FLEET OF THE MONTH
Steelers wheels APEX STEEL PRODUCES AND SUPPLIES STEEL PRODUCTS TO ROOFERS USING A PURPOSE-BUILT FLEET IN WHICH WESTERN STAR PLAYS A PROMINENT ROLE IN CARRYING THE EXTENDED LOADS. The unusual size of the steel cut-tolength and its variants like aluminum and colorbond dictate the customised approach to the trailer combinations used at Apex Steel. That key requirement for the delivery business is fully realised through Western Star and more specifically the 4800 FS2 model, given its unique wheelbase helps keep the combination within the legal limit of 26 metres. As it offers a wide range of commercial roofing, cladding, rainwater goods, sheet metal, purlins, battens, sheet and coil, pipes and structural steel, the task of supplying these products is wholly specialised for Apex Group. It must include a mounted crane on
Western Star 4800 FS2 with mounted Fassi crane.
all its trailers. The Fassi vehicle loading crane, supplied by 600 Cranes, has been standardised across the fleet for efficiency
extendable trailer with steerable axles it
long lengths,” he explains. “All of our
of use, maintenance and repairs.
had commissioned by Lusty Trailers in Swan
trailers are full extendable 48 footers. Once
Heavier loads, topping out around 25
Hill a few years back.
you put a crane on the Western Star it
tonnes, involve use of extendable trailers.
In the main the company, which maintains a
comes under the legal limit. So that’s why
These are nominally sourced from long
head office and depot in Dandenong South,
we buy them and they’re a top truck.”
time partners Vawdrey and occasionally Barker Trailers.
supplies to independent roofing specialists
While little Isuzus are deployed for smaller
for the construction and refurbishment of
tray truck deliveries, the Western Stars are
The company also runs a super
commercial and domestic properties.
assigned the much longer steel sheets.
Commercial roofers require, according to
With a longer wheelbase, the heavy duty
Apex Building Products Road Transport
4800 FS2 cling reliably to the unsealed
Manager Clint Rockman, a bespoke service for the overscale considerations of moving
roads and enclosed areas customary of their final destination.
materials for factory roofs.
“For the most part the jobs are offroad. As
“If the customer orders a roof we have to be
you can imagine it’s factories and similar
able to supply what they need. So it’s our job
locations,” says Clint. “There’s not a lot
to cut it for them from a coil and then we
of asphalt welcoming the drivers at these
have it delivered,” he says. “We do a lot of
sites. But the Western Star is a great truck
long roof sheets.” The inclusion of the three new Western
in the mud and slush. It handles variable conditions very well.”
Star trucks comes in the midst of the fleet
Westar Trucks Derrimut oversaw the complex
being rejuvenated. It has been a conscious
build in which underslung pipes for the
undertaking on the part of Clint, who sees
exhaust were necessary to accommodate the
the long-term strategy of upgrading the
rear mounted crane. Shortened fuel tanks
equipment offsetting costs associated with
and toolboxes were also required as part
downtime and repairs.
of a host of modifications which have been
“The fleet has been purposely built to cart
observant down to a 10mm tolerance.
Crane spec’d trucks are standard for Apex Steel.
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Trailer Magazine OCTOBER 20
