye.
Thanks to the fitment of BPW Transpec products, Clem says the pocket road train has been an excellent combination for the fleet’s drivers to tow.
“The suspension has been good so far,” he says. “The drivers think it’s great, I’ve had no complaints from them. The trailer
handles great on the road – it tows nice and straight and it doesn’t wobble over the road at all.
“We have a number of the AL2 suspensions running through our trailer fleet. We’ve got different types of trailers and we put the same suspension on all of them. So, we’ve had them for a while and they run really well.”
B&J Catalano solely uses BPW axles on all of its trailers, and it has been doing so for decades because it’s able to get a good product life and service out of them.
“We’ve always used BPW,” Clem says. “My old man started with them in the late ‘60s, so they have just run through the business. As the company has grown, we’ve kept the product in the fleet.”
The BPW equipment has lasted through countless operations since B&J started making strides all those years ago.
“I’ve got BPW axles and air suspensions here that are over 30 years old and are still running on the road,” Clem says. “The
repacks or preloads.
“It’s just a good product and that’s why we’ve stuck with it over all of these years. We know it’s a bit more expensive, but we still use it because while it’s dearer up front, it’s cheaper in the long run.”
The products which have demonstrated their durability and effectiveness are also bolstered by a service which Clem says the family business can count on.
“We’ve had a terrific relationship with BPW Transpec over the years,” he says. “We stick with BPW Transpec because the back-up service is great.
“They come and do workshop training with our guys all the time. If we have a new product, the drivers will get trained up on them. So, that’s what we really like about BPW Transpec – the backup service and the fact that their products outlast everything with the work that we’re doing.”
Contact
L-R: Daniel Hoschke, Aaron Moore, Clem Catalano and Mark Kingston.
Road upgrades & new developments
What you need to know about Australia’s biggest road projects this month
Additional $467M announced to make Bruce Highway safer
The Australian Government is investing an extra $467 million in the Bruce Highway through the Budget to improve the safety and capacity of Queensland’s major northsouth road link.
Albany Ring Road becomes fully operational
The Western Australian Government has announced the completion of the Albany Ring Road, the biggest road infrastructure project ever undertaken in WA’s Great Southern region.
$750M
in funding announced to advance Beveridge Intermodal Precinct
The funding includes $154 million for improvements along the Bruce Highway North corridor and an additional injection of funding to support the delivery of a number of important existing Bruce Highway upgrade projects.
Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Senator for Queensland, Anthony Chisholm, said upgrading the Bruce Highway is a top priority of the Government.
“The Bruce Highway isn’t just a major commuter and tourist route, it’s also a crucial freight link between Queensland’s regional production areas and our state’s coastal ports,” he said.
“This extra $467 million is a prime example of our commitment to improving the overall safety of the Bruce Highway, providing locals and visitors to the regions with a safer and more pleasant journey.”
Overall, the Australian Government is investing more than $10 billion in the Bruce Highway.
The Bruce Highway plays a critical role in freight movements and passenger travel in Queensland, and the extra funding will therefore look to ensure people can get to their destinations safer and sooner.
On 19 May, the final section between South Coast Highway and Hanrahan Road to Frenchman Bay Road officially opened as part of the Government’s effort to improve freight efficiency while diverting heavy vehicles around Albany.
The completed ring road has delivered a free flowing, 11-kilometre connection between the original section of Menang Drive east of Albany Highway and Princess Royal Drive, including three gradeseparated interchanges at Albany Highway, South Coast Highway and Hanrahan Road.
The completed ring road is now known as Menang Drive.
WA Transport Minister, Rita Saffioti, said the new ring road will support the future economic growth of Albany and the Great Southern region by making truck movements to and from the Port of Albany as efficient as possible.
“The Albany Ring Road is a once-in-ageneration project for the Great Southern region, providing a free-flowing freight connection around the city and taking heavy vehicles off existing routes,” she said.
“The issue of heavy vehicles having to use local roads to access the port has long been a concern, which is why our Government made this commitment to the people of Albany and the Great Southern.
“Removing heavy vehicles from the existing local network will improve safety on Chester Pass Road, Albany Highway and South Coast Highway and enhance amenity for local residents and visitors alike.”
The project, safeguarding the long-term viability and efficiency of the Port of Albany by providing free flowing road access, will ultimately improve competitiveness of exports from the region.
The Australian Government has announced an additional $750 million in funding towards the delivery of Camerons Lane Interchange to help progress the Beveridge Intermodal Precinct in Victoria.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently visited Beveridge to make the announcement, highlighting how the funding will ultimately enable the delivery of the Beveridge Intermodal Precinct which will act as a major freight and logistics hub in Melbourne’s north.
City of Whittlesea Chair of Administrators, Lydia Wilson, said the funding is key to enabling infrastructure for the important project in an area experiencing rapid growth.
“This investment in an important foundational piece of the project and will ensure job creation both now and into the future,” she said.
“We are pleased to see work continuing on this important regional project which will deliver an enormous boost to local employment.
“We will continue to work with National Intermodal, our neighbouring Councils and all levels of government to support this vital infrastructure project.”
Wireless wonder
On a small, innocuous patch of highway in West Lafayette, Indiana, engineers from Purdue University are changing the way electric commercial vehicles are charged.
It’s a bit like charging a mobile phone on a charging pad, except the phone is a heavy vehicle and the pad is the highway beneath it.
The idea was developed by members of the engineering department at Indiana’s Purdue University, who are now testing how well their patent-pending wireless system can provide power to a heavy-duty electric truck, travelling at high speeds.
The electric truck in question, provided by American transport company, Cummins, will soon begin driving over the test bed as part of the pilot program.
Semi-trailers with regional routes are ideal candidates for electrification because they travel predictable and consistent distances. However, wired charging, which currently dominates the electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, poses logistical and safety challenges. To combat this problem, the stationary wireless highpowered charging systems will, ideally, charge heavy-duty vehicles with minimal intervention from fleet workers. The hope is to electrify a larger section of an Indiana interstate in the next four to five years.
“We’re developing a system that has the power to charge semi-trailers as they move 65 miles (105km) per hour down the road,” said Purdue University Lyles School of Civil Engineering Professor, John Haddock.
Within this wireless system, transmitter coils would be installed in dedicated lanes underneath normal concrete pavement and then send power to receiver coils attached to the underside of a vehicle. While other wireless EV charging efforts are also using transmitter and receiver coils, but they haven’t been designed for the higher power levels that heavy-duty trucks need.
The Purdue-designed coils accommodate a wider power range — larger vehicles wouldn’t need multiple low-power receiver coils on the trailer to charge from the road, which has been proposed to meet the high-power demands. Instead, in the Purdue design, a single receiver coil assembly is placed under the tractor, greatly simplifying the overall system.
Working with highways and heavy-duty
trucks is a unique challenge. Because the vehicles travel so much faster than on city roads, they need to be charged at higher power levels.
Building electrified highways with heavy-duty trucks in mind would maximise greenhouse gas reductions and the feasibility of developing infrastructure for EVs.
Heavy-duty trucks are one of the biggest sources of greenhouse gas emissions for the American transportation sector because they make up a large portion of interstate traffic.
“The so-called ‘middle mile’ of the supply chain, which refers to all the travel heavy-duty trucks have to do to carry goods from one major location to another, is the most challenging part of the transportation sector to decarbonise,” said Purdue University Professor of Civil engineering, Nadia Gkritza. “We see the potential for dynamic wireless power pavement technology as complementary to an expanding network of EV charging stations that we will see very soon here in the US.”
Purdue University engineers John Haddock, Nadia Gkritza, Dionysios Aliprantis and Steve Pekarek. Image: Vincent Walter/Purdue University.
The perfect gifts
Membrey’s Transport & Crane Hire Director, Craig Membrey, recently celebrated his 60th birthday with the purchase of new fleet equipment.
Membrey’s Transport & Crane Hire was established in 1962 with just four prime movers and eight pieces of equipment, yet it has since grown to operate a fleet of over 100 highly specialised trailers.
Craig Membrey, who has been operating the business for more than 34 years, recently treated himself with a new Kenworth T610 and Drake 2x8 dolly for his 60 th birthday.
“I like doing trucks up and I love spending money, unfortunately,” he says. “So, as part of my celebration for my 60th birthday, I went a bit crazy and bought a few toys.”
With a custom-built bullbar and 860mm sleeper cab, the prime mover is powered by a 600hp Euro 5 Cummins X15 engine capable of 2,050/ft of torque and a 18-speed transmission.
Craig says the Kenworth was another truck on his bucket list which he can now say he proudly owns.
“I love Kenworths and I thought it was a pretty cool looking truck, so it was great that we could do one in my colours,” he says.
“The T610s have really good fuel
economy because of the aerodynamic cabs on them.”
In its operations, the T610 will cart B-doubles and road trains all around Australia for the fleet’s heavy haulage division. According to Craig, who took the prime mover for its first trip up to Rye Park Wind Farm in New South Wales, it has performed fantastically so far.
“It’s comfortable to drive and it’s got an automatic in it, so I can’t miss any gears,” he says.
The unit is also equipped with a smart TV, microwave, fridge and Icepack – all driver comfort features which Craig says will make its long journeys more enjoyable for the operators.
“It has plenty of features that we love supplying to drivers to make their lives easier, because it’s a hard life doing interstate haulage,” he says. “The more luxuries there are, the more comfortable the drivers are.”
Meanwhile the new 2x8 dolly, which was picked up with a brand-new Kenworth K220, joins Craig’s fleet of around 20 Drake trailers. joins Craig’s fleet of around 20 Drake trailers. Like the Kenworth, it’s being
deployed for heavy haulage operations around the country.
“I’ve been in a relationship with Drake for nearly 20 years,” he says. “Drake is a beautiful family business that treats me like family, and their trailers have been a good product to get behind.”
The new dolly was custom-made for the Membrey’s Transport & Crane Hire fleet and it was built according to Craig’s specific needs.
“It has a diesel powerpack on the side of it and a fuel tank up the top,” Craig says. “They know how fussy we are, so they’ve been very supportive in getting everything to our standards. They’ve always been there behind the product to support it.”
In the 34 years that Craig has led his business, he says he’s been fortunate enough to establish close bonds with people and organisations like Kenworth and The Drake Group.
“I just love the business we have with our suppliers and customers,” he says. “They end up turning into relationships, so it’s pretty to cool to be able to have that anywhere.”
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Truck Shows & Field Days 2024
Pencil in some information on dates and venues of various truck shows, field days and road transport industry conferences both locally and internationally. Got an upcoming event? Then let us know about it –
July
Victoria
CeMAT Australia 23–25 July Melbourne, VIC Visit: www.cemat.com.au
August
Victoria
Sheepvention Rural Expo 4–5 August Hamilton, VIC Visit: www.hamiltonshowgrounds.com.au
Western Australia
Mingenew Midwest Expo 8–9 August Mingenew, WA Visit: www.mmwe.com.au
September
New South Wales
Henty Machinery Field Days 17–19 September Henty, NSW Visit: www.hmfd.com.au
The MHD Mercury Awards 18 September Melbourne, VIC Visit: www.mercuryawards.com.au
Germany
IAA Transportation 17–22 September Hanover, Germany Visit: www.iaa-transportation.com/en
