Coach & Bus Today Issue 13 by Transport Publishing Australia

Higer. At home From the outback to the city, more and more people are getting on-board with Higer With a wide range of 28-57 seat buses designed specifically for local conditions and an extensive dealer and service network, Higer is Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fastest growing bus and coach brand. Best-in-class components are seamlessly merged with intelligent design to ensure maximum safety, comfort and class-leading reliability. Combine this with competitive pricing, locally supported componentry and a 5 year warranty* and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to see why more and more people are getting on-board with Higer. *Optional 3 year driveline warranty extension available (5 years total)

For more information and a free test drive call your nearest Higer dealer on 1300 850 206 or visit higer.com.au

New South Wales Dealers Adtrans, Smeaton Grange Thomas Brothers, Wagga Wagga West Orange Motors, Orange

02 4655 5755 02 6926 0102 02 6361 1000

Victorian Dealers Prestige, Dandenong South CMV Group, Laverton North Blacklocks, Wodonga

03 9212 5588 03 9931 6500 02 6057 8777

Queensland Dealers Zupps, Eagle Farm Zupps, Burleigh Ray Grace, Forest Glen Macquarrie Corporation, Cairns Macquarrie Corporation, Townsville

07 3268 3400 07 5569 5111 07 5452 0700 07 4035 3442 07 4725 0799

South Australian Dealer Higer Adelaide, Regency Park

08 8243 8100

Western Australian Dealer WA Higer, Welshpool

08 6365 2954

Tasmanian Dealer Tasmanian Truck & Bus, Launceston 03 6335 9166

in Australia.

Issue 013

Contents CONTACT DETAILS PO Box 3294 Erina, NSW 2250 www.truckandbus.net.au Enquiries Tel: 0411 099 091 Follow us on Twitter #truckandbusnews Publisher/Managing Editor Geoff Paradise gparadise@truckandbus.net.au Editor Fabian Cotter fabian@truckandbus.net.au Art Director Luke Melbourne www.groeningdesigns.com.au Advertising Sales Bruce Williams 0418 349 555 bruce@overdrivemedia.com.au Contributing Writers Chris Smith, David Meredith, Sven-Erik Lindstrand, Allen Matzel Contributing Photographers Mark Bean, Cristian Brunelli, David Meredith, Chris Smith, Sven-Erik Lindstrand, Paul Jakubicki, Matthew Everingham Coach & Bus magazine is published under licence by the Truck Power Media Group Pty Ltd six times a year and is distributed to bus and coach operators, business professionals and the industry throughout Australia.

Regulars

04 06 08 61 63 64

Driver’s Seat Editor Cotter reckons there’ll still be room for staff aboard any future driverless public transport on our roads. Crazy times ahead.

Fare Go Publisher Paradise looks at the issue of pedestrian safety and the impact on drivers, families and society when things go bad.

Up Front We wrap up the key local and international bus and coach news that affects us as a global industry and where we are heading.

Hot Stuff If you are past Lego and Meccano then these trick gadgets on the go are hard to resist. You may not need them, but you’ll certainly want them. Or is that vice-versa?

Working Wheels The new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2014 is in town and and looks like a proper goodun’, so Geoff Paradise buckles up and takes a quick look.

Money The stock market’s a roller-coaster ride we all know, but when is the right time to buy shares? Paul Clitheroe speaks.

Technical

Wireless For Sound TECH: Is charging electric buses for seamless ‘diesel like’ use about to be solved? Wrightbus in the UK thinks so. Fabian Cotter gets a quick zap.

All material contained herein including text, photography, design elements and format are copyright and cannot be reproduced by any means without the written permission of the publisher. Truck Power Media Group is a member of the Copyright Agency Limited (1800 066 844). Editorial contributions are welcome for consideration. Contact the Editor or Publisher for guidelines, fees and level of interest. All unsolicited manuscripts must be accompanied by a stamp, addressed envelope for their return. We will not be held responsible for material supplied electronically. Proudly printed in Australia

Single copy price $6.60 incl. GST

coach&bus 56 “...to maintain [an] award-winning standard over a period is a feather in the cap, indeed.”

Features

16 18 26 32

Extra Rump FIRST LOOK: Daimler’s new Setra TopClass 500 coach is a real stunner – even with its now bigger rump thanks to custom designed ‘Ski Box’. Fabian Cotter reports.

Eurovision Long Contest COVERSTORY: Are bus operators still seemingly seeking European quality and appointments from Asian-made buses? King Long’s 6120/6130 answers. Fabian Cotter reports.

Brand Power OPERATOR: Bus operations come and go, some simply get merged away - but some stand the test of time like Murray’s. Fabian Cotter reports.

What’s My Scene? Bored with the same old Gold Coast sight-seeing? Scenic Day Tour Group offers Gold Coast holiday makers something different. Chris Smith went for a wander.

43 47 51 56

Mine Your Business OPERATOR: Truck bases under bus bodies are par for the course in the mining personnel-transport game. UD’s Condor gets the treatment. David Meredith checks it out.

Is Dom, Is Good! OPERATOR: The Sita family name is big in Melbourne bus circles, so no wonder Dominic had a big task in setting out just for himself. Fabian Cotter reports.

60 Mins With... INTERVIEW: Formerly the marketing guru for Volgren, Tony Kerr has moved back into the truck game – but not before speaking exclusively to Coach & Bus. Fabian Cotter reports.

Iron Man

INTERNATIONAL: Volvo’s 9700 coach is serving the company – and operators – well, winning awards over the years and just looking and performing great. Fabian Cotter reports.

004Driver’s Seat

Fabian Cotter “...is the notion of impending driverless vehicles about to solve such issues for us?”

eez, you wouldn’t want want to be a bus driver these days, would you?

Apparently, and you can sort of see this happening, kids like these get ‘hassled’ to prove

I mean, it hurts to say it but having watched a recent current affairs programme on TV about poor drivers having to deal with ratbag kids on their routes you

they bought a ticket in the first place, or have a valid bus pass etc, whereas they can see adults or good kids don’t always get asked. Thus angst is caused. Apparently...

seriously need the patience of a Buddhist monk – like, a really good one who can catch flies with chopsticks and stuff - to put up with the type of

Now, as stupid as that ‘discrimination’ argument is, maybe …. just maybe … that is the way forward. Maybe the extra effort and cost of

road transport as seen in Hollywood movies like Tom Cruise’s Minority Report are very much like

stress levels involved. My hats are off to you folk, having to ensure people – you know, the normal non-attitude

a ‘conductor’ type person on board universally being seen to check everyone’s tickets etc is what all passengers need to see happen to

a Pantene shampoo TV ad – in that ‘it won’t happen overnight, but it will happen’. The objective? Fewer collisions, more lives

non-psycho ones – arrive at their destinations safely and on time and in comfort. Which is what to expect from a the humble bus trip these days, one would imagine. But school girls (Sorry, school slags. It has to be said!) ‘punching on’ at bus stops and then taking the fight onto the bus; others verbally or often physically abusing bus drivers and or passengers; or just the general rudeness and predictable smelliness of some of these kids these days has got to be a nightmare to deal with for those poor drivers just trying to earn a living and doing their jobs. Said company’s decided to pull buses off such particular routes until things improve, and I suppose in the the short term what else can you do, but as for resolving the greater issue at hand? Well, I’m not holding my breath.

psychologically appease them to get any where near unanimous passenger compliance to behaving themselves? The only other option I could think of would be radical bus interior design where automated payment and or scanning machines check tickets to even allow them on, thereby removing the task and the physical interaction with the driver altogether, but that would affect entrance space design and legal accessibility – which screws that idea. Or is the notion of impending driverless vehicles about to solve such issues for us? ‘What the...?’ I hear you ask. But hear me out. News takes many forms and bombards us every day about all sorts of stuff in so many ways – covering the good, the bad and really ugly. Much of it we’ll pay attention to if we

saved, fewer injuries. Or ideally none at all. Well, that would be the theory. The practice? Hmm, there’s stuff in the movie Back To The Future that hasn’t become commonplace by now, so add another 30 years on top of what they estimate before we can all just sit back and relax as we get ‘driven there’ without a driver. Bugs will need to be ironed out with the new systems, of course, which would presumably be higher-speed wireless, internet, GPS/ satellite reliant. And to have millions of people moving via ‘driverless’ public transport systems around the world should prove too much of a temptation to any hacking group worth their salt hell bent on causing chaos for fun or for some other more sinister objective. Seriously... There’s a Sci-Fi movie plot in all this. Yet having spoken to some leading transport

In fact, the most distributing thing when a reporter fronted such a teenage group for their

must – like a potential life-destroying asteroid heading Earth’s way might be worth knowing

companies’ techie people it’s all going to be about moving vehicles in convoy driverlessly,

opinions on the matter – not the culprits but

about - while other stuff about which royal

to save fuel and money using slipstreams, with

their body language, word choice and general attitude implied they may as well have been –

family’s cousin’s aunt’s neighbour’s cat just had kittens we probably could do without.

telecommunications and collision-avoidance systems working in unison. Our tech feature this

was their interpretation of ‘respect’. It was ‘the bus driver’s fault’ because ‘they don’t treat us with the respect we deserve’.

Yet between that is some really interesting stuff - techie stuff that will affect people’s lives in general and, in turn, industries like public

issue (P.38) is merely the infancy of the greater idea of less time-consuming human involvement in moving vehicles around.

transport and, in particular, buses. News reports are emerging from various sources that transportation is inevitably about

Drivers out of work? Maybe. Or maybe not totally. It’s early days. Public transport with no ‘physical authority’ on

to change as first semi-driverless and then, ultimately, fully driverless vehicles hit our roads over the next 10-30 years. Indeed, it would seem the visions of future

them at all may well prove too scary a place to be. I mean, 4am train journeys home alone in a carriage can be unsafe and freaky enough – and that’s just when I catch my own reflection in the

HOWZAT?!?

Ah, bliss. For most of us this is the way bus travel should be: calm, tranquil, carefree and with Jimi Hendrix’s Purple Haze playing through the audio system. The fella in the sunnies looks a bit dodgy, though.

window. But seriously folks... This issue we look at King Long’s new fullsized charter bus/coach; we visit Kastoria Bus Lines in Melbourne; check out the Scenic Day Tour Group in Queensland; overview UD Trucks’ mining bus; and chat with ex-Volgren man Tony Kerr. Until the next thrilling instalment...

004 www.truckandbus.net.au

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006Fare Go

Geoff Paradise “Drivers have to compensate not only for pedestrians that are in dreamland…”

hen Cliff Richard wrote and sang ‘Wired for Sound’ the

unobtrusive. They can, and do, take you away in a daze.

ultimate personal music machine was a Sony Walkman. About the size of a small transistor radio (sorry if you young ‘uns don’t even know what

So, why the bloody hell are we traipsing around city and suburban streets totally indulged in our music/news/conversation and not taking in our surroundings? Hello?

Driving a bus in any situation is not for the feint of heart. Drivers have to compensate

that is – ask a parent) it was limited to playing a cassette tape. The audio quality was dodgy by today’s standards but they provided an alternative to

Anyone there? In January tragedy struck when a woman was bowled over by a Sydney bus in the CBD. I’m not going to comment on the how

not only for pedestrians that are in dreamland but other vehicles as well, from small cars to B-Doubles. Pedestrians do not have to make things

listening to stuff that you wanted to, not had to. Then came personal CD players, nearly as bulky and about as inefficient, but the result

and why because a coroner’s report has yet to be completed at the time of writing but news of this terrible event made me realise

was the same. Fast forward to the 21st century and we are overwhelmed by technology that allows us to listen, communicate, navigate, shop, listen to the news from another country – just about anything, anywhere, anytime. And all from a gadget a quarter of the size of a Walkman and in some cases from a gizmo the size of a book of matches. Who would have thunk it? Not only has the front end of all this stuff improved out of sight but, so too, has the quality of the device that delivers it to your ear canals: headphones. Small, noise cancelling,

just how many times a week I have to make allowances for some numb nuts who thinks he or she has an invisible shield around them and a vehicle will not hit them. Hello? Anyone there? Spare a thought for the driver of that city bus. Right or wrong, he has to live with the fact that he was driving a bus that hit a woman who later tragically died from her injuries. Spare a thought for the people who witnessed the accident. The memory of that moment will stay with them forever. And of course, think of the impact this lady’s death will have on her friends and family – forever.

harder and more complicated for drivers by being out of touch and out of step with common road rules, be they etched in stone by way of legislation or just simply long established procedure. To have someone step out in front of you because they are too immersed in what they are listening to is not acceptable. Drivers of all vehicles don’t need that sort of behaviour, nor do they need Lycra- cyclists many of whom – most! - also think they have an invisible force shield around them, but that’s a story for another time. At some point we are either walking or driving. So let’s bin the personal music machine or ‘phone until it’s safe to break it out.

MAN will save on fuel.

What you do with the money is up to you. Fuel is one of the biggest expenses in operating a bus in Australia. So if you are looking to save money, the fuel efficiency of your bus is a good place to start.

technology, and it still is today. MAN is serious about fuel efficiency – it’s what makes us one of Europe’s leading bus manufacturers.

In 1893 MAN, together with Rudolf Diesel, developed the world’s first diesel engine. Fuel efficiency was the driving force behind developing this breakthrough

To find out how your business can benefit from the evolutionary fuel efficient MAN, visit www.man.com.au

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UpFront

BUS INVESTMENT TO INCREASE SAYS REPORT POPULATION GROWTH, road congestion and rising fuel costs in Australia are

Industry revenue is forecast to rise steadily over the five years through

directly benefits as new contracts for operation are tendered for new routes.

Transport industry has a low level of market share concentration, it’s

leading to increased demand for industry services, which is increasing investment into bus and tram infrastructure, according to a recent report by

2013-14, growing by a compound annual rate of 5.3 per cent to be worth $5.5 billion. Revenue is expected to increase 4.7 per cent in 2013-14.

A number of push-and-pull factors have drawn more commuters onto bus and tram networks and these are expected to continue to drive commuter numbers up

claimed. Concentration is expected to increase in the next five years as the size of contracts for public transport services increases in states such as

IBISWorld, an industry research firm. The Urban Bus and Tramway Transportation in Australia Industry Market Research Report concludes that

In commuter bus and tram markets, industry participants run services under operating contracts funded and overseen by state governments. IBISWorld industry

in the next five years. As Finch explained, “new vehicles and routes have increased the appeal of industry offerings. Services have

New South Wales and Victoria. Further acquisitions are also expected to increase concentration. This follows a series of acquisitions by major players

increasing road congestion and the rising cost of CBD parking are drawing commuters to industry services.

analyst Caroline Finch stated, “despite privatisation, the role of government in funding infrastructure and managing

been expanded and re-branded in major capital city markets in the past five years.” These factors have drawn

such as Cabcharge Australia Limited and Ventura Motors Proprietary Limited in the past five years. The importance

As IBISWorld explains, the Urban Bus and Tramway Transport industry comprises companies that provide bus and light rail transport services. The industry is dominated by commuter transport services, with charter services only a minor area of industry activity. During the past five years growth in demand for commuter transport and investment in new services has underpinned industry performance.

operating contracts remains significant.” During the past five years, the industry has grown substantially as demand from passengers has lifted and governments have invested in expansion. Bus infrastructure expansion has been an attractive choice for state governments looking to develop public transport network coverage, as has light rail, although to a lesser extent. When bus networks are expanded, the industry

more commuters onto public transport over the period. Factors pushing travellers onto public transport have also strengthened. Population and employment growth have increased the number of people using industry services as increasingly congested capital cities and restricted parking spaces have made it less attractive to travel by car. The Urban Bus and Tramway

of government contracts to industry operators acts as a counterweight to the power that large providers wield within specific geographic areas. The industry major players include Cabcharge Australia, Ventura Motors, Transdev Australasia, KDR Victoria and the Brisbane City Council. For more information visit IBISWorld’s Urban Bus and Tramway Transport Report in Australia industry page.

008 www.truckandbus.net.au

Volvo provided driver training for Greyhound drivers, which included test drives, vehicle familiarisation, and focus on fuel efficiency.

Training Maximises New Bus Investment DRIVER TRAINING IS becoming ever more important as bus and coach operators seek to maximise their investment in new vehicles, according to Tony Lowrey, regional sales manager from Volvo Bus. Lowrey was recently involved with training 200 Greyhound drivers ahead of delivering 30 new long-distance coaches to the company. “Over the past five years, especially, there’s been a greater focus on operators and bus suppliers working together to tailor training programmes for drivers,” Lowrey said.

issues that might arise.” Lowrey said Greyhound chose to dedicate two of its new coaches to a six-week training programme before the new models hit the road. “The fact Greyhound was prepared to complete this level of training before putting those new buses into service demonstrates the value of good training. Drivers each spent time learning about the chassis and the Irizar body and test driving the new model.” Much of the training delivered by Volvo and Greyhound was focussed on fuel-efficient driving. “Fuel efficiency

on the use of features like Eco Roll. “Using Eco Roll, fuel consumption can be minimised, especially in metropolitan areas and while coasting. Using this feature has the added benefit of enhancing passenger satisfaction through a smoother and more pleasant ride,” he said. Other fuel-saving tips focussed on taking sensible approaches to bus operation. Lowrey added: “For example, we remind drivers that if you’re at a changeover and have a 15-minute wait it makes more sense to shut the engine down than to leave it idling.”

significant training programme for our drivers, which is important as ultimately it is our drivers who will ensure we get the best performance on the road out of the new coaches. “Our coaches are some of the hardest working in the country, often covering more than 300,000 kilometres each year. We needed to partner with a supplier that could offer us a high quality and safe product, with proven reliability, all backed up with a national service network.” Greyhound Australia is about to put the first of 30 new Volvo B13R coaches

“A bus driver is always going to be able to get into a new bus and drive it, but good training can help them make

was one of the reasons Greyhound Australia chose the Volvo B13R,” Lowrey said. “Helping drivers maximise the fuel

Greyhound Australia’s general manager – Procurement, Melinda Rich, said pre-service training was an

into operation as part of its national Express fleet. The fleet upgrade is in line

the most of a new model’s features, give their passengers a more comfortable ride and know how to deal with minor

efficiency features of the bus is very important.” The fuel efficiency training focussed

important component of Greyhound’s approach to introducing new buses. “Volvo has supported us with a

with Greyhound’s commitment to environmentally friendly travel alternatives.

www.daewoobuses.com.au BENCHMARK QUALITY – PROVEN RELIABILITY – SENSATIONAL VALUE

PROVEN QUALITY COMPONENTS Daewoo Buses has forged strong partnerships with its component suppliers to ensure maximum customer satisfaction and minimise operating costs. Global brands with the highest reputation such as Doosan engines, Allison transmission, Dana axles and Bosch engine management systems ensure you are guaranteed only the best quality components in your Daewoo.

TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT DAEWOO CALL (02) 9603 2900 TODAY. DW2487/1013

UpFront NSW STA AWARDS TYRE CONTRACT

BusNSW 2014 Conference

THE STATE TRANSIT Authority of NSW (STA) has awarded a three-year

easily controlled by staff with a PDA (personal digital assistant).

REGISTRATION IS NOW open for the BusNSW 2014 Member Conference, which

tyre-supply contract to Australian owned and operated Tyres4U after its innovative two-year web-based trial of bus tyres and services at

New Double Coin RT606 steer tyres were supplied for each bus complemented with VIPAL and Recamic bus tyre retread rubber

is to be held in the Hunter Valley, NSW, during April 15-16. Aside from what should be an awesome golf day out at the annual event, this time

selected STA bus depots successfully concluded. The STA uses more than 5000 new bus tyres plus 10,000 retreaded

according to the nature of the transport routes. Double Coin RT606 is a purpose-built bus tyre with reinforced side walls to protect

at Hunter Valley Golf Club on the 15th,the theme of the conference will be ‘A New Horizon For Investment’, focussing on the need for operators to ‘invest in efficiencies

bus tyres annually within its fleet of just over 2000 buses across 12 bus depots, it’s claimed.

against curb damage and provides greater safety with enhanced traction and grip, the company states.

and performance’ given tendering and contract security being key issues for 2014. It will be held at the Crowne Plaza,

New bus tyres and bus tyre retreads were supplied and monitored at each depot with the best results and service being considered as the leading factor contributing to the tender award. Tyres4U was able to demonstrate savings from selecting the optimal bus tyres and retreads on a CPK (cost per kilometre) basis, but also provided savings by streamlining the administration and invoicing system for bus tyre procurement whilst providing transparency for all stakeholders, the company states. It designed a new web-based software system to record, track and monitor all the bus tyres and

By using a controlled system of tyre supply, applicable to the nature of the tyre use and monitoring the performance of these tyres, Tyres4U then ascertained the best tyre for each STA bus. The company provides ongoing services to ensure the STA maximises its return on its tyre investment by: Regular tyre inflation inspections optimising tyre performance and reducing STA fuel costs. Tyre performance history records for effective tyre management. Data registration to track all used bus tyre cases for inventory and quality control. CPK (cost per kilometre), PSI

Hunter Valley. Various topics are due to be covered, which include: industrial relations changes and how they impact bus businesses; accreditation reforms and technical matters; plus understanding financial situations to stay in a prosperous business. There will be a conference dinner on the night of the 16th with the theme ‘Denim and Diamonds’. Be sure to reserve your spot and get your accommodation booked early by logging on to www.busnsw.com.au, or call BusNSW on (02) 8838 9500.

retreads supplied to the STA. The system helps reduces the carbon foot print as it is paperless and is

(inflation pressures) and tyre projections monthly reports. Auto-emailing of invoices and

available online anywhere, any time to be viewed by all parties and is

statements to lower administration costs, it’s claimed.

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1994 Scania K113 Coach

2007 BCI Cruiser Coach

2008 BCI Cruiser 9

• Aus. Autobus chassis • 12.5m length • 48 reclining seats w/ 3-pt lap/sash seat belts • Toilet • A/C • TV with DVD / Radio player • Eaton Ultrashift trans • Reversing camera EXTREMELY LOW KM’s!!

• ISB Engine • Allison Auto Transmission • 43 seats with 3 point lap sash seat belts • TV & DVD/CD Player • Reversing Camera

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GOOD CONDITION

QBIC SHAPES UP BETTER HEALTH, BETTER wealth – or at least better bus driver well-being

Preventive Health. The ‘Get on Board’ project

participating workers; and having participating workers

seems the aim of Queensland Bus Industry Council (QBIC), which recently announced it will be able to assist workers in the bus and coach industry

commenced in February 2014 thanks to a grant from Workplace Health and Safety Queensland’s HighRisk Industry Work Health Funding

identify their personal health goals, related to the specific lifestyle factors of: smoking; healthy eating/nutrition; responsible alcohol consumption;

achieve their health goals in 2014. QBIC is working with Workplace Health and Safety Queensland on a Healthy Workers initiative as part of

Program. ‘Get on Board’ aims to help workers achieve better health by: gaining management support to introduce healthy workplace

physical activity; and tackle overweight and obesity. QBIC will be delivering this initiative in association with Shelley Dale OHS

Queensland Workplaces for Wellness. This is a joint Australian, State and Territory Government initiative under

initiatives; having a champion appointed in each workplace to facilitate a

Services. Website functionality and the tools to use in your workplace are being finalised and will be free, it’s

the National Partnership Agreement on

calendar of events and help mentor

claimed.

Scania Ranks In Sustainability SCANIA HAS AGAIN ranked among the world’s 100 most sustainable corporations, according to the prestigious Corporate Knights Global 100 list. The list, which is announced each year during the World Economic Forum in Davos, includes companies from all sectors of the economy, it’s stated. Ranked in 38th place, Scania was the highest ranked Swedish company and the second highest in the automotive industry after BMW. Inclusion in the Global 100 index is determined using 12 quantitative sustainability indicators, including the

More than 90 per cent of the environmental impact of Scania products occurs during use. That is why Scania, through toolbox product offerings like Ecolution, helps customers to reduce costs and carbon while improving road safety. Scania also works hard to provide safe and healthy workplaces and to ensure that the company’s own operations and products are as lean and clean as possible, it’s claimed. According to Toby Heaps, CEO of Corporate Knights, the Global 100’s out-performance of 3.21 per cent over this period speaks to the investment benefits of sustainability. “The results speak for themselves. Topping

amount of revenue companies generate per unit of energy consumption, the ratio of CEO to average worker salary, lost time

a well-diversified benchmark is not easy, but the Global 100 has managed to squeak out marginal out-performance across a

injury rate, carbon emissions and also leadership diversity.

turbulent period in the history of the capital markets.”

BUS & COACH INTERNATIONAL - AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST INDEPENDANT NEW & USED BUS DEALER

2000 RG230 Hino

1999 Hino RG230 School Bus

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2013 Classmaster 43-As New

•230HP Engine • 5 Speed Allison Auto • 13.5m length • 67 seats with 3 point lap/sash seat belts • Air Cond • Express Body GOOD CONDITION

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2012 Mitsubishi Rosa Deluxe • Automatic • Seat Belted • 46,000 km • 25 passenger seats Polished alloy bullbar PREMIUM MODEL

$89,990 +GST

2009 BCI Cruiser 12 • 49 APM reclining leather seats with 3-pt lap sash seat belts • ZF Automatic trans. •Cummins ISL 330Hp •TV w/ DVD/CD player •12.5m length • Luggage racks • Large underfloor storage bins

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UpFront Volvo Cooks For A Cause A CHARITY ‘cook-off’ was organised by Volvo Bus Australia management for employees and those from partners CMV Truck & Bus and WA Truck Centre as a way to team bond and also give back to the community. “We wanted to support [the charity] OzHarvest in their quest to reduce the amount of food that is thrown away because, as an organisation, Volvo Bus is passionate about reducing waste all around,” said Sean Copeland, general manager, Volvo Bus Australia. “Through the Cooking for a Cause programme we were able to give back to the community and at the same time convey our appreciation to the Volvo Bus team, CMV Truck and Bus, WA Truck Centre for their dedication throughout the year.” Usually united in work, the 20 Volvo Bus staff, including Copeland, were divided into three groups and pitted against one another, Master Chef style, to develop the best dish of the day. Each team had one hour to plan, shop and cook 12 meals that would soon be delivered by OzHarvest to various charities. An OzHarvest chef was on hand to judge each team’s dishes. Ultimately, team Taking Care of Business (or TCB) emerged victorious, impressing the chef with a dish entitled “Elvis Would Eat It, Chicken”. Despite not winning top billing, the runners-up – The A Team and Team Geeza - agreed that helping those in need made everyone feel like a winner. “It was a really fun day that everyone really enjoyed,” said Grant Mascord, contracts support and technical services for Volvo Bus Australia and proud Team Geeza member. “We were able to come together as a team and give back to our community.” OzHarvest is the nation’s leading food rescue operation. By “rescuing” food that would otherwise be discarded by restaurants and catering venues, OzHarvest delivers around 480,000 meals per month to the hungry.

012 www.truckandbus.net.au

SCANIA TESTS INDOORS SCANIA HAS INVESTED SEK 400 million to build arguably Europe’s

reduce the impact of snow, rain and dirt, drivers will benefit from a better

each set of wheels. These allow technicians to simulate speeds

most advanced climate test facility. With its climatic wind tunnel, located at the research and development centre in Södertälje, Sweden, Scania

cab environment and enhanced safety.” In the facility, temperatures between -35 and +50 degrees Celsius can be simulated, as well

of up to 100km/h, the optimal pace for testing trucks and buses. Among tests that can be done are how components withstand heat

can subject test vehicles to the most demanding weather conditions on home ground, thereby speeding

as humidity of between 5 and 95 per cent. The air channel system is equipped with a number of small

and chill, how rainwater flows off vehicles, driver visibility in heavy rain and snow, windscreen icing,

up development and improving performance, it’s claimed. Scania is now less dependent on field testing and, using the wind tunnel’s controlled environment, shorten lead time from development to product launch. “This unique facility helps us improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions even further,” said Harald Ludanek, executive vice president and head of Research and Development. “Because we can

snow cannons to produce various types of snow. The snow can be replaced with rain of whatever intensity desired, and even the drop size can be altered. By adding an ultraviolet (UV) visible chemical to the rainwater, and subsequently illuminating the test vehicles with UV light, it is possible to determine exactly where rainwater and dirt have stuck and how they flow off the vehicle. The test vehicle is parked on rollers – one for

wind noise and how dirt adheres to cab sides, rear view mirrors and door handles. “Scania’s trucks and buses are designed to offer the best performance, regardless of climate,” said Christer Ramdén, head of Vehicle Performance Testing. “As we enter new industrial segments and markets, with increasingly challenging climatic conditions, we need to ensure that our vehicles will perform faultlessly.”

Daimler Snares Asia Award AS THE FIRST and thus far only truck and bus OEM in Asia, Daimler Trucks and Buses China Ltd. (DTBC) has been awarded the internationally acknowledged VDA 6.2 certificate by TÜV SÜD, a leading German-based certification agency located in Beijing. Specifically applied in the automotive industry, the standard ensures efficient and transparent business processes and thus improves customer satisfaction. The VDA 6.2 certificate, which was officially handed over

satisfaction, it’s claimed. “Since its establishment DTBC has moved ahead rapidly in enhancing the transparency and efficiency of processes across the entire business, aiming to deliver benchmark service quality that complement our outstanding products in the segment.” said Robert Veit, president and CEO of the DTBC. “With the certificate we prove [to] our customers that Daimler’s renowned processes and services are applied

for the automotive service industry, the VDA 6.2 certification is a supplement to the ISO 9001 standard, one of the more important globally acknowledged standards for quality management. It has been developed to define clearly and transparently processes in sales, marketing, after-sales and logistics that optimise overall operating efficiency and performance, leading to an improvement in customer satisfaction. TÜV SÜD’s comprehensive audit for DTBC started in May 2013 with on-site

its customers and thus fully complies with all VDA 6.2 requirements. With this certificate DTBC joins Daimler Greater China Ltd. as well as six of its other legal entities, amongst others Mercedes-Benz Auto Finance Ltd and Daimler Northeast Asia Parts Trading and Services Co., Ltd., that has been awarded with the same VDA 6.2 certification previously. Established in September 2012 and head-quartered in Beijing, DTBC (previously known as Daimler Trucks

recently, is an important milestone for DTBC’s business operation, verifying the company’s commitment to outstanding

equally in China, exemplifying perfectly Mercedes-Benz’s brand value on a global level.”

inspections leading to an internal audit and ended with a final external audit, resulting in finding DTBC having a

China) is responsible for Daimler’s business operations for imported Mercedes-Benz trucks, special trucks,

As an international quality standard

reliable and excellent service quality for

and buses in China.

service quality and customer

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UpFront MB TACKLES 2014 WORLD CUP TRANSIT AS ONE OF the 12 locations for the FIFA World Cup in 2014, the large

Until the third quarter of the current year, Daimler`s bus division sold 14,400

portfolio, on the other.” Schick continued: “Our Mercedes-

(Empresa de Transportes e Trânsito de Belo Horizonte), the BRT system will

metropolitan city of Belo Horizonte in South-east Brazil is gearing up for the increasing urban passenger transport next year, so operator companies of the

units in Latin America. The 17 per cent sales plus compared to the previous year results, among other things, from the growing demand created by the World

Benz city buses are represented in around 70 per cent of the BRT systems in Brazil. Thus, we contribute substantially to the realisation of

move around 700,000 passengers per day. The driving time between the points travelled in the system is to be shortened by an average of 45 per

new Bus Rapid Transit system (BRT) “MOVE” are investing in 500 bus chassis by Mercedes-Benz. The Daimler subsidiary Mercedes-

Soccer Cup in 2014 and the Olympic Games in 2016 in Brazil. Hartmut Schick, head of Daimler Buses, said: “We are happy to participate

sustainable mobility concepts in urban environments.” The 500 Mercedes-Benz bus chassis will be deployed in the 23km-long

cent. In BRT, the line vehicles travel in separate bus lanes, thus enabling rapid passenger transport in large cities like Belo Horizonte.

Benz do Brasil is starting deliveries of the ordered bus chassis immediately and will complete the bus fleets in due

significantly in the growth of Brazil with our Mercedes-Benz buses. Transport businesses in the World Cup locations

BRT system “MOVE”, which will dispose over three partial routes and around 40 bus stops. According to

time for the operational start of the BRT system in the first quarter of 2014.

are relying on the modern BRT transport system, on the one hand, and on our bus

estimates of the local transport operation “BHTrans”

NTC AND AUSTROADS TO IMPROVE REFORM STRONGER TIES BETWEEN the

will be joint work to help pave the way

implementation of national transport

information about the location, speed

National Transport Commission (NTC) and Austroads promise to take road transport regulatory reform in Australia

for emerging technologies that will make the nation’s roads safer. NTC chief executive and

reform. This is enhanced through the ongoing collaboration of Austroads and NTC,” said Retter.

and direction of other road users also using C-ITS. “As technology changes,

to a new level, it’s claimed. The two major Australian transport associations recently signed a new agreement to form a common line of

commissioner Paul Retter said that the closely coordinated working relationship between Austroads and NTC was important for the success of

He added that one of the key areas of focus will see the NTC and Austroads continue to work together to prepare Australia for the introduction

organisations like the NTC and Austroads need to provide policy and technical guidance on related issues such as privacy, liability and driver

action on road transport issues such as research, policy development, implementation and operational matters, it’s stated.

road transport regulatory reform. “State and territory road transport authorities, together with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR)

of co-operative intelligent transport systems (C-ITS). This new technology has potential to radically improve road safety by enabling vehicles and

distraction,” Retter said. NTC will work with Austroads to identify research opportunities and help develop Austroads strategic plan and

have primary responsibility for the

surrounding infrastructure to exchange

annual work programme.

Among the key areas of cooperation

First CPP Announced AUSTRALIA’S FIRST Certified Passenger Professional (CPP) was announced

maintenance of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities to

He is passionate about improving the safety and support of all drivers and

recently by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILTA). Mr John Duffy MILT CPP has been approved as Australian’s first one,

enhance capability and keeping individuals at the leading edge of the Passenger Transport profession,” the organisation states.

their passengers and this motivated him to create the Australian Bus and Coach Drivers’ Guide (www.johnduffy. net.au). This guide collates as much

following the launch late 2013 of the scheme in its Pilot Mode. The CPP certification brings together the breadth and depth of skills required of

Associate Professor Kim Hassall FCILT, CILTA’s Professional Development Chairman said:“We are delighted to be able to grant our first CPP certification.

succinct practical information with regards to getting a heavy vehicle licence (with special emphasis on buses and coaches) to more advanced,

a modern passenger manager, planner, operator or public policy administrator, according to CILTA.

This certification really highlights the depth of experience within the industry and finally provides professional

and often neglected, information for professional development of experienced drivers, it’s claimed.

It provides a benchmark of excellence for measuring capability and proficiency within the profession of passenger transport, it’s claimed. CPP status, “enhances professional credibility within the industry and the profile of the passenger transport profession. The CPP programme is a career partner for life, requiring

recognition for passenger transport professionals much like counterparts in the engineering, accounting, and finance etc professions.” Mr Duffy has recently been appointed full-time head coach captain/trainer for South East Tours and is also a sub-contract trainer/assessor with Drivesafe for Cert. III Driving Ops (BUS).

Duffy said, “I am really passionate about about improving the level of professionalism within the Australian passenger transport industry and this certification goes a great length in helping achieve this”. For more information on the CPP Certification please visit www.cilta. com.au

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First Look

EXTRA RUMP Busy holiday coach travel means more people and more of their stuff to lug around and the new Setra has just the extra room for it. Fabian Cotter reports.

016 www.truckandbus.net.au

1 When luggage space is at a

premium aboard during the packed holiday season, a bit extra comes in very handy. 2 Ingeniously, once ‘opened’ away from original vehicle rear, Ski Box gives unimpeded access to the engine bay. 3 The popular new Setra should prove even more of a hit with passengers with any space issues tackled.

egardless of where you sit on the issue of European buses and coaches

coming here if we ever shift from our requirement of 2.5m maximum width, what about maximum length and does it actually have implications of use here?

travellers’ luggage. Using a 1:5-scale model of a bus for tests

Daimler’s ingeniously crafted a model-specific ‘ski box’ to give the new Setra TopClass 500 extra stowage space at the rear of the vehicle, grafting seamlessly onto the back without major

in the Daimler AG wind tunnel at StuttgartUntertürkheim, the engineers were able to define the basic aerodynamic shape of the box at an early stage of the development process

length or engine-access issues. The extra space may well start a design trend around the world, where operators seek something like this as an

for the new touring coaches, it’s claimed. The design takes the airflow around the vehicle into consideration and eliminates undesirable air turbulence around the rear section. Even

option for extra luggage space for skis, or even fishing and camping gear on outback adventures, or even just the largest amount of Doritos corn chips you can stuff at the back for those long inter-state hauls. You get the point. With the introduction of its all-year-round ski box, the Setra is now able to offer a dismountable load container that has been designed to complement the aerodynamic concept of the new Setra TopClass 500 and Setra ComfortClass 500 generation of touring coaches, Daimler claims. The ski box offers sufficient space for winter sports equipment, as well as other items of

BUS SPECS MODEL: Daimler Setra Coach BODY PART: Ski Box DIMENSIONS: 750mm (L) x 2375mm (W) x 2220mm (H) WEIGHT: 180kg. MAX. WEIGHT: 500kg

with the load container, the TopClass 500 and ComfortClass 500 vehicles achieve a Cd (Co-efficient of Drag) value of 0.33, which is unmatched in this segment, according to Daimler. With or without support bars, horizontal or vertical racks for securing winter sports equipment, the ski box provides bus operators with a flexible system that offers six different loading options. Depending on customer requirements it can be used to provide additional load space either when travelling to winter sports areas or in the summer. The box, painted to match the colour of the vehicle itself, is 750mm long, 2375mm wide and 2220mm high. Without shelving or racks it weighs 180 kilograms. The permissible gross weight of the hinged box is 500 kilograms, while the load capacity is 3 cubic metres, says Daimler. The new Setra ComfortClass 500 from Daimler Buses was launched in 2012 and has already demonstrated its superb energy efficiency in a spectacular Record Run. A reduction in fuel consumption of 8.2 per cent compared with the previous model is clear evidence of the progress made, the company states. In mid-October 2013, at Europe’s most important trade show for buses held in Kortrijk, Belgium, this new generation of buses was voted ‘Coach of the Year 2014’ (as featured in Coach & Bus Issue 12) by an expert panel made up of 19 specialist journalists. In addition, the S515HD model in the Setra ComfortClass 500 won the ‘Green Coach Award 2014’ presented by the German magazines Omnibusrevue (Bus and Coach Review) and Busfahrer (Bus Driver), based on its low fuel consumption.

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Cover Story

Photography: Cristian Brunelli

Eurovision Long Contest For many operators there’s a stigma still attached to buying ‘a Chinese bus’, justified or not, with a preference for Euro gear. King Long’s new 6120/6130 full-size coaches may well prove the ‘if you can’t beat them...’ adage. Fabian Cotter reports.

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www.truckandbus.net.au 019

here’s no point sticking heads into the sand and pretending that people

spoken ‘behind closed doors’. Untraceable yet vehemently cutting and calculated all the

with. With perception often being the reality, it takes time to break down such mental and

aren’t saying and thinking certain things, or that the world’s still flat and square. As in any ‘foreign’ company entering into any ‘international’ market to do

same, and slung with such poignant accuracy so as to stick like mud and leave its mark indelibly in the minds of potential customers as it seeps its way through purchasing trends

marketing barriers for a ‘foreign’ product to succeed. Hyundai, Kia, Daewoo are mammoth companies in their own right and established brand names in their homeland Asian

business you’ll always face some domestic resistance for change, be it hard-core or not. That’s the surface of the argument. Dig a little deeper – into the issues and not back

over time. That is, of course, if the myth being perpetuated is in fact exactly that: a myth. God forbid if there were actually any truth

region beforehand, but coming onto a feisty automotive landscape such as Australia’s, say, 15-25 years ago meant many a battle was ahead for them.

into the sand, that is – and you’ll clearly see the underlying chess game that goes on in any competitive marketplace, where business

to the matter. Effectively, if your product’s a lemon and it’s universally and independently confirmed as so then you best be diversifying

Today, though, the quality of their products has improved tenfold and, in fact, arguably leads the way in many respects. And it is this

is business and every dollar counts. And that means it’s often ‘all’s fair in love and war’ ... and peace, or whatever.

into the lemonade industry quick smart, sunshine, and try your had at the ‘second chance draw’!

formula and pattern of events that lays the game plan clearly onto the table as far as many ‘new’ Chinese and Asian bus chassis

Key to all this, of course, is any psychological advantage that can be attained - often sustained and systematically repeated disinformation about a competitor’s product – and usually all nicely and politely

The point is, much like certain brands in the car industry breaking into the Western world’s car markets, there’s much to be endured before things get better – and that’s even if the product is pretty good to begin

and body manufacturers are concerned. Like the Pantene Shampoo TV ad said, ‘it won’t happen overnight, but it will happen.” And if it’s quality people want then it’s probably best it’s quality that they get – and

“...a stylish ‘Asian’ body on a King Long chassis with highbrow European kit.”

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KISS this! ‘Keep It Simple, Stupid’ means ‘keep it stylish and sexy’ it seems for this King Long.

1 The mark of the big kahuna, itself. King

Long’s 13m version. 2 In an emergency, we are not sure how a St

Bernard dog can reach up there in a hurry, but we’re sure he’ll sort it out somehow. Woof! 3 Stylish front headlight design shies away from boring, regular ‘geometry’.

LONG TALL SALLY King Long is now one of the largest specialist bus and coach builders in the world, having started in 1988. Based in Xiamen, China, King Long operates a network of manufacturing plants, of which the main plant is the largest bus manufacturing plant in the world. And if it isn’t then it’s bloody well close enough – it’s monster sized! With the technology and capacity to produce almost any type of

vehicle whilst handling large volumes at world class quality levels, in 2013 King Long manufactured more than 25,000 vehicles, it’s claimed. The King Long Australian bus range includes its midi bus (35 seats and 45 seats), school/ charter bus (12.5m 57 seats built on OEM chassis), and low-floor city bus (12m LF and 18m LF articulated version built on an OEM chassis).

www.truckandbus.net.au 021

â&#x20AC;&#x153;...asking us for a complete King Long full size coach for some time now.â&#x20AC;?

2 022 www.truckandbus.net.au

King Long’s new 6120/6130 full-sized coach range offers a stylish ‘Asian’ body on a chassis

and chassis in good stead for our tough Aussie driving conditions and weather.

featuring a range of highbrow European kit. “The stand-out area of this bus is the way it drives!” said Anthony Fisicaro, national sales manager of Heavy Vehicles Australia Pty Ltd,

“King Long opened its E-cote full-vehicle dipping plant in August last year and we have started using this proven process. Our buses are still designed and produced with materials

which is the national distributor for Chinabased King Long in Australia. “The powerful 320hp Cummins engine gets to a 100km/h quickly with little effort and the full German steering and independent suspension puts it in a whole other category,” he added. “Let’s face it, the industry has always commented that most of the Chinese buses on the market were lacking in steering feel (until now that is) compared to the European chassis brands.” And that’s just the thing. The King Long 6120/6130 is underpinned by quality European components on its chassis for this market. Or is the issue for potential customers that doubt exists around the reliability, workmanship and service support

that will give us the 20-year expected life we require in Australia,” Fisicaro explained. “The standard warranty of the 6120/6130 is two years/200,000km bumper to bumper and the Cummins engine has a two-year, 400,000km full warranty. “And the two-piece windscreen gives drivers great visibility!” Fisicaro was quick to add. When Coach & Bus magazine first saw this vehicle at the 2013 BusVic Maintenance Conference, in Melbourne, we were impressed by what we saw and punters we spoke to offhand seemed equally happy with it. “The response [since the show] has been exciting. Our existing customers have been asking us for a complete King Long full size coach for some time now. We have just received our first batch of stock units and

from Asian bus-building companies around the actual European additions? Regardless, such answers can only come from those very

have already started delivering them. We currently have stock vehicles in Melbourne, Queensland, Sydney and Adelaide so can

customers in the market, who – as in many other realms – seem to better understand, appreciate and, well … just feel comfortable

supply them pretty quickly,” Fisicaro said. “If a customer wants something a little more personalised, like fleet paint or different AC,

with ‘foreign’ brands over time as things change and improve.

we can have new production vehicles made and delivered in approximately two months.

King Long, though, like many others, isn’t

3 1 It seemed like good use of space inside and ‘big daddy’

13m version had a loo at the back. Nice one. 2 Good layout here. A very Euro presentation and feel,

which aids the cause no doubt. 3 From side on she’s quite the looker, too. 4 Powerful 320hp Cummins engine gets to a 100km/h

quickly, good response overall. 5 Rear tail-lights a simple design, easy replacement in

the event of damage.

This is a considerably short lead-time because

hanging about to wait and find out. It’s 6120/6130 platform is Australian market ready

we have full control of the total production.” It’s definitely a good-looking bus and should

now and exudes Euro class and quality – and all at competitively and comparatively lower pricing. A win-win many operators will say.

tick the boxes of many potential customers’ check lists, especially if the majority care to note the Euro appointments on it and the

It’s got ZF front independent suspension, full rear axle and Eco-Life transmission all matched to a Cummins ISL 320hp engine. An

minority care to remove their xenophobic blinkers for a second. So should King Long’s market rivals be

electrophoresis metal coating is applied to the full vehicle via a complete vehicle dipping process, which holds the stylish body shape

worried, ya reckon? “The standard specification base price for the 12.3m 57 seats is $260K+GST and the

www.truckandbus.net.au 023

BUS SPECS MODEL: King Long 6120/6130 ENGINE: Cummins ISL 8.9-litre E5; Power – 320hp; Transmission - ZF automatic 6HP Eco-Life with integrated retarder incorporating cruise control CHASSIS: King Long made with ZF steering and ZF front independent and ZF rear axle SUSPENSION: Front and rear airbag with ECAS as standard BRAKES: Front and rear disc brake with WABCO ABS WHEELS: Alcoa alloys as standard; Tyres 295/80R 22.5-inch BODY: 6120 - 12300mm (L) x 2490mm (W) x 3520mm (H); Frame mild steel with King Long electrophoresis coating; heavy-duty vinyl saloon floor covering; two-piece split front windscreens; bonded fixed saloon glass windows (Hopper as option), extra dark tint to saloon windows INTERIOR: Seating 57 passengers fixed seat-belted seats with armrest and split cushion; King Long heat/cool AC (TK X1000 as option); heavy-duty driver’s heater demister with PVC-coated aluminium heater hoses; driver’s seat standard lap/sash seat belted with spring suspension MISC.: Reverse camera with reversing radar distance sensors; radio, CD and PA system; all-over white PPG paint; fuel tank – 360L; extended 6130 13m version with rear toilet, or 61 fixed seat-belted seats

13.0m with 61 seats is $275K+GST. What you need to remember is that all of our current

“Our new 6120 and 6130 has been up spec’d with all German ZF independent

flagship 6126 vehicles [still ‘orderable’ in Australia] are built on OEM chassis - like MAN, Mercedes-Benz and IVECO - which compete at a different price point in the market. This

suspension, transmission and rear axle, so you get all the pretty European bits with a killer body to match,” he enthusiastically explained.

makes it difficult to compete on price with our competitors selling a complete bus built in China,” Fisicaro said.

According to the company this vehicle specification is only sold in Australia, as are all the King Long buses it imports. The

“We are continuing to sell more and more 6126s on OEM chassis and will continue to do so, but this [6120/6130] vehicle fits a segment

engineering team at HVA Australia design the body frame (to meet ADR, roller-over etc) and select the Euro running gearing to suit

of the market that we have never played in.” “We have learnt a lot over the past seven years selling buses in Australia and, yes, people are looking for a lower price, but they still expect the same quality they are getting

Australian conditions for the monocoque chassis made by King Long, it’s claimed. “Domestically, in China, our specification is way too high and expensive for most other markets. We expect a lot from our buses in

from the European chassis with Aussie-made bodies on them.”

Australia; this is why our specification is so high,” Fisicaro said.

Alcoa alloys as standard, with 295/80R x 22.5-inch rubber.

1 If they ever remake the movie Back To The

Future and use a bus as the time machine then maybe this will come in handy. 2 A sign of the times, perhaps?

024 www.truckandbus.net.au

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Operator

Fleet Street Fleet expansion of any small operator is key to winning new business when the demand is there, but what of bigger operations and what they need and choose? Murrays is a big player who recently chose Higer. Fabian Cotter reports. 026 www.truckandbus.net.au

www.truckandbus.net.au 027

B CYCLING FOR CHARITY

Higer Bus and Coach will be a presenting sponsor of the inaugural Variety Cycle fundraising event this year, with a Higer 28-seat bus to play a pivotal role in supporting cyclists as they ride over 3500km to raise money for Variety - the children’s charity. Higer will provide a fully maintained bus and an experienced driver, and will cover the cost of fuel during The Variety Cycle, which departs Sydney on 22 March and travels through Canberra, Melbourne and Adelaide before finally arriving at Uluru, in the Northern Territory in April. Variety’s events manager Claudia Milunsky says the Higer bus will be a key element of the Variety Cycle. “Moving hundreds of people over the entire route, ensuring their safety and hosting a variety of community based events over 26 days is an enormous undertaking that requires an exhaustive list of resources. Our corporate partners are an integral part of The Variety Cycle and an imperative element of success. A reliable, comfortable support vehicle is essential to our ability to stage this event and we’re very pleased to have Higer on board.” More information about Variety Cycle is available at www.thevarietycycle. com.au

us operators come and go, it’s just the nature of the beast and

Munro Series II small coaches, but a visit to the Higer factory near Shanghai, in China,

commensurate with so many other companies in so many other industries. Yet by that very definition there are those that stand the test of time and somehow

impressed them sufficiently to expand the order for five more, the company states. Murrays technical representatives and WMC Australia technical sales manager Brett Hunter

– be it by clever corporate calculation and business strategy mixed with serendipitous good timing and the help of Lady Luck – manage to ride the roller-coaster of economic

worked closely with the factory to implement a range of specification changes to ensure the Munro Series II would deliver the best possible experience for customers. A large number

changes throughout the years and organically grow their businesses. There will be those that start with local area

of specification and design changes were implemented through the co-operation between Murrays Coaches, WMC and Higer Bus and

services, only to absorb another company or so as routes and territories fluctuate their borders and contracts are won or lost, and

Coach China. “Murrays has a very strong commitment to passenger and driver comfort and safety.

usually these become brands within a city or at a maximum across a state. There are those, however, whose recipe for success sees them forge services further afield and find their niche in interstate coach travel. And companies like

Improved vehicle handling was a major part of the upgrade with passenger comfort and reliability in service being the basis of the project. Over the past six months, Murrays have been evaluating a number of Higer Munros,

Australian express and coach charter company Murrays Coaches, Buses & Limousines are masters in their field. Murrays Coaches, Buses & Limousines is one of Australia’s leading group transport specialists. Murrays has been operating for more than 47 years providing express services, tours, transfers, coach hire and bus charter for both large and small groups. Murrays now offers in excess of 150 express services a week departing from Canberra and Sydney, Sydney Airport, Wollongong, South Coast and the Snowy Mountains. Murrays objective is to: “provide safe, reliable and cost-effective express services to passengers. Commuting in one of our luxury

which have been in service in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast,” Hunter said. “Throughout the evaluation period Murrays sought feedback from not only their drivers, but passengers and technical staff”. With the collaboration of Murrays Coaches, WMC and Higer Bus and Coach, the recommendations were implemented into the new Munro. Murrays wanted a high quality, safe and comfortable deluxe small coach. Overall the project was aimed at producing superior passenger comfort along with a high level of attention to the driver’s requirements. Among the many tailored options were improvements to the vehicle’s suspension

coaches is one of the most cost-effective ways to travel. We offer online specials for travel

system and air conditioning to provide greater air flow and increased headroom.

between Canberra... to Sydney, Sydney Airport and Sydney to Canberra.” As it evolved, coach operation obviously

Hunter says the Munro Series II is an excellent choice because it offers 28 seats compared with 24 in similarly sized vehicles. With clever

became an important part of the business. So with a fleet of an estimated 185 vehicles, what market trends does the company see and

design the Munro small coach also manages to offer increased passenger comfort with generous legroom and central aisle, it’s claimed.

what vehicles is it targetting to accommodate it? Well, a few months ago, Murrays started to take delivery of 20 Higer Munro Series II mini

The seat layout was particularly appealing to Murrays with two seats either side of the aisle instead of the more conventional 2+1

coaches following an extensive trial period and custom modifications to suit its exacting needs. Murrays had originally ordered 15 of the

configuration. Safety and stability is assured with heavy-duty full air brakes, as well as traction control and ABS braking.

“...a visit to the Higer factory near Shanghai, in China, impressed them sufficiently to expand the order.” 028 www.truckandbus.net.au

1 A common sight throughout the

streets of Sydney, good-looking Murrays coaches abound. 2 When it comes to transmissions, Murrays mostly shifts with Allison.

MURRAYS SHIFTS TO ALLISON Murrays has chosen primarily Allison-equipped models to ensure safety, passenger comfort and lower operational costs in its fleet. The company has committed to Allison fully automatic transmissions

for 124 coaches within its 180-vehicle fleet to deliver a safe, comfortable and efficient passenger experience. Murrays operates from its Gold Coast, Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne depots.

Allison’s 1000 Series™ transmissions are fitted to Murrays’ 7.6-metre, Cummins ISF-powered, Higer small deluxe coaches while its larger BCI 12- and 14.5-metre deluxe coaches come fitted with Cummins’

ISL and ISM motors mated with either an Allison T390R or T450R transmission. According to Murrays national fleet manager Justin Cannon Allisonequipped models are a safer, more passenger-friendly

option. “Allison automatics reduce driver fatigue because drivers don’t have to constantly change gears, making it safer and smoother, which enhances the passenger experience,” he said.

www.truckandbus.net.au 029

The sale is a solid platform for Higer, which used the offcial handover of the first Munro

with over 200 modifications after Australian and Chinese Higer staff worked alongside client

Series II to Murrays as the launch of the product into the Australian market. CEO of Australia’s Higer distributor WMC Group, Neil Bamford, said Australia was

Murrays to enhance the model. Higer global general manager Mr Wu Wenwen said there were exciting times ahead for the brand in Australia.

considered an important market for the Chinese Higer brand. “Because Australian regulations and requirements are so demanding, we’re a perfect

“We see great potential in this market and Higer is very much committed to continued growth in Australia. We have an extensive range of product upgrades and new product launches planned

market for Higer to determine what level of demand there is for new products before they’re launched into the larger European and American

over the next six to 12 months. We’re looking forward to working closely with our Australian distributor WMC to continue to grow our market

markets. Higer sales in Australia are around 200300 buses per year compared to Higer’s global production of about 20,000 vehicles annually, but

share here with quality vehicles and exceptional customer support,” Mr Wu said. Mr Wu was joined on his Australian visit by Mr

we receive a disproportionately large amount of Higer’s R&D investment,” he said. The new Munro has recently been upgraded

Li Jiang, deputy director of Higer’s Technology Centre, and Mr Meng Zhaojun, Quality Control specialist.

ABOUT MURRAYS... The chairman is Ron Murray AM and he is the sole shareholder of Murrays Australia Pty Limited - a company he commenced as a retail travel agent in 1966, the company states. According to Murrays, “Ron commenced

by providing express services for passengers as well as coach, bus and limousine hire for large and small groups. With over 47 years of success of building the Murrays brand Ron has always placed an emphasis on quality

030 www.truckandbus.net.au

and efficiency, customer service, operations and logistics and in particular, safety that Murrays are known as Australia’s leading group transport specialists. “Ron employs over 400 staff and drivers in his company around Australia

and he is still deeply involved in the continued success of Murrays. “Ron is well regarded by industry colleagues and customers alike that he was recognised for his services to the tourism and transport industry by being awarded an AM.”

“...an emphasis on quality and efficiency, customer service, operations and logistics and in particular, safety.”

It’s a stunning piece of kit, we have to admit. And the new Higer Munro Series II doesn’t look too bad, either.

www.allisontransmission.com

Just the ticket for more efficient bus operations Since switching to Allison Transmissions leading Sydney Bus operator Veolia Transdev Shorelink has enjoyed significant efficiency and performance improvements. It’s seen a 10 to 15 per cent improvement in fuel consumption from its new buses equipped with Allison transmissions while also being more responsive and smoother shifting. Shorelink’s general manager Tony Ralph says “the evidence is quite favourable, and Allison transmissions have certainly made a huge difference across the fleet in terms of fuel costs and operating efficiency.”

Unique torque converter technology coupled with Allison’s industry-leading programmable Load Based Shift Scheduling (LBSS) and Vehicle Acceleration Control (VAC) can allow significant fuel efficiency gains, particularly with widely varying passenger loads. With lower maintenance and operating costs, Allison keeps buses on the road.

Allison Transmission is the world leader in commercial duty fully automatic transmissions….. and as Veolia Transdev Shorelink has found is the ideal solution for Australian buses. ALLISon TRAnSmISSIon — AUSTRALIA, LoT 1 feRReRS RoAd eASTeRn CReek nSW, po Box 28, BRIngeLLy, nSW AUSTRALIA 2556. T. +61 2 9676 1004 f. +61 2 9672 1122

Operator

Photography: Chris Smith

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s My Scene? enging any The Scenic Day Tour Group is an operator chall offering pre-conceived ideas of a Gold Coast holiday by athtaking unique day tours focused on the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bre s. beauty off the beaten track. Chris Smith report

032 www.truckandbus.net.au

www.truckandbus.net.au 033

he Gold Coast is a tourist Mecca with its pristine beaches, theme parks and

Group offers ‘experiences’. Incorporating its subsidiary companies Scenic Hinterland Day

colourful night-life, which admittedly can be both exciting and, to be polite, very ‘touristy’. However, the Gold Coast and the surrounding

Tours, Aussie Adventure Days, Gold Coast Glow Worm Tours, HUMMER Safari FourWheel Drive 4WD Adventure Day Tours and Rainforest 4WD Safaris the company has a

regions offer so much more with a plethora of rich wildlife and natural features that often escapes the eye of tourists because of a lack of time or knowledge of the area. They frankly

diverse product line. The tours are run on the Gold Coast, Brisbane, South-East Queensland and Northern New South Wales and offer unique experiences

don’t know it exists. One company has built its business by capitalising on the natural beauty of the region

at affordable prices easily catering for budgetconscious tourists looking for the best-valued experiences.

and the lack of time most tourists have by offering day and night tours, as well as tour desk services.

“Our day tours stretch from Byron Bay and Crystal Castle in Northern New South Wales to the spectacular Sunshine Coast, Ettamogah

The Scenic Tour Group is a family business that has forged an extremely strong presence in the region over 19 years of operation and is run by its proprietor, Bernhard Weil, and his lovely wife, Tamara. The Scenic Day Tour Group started with one small 12-seater van and has grown to be South East Queensland’s largest family owned and operated day tour service with a total of 22 different day and night touring combinations. The Company is based out of its head office at 14/9 Beach Road, Surfers Paradise, and also has a satellite office at the Hotel Grand Chancellor. At 35, Weil is one of the younger staff members and the choice of experience over youth in the company is a wonderful fit with the quality service and information-rich tours the company offers its customers. “We currently have 23 staff consisting of a general manager, office staff, tour desk

Pub, Noosa, Underwater World and Australia Zoo,” Weil said. “Our most popular Australian Day Tours also include Springbrook rainforest, Natural Arch, Tropical Fruit World, O’Reilly’s, Tamborine Mountain, Brisbane City, Southbank, Gold Coast City Touring, Fraser Island, the enchanting glow worm cave, Moreton island beach, and Tangalooma Resort with the option of wild dolphin feeding.” Weil explained the group is extremely motivated to excel and has won Queensland Tourism Awards and several Trip Advisor Excellence Awards for its efforts. “We are the only day-tour company that operates day and evening tours along with 4WD HUMMER safaris and specialised 4WD tours,” he said. “We also have a 100 per cent safety record,” he added. Weil says the shift in tourism has seen a growth in the domestic market with Australian

operators, managers, social media experts, mechanics and tour guide/drivers,” he explained

tourists taking advantage of the services, as well as global travellers. The tours have

to Coach & Bus magazine. “Our staff range is from the ages of 29 to 71 years old,” he said.

been specifically designed and moulded to accommodate tourists’ needs. “We listen to customer demands on return

Like the maturity and sophistication of the staff the tours are created in the same way. This means just because the group is based on the

business and we always Endeavour to create new experiences for new and returning guests,” Weil said of developing tours.

Gold Coast doesn’t mean it caters for the theme park market. “We stay well clear of the theme parks,” Weil

“Our day tours have been perfected over our 19-year Gold Coast experience and we have a few more day tours coming soon.

wisely explained. “Who wants to go on a holiday and spend all their time waiting in a line,” he questioned? Having spent hours waiting for rides in the hot

“We travel frequently and get great inspiration from other regions,” he added. With so many different types of tours the Scenic Day Tour Group has a few very

Queensland heat with two young children … and after the two-minute ride is over wondering, ‘why, oh why?’ as I queue in another line, I have to agree.

impressive vehicles on hand. “We have several vehicles in our fleet,” Weil said enthusiastically. Scenic Day Tours also conducts special VIP

Instead of queues the Scenic Day Tour

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tours in some S Class Mercedes-Benz cars

1 New CDS Travellers make great additions to

the Scenic Day Tour fleet. 2 With gorgeous riverways like this it is even

more important to keep them clean and protected for future generations. 3 The Hummer Safari Adventure Tours are always a hit with tourists. 4 Brahman CDS Traveller in full ‘workhorse’ more. Tackling the tough stuff no worries.

BUS SPECS MAKE: Brahman MODEL: TravellerCDS AWD DIMENSIONS: (LxWxH) 7600 x 2300 x 3200mm. Height – 1900mm. Ground Clearance - 350mm (approx.) ENGINE: Cummins 3.8-litre ISF (Euro5) Inline four-cylinder, high-pressure common rail, turbocharged and intercooled. Power 125kW (167hp)@2600rpm, Torque - 600Nm (443ft/lbs)@1300rpm TRANSMISSION: Allison 2200 Series Automatic FUEL CAPACITY: 165-litre

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Who wants to go on a holiday and spend all their time waiting in a line?â&#x20AC;?

www.truckandbus.net.au 035

and has HUMMER 4WD Safari Adventure Tours. However, Coach & Bus magazine is a bus

The Traveller CDS AWD fits 29 passengers, which for a day tour operator equates to more

publication and the Scenic Day Tour Group runs two types: “We run a fleet of Toyota Coaster Deluxe buses and our newly purchased Brahman Traveller CDS

bums on seats and almost a third more potential revenue, it’s claimed. He says the Allison Series 2200 six-speed automatic combined with the Cummins

AWD off-road coaches,” he explained. Weil says with all the tours run daily the Toyota Coasters are used for the majority of the runs

ISF (Euro 5) in-line four-cylinder engine, with high-pressure common rail putting out 125kW(167hp)@2600rpm with max torque

due to their impeccable reliability. “We also run HUMMER H2s and Brahman Traveller CDS AWD coaches for our Daily Off-Road 4WD Safaris to Tamborine Mountain, Springbrook, Natural Arch and, of course, O’Reilly’s and Lamington National Parks.” The Brahman is a new bus on the market offering AWD capability. Like all of the vehicles in the fleet it is expected to perform and be comfortable for its passengers. Weil says he is very happy with its performance so far not only because of the low price and value for money, but also because of its onboard carrying capacity. “We needed a vehicle that could seat more than our current 21-seat capacity that Toyota could offer us,” he explained. “Our 4WD tours have been successful and it

600Nm(443ft/lbs)@1300rpm is plenty when taking a tour group off the beaten track. The ground clearance of the Traveller CDS AWD at 330mm riding on DANA DF 3500/5500kg front and rear axles and 22.5×7.5inch (255/70R22.5) rubber gives the tourists a comfortable drive experience. However, as a very smart operator Weil says he was attracted by the extras that came with the Traveller CDS AWD including: alloy rims, a GPS, reverse camera, a 17-inch television monitor with DVD, tinted windows, two security cameras with one looking at the door and the other at passengers, a CD/RADIO/PA system, a tow bar rated 2500kg ATM, a retractable driver and passenger sun-visor and, of course, roofmounted air-conditioning. All this meant there was not much extra

was quite simply the next step we needed to make at a reasonable price,” he told Coach and Bus magazine.

needed to be added to the Traveller CDS AWD, so it could join the fleet and start transporting passengers straight away.

“...it is expected to perform and be comfortable for its passengers.” 1 Picture perfect - and lovin’ it!

Scenic Day Tour Group proprietor Bernhard 2 Weil and his lovely wife, Tamara, and family.

Good use of room in here and no garish3 looking seat-pattern fabric designs needed

for such trips. Nice... 4 So many great views and locations to check

out, so little time for many.

036 www.truckandbus.net.au

DW3003/1013_FPC

Benchmark Quality Proven reliaBility S e n S at i o n a l v a lu e www.daewoobuses.com.au

Future Proof

WIRELESS FOR SOUND

038 www.truckandbus.net.au

Science has a lot to answer for! Moon landings, Bunsen burners, Burger Rings and now possibly the coolest transport innovation in years: electricbus charging stations placed in the actual road. A collection of switched-on companies are making it happen in the UK. Fabian Cotter reports.

hen the late great Australian songstress Christie Amphlett

of the Divinyls once sang “I thought that love was science fiction, until I saw you today,” she couldn’t have known how true she was – but not in terms of electric buses being charged via certain spots in the road, which many will be loving. And that’s because such technology is now science fact, as evidenced with the start of a trial in Milton Keynes, in the UK, where special electric buses can top up energy levels when they stop at certain spots where electric charging platforms have been embedded into the road. This trial stands to lead the way in which bus companies and governments around the world plan future bus travel and routes – in the event the mother of all electric-bus battery innovations does not occur (better batteries), thereby rendering us all needing to charge buses along its journey. That is, the usual lithium bus battery technology, while rapidly improving, still isn’t at a stage of matching traditional diesel bus distances before a refuel etc. And while advancements in overhead electric bus charging technology have been dramatically improving, this latest directive to embed the charging spot into the road – thereby eliminating any really obvious visual impediment or overhead visual clutter to our road sides – means this way is probably one step ahead of the game. The Milton Keynes project developers – a collaboration of companies representing truly global interests - say the eight electric vehicles being trialled to replace the diesel ones used on one of the main routes in that city can run all day. According to Council, the Project is, “an innovative approach to charging electric

www.truckandbus.net.au 039

buses to enable the quieter, cleaner future of public transport in Milton Keynes.”

could reduce bus running costs by between £12-15k per annum. The route currently

Ltd; Milton Keynes Council, bus operator Arriva; manufacturer Wrightbus Limited;

Organisations led by a subsidiary of Mitsui & Co Europe signed a five-year collaboration agreement committing in 2012 to the replacement of seven diesel buses with their

transports more than 775,000 passengers a year over a total of 450,000 miles, the Council states. The buses charge when power transmitted

technology supplier Conductix-Wampfler; Western Power Distribution, Chargemaster PLC; and SSE. The trial is being managed by Mitsui-Arup

all-electric counterparts on one of the main bus routes in the city. Uniquely, the new buses can recharge their batteries wirelessly through the day, which

from a primary coil buried in the road is picked up by a secondary coil on the bus. Just 10 minutes parked over a coil will replenish two thirds of the energy consumed

joint venture MBK Arup Sustainable Projects (MASP). Mitsui and MASP’s ultimate aim is to use the data collected by the Milton Keynes trial

means, for the first time, electric buses will be capable of the equivalent load of a diesel bus, it’s claimed.

by the bus’s route. The primary coils will be placed at three locations (Wolverton, Bletchley and in Central Milton Keynes) on

to demonstrate the economic viability of low-carbon public transport. This data could be used to kick-start electric bus projects in

The eight electric buses will replace seven diesel buses on the number 7 route and will run seven days a week, removing

the route, and the buses will charge in the layover time at the ends of the route. The buses were to go into service by the end of

other towns and cities worldwide. John Miles, who initiated the trial from Arup, said: “What makes the Milton Keynes

approximately 500 tonnes of tailpipe CO2 emissions per year as well as 45 tonnes of other tailpipe emissions. The initiative

January, 2014. The trial is a partnership between: The Mitsui subsidiary eFleet Integrated Service

project different to other electric bus schemes is the wireless charging system. The Milton Keynes buses will be able to

c buses 1 These special Arriva-operated electri from Wrightbus are leading the way.

es from the local $2 shop. Plus, it’s just a sticker. 3 Electrical induction - in action. Love it! it proudly 4 Not backward in coming forward, tells locals exactly what kind of bus it is.

these batteri 2 You can’t just buy big packets of

040 www.truckandbus.net.au

“...for the first time, electric buses will be capable of the equivalent load of a diesel bus.” cover a heavily used urban route because they are able to charge for 10 minutes

contender in the future of public transport. Innovation and trials are urgently needed

“We are delighted to be part of this exciting project involving some amazing technology

at the beginning and end of each cycle without interrupting the timetable. This means that for the first time an electric bus

to find a new way forward and Mitsui, as a business enabler, is happy to back this innovative initiative because we can see the

and are proud that it is being trialled in Milton Keynes. We will be responsible for the operation of the buses and ensuring the

will effectively be able to do everything a diesel bus can do, which is a significant step forwards to a cleaner, quieter, public transport system.” Noriaki Sakamoto, managing director,

long-term benefit for the community as well as for Mitsui.” Cllr John Bint, Cabinet Member responsible for transport at Milton Keynes Council, said: “We are delighted to be leading the way with

service is running reliably. This trial will wholly revolutionise Route 7 and we will be interested to track how the drivers, current customers and potential customers will respond to the quieter,

Mitsui & Co. Europe Plc, added: “Since the withdrawal of the subsidy for diesel buses, we can see that the cost of diesel

this innovative public transport trial. Milton Keynes led the way with the installation of electric car charge points, and we’re now

smoother electric buses.” Dr Lorraine Rock, Global Supply Chain director of Wrightbus, said: “This is the first

bus operations will rise significantly. This, coupled with the anticipated reduction in the cost of batteries and electric drive systems

showing the world how electric buses are a real alternative to the traditional diesel buses. Passengers on the number 7 route

time that such a heavy-duty route has been tested with electric buses and it is exciting to be part of this path-finding initiative. As

for buses, as well as the introduction of wirelessly charging during the day now means that the electric bus is a real

can be proud to be using one of the greenest ways to travel.” Paul Adcock, Area MD of Arriva, said:

the bus manufacturer, we will be on hand to support bus use – providing warranty, maintenance and technical support services

www.truckandbus.net.au 041

to Arriva as needed.” Mathias Wechlin, product manager, Conductix-Wampfler, said: “We will provide and maintain the charging equipment for the IPT® system – and importantly, collect data relating to the power drawn over typical daily, weekly and monthly cycles. The trial provides a fantastic possibility to prove that opportunity charging will enable the competitive operation of electric buses.” [Note: IPT® stands for Inductive Power Transfer]

cleaner air for Milton Keynes.” Ultimately this seemingly solves the industry riddle of electric buses needing to plug into the mains; the new buses will be able to recharge their batteries wirelessly via the principles of electrical induction during their working day. “Electric buses’ physical and economic

potential has historically been sidelined because no one could see around the range problem associated with the batteries.

David Martell, chief executive of Chargemaster Plc, said: “As a local company we are delighted to be a partner in this exciting project. Chargemaster, one of the

Wireless charging can bring electric buses in from the cold, and potentially put them neck-and-neck with their diesel counterparts. If we can demonstrate true parity with diesel

largest suppliers of charging equipment in Europe, is already the primary supplier of electric vehicle charging equipment for Milton Keynes Council and we are proud to support

buses during this trial, we’ll have reached a tipping point for low-carbon transport – we’ll have proved it can be cost-effective as well as green,” said professor John Miles of

this initiative which will put Milton Keynes at the forefront of electric bus operating technology and provide lower emissions and

Cambridge University, an Arup consultant and director of the Milton Keynes electric bus programme.

“...we’ll have reached a tipping point for low-carbon transport.” 1 Clear, simple visuals illustrate the

charging process. 2 It may have a face only a mother could love,

but it’s getting on with its higher purpose. 3 Now a regular sight around Milton

Keynes, UK.

IN ENGLISH, PLEASE... So just how does it work? Good question. Picture this: Following a night of charging at the depot, these special buses will get booster charges throughout the day at the start and end of the route. Basically, the bus parks

042 www.truckandbus.net.au

over plates buried in the road. Then, like something out of Star Wars, the driver lowers the bus’s receiver plates on the bottom of the bus to within about 4cm of the road surface, charging the bus for around 10 minutes before the service

re-starts. Overall, the system uses inductive charging where – and put your thinking caps on for this one - electricity passes through wire coils in the road plates, generating a magnetic field. This field

induces a voltage across coils in the bus plates and the vehicle’s batteries are charged. Presto! It must be noted, though, that there are similar systems currently in Mannheim in Germany, Turin and Genoa in

Italy, and Utrecht in the Netherlands. And remember, just last year, South Korea used a 12km (7.5-mile) road that could recharge electric vehicles as they drove on it – the bus didn’t even need to stop at all.

Operator

Photography: David Meredith

MINE YOUR BUSINESS

Truck ‘n Bus combinations seem to be all the rage in Western Australia’s mining areas. Our roving reporter, David Meredith, tracks down another ‘truck’ with a split personality. www.truckandbus.net.au 043

“...the specification of Condor was perfectly suited to Thrifty’s bus requirement. A package solution based on servicing experience.”

ne of the things I didn’t know when I trekked out to Thrifty truck rentals at Bassendean in Western Australia was that the Australian Thrifty car and truck rental master franchise was held by the NRMA.

vehicles, mostly cars. But 400 of them are vans, tray tops, utes and curtain-siders. In terms of trucks, Thrifty keeps it simple. Unlike its main competitors, the business doesn’t cut off at car-licensed-enabled commercials. Instead the size limit is governed

appropriate for city and suburban use rather than the rugged terrain and usage in the northwest. Additionally, seats built with school kids, foreign tourists and vegetarians in mind rapidly surrendered to the high-vis bulk of Australian mining workers. Plus the air conditioning

In WA, Thrifty also operates the city and airport divisions, but the rest of the state is sort of sub-franchised out to the Bedell family

by the axle configurations. Thrifty sticks with 4x2, leaving the larger 6x4 hire work to other specialist renters.

systems simply couldn’t cope with the combination of high ambient temperatures and full loads.

company. Founder, Keith Bedell, kicked the business off as Osborne Truck Rentals in 1978, with seven 4x4 LWB Land Cruisers

I travelled to the north-west town of Karratha recently and couldn’t miss the ocean of Thrifty-branded one-tonners and dual cabs

So in recognising a market need, Thrifty developed its own solution based on the new UD Condor, the latest version of a medium-

fitted up with a unique seating set-up to meet what he saw as a growing need: off-road hardas-nails people-carriers. The rest, as they say, is history. Factory-built people-carrying Toyotas have bred like flies

filling the car park, all waiting for the morning’s flights and kitted out with the lights, flags, bars and signs that are the obligatory equipment for mine site access and operations. But amongst the success of the group, one

duty staple from the smallest Japanese truck builder that just happens to have one of the biggest owners, the giant Volvo Group. Since the injection of Volvo engine technology, Condor has evolved from an

across the mining towns of Australia, and regularly get a starring role in news videos of third-world countries, carting family homes,

aspect of mining industry renting required some urgent additional development, and it brought echoes of the past to the current

old-fashioned and stodgy - but bulletproof - chassis into a valid competitor for market leader Isuzu, as well as Hino and Fuso.

a farm load of chickens or the odd cache of RPGs for whatever brand of wild-eyed insurgents are currently on the rampage.

management. Personnel transport is a core activity that mine operations depend on, particularly those

In fact, according to Craig Bedell, the specification of Condor was perfectly suited to Thrifty’s bus requirement. While noting that the

Since those early days the business has steadily grown and the fleet, of course, has expanded – presently there are over 3000

with a high content of fly-in workers. The off-the-shelf solutions - Toyota’s Coaster, Fuso’s Rosa and others - were more

Japanese marques had virtually equal claim on reliability and efficiency throughout their product lines, Craig said that it was a package

044 www.truckandbus.net.au

2 1 Cool comfort inside

after an exhaustingly hot day. Perfect! 2 Easy access to the rear luggage area.

www.truckandbus.net.au 045

solution based on their servicing experience that swung the choice of platform.

time. It was seen as unnecessary complication for rental operations.

“The MK 250 and 280 was the only way to package Hendrickson airbag suspension with an Allison automatic transmission and SCR emissions technology,” he said.

Asked why the truck wasn’t specified as a 4x4, state sales manager Garrick Jackson said the widest possible use was passenger transit on mine roads that might be dirt but were

“The auto component of this vehicle is all about ease of use, reduced maintenance and us setting ourselves apart from the competition with a higher spec and more

reasonably well maintained. Traction was never a problem with the UDs; they just need to be more robust. The bus body is essentially a ‘pod’ built by

end-user accepted product. The auto makes the drive more comfortable for all occupants, passengers and driver.”

Able Bus and Coach, and fitted to the chassis at its facility nearby. Thrifty’s fleet management policy is to turn over the truck chassis after

When I road tested another mine bus recently based on a competitor chassis, one of these points was a problem that I could

five years. But the bus pod is built for a 15year operational life and so will last for three truck cycles before replacement.

see and I raised with the builder. The ride was quite harsh - with anything less than a full load of blokes the leaf springs reacted angrily to bumps and ruts. The builder was going to talk to the dealer about de-rating those springs.

There are 27 full-size seats in the back, and three more in the front including the driver. The air-conditioning is efficient enough to cool passengers who’ve just got out of 40-degreeplus working conditions and will maintain the

The SCR advantage was one of the more important factors. Dealing with emissions by keeping an AdBlue tank topped up was a lot easier to manage than other solutions that required scheduled regeneration of a particulate filter, especially when this process could occur outside the control of the operator, inevitably at the most inconvenient

same level of comfort at the front and the back. Despite the current mining and construction downturn, there’s been four existing clients who’ve road tested the unit and are very keen. One is using a handful of dual cabs with five blokes in each – “a very positive response,” was how Jackson described their reaction.

1 There’s ample room in here for things, and quick access to a spare

wheel makes perfect sense in tough conditions. 2 Thrifty state manager Garrick Jackson is well chuffed with it. 3 Escape the outside heat by entering through here...

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“The auto component of this vehicle is all about ease of use, reduced maintenance and us setting ourselves apart from the competition.”

Operator

Photography: Christian Brunelli

IS DOM, IS GOOD! With a surname that’s well established in Melbourne bus circles since the 1960s, Dominic Sita had his work cut out in endeavouring to make a name for himself. A successful Kastoria Bus Lines proves, though, he’s doing more than alright. Fabian Cotter reports.

or many, it’s hard enough running one bus business successfully let alone two or even three at once, but that’s essentially what Dom Sita’s done to date. Having grown up in a ‘bussie’ family and the Footscray-servicing Sita Group company headed by father George Sita, it was only a matter of time before Dom felt the urge to engage in his bus passion, but under his own steam and for himself. About four years ago, Dom’s brother returned from Queensland and it was the right timing for Dom to branch out for himself after managing George’s company.

Dominic Sita (far left) and King Long marketing manager Anthony Fisicaro are delighted with how the Kastoria fleet is going.

www.truckandbus.net.au 047

“...government contracts approaching in 2018 will be interesting with quite few less operators around.” the site’s purchase as a smart, well justified move. After shifting Kastoria’s 30 buses over to the new site – mostly low-floor Mercs – plus

purchasing King Long midi coaches for larger school runs and dedicated wheelchair buses in 2012 after a trip to China to see the factory.

three charter coaches and some lighter range stuff used for Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, he added the

“Late 2013 we purchased a few coaches from King Long with toilets to further enhance our charter bus fleet.

The sale encompassed 30 buses and a small 4000m2 depot at Airport West, but any space restrictions would be temporary as by August 2010 when Dom bought up the town

21 from the Broadmeadows purchase. The three companies – Seymour, Broadmeadows and Kastoria – and run under a company called Northern Transit Holdings,

“Our route buses get the most work, especially on the Broadmeadows Bus Service side; the B7 Volvo is a good fit for the business,” he added.

and school services in Seymour incorporating 58 buses, a bigger 40,000m2 premises was par for the course. And it came in the shape of an disused Westmeadows publications storage facility formerly owned by The Age newspaper, only about 4km north-east of the original Kastoria site. It was huge, probably too big for what he had and needed at the time, but soon further expansion of his business by picking up the Peter Wright and Loughnan Family jointly owned Broadmeadows Bus Service would see

which by all accounts according to Dominic is doing well. To date, the fleet consists of a range of quality and reliable vehicles, says Dom, but there were some changes along the way. “The earlier model route buses for all companies are Mercedes-Benz 0405 and 0500. The switch to the Volvo B7 was made with the original purchase of Kastoria in 2009,” he explained. “Our special school buses are predominately Fuso Rosas and Toyota Coasters. We started

So any hybrid or electric buses on fleet? “I think it is still too early to make a call on hybrid or electric buses. We haven’t ventured into it yet, so at the moment I think the diesel will be around for quite a while,” he said. When asked in general what top three challenges bus operators face today and how Kastoria was endeavouring to overcome them, Dom said: “It’s hard to say as a one, two or three, but government contracts approaching in 2018 will be interesting with quite few less

And it wasn’t just the right timing but also the right connections and industry experience, which enabled Dom to hit the ground running, as it were, purchasing Airport West’s Kastoria Bus Lines from good mate Alex Spyrou in July 2009 – under his dad’s recommendation.

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TIMELINE TO SUCCESS Sita Holdings purchased Kastoria Bus Lines 01/08/2009 Sita Holdings next purchased Seymour Passenger Service a year later on the 01/08/2010. Purchased next depot at 21-29 Western

Avenue, Westmeadows on 15/01/2011 . The site was transformed from a paper recycling plant to a fully functional bus depot with a full mechanical workshop and separate paint and body shop. Sita Holdings then

purchased Broadmeadows Bus Group and moved the entire company to the new West Meadows site on the 01/08/2011. Sita Holding now has 13 metro bus routes and 38 special education school runs.

1 Kastoria is just one

part of Northern Transit Holdings. 2 It’s an impressive sized fleet and needed the bigger premises.

www.truckandbus.net.au 049

operators around. Also, new technology is definitely up there; when planning for the

we see fit.’ And speaking of drivers, just how important

future what is the best fit for the company? Social media, bus tracking, mobile applications, driver comfort, when to make the switch to electric/hybrid or not etc.

is driver training to Dom and does he find that drivers are enthusiastic to learn more about their trade or do they know much of it already and don’t require it?

“Plus there’s network expansion for passengers; there are areas that need new or frequent services that are just being left behind due to funding,” he explained.

“Training is a very important part of the job. It keeps staff up to date and enthusiastic. We are quite lucky in that we have a very low turnover of staff,” he said.

So what kind of feedback from customers does Kastoria hear, which is probably representative of what other operators get?

Dom also says governments should listen more to operators and that frustration may well have bearing on his advice to anyone

“Passenger feedback is an interesting topic, as you rarely hear of a good story. I mean, drivers could do 100 things perfect, but when

thinking of getting into the bus operator industry. “It’s a tough question. I think it is a great

they do one thing wrong we hear about it. We always take feedback both positive and constructive and resolve the issues the best

industry, but it is getting harder and harder to enter due to cost and availability. My suggestion would be probably not to.”

“We are quite lucky in that we have a very low turnover of staff.” 2

050 www.truckandbus.net.au

1 Dom Sita has done

well to make a name for himself. 2 A popular sight around certain Melbourne suburbs.

Spotlight On

60mins with...

Tony Kerr

Former marketing manger of Volgren and now executive GM of Genuine Truck Bodies & VSE Solutions (Automotive Holdings Group) Never shy to voice his opinions nor ruffle the odd feather, former marketing manager of Volgren Tony Kerr recently moved on to another role in another related industry. We managed to pick his brain on some bus issues before we wished him well. Fabian Cotter reports. www.truckandbus.net.au 051

Congratulations. Tell us a bit about your new role.

key mantra is obviously to keep being productive, keep being more efficient to keep

If you look at what happened in the last few years with the big suppliers group – I mean,

TK: “I’m running the manufacturing businesses and storing and engineering businesses of the Automotive Holdings Group; they’re a large,

streamlining their businesses. They can’t afford for complacency to creep in. But that’s not to say they can’t meet it.

no-one has ever said they weren’t happy to make a contribution. They said we are happy to do so, we are happy to see our state bodies supported, but there’s a level that can

$4 Billion ASX-listed organisation. My role is executive general manager of Genuine Truck Bodies (GTB), which manufacturers truck bodies and trailers. And the other division I

Q. Are there too many bus shows and are they happening too often? TK: “It’s a good question. I used to be the head of trucks for Scania for six years in

be achieved and be retained. And probably the way the funds are distributed and the way people are looking at that … at the end of the day the big suppliers group turned

look after is Vehicle Storage and Engineering, which is basically we have a big yard where we have wharf clearance, storage of vehicles

the earlier 2000s and one of the common problems in the truck industry was the manufacturers complaining that there were

back to each supplier and said ‘well, while we have this over-arching direction it can still be commercial business decisions based on

that are imported, we do various engineering modifications, changes, converting to ADRs etc – any work that an importer would want

too many shows and that the marketing budget couldn’t stretch, the new product initiative was not enough around and

individual businesses. Clearly, there is no pot of gold for the suppliers and there needs to be a degree of

on product, so we have a holding yard here in Victoria that we run that from.”

consolidation of your expenses in terms of the shows. My personal view with buses in particular? There isn’t always a lot of new product – I mean a bus is designed to last 20-25 years so [they] are not a regular occurrence. But I suppose if you talk about longevity of product in the bus industry it’s probably logical to look at having a maximum of one show per year and probably only doing one every second year. The marketing expense and promotional activity just don’t allow to have shows regularly.”

sanity. And I think the industry was working towards that. We were getting toward the rationalisation and the coordination and probably more importantly the unification of the industry which I think is important. You know, everybody working in a collegiate manner. It’s only a small industry in Australia and everyone does need to get on and everyone does need to support each other ultimately.”

Q. Are there too many players in such a small Australian bus industry? TK: “I suppose when I reflect on my five years in the industry the interesting thing for me was the small number of importers. And in my time that had significantly increased in terms of the numbers involved and also the volume of product that was coming in. So having worked for Volgren for five years - a market leader, a very good organisation, very good structures – we were always cognisant that there was always this threat that was going to come. Secondly, I think at last count there were 26-28 competitors in that space providing bus bodies in Australia. That clearly is far too many! Some are niche players, some are mainstream, some just want to target route

Q. So with the BIC being national but the state organisations putting on the show and worried about their revenue streams should the BIC proper have more control over the separate bodies? TK: “Yeah, look, one of the issues from my perspective is there’s a disparity or a

Q. Do you think that unity, cooperating and coordination will be achieved? TK: “Well, I think it can and I certainly believe the industry was heading the right way up until my departure. Clearly the signals were that there was to be a certain show one year and then a certain show in another state the next year and then mandated another one. They certainly appeared to be moving down that path and I think that has been

bus, some just want to target school bus – there’s a range of reasons this has occurred.

disjointedness between what the state bodies represent and how their funding model exists.

challenging for the state authorities because they still need to have their revenue streams

The general view of people looking at this market is that our bus prices are quite high as a capital cost compared with many other

Now, what I mean by that – and BusNSW would know this very well from discussions I’ve had with them - is that the state bodies

and, as I said, big suppliers were very keen to ensure revenue streams were maintained to a manageable degree.

markets around the world, so then some are of the assumption that there must be larger profits that can be made, which is probably

are fundamentally first and foremost there to represent the interest of their constituents, which is the bus operator. And yet the

So I think that the industry is working the right way. What’s utopia from my perspective? You would probably be looking

the opposite! Australia is a difficult place to get to, so therefore there are a lot of costs associated

distortion here is that the bulk of the funding is expected to come from the sponsors and the supply side.

at seeing the national body controlling that like in many other different industries. There is a peak national body and that represents

with that; we are a large country when they do get here, then there’s the dealer network and the support structures that are required. Yes, there are too many players – you’ve

So certainly from my perspective there’s always that disjointedness, which was a problem. I guess in simple terms if you are representing the operators then you should

the body politically at a federal level, the state bodies can then be a derivative of that at state level to handle state issues and then ultimately the national body could then

got to then break them down into two groups, you’ve got the local manufacturers and then you’ve got the importers. The local manufacturers basically number across

be getting the majority of your funding from the operator base because that is what your constitution says you are there to do. However, when I say that, it is the role of the

control the way the funds are coordinated, and the mandating of the shows.”

all segments about half a dozen and their

suppliers to do it and make a contribution.

over the current 2.5m?

052 www.truckandbus.net.au

Q. Do you support the push for 2.55m buses

TK: “ There’s a lot of grey areas around the 2.5. This has been a chestnut that has been

and that’s (been) proven anecdotally out there many times. And like what I’m seeing now,

thrown around for some time. I would like for the benefits of local manufacturing in Australia so I think the 2.5 is sufficient. I know there are a number of European chassis

there’s been some Chinese trucks come in to the industry and they are struggling to sell because there’s either a reticence to buy them or the quality of the product is just not

suppliers who would like it to extend further, but from my point of view I’m not sure the extra 5mm actually achieves all that much [more].”

up to it. You just can’t sell necessarily on price alone. For a truck or bus it’s an important piece of capital equipment on our roads, it’s got to

Q. Some organisations might justify that by saying European models have arguably higher

have the safety levels and it’s got to have the integrities around it to last the distance.”

safety standards and that’s why they should come in... TK: “ Having headed up the sale and

Q. So with there being a bit of a ‘time frame’, if we can say that, the Australian manufacturing industry can ‘hold the fort’,

marketing and service efforts of Volgren for five years, I would love to see someone show me that a Volgren isn’t the safest bus on the road. Volgren makes their buses with the optimum amount of safety in mind, the structural integrity is second to none, that is proven continually when you do see Volgrens in accidents There have been significant accidents where structural integrity has been maintained even though there has been significant impact at front or rear or even in both. I don’t believe anyone from Europe can say they could produce anything that could be even better. There might be the add-ons or the mod-cons or the things that they do in Europe that are different to here, but those can be adapted by local manufacturer level, so I would struggle to see anyone would or could put something on the road safer than a Volgren bus.”

how secure is bus manufacturing here given the turmoil in the car industry and the likes of ADL and Marcopolo moving in? TK: “Having lived through the Marcopolo acquisition of Volgren a few years ago, I think it’s fair to say that Marcopolo bought a good business and therefore there was no need to make significant change. They were certainly able to impact in areas like procurement and materials savings that were critical. There’s certainly collaboration in things like engineering and product initiatives that were issues, but they only had to do so much. Then there’s the role of ADL with Custom that was significantly different. Volgren has really just run its own show and Marcopolo has been happy with its returns and what it’s done, whereas ADL took quite a significantly different approach to Custom and has revamped a lot over the past 12 months; it’s a whole new organisation, it’s a whole

Q. So do you think Chinese-built buses can compare with locally made or European

new structure. Marcopolo, when they took over Volgren, were basically happy with the

buses over here? TK: “Again comparing to the automotive sector, and if we look at Hyundai just to name

structure, happy with the management team, happy with the processes and life went on. Just before my departure late last year

a brand, Hyundai I think were first coming into Australia in the ‘80s, they were a bucket of rubbish I suppose in real terms, they

we launched the Marcopolo product into Australia and I think that will be a good thing. It’s an offering of another type of product for

struggled. Fast forward 20 years and have a look at what they’ve achieved today. Variation

a certain part of the market that Volgren itself couldn’t compete in. There’s no doubt the ADL guys will obviously be pushing where

is sometimes a problem for them because they want to bang shed loads of the same vanilla product down the same production line because of the economies of scale. They

they believe their strengths are. As for others in the country I’d be surprised, as it’s a small industry. But the big guys like the Higers of the world and their alliance with

will one day get closer, but I think they will struggle for a while. And what is the longer term? Maybe 10 or 15 years’ time. But clearly I still don’t believe

Scania, they’ve had a bit of a crack with that, but they’ve still got a long way to go. And I think that for other significant, major players I just don’t see this industry as big enough to

their product is up to the level that is required

sustain anyone else coming in.”

www.truckandbus.net.au 053

Q. What do Oz manufacturers need to do to remain viable? TK: “Having come out of the Volgren environment and into this new environment there are a lot of synergies with it and those are around productivity, it’s around throughput, it’s around the quality of the workmanship and the product that you are putting out on the floor that meets the expectations of the customer and the market. Fundamentally you can’t afford waste. The key issue for me is getting the guys [on board] for non-wasted hours, and

But you just cannot afford in any industry with manufacturing in Australia to be complacent and sit back because the world will just catch up and pass you by.” Q. Is the BIC too big or too small? Does it need to be streamlined at all? TK: “It’s an industry body. I knew Michael Apps when we were in the truck industry in the early 2000s before he moved into buses and you know I think from memory Michael was the deputy of the Australian Trucking Industry Association. And that

Q. Have you got anything to say as a summary, now as an ‘outsider’? TK: “I think it was a great industry. I’ve been fortunate that I’ve held senior positions in a range of different industries, I’ve really enjoyed the time in the bus industry; it wasn’t like I was wanting to leave it, I was quite comfortable within it. Although ultimately as an individual I’m keen to keep motivated and challenged and I ended up being there for five years. The great thing about the industry is the customers, the people, they all care.

I know when I was leaving Volgren this was a key area that they were focussing on: efficiencies and productivity improvements.

was a much larger organisation. Obviously, there’s a lot more trucks sold in Australia, but I think that BIC – the size of the

I think one thing I haven’t touched on was the consolidation over the period when I was there, seeing operator consolidation,

And trying just to keep working very hard to get the number of labour hours that have been continually declining. Likewise with your procurement and material savings, you’ve got to continually work hard to

organisation, the influence, the number of people working for it – as a peak industry body it certainly isn’t large by any stretch of the imagination. If anything they could probably afford to

seeing the influx of greater involvement from multinationals having an impact. But I think one major observation I’ve seen was the change in government perspective. If you look at the stories and what you

get those to drop – and that’s first and foremost. When you look at the global scale of

get themselves a little bit better funded and a bit more assistance. They do run it on the smell of an oily rag with the support of a

heard of the industry 15-20 years ago, it’s clearly evident governments are mandating tighter control of their public transport

manufacturers we are pretty small. The difference is we are customising a little more than just being the same vanilla product

lot of industry participants who really care about the industry and that’s one of the things I noticed in the bus industry is that

contracts, they’re expecting more bang for their buck. That will mean that some operators will survive and some won’t and

down the line. Even the global giants will struggle with that customisation and the specification changes.

you can get a whole lot of people around the table under a big banner and while they might all be competitors, everybody still

I think the scrutiny that governments will place on the industry will continue. We talked about needing to be efficient

I think the biggest issue in the bus industry is if someone ever decrees one day that

wants to see a strong and viable industry. I think certainly the truck industry isn’t

and productive in manufacturing, well I think the operators are seeing that this is exactly

there’s going to be one spec’ of a bus and

the same way. It’s more of a dog-eat-dog

what governments are demanding of them

that’s it then the locals would be in trouble.

business.”

in their contracts.

054 www.truckandbus.net.au

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International

IRON MAN Buses and coaches winning awards that are model specific are one thing, but models of chassis or bodies that keeping winning as the ‘product’ evolves is quite the other. And Volvo’s 9700 stunning coach has now been doing it for years. Fabian Cotter reports.

056 www.truckandbus.net.au

www.truckandbus.net.au 057

“...a design package that is winning business for operators not just in Europe.’

1 Although we can’t see his face we are

sure he’s a smiling happy-chappie driving one of these. 2 Striking looks outside and great comfort inside for long holiday journeys. 3 Passengers just love the Volvodesigned seats, it’s claimed. 4 That front has that Iron Man movie character mask look. Love it!

magician never reveals their secrets, they say, but now with the

made by some of the leading bus and coach manufacturers.

internet and mother’s club meetings and all that stuff people seem to think they’ve got their own David Copperfield

Yet when it came to a cover image there was one that caught the eye – Volvo’s own 9700. And for that we have no regrets.

acts worked out already. That’s well and good for the wannabe ‘rabbit out of a hatters’ out there, but there’s one ruse we did that many failed to work out. No fault of your own, though. You can just put it down to some supreme ‘ball

It’s truly a stunning vehicle and has been holding its own in the style stakes for a while now and given the latest images we are seeing of the forthcoming 2014 version this trend looks set to continue. It has though, in part,

under one of three paper cups on table being shuffled around really fast before your very eyes’ capers as performed at Coach & Bus magazine

maintained a certain Iron Man movie front end – or the mask of the superhero suit in the least – and these styling qualities blissfully introduce

at its judicious best. Hey, what can we say – it’s a gift. Now, I’ve either lost you, or intrigued you.

a stylish coach as it approaches out on the road, indeed. So much so that a highlight of the product’s

Either way, work with me here and read on. Our Issue 6 cover story was on the Volvo B11R chassis that had just been released in Australia at the time. The key word here being chassis, one that could go under a range of

run was being named 2008’s ‘Coach of the Year’ by a jury of journalists from the European press. But that was then. And now? It’s just been named Irish ‘Coach of the Year’ 2014 at the Fleet Bus & Coach Awards held in

bodies – as is the case with most chassis

Dublin, Ireland, recently. It’s a pretty cool

4 achievement actually because often designs and technology that win an award are expected to be overshadowed by future designs and technology that ‘learn’ from or follows them. So to maintain award-winning standard over a, say, five-year period is a bit of a feather in the

BUS SPECS MODEL: Volvo 9700 ENGINE: Volvo D11K Euro6. Power/ Torque - 380hp/1800Nm, 430hp/2050Nm or 460hp/2200Nm. Transmission - Volvo I-Shift, 12-speed electronically controlled. BODY: Height: 3.6m, 3.8m, Width: 2.55m. Length: 12.3m, 13.0m, 13.8m. SUSPENSION: Electronically controlled air suspension with kneeling function. Independent front. BRAKES: Volvo’s electronically controlled disc brakes (EBS) and ESP (Electronic Stability Program), Volvo Engine Brake (VEB). Volvo’s compact retarder. AXLES: Volvo single reduction axle with choice of ratios for optimised performance. WEIGHT: Maximum gross weight - 19,000kg two-axle configuration, 24,750kg on the three-axle version. MISC.: Luggage capacity - two-axle up to 10.5m³, three-axle: up to 12m³. *Equipment may vary from one country to another.

The Volvo 9700 has won the prestigious Irish Coach of the Year 2014 award at the Fleet Bus & Coach Awards held in Dublin. Jarlath Sweeney, Fleet Transport magazine explained: “The judges were extremely impressed with the fully integral 9700’s smooth driveline and superb manoeuvrability. Passengers travel in comfort and safety.

low fuel consumption and fewer gear changes. It all underlies a total package that offers electronic brake force distribution, plus Volvo

cap indeed.

safety systems of Front Impact Protection (FIP) and Knee Impact Protection System (KIPS). In

SO WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?

the event of a frontal collision, the Front Underrun Protection System (FUPS), helps to protect other vehicles involved says Volvo. And there’s

In terms of features, the comfort and convenience of the Volvo 9700 extends into the driver’s area. The seat is perfectly shaped and equipped with suspension and other functions, says Volvo. A clear and logical dashboard layout, with all controls within easy reach, contributes to convenience and safety. There’s also Volvo’s award-winning Alcolock, GPS navigation and electronic control of sun visors and windows. Throughout the cabin the seats are an integrated part of the entire coach and are an original design by Volvo featuring the best materials, it’s claimed. Lighting, air conditioning, low noise and high sound quality complete the passengers’ surroundings. The large windows have efficient sun blinds, and there is a range of options available for tables and other handy features, as required. You’ve got every possibility to tailor the Volvo 9700 to your operation, says Volvo. It is available in three different lengths, from 12m to 13.8m. And in a ‘bogie’ version it can carry up to 12m3 of luggage. Choose from two optimised equipment levels, Premium or Superior

IRISH EYES ARE SMILING

gear-changing, electronically controlled and especially adapted to coach touring, its control software is optimised for high average speed,

long service intervals and structural strength and stability to reduce NVH levels throughout. Passengers seem to dig the interior options big time - like the Volvo-design seats, optional three-point seat belts and booster cushions for children. Rear-facing child seats are available as an option also. Plus there’s Volvo’s specially designed colour-coordinated interiors available – ceiling, walls, carpets, curtains and seats all match. Chilling people out is the fully automatic climate unit with air conditioning, roof-mounted heaters and separate climate control for the driver. Speaking of whom, they’ll be delighted getting to work in the spacious, effectively soundinsulated and ergonomically designed driver’s area with well-placed controls, instruments that are easy to read and an adjustable steering wheel. Heck, the instrument panel has a lightabsorbing anti-glare surface. Electronically controlled sun visors and windows, electrically heated seats (on Volvo 9700 Superior) and a navigation system are included as standard. Rear-view camera optional.

depending on the distances to be covered and your passengers’ expectations. There is a range of value-adding options and accessories, too,

Overall, it’s a design package that is winning business for operators not just in Europe or nearby in the United Kingdom, but even further

the Swedish company is quick to point out. Motive power comes from now on from Volvo’s new 11-litre Euro6 engine, which combines strength, reliability and economy in a right-sized but equally powerful package,

afield the Volvo 9700 is making a statement in North America. Here, adapted for the Canadian and U.S. markets and safety requirements, it is distributed by Prevost’s Coach Sales Force

it’s claimed. With 380-, 430- or 460hp and massive torque from very low revs it will take your passengers to their destination swiftly and

(assembled in Mexico) and supported by its service network. The Volvo 9700 is hailed as one of the safest

safely, says Volvo. Key to this Volvo as with others is its use of I-Shift, offering a smooth ride from the 12-speed

buses on the market, the company states. With high-efficiency brakes, an electronic stability program, safety-tested body and Volvo’s

gearbox. It’s a genuine Volvo development and it’s designed to fully comply with the character of the company’s engines, it’s stated. Rapid

unique driver impact protection, it represents the culmination of nearly 80 years of safetyoriented work.

www.truckandbus.net.au 059

Game Changer. Daimler Buses is changing the bus industry to create a new level of product and service for our customers. There will be more choice, greater flexibility and access to technologically advanced vehicles. Change is coming.

Hot Stuff

By Fabian Cotter

Gadgets on the go

We’ve scoured the globe for all the latest gadgets and gizmos for when you are on the go.

Yota e-Ink Screen Phone Russian company Yota – which has strong manufacturing connections in Asia – has launched an e-ink (think e-book reader type) dual-screen smartphone. Basically, it saves power by transferring web pages and other applications to the e-ink screen, meaning you get to see what you need without needing to WHAT? WHO? HOW MUCH? CONTACT?

‘wake up’ the phone. “The typical user picks up and activates their smartphone more than 150 times a day,” said Yota Devices chief executive Vlad Martynov. “Why? Because users worry that messages or information they need or want are hidden behind their phone’s black screen. This is

e-ink Dual-screen Smartphone Yota Approx. 499 Euros www.yotaphone.com

a huge distraction and can impede meaningful interaction with our friends, families and colleagues.” “The YotaPhone is an ambitious concept and although it will be considered a gimmick by many we believe there is merit in the design,” said Ben Wood, a mobile analyst with research firm CCS Insight. Yota plans to launch the phone in 20 other countries by March 2014. It’s an Android-running phone with 1.5GHz dual-core processor and a 12-megapixel rear camera.

Qualcomm Toq In what seems a growing trend in portable technology, screens that stay on but save power seems all the rage, plus wearable watches look like being the next streetcred fashion statement. To that end, US company Qualcomm has released the way-funky Toq watch – an Android-based timepiece that is fully compatible with smartphones that provides and ‘always on’ experience, exceptional multi-day battery life and screen visibility even in bright sunglight.

“The Toq Android-running has key Qualcomm innovations, such as Mirasol always-on low power display, AllJoyn interactions and WiPower LE wireless charging, that will define the emerging wearable category,” said Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, chairman and chief executive officer of Qualcomm. “Like a traditional watch, Toq displays information at a glance with no on/off switch. And paired with a smartphone to receive notifications and content, it allows the watch to seamlessly merge our physical and digital

lives. Leveraging these and other industry-leading technologies, we and our partners will enable new product opportunities and consumer experiences.” This limited edition smartwatch will leverage breakthrough technologies necessary to deliver compelling user experiences on wearable devices, it’s claimed. Of note, Toq demonstrates stereo Bluetooth audio experience – first truly wireless stereo headphones that sit outside the ear canal for all day comfort and wearability.

WHAT? WHO? HOW MUCH? CONTACT?

Toq watch Qualcomm From US$349.99 http://toq.qualcomm.com

Sony Walkman 3-in-1 The actual portable device may have died ages ago but the idea behind the Walkman is well and truly alive in 2014 – and Sony’s headphone means the wires are no more. Plus they look awesomely funky and should have no problem being almost fashion statements around your WHAT? WHO? HOW MUCH? CONTACT?

neck. You know it! The 3-in-1 Walkman headphones not only feature a built-in MP3 player, but they’ve also got built-in speakers so you can listen to your music with them hanging around your neck or just off your ears. Two different models are available: a 16GB and one

3-in-1 Walkman headphones Sony From US$160 www.sony.com

with 4GB for music storage – and can be used with your phone or other device if you don’t want to listen to music you’ve stored on them. They hit European shelves last month and should be in US at the time of print. Asia-Pacific availability to be announced in time.

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Enviro 500 Double Deck available in 12.5m

Working Wheels

Champion Sprinter

Mercedes-Benz’s new-for-2014 Sprinter is big on safety, size and power says Geoff Paradise, who takes a closer look.

ercedes-Benz has released its latest Sprinter and, along with a

film of water from the brake discs thereby improving stopping distance and an electronic

keypad and phonebook), but also the optional Becker Map Pilot navigation system.

facelift, the big-box van now is available with an extended array of safety features. It’s big, it comes in a variety of roof heights

brake pre-fill. Both of these safety features are part of the Adaptive ESP handling and control system, it’s claimed. The new Sprinter’s appearance has also

The Sprinter range uses either a 2143cc four-cylinder diesel that is available in three power and torque outputs of 70kW/250Nm, 95kW/305Nm and 120kW/360Nm or a 3-litre

(and a cab-chassis version) and has the ability to swallow an inordinate amount of cargo. The long-wheelbase, high-roof version would make a great mobile workshop.

been substantially enhanced and, depending on your perspective, made it more striking. The van’s radiator grille is now more vertical and there is a frame surrounding the grille,

V6 with 140kW/440Nm on tap. Power is transmitted either by the EcoGear six-speed manual transmission or the 7G-Tronic Plus seven-speed automatic

So if you are looking for a big van then chances are the Sprinter - particularly in its LWB specification – will be on your shopping

making it more obvious. Another change involves the headlights, which are now more angular. The covers on

transmission with lock-up clutch - the only system of its kind to be found in a large van. On the road the handling is crisp and the

list, be it Christmas or otherwise. Mercedes loves the term ‘assist’ and it is this word that identifies the new safety features of the Sprinter. Some are a first for a van of this size, it should be noted. Sprinter now offers Crosswind Assist, Collision Prevention Assist and Blind Spot Assist. Other new features are Highbeam Assist and Lane Keeping Assist. There is also Disc Wipe, an innovation that during wet conditions regularly removes the

the reflector housings divide the headlights into separate segments and the bonnet is higher, it’s stated. Comfort has been boosted by the new upholstery and seat coverings and a thicker steering wheel makes it nicer to grip. The Sprinter is also fitted with a newgeneration radio system that equips the van not only with state-of-the-art electronic entertainment features and Bluetooth telephone equipment (including a telephone

ride – even when empty – is comfortable. But it is when these vans are loaded with a tonne or more do they really come into their own. Prices start at $40,264 for the shortwheelbase, manual 310 model and top out at $63,164 for the range-topping, longwheelbase 519 model. These prices do not include GST, or dealer delivery. All Sprinters come with a threeyear/200,000km warranty and a 24-hour roadside assist package.

VAN SPECS MODEL: Mercedes-Benz 2014 Sprinter ENGINE: A 2143cc four-cylinder diesel. Power/Torque - 70kW/250Nm, 95kW/305Nm and 120kW/360Nm or a 3-litre V6. Power/Torque - 140kW/440Nm TRANSMISSION: Eco-Gear six-speed manual, or 7G-Tronic Plus seven-speed automatic with lock-up clutch BODY: Sprinter design in a variety of roof heights (and a cab-chassis version); Long-wheelbase, high-roof version MISC.: Crosswind Assist, Collision Prevention Assist, Blind Spot Assist, Highbeam Assist and Lane Keeping Assist.

www.truckandbus.net.au 063

064Money Matters

Paul Clitheroe

DUN & BRADSTREET AND VEDA HOLD DETAILS ON EACH OF US

his year some new initiatives will come on board that are worth knowing about. They could change the way you manage your money. To begin with, from February, banks will issue a reminder to home loan customers of the need to have adequate home insurance in place. The vast majority of Australian homeowners do have building cover in place; however, the big risk is underinsurance. This is where the cost to rebuild your home exceeds the sum it’s insured for, potentially leaving the home-owner significantly out of pocket. No matter whether you have a home loan with a bank or other type of lender, when your home insurance renewal arrives in the mail, it’s worth taking the time to check you’re getting a competitive premium.

Another change set to get underway in March is the arrival of ‘comprehensive credit reporting’. At present, credit reference agencies like Dun & Bradstreet and Veda hold details on each of us about credit applications we’ve made and credit defaults (non-payments). Banks and other lenders use this information when we apply for credit; however, the details available at present don’t paint a full picture. From March, lenders will be able to see additional information like when you’ve paid bills on time, and when you’ve fallen behind and made a late payment. The idea here is that lenders will get a clearer picture of how you manage debt and bills. In theory, consumers who demonstrate good credit behaviour - paying bills on time, can be rewarded with a better deal. The bottom line is that it’s more important

And finally, if you have a self-managed super fund (SMSF), you don’t just need to watch out for the strict laws and regulations that govern SMSFs. There is also the risk of losing your hard-earned retirement savings to investment spruikers. One of my favourite investments sayings is, ‘If it sounds too good to be true, then it is’ - and this certainly applies to investment spruiking. Perhaps the best question, which shows that you have some knowledge of the

“Another change set to get underway in March is the arrival of ‘comprehensive credit reporting’”. Just as importantly, think about whether the insured value of your property reasonably reflects what it could cost to rebuild. If you’ve completed renovations in the last year for instance, your home and contents cover should reflect the value these have added to your home. For the record, industry figures show around one in 10 households deliberately underestimate the likely replacement cost of their home and belongings in an effort to save on premiums. If you’re doing this – don’t, it’s completely false economy. If an insurer concludes your property is underinsured by say, 30 per cent, it may reduce any claim payout by a similar percentage. Furthermore, you will find in many cases that the difference in premiums between being underinsured by, say, 25 per cent, and being insured to the full value of the property, is not much and is much less than you would expect.

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than ever to stay on top of bills and loan or credit card repayments. It could be the difference between securing a competitively priced loan or paying a higher rate - or getting knocked back altogether. Finally, from mid-year you could have yet another another PIN to remember, with signatures for credit card authorisations due to be phased out from July. On the plus side, using a PIN saves time at the checkout. It also helps to safeguard against lost or stolen cards because it’s much harder for crims to guess a four- to sixdigit PIN than fake your signature. So if you still use a signature-based card expect a letter from your credit card issuer over the coming months explaining the new system. Be aware, PINs may be more secure but it’s still up to you as the card holder to review your credit card statements to check that all the transactions look right.

Australian investment system, is “What is your AFSL number?” An AFSL is the Australian Financial Services Licence, which must be quoted on demand by an authorised provider of investment advice. Always remember that reputable investment providers do not make cold calls to your home or business. Nor do they try to rush you to make a quick decision to invest funds with them. If you are contacted out of the blue - usually by phone - by an investment promoter, it’s worth asking the following questions to see if you could be speaking with a scammer. For more ideas on protecting your super savings from crooks, take a look at my book Control Your Own Super Fund. Paul Clitheroe is a founding director of financial planning firm ipac, chairman of the Australian Government Financial Literacy Board and chief commentator for Money magazine. Visit www.paulsmoney.com.au for more information.

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