LOW LOADERS
Part of the family QUEENSLAND BASED EARTHMOVING AND BULK HAULAGE COMPANY, VE GROUP, RECENTLY COMMISSIONED DRAKE SERVICE AND REPAIRS TO CARRY OUT A FULL MAKEOVER ON A THREE-AXLE TAG LOW LOADER THAT WAS MANUFACTURED IN 1989. IT IS NOW BACK EARNING ITS KEEP ALONGSIDE A PAIR OF DRAKE HEAVY HAULAGE TRAILERS. Following a complete refurb, the 32 year old tag float is back earning its keep in the VE Group fleet.
VE Group AU was founded in 2006 by
Growing up with parents who ran their own
dozers. The transport division continues to
married couple Nathan and Bronwen Howell
transport and earthmoving business, Nathan
complement the equipment with the ability
in the Callide Dawson Valley in Central
learnt to operate heavy machinery and trucks
to mobilise and demobilise as required
Queensland.
from a young age and gained a wealth of
The business has grown from small beginnings
experience in these fields as he grew older.
which has been a huge advantage for the company’s clients.
with one tandem tipper and tag-float, a three-
“It’s in Nathan’s blood, so it was only a matter
As a tribute to Nathan’s parents, Neil and
tonne excavator and a Bobcat.
of time before he started to do something
Lyn Howell, about 10 years ago Nathan and
As an ISO Accredited Civil Construction, Bulk
himself,” Bronwen explains. “He was working
Bronwen decided to track down the first low
and Heavy Haulage Company servicing a
at a local mine but wasn’t content with the
loader tag trailer they bought new in 1989.
vast majority of Queensland and New South
job, so one day he came home and said to
They eventually found it still working in the
Wales, the company has focussed not only on
me, ‘Let’s start our own business.”
township of Banana in Central Queensland.
self-performance works but also supporting its
Nathan and Bronwen say they have acquired
“Nathan made contact with the local
long-standing clients.
the right equipment to be self-reliant
contractor and advised that if he decided to
Today, the company has a team of 80 people
and to offer their customers a complete service package.
sell the trailer, we would like first option to
and a fleet of 30 Kenworth trucks, as well as more than 35 units of plant and machinery.
“If you can perform the task from end to end,
“In 2012 the contractor called us and we
These assets have helped the company
it works to your clients’ advantage in regional
purchased the float; it was still in its original
maintain a strong order book of secure
locations,” Nathan says.
working order and was a perfect complement
work including multi-year contracts with key government bodies.
The current plant fleet consists of varying
to our current fleet.”
sizes of excavators, loaders, compactors and
The company has two Drake Full Widener
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Trailer Magazine NOVEMBER 21
buy it,” Bronwen says.
