Owner Driver #340

ownerdriver
MAY 2021 #340
DEDICATED TO THE SUCCESS OF THE PERSON BEHIND THE WHEEL
OWNERDRIVER.COM.AU
Convoy return
Kilcoy gets truck
show ball rolling
See page 20
Charged-up Fuso
eCanter at the top of
electric revolution
See page 70
TOP GUN SHIFT
1986 Mirage jet fighter’s road trip from Sydney to Scone
20 44 70
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OWD-FP-5165284-CS-340

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Contents #340
MAY 2021
20 KILCOY’S BIG CONVOY
The south east Queensland town of
Kilcoy successfully produced one of
the first community truck events
of 2021
30 BUILT FOR BEER MONEY
The Kenworth T658 was the only
choice for Brenda and John O’Brien
in their road works business in
North Queensland’s gulf country
36 LOOKING BACK AT RAZORBACK
Barry ‘Sleepy’ Grimson has
enjoyed a fulfilling life in road
transport, from tending horses
to participating in the Razorback
blockade
44 THE BOSS’S RESURRECTION
This 1982 White Road Boss may
have been driven by sentimental
attachment, but it’s still out on
the road earning money with style
and class
58 PLANE SAILING
Hauling a Mirage jet fighter through
Sydney’s streets and motorways was
easy as for the top gun team at Clein
Transport Solutions
70 FUSO ON THE CHARGE
There’s an electric revolution sweeping
the automotive world and in the light
truck league Daimler’s exciting Fuso
eCanter sits at the top of the tree
70
30
36
80 AIMING FOR HIGHER GROUND
Iveco Brisbane’s move to a new floodproof
location has proved to be a boon
for both customers and the dealership’s
team members
“I was mixing with a
lot of blokes looking
for that adventure of
truck driving.”
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4 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

There is nothing more important than ensuring the safety of all road users. That’s why the new
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ownerdriver
EDITORIAL
Editor: Greg Bush
Ph: 07 3101 6602 Fax: 07 3101 6619
E-mail: Greg.Bush@aremedia.com.au
Senior Journalist:
Ben Dillon Ph: 07 3101 6614
E-mail: Ben.Dillon@aremedia.com.au
Technical Editor: Steve Brooks
E-mail: sbrooks.trucktalk@gmail.com
Contributors: Warren Aitken, Frank Black,
Warren Caves, Warren Clark, Rod Hannifey,
Michael Kaine, Sarah Marinovic,
Sal Petroccitto, Ken Wilkie
Cartoonist: John Allison
PRODUCTION
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Print: IVE Print
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DISTRIBUTION
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ISSN 1321-6279
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BEHIND THE WHEEL Greg Bush
On with the big show
THERE’S a reasonably good chance that this latest
issue of Owner//Driver magazine is being read
while attending the 2021 Brisbane Truck Show in
one capacity or another. Are Media, publisher of
Owner//Driver, will have display stands near the
main entrances to the show, and we will have
ample copies of this and other transport and
industry magazines to hand out to show-goers.
Of course, not everyone can make it to Brisbane for what is
the biggest road transport event in Australia. What’s puzzling
are the few notable industry absentees who, for reasons
clouded in rhetoric, decided not to attend. Some hinted at
the unpredictability of possible COVID outbreaks, others
blamed the economy, while still more struggled to offer a
valid reason for opting out, possibly hamstrung by directives
from their foreign owners.
Nevertheless, this year’s Brisbane Truck Show is being
touted as the biggest to date.
For starters, the show days of May 13 to 16 have been
extended to encompass what the organisers – Heavy Vehicle
Industry Australia – are calling Australian Heavy Vehicle
Industry Week, kicking off on Monday, May 10.
The show will expand from the vast area within the
Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre – where the
majority of truck, trailer, parts and accessories will be display
– to places further afield.
Across the Brisbane River, the National Bulk Tanker
Association will be holding its 12th edition of the annual
Bulk Tanker Day, which will in effect be spread across two
days and held at the Brisbane Show Grounds, or the EKKA for
those who are hip to the local lingo.
As in 2019, there will be major heavy vehicle displays
at South Bank Parklands, in and around Little Stanley St
and Stanley St Plaza. Along with the trucks and trailers on
show, there’s free live entertainment amid the watering
holes, restaurants and cafes. And it’s at South Bank where
strongman Troy Conley-Magnusson will attempt to haul a
12-tonne Freightliner Cascadia over 30 metres. This is certain
to be a major crowd pleaser for both truck enthusiasts and
the general public alike.
The South Bank Parklands will also host the HVIA National
Apprentice Challenge, bringing together teams who will
endeavour to rectify a series of programmed faults in
identical Isuzu trucks. The heats will run from May 13 to 15,
with the final being held on Sunday, May 16.
With so many of its members in town, Transport Women
Australia Ltd is taking the opportunity to hold its breakfast
event on Friday, May 14 on the Convention Centre’s plaza level.
Further downstream and on the opposite side of the
Brisbane River, the Civil Construction Field Days will run
from May 13 to 15. Incorporating the Heavy Equipment
and Machinery Show, this event will bring back memories
from years past when the truck show, incorporating heavy
machinery, was held at the EKKA.
What’s pleasing is that anyone who buys a ticket to the
Brisbane Truck Show will also be admitted to the Field Days
at no extra cost. There are free shuttle buses for the commute
as well.
Right now, those who chose not to play a part and promote
their product at the show could be suffering from “FOMO”,
which in today’s language means “the fear of missing out”.
Still, there’s always 2023, but it’s going to be a long two-year
wait for the no-show party poopers.
Your Transport
Manufacturing Specialist
5 Year Structural Chassis Warranty
12-16, Fowler Road,
Dandenong South, Victoria 3175
Ph: (03) 979 40330
Email: admin@bte.net.au
38-40, Carrington Road,
Toowoomba, Queensland 4352
Ph: 0427 502 881
Email: scotta@bte.net.au
6 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

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Vouchers cannot be substituted or exchanged for cash. Vouchers redeemable online and at any TWW instore. Vouchers are valid for 3 years and must be used in one transaction at the same store or
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OWD-FP-5210196-CS-340

The Goods
NEWS FROM THE HIGHWAY AND BEYOND
NHVR pledges to boost PBS processing
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator acknowledges
the impacts of delivery delays
THE NATIONAL Heavy Vehicle
Regulator (NHVR) has acknowl edged
personnel issues on top of higher
demand have crimped its ability
to carry out performance-based
standards (PBS) scheme functions
in a timely manner.
The issue made headlines a week
ago, when Heavy Vehicle Industry
Australia (HVIA) complained
publically that months of its
warnings and efforts to help
overcome delays had failed to
improve matters and that the
situation is worsening.
HVIA chief executive Todd Hacking
has called for “interim approval
mechanism” to be introduced as
a short-term measure to tackle an
immediate crisis but that is not
mentioned in the NHVR’s response.
“We are currently experiencing
some operational challenges due
to the significant increase in
application volumes and departure
of senior PBS team members,” NHVR
vehicle safety and performance
director Peter Austin explains.
“This has impacted our ability
to assess and process applications
within acceptable timeframes.
“We understand the impact that
increased processing times has
on all parts of the industry, and
we are implementing initiatives
and working with stakeholders to
improve our service delivery.
“So far, we have allocated
additional resources and
streamlined our procedures to
improve data consistency, automate
processes and remove double
handling of vehicle data.
“We have also been working closely
with PBS certifiers and assessors to
issue approvals more quickly.
“Longer-term, we will continue
to transition PBS services into the
NHVR Portal and introduce more
efficient processes for low risk
applications.
“While we make these
improvements, we understand that
operators need certainty around
when applications will be issued.
“For complete and accurate Vehicle
Approval applications, the NHVR’s
processing time is currently 25
business days.
“This timeframe will improve as
additional remediation actions are
implemented, and we aim to reduce
turnaround as quickly as possible.
Above: HVIA chief executive Todd Hacking
“Moving forward, we will provide
Certifiers and Assessors with a
weekly update on processing times
and volumes, and we have asked
them to keep their customers
advised of any changes.”
monroe.com.au
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8 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

PARTSCENTRAL
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The offers presented are subject to stock availability during the promotion period and are available at Mercedes-Benz Truck participating dealerships only. Participation can be determined by calling 1800 033 557 or by calling your nearest dealership. Parts listed may be VIN specifi c, parts
advertised have been identifi ed to suit the majority of the models specifi ed. Part numbers should be checked against the VIN to ensure suitability. For assistance, please contact your nearest participating Mercedes-Benz Truck dealership prior to purchase. Prices within this promotion are
recommended maximum selling prices including GST, excluding labour and fi tment costs from a participating dealer. Prices will be valid from 1st March 2021 to 31st May 2021. All items have been included in good faith on the basis that they will be available during the promotion period.
Photographs are for illustrative purposes only and may not represent actual products. We reserve the right to correct all printing errors. Mercedes-Benz and TruckParts by Mercedes-Benz are registered trademarks of Daimler AG, and Stuttgart Germany, all distributed by Daimler Truck and
Bus Australia Pacifi c Pty Ltd. ABN 86 618 413 282.

THE GOODS NEWS FROM THE HIGHWAY AND BEYOND
Associations united over safer driving
The ATA and AAA are seeking targets in a
National Road Safety Strategy redraft
THE LACK of clear targets and other flaws have
seen the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) and
Australian Automobile Association (AAA) jointly
push for a redrawn 2021-30 National Road Safety
Strategy (NRSS).
Also central to their critique is what is described as
a “severe lack of government accountability”.
The two organisations expresses concern that
the draft strategy does not take into consideration
the failings of the last 10 years that independent
inquiries found were largely due to a lack of
federal government leadership and an oversight
of road safety.
“The AAA and ATA submissions in response to the
draft NRSS have highlighted the inadequacy of the
proposed strategy and present a forceful case that it
must be rewritten,” ATA CEO Andrew McKellar says.
“The NRSS must be supported by measurable
targets, as well as clear identification of who will be
held accountable to ensure they are being met.
“Each item must also set out specified sub targets
so it is clear what needs to be done and how exactly
these targets will be achieved.”
They believe the draft strategy risks “undoing the
good work of last year’s federal Budget and appeared
to ignore key recommendations from extensive
relevant government and parliamentary inquiries”.
“The Commonwealth last year took a major step
forward, by attaching strings to the safety funding
it hands to states, which was the first step needed
to ensure state governments meet their safetyrelated
obligations,” AAA managing director Michael
Bradley says.
“Now is not the time to let that progress slip.
“It is also a concern that the draft strategy doesn’t
propose to use the national road toll as a measure
of its progress or success; and it fails to include any
other agreed performance indicators.
“If governments endorse a 2021-30 strategy that
contains the same shortcomings as its predecessor,
then we should not be surprised if it too fails to
deliver the reduced rates of death and injury that
Australians deserve and desire.”
The AAA and ATA say that while it is clear the draft
NRSS had significant weaknesses, it is important the
process of review and development continued.
“While we congratulate the government
on establishing an Office of Road Safety and
recognising the leadership role they have to play,
it is more critical than ever they seize the
opportunity to ensure the next NRSS has clear targets,
clear responsibilities, clear actions and
Above: An image used by the AAA, which emphasises that
performance indicators are lacking
clear penalties for those jurisdictions that don’t pull
their weight,” Bradley says.
The ATA submission calls for several additional
measures for governments to adopt in the NRSS,
including the need for speed management and
post-crash care measures, as well as strengthened
driver licensing and training for both heavy and
light vehicle drivers.
“Stronger and more comprehensive truck driver
licensing and training would result in safer roads,
safer people, and safer companies,” McKellar says.
“Training for novice car drivers in how to share
the road safely with trucks would play a key role
in improving driver behaviour and reducing the
number of injuries and fatalities on our roads.”
Ph: (03) 9775 1948 Fax: (03) 9775 1949
Email: sales@vonpacegroup.com.au
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www.vonpacegroup.com.au
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10 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

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THE GOODS NEWS FROM THE HIGHWAY AND BEYOND
Melbourne loading zone cuts queried
VTA says commercial vehicle drivers afflicted
by delivery difficulties and increased
congestion due to cyclists being prioritised
A POST-COVID bike lane focus is eroding city
loading zones and hampering delivery efforts,
the Victorian Transport Association (VTA) charges,
lamenting a lack of industry consultation on
the matter.
If unresolved, the increased congestion
threatens Melbourne’s economic recovery from
forced business closures, Victoria’s peak transport
body adds.
VTA CEO Peter Anderson says loading zones in
the Melbourne CBD have declined significantly over
the past two years, prompting complaints from
members that deliver goods to retailers and fresh
food, groceries and beverages to city bars and cafes.
“After 12 months of lost business and revenue,
CBD businesses are finally getting back on their
feet and servicing a steadily growing market of
consumers as more people return to the city for
work, yet we are hearing about deliveries having to
be rescheduled or taking longer because there are
fewer loading zones,” he says.
“This is creating a dangerous environment where
drivers are having to wait to make deliveries or
drive around the city until a loading zone becomes
available, which increases traffic congestion and
associated delays for everyone.”
Dozens of transport companies make thousands
of trips in and out of the CBD for deliveries every
day with any delay inconveniencing customers and
consumers and contributing to lost productivity,
Anderson adds.
“We have one member that currently has around
200 drivers a day entering the CBD to make
deliveries, saying that the time for them to do this
has doubled in the last five years.
“The issue is being compounded every year with
loading zones being reduced, forcing drivers to wait
around longer to get a loading zone or park further
away, which means that they are having to cart
freight on trolleys a further distance, risking an
incident or injury to a pedestrian or driver.”
Anderson says nearly 40km of kerbside protected
bike lanes built by the City of Melbourne and
Victorian government during COVID lockdowns
was clearly a factor in greater congestion and fewer
loading zones to service shops, restaurants and
other businesses.
“Without any consultation with industry, bike
lanes were built in Swanston Street, William Street,
Bourke Street, Exhibition Street, Flinders Street,
La Trobe Street and elsewhere in the city, with
lanes and protection medians encroaching on
loading zones and other parking and delivery
infrastructure.
“While we appreciate the need to protect cyclists, a
consequence of these decisions has been a blowout
in delivery times, which increases the number of
trucks and delivery vehicles in the city.
“The City of Melbourne is responsible for
designating and enforcing loading zones and if
they really want to support business recovery it is
essential that more zones – not less – be set aside
for transport operators to service their customers
safely, quickly and efficiently.”
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12 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

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THE GOODS NEWS FROM THE HIGHWAY AND BEYOND
Truck driver initiative underway in WA
The transport labour shortage underlines skills course to bolster
post-pandemic rebound in Western Australia
WESTERN AUSTRALIA’S Heavy Vehicle Driving
Operations Skill Set training program has been given its
ministerial blessing.
The Western Australian government’s $6.1 million
Heavy Vehicle Driving Operations Skill Set (HVDOSS) has
12 students enrolled now in the pilot course two weeks
after it kicked off.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated how vital
the freight industry and truck drivers are to our state
and our economy,” transport minister Rita Saffioti says
in explaining the need for the initiative.
Developed in consultation with the transport
industry, the six-week course aims to address driver
shortages, by training 500 new workers in Heavy Rigid
(HR) licences and upskilling an additional 500 existing
drivers from HR licences to Heavy Combination (HC)
and/or Multi-Combination (MC) licences.
In what is described as an Australian first, the new
course aims to increase skilled workers through both
theoretical and practical hands on truck driving at the
state-of-the-art Driver Risk Management facility located
at Perth Airport.
On successful completion, participants obtain a Heavy
Rigid; Heavy Combination; or Multi Combination class
vehicle, and may apply for a forklift (LF) licence.
“These skill sets form an essential part of our COVID-19
recovery, providing affordable and accessible training
options for Western Australians to upskill or retrain,”
state education and training minister Sue Ellery says.
“The skill set aims to train 500 new entrants and
upskill 500 existing workers to drive larger vehicles.
“Our training sector has been front and centre of our
recovery, training workers in areas of need.
“Central Regional TAFE has partnered with Driver
Risk Management to deliver the course and this is
an excellent example of TAFE colleges and private
training providers working together to address
industry skills needs.”
The course is free for eligible students and the
Practical Driving Instruction Training and Assessment
and licencing costs $500 for concession students and
$1,250 for non-concession students.
Western Roads Federation (WRF) has been advising
the state government on issues affecting the industry,
and has been instrumental in developing the expanded
skill set to address unprecedented workforce demands
due to COVID-19.
As the peak industry body, Western Roads Federation
will mentor and support students on the path to
employment, working to connect students to industry
employers.
Central Regional TAFE is now taking expressions of
interest for future intakes and planning is underway
to expand the training to the Mid-West, Goldfields and
Great Southern regions in coming months.
“We have worked collaboratively with industry to
create this program to make sure it gives truck drivers
the skills they need while also helping jobseekers
increase their employability,” Saffioti says.
“Western Roads Federation and the Transport Workers’
Union approached the premier, minister for education
and training and myself, asking to create a dedicated
training course for truck drivers.
“I’m so pleased we have been able to roll out a training
program that delivers what industry needs.”
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THE GOODS NEWS FROM THE HIGHWAY AND BEYOND
Undisclosed incident prompts WHS fine
Company director described
as “old school” following truck
driver’s hospitalisation for a
fractured skull after fall
A TRANSPORT company was fined
$5,000 for not reporting a serious
workplace injury after an incident in
which a worker was hospitalised for
a week, Workplace Health and Safety
Queensland (WHSQ) reports.
The company, Cattletrans Pty Ltd,
trading as Robertson’s Transport,
pleaded guilty in the Toowoomba
Magistrates Court to breaching
the Work Health and Safety Act for
failing its duty to report a notifiable
incident arising out of the conduct
of the business.
The court heard the small
business specialised in livestock
transport when, on March 8, 2018,
two company workers transported
a broken-down truck on the tray
of a tilt tray truck to a site in Wacol
for repair.
While at that site, one of the
workers fell from the tray of the
stationary tilt tray truck, hitting his
head on the ground below, WHSQ
explains.
The other worker contacted the
company director that same day to
report the incident.
The injured worker was transported
to hospital by ambulance where he
was admitted as an inpatient for
seven days and received treatment
for a fractured skull.
WHSQ was first notified of the
incident by the worker on or around
June 18, 2019.
The company to that point had
not notified the safety regulator of
the incident.
Magistrate Kay Ryan says the
company had failed its duty to
notify through ignorance of its
obligation, and observed the director
could be considered “old-school”.
“Her Honour noted that while
ignorance of the law was not an
excuse, it was a factor that could be
taken into account to an extent,”
WHSQ explains.
“Magistrate Ryan also took into
account the company’s early guilty
plea, its otherwise good character,
having no previous convictions,
and financial difficulties it had
experienced after being defrauded
by a former employee and as a result
of COVID-19.
“Her Honour also had regard
to the fact that the injured worker
was back working Robertson’s
Transport, albeit in a limited
capacity.”
The company was fined $5,000
and ordered costs of $1,100, with no
conviction recorded.
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16 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

Lesson learnt from NSW tolls probe
Gains, not bans, should be the incentive for road use, says NatRoad
THE NATIONAL Road Transport
Association (NatRoad) joins a chorus of
appreciation for the growing political
focus on New South Wales toll roads.
A long-term critic of the state
governments’ approach to tolling,
NatRoad welcomes the NSW review
into tolls and will be making
a submission to the current
Parliamentary inquiry into this issue.
“In our view, toll roads and fees
should be designed to provide
sufficient incentive for heavy vehicle
operators to use the toll,” NatRoad CEO
Warren Clark says.
“There should be no need for
governments to impose truck bans on
alternative un-tolled routes.
“The NorthConnex model should
therefore not be repeated as it is
inherently unfair to heavy vehicles.
“Governments could introduce toll
reductions and multi-user discounts
for heavy vehicles where further
incentives to use toll roads are needed
or during times of crisis, as currently
exist because of the pandemic.
“Alternatively, discounted tolls could
apply during low use periods at night,
for example 12am to 6am.”
NatRoad has frequently called out
the governments in NSW, Queensland
and Victoria for poorly designed
tolling policies.
What it describes as “missteps”
include:
• the lack of transparency and
fairness in setting toll fees for
heavy vehicles
• the inconsistent use of tolling
methods across the road network
• the lack of competition in private
toll road operation
• governments forcing heavy vehicles
to use tolled roads by banning them
from alternative routes, as is the
case with NorthConnex
• heavy vehicle operators paying
for road network improvements
through increases in tolls without
experiencing the promised
efficiencies themselves, again as
with NorthConnex.
“It is very difficult to find out from
state governments how tolling fees are
set, why toll increases are necessary
on a regular basis and why some
increases above the rate of inflation
are justified,” Clark says.
“All of these questions are matters
of urgent consideration when looking
at the future of road construction and
getting in place sensible, nationally
agreed tolling policies.
“NSW can take the lead on these
issues.”
ownerdriver.com.au
MAY 2021 17

truck events
KILCOY BREAKS
SHOW DROUGHT
It was a case of out of lockdown and on
with the show as the Queensland town of
Kilcoy successfully produced one of the first
community truck events of 2021. Warren
Aitken took his camera and hung out with
the crowd at the Konvoy with a ‘K’
WELCOME BACK to the truck show
scene. It’s so good to be able to, at
long last, write up a truck show
review. It has been so long that the
sunscreen lotion in my car had
given up on itself and just formed
an unusable, weirdly congealed
lump. So, just like the good old days
of 2019, I ended up looking like the
warning post for the Slip, Slop, Slap ads.
I also ended up with hours’ worth of photos to
process, over 13,000 steps for the day and wearing
a smile so big it hurt my ears. Yep, it was awesome
to be able to attend the first major truck show
in Queensland for 2021 – the Kilcoy Konvoy and
Rodeo.
20 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

I never realised how much I’d missed them
to be honest. Friday night charging batteries
and formatting memory cards while scrolling
Facebook to see who was still up cleaning and
polishing, then an early start for the big drive
to Kilcoy in Queensland’s Somerset region.
I arrived nice and early and was enveloped in
a sense of familiarity. Rocking up to the checkin
area and seeing drivers with their legions
of unpaid workers, or family as they call them,
frantically finishing off the final touches.
A quick drive through town and I spotted
the plethora of truck photographers and
enthusiasts already out and about, scoping out
their favoured convoy locations, ready to snap
some great shots.
The locals starting to line the streets, kids
warming their arms for the ever-necessary fist
pump, eager to hear the sounds of our people
(aka air horns). It was all very familiar and
comforting.
One of the first big shows of 2021 also threw
up some new sights. I am used to the emphasis
on social distancing so that was pleasing to
see. What shocked me was Marshall Watego,
a regular character at many events with his
outstanding Optimus Prime-inspired Peterbilt.
Seeing him at the Kilcoy Konvoy wasn’t the
shock, it was seeing him turn up on time that
nearly knocked my socks off. That was a sign it
was going to be a cracker of a day.
You could not have picked a better show to
Top: Convoy time: the Mackay & Sons House Removal fleet makes its
way towards the Kilcoy showground
Above (L to R): Kel Stanton, one of the Kilcoy Konvoy team, is movie
director as his son Levi films the trucks; Mark Tobin’s Truck of the
Show-winning Kenworth was the perfect backdrop to highlight the
team that put the event together
Opposite (L to R): Danny Hinds’ immaculate T909 took out the silver
medal in the best Kenworth category; New regulations meant everyone
entering had to scan in, it’s just one of the procedures we’ll have to get
used to for big events now
ownerdriver.com.au
MAY 2021 21

“The committee
members were adamant
that they would go ahead
with the 2021 event.”
22 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

open up the start of Queensland truck show season than the Kilcoy
Konvoy. It was my first time at this event and boy, do they know how
to put on a show. For the second time the Konvoy has been tied in
with the annual Kilcoy Rodeo, meaning you can take a break from
the stainless and steel and wander over to see the bucking and
bulldust. If you’re wearing an Akubra I think technically you don’t
wander over, you mosey over. So, I had to wander.
Scanning in
Back to the truck event itself. The Kilcoy show has been around for
several years now. In 2019, it hooked up with the Kilcoy Rodeo and
created the Kilcoy Konvoy and Rodeo. That year they had a massive
Top: Three exceptional Anniversary model Macks led off the Karreman’s fleet.
Karreman’s picked up second prize in the Best Fleet category
Above (L to R): They definitely came from far and wide for the show. This stunning
Emerald Carrying Co K200 placed third in the Best Bling category;
One of my favourites from the day was this 1966 Mack B-61 stock truck, owned by
Stuart and Christine Retschlag (left). Also along for the day were Jessica Beare, as
well as driver Ivan and Jesse Retschlag
Right: B&K Bulk Haulage’s spectacular T409 SAR came down from Gladstone and
picked up the Best Kenworth award for its effort
Opposite top (L to R): Chris Dwyer was up until ungodly hours cleaning the MacTrans
Heavy Haulage Southern Cross Mack in order to make it to the convoy. The effort was
worth it as it picked up the Best Mack trophy; This immaculate Superliner may have
sat at the end of the Karreman section of the convoy, but it made its presence felt.
What a rumble!
Opposite middle: Karreman Quarries turned out in force, displaying plenty of
Bulldog pride
Opposite bottom: It was great to see Laurie Williams with his Phat Cat Western Star
and the Bullet Burnout truck in tow
ownerdriver.com.au
MAY 2021 23

“There was a level of enthusiasm that just
flowed through the entire team.”
Top: It may not please the environmentalists but seeing the old Mack Super-Liner with its foot to the ground
definitely pleased the crowd
Above (L to R): I first spotted Emma still cleaning her Snap-on rig before the convoy started. She’s definitely
dedicated to her little F-Series Isuzu; It was great to catch up with Albert and Fiona Collins with their family truck.
The 1973 1310 Inter is still working and multiple generations of the Collins family use the old girl for all manner of
tasks
Right: Tyson Carter brought the old Mack tipper out for a play in the convoy. A big credit to his fiancée Andrea Reuter
for putting in the hard yards and cleaning it for him the night before
Bottom: I could lie and say it’s not often the Paddo & Sons Transport crew sit still enough for a photo, but Chook
(right) is often spotted just leaning on his stunning T610. But it’s Grant Jones (left) and Ray Patton (centre) that keep
the wheels turning
120 trucks turn up, another reflection of the growing
popularity of the show. Obviously 2020 never happened,
so we won’t even talk about that. The committee members
were adamant that they would go ahead with the 2021 event,
realising that all the new COVID-19 rules and regulations
would eventually just become the new norm for events.
With the help of the Kilcoy Rodeo team, the committee
set about filling and filing all the government required
paperwork. The main issues needed to ensure the show’s
success was that everyone attending needed to be scanned
in, entrance bands were a must and people were made aware
of the importance of social distancing. With such a large
open area, the ground capacity was never an issue. There
may have been slightly longer than normal waits to get in,
as everyone had to login in via one of those QR codes. For the
truckies though, we are used to having to do that at most
truck stops up and down the country anyway.
All in all, the COVID-19 regulations caused very little
stress. Well, for me as a visitor it was very little stress. For
the marvellous committee members that had to submit the
24 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

forms and make sure they met all the requirements, it was a
tad more tedious and stressful, but in the end successful.
All that rigmarole was what was needed to ensure that the
show could go ahead. What made the entire day a success in
my opinion was the people that ran it. A big thumbs-up needs
to go to everyone involved.
There was a level of enthusiasm that just flowed through
the entire team. I thought the bouncing-off-the-wall vibes
would come from all the truckies finally getting to ‘shine
on’, but that infectious atmosphere was started by the Kilcoy
Konvoy team first. The community just oozed excitement,
from the lovely old blokes that were getting you to scan your
QR codes at the showground entrance to the fantastic ladies
and gentlemen that were getting swamped with trucks
trying to sign in, then the local police escorting the convoy
and onto the Rural Fire Volunteers helping with camping
and parking.
Record entries
In the end they shattered their previous record of 120 trucks
with an impressive 165 entries.
It wasn’t all show and shine though; there was plenty
of stalls set up for people to purchase all the stuff they
didn’t know they needed, from Smokey & the Bandit canvas
banners to embroidered Kenworth chairs. Even the kids
were covered, with The Jake Brake Kid there selling his
awesome kids’ colouring books. Off course I wanted one;
“A big thumbsup
needs to go
to everyone
involved.”
Top left: It wasn’t just the truckies enjoying the day. Those that had
come for the rodeo took the opportunity to have a look at some of
the cool gear. I caught Mal Wieland showing his troop of Chase,
Paislee and Jasper around the big rigs
Above left: This fully customised old classic Kenny sounded as good
as it looks! I swear I heard cameras running out of batteries as they
snapped away at her
From top right: Paddo & Sons brought along a couple of their
stunning trucks, including this Kenworth Legend 900 pearler; A
huge thank you to this year’s judges John Streton, Barry Coop, Mick
Taylor and local council rep Cheryl Gaedtke. These guys marched
around in the sun with the hardest job of all – picking the winners;
Harlin-based company H L E Smith & Co had most of its hardworking
fleet scrubbed up for the event
Left: The Followmont and Tobin Transport trucks may have
slipped past me in the convoy, but you couldn’t miss them at the
showgrounds
26 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

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Top: Masondale Logging had a great array of loggers shined up for the day.
I caught up with three of their drivers and convinced them to pose for me -
top blokes Grant Smith, Bradley Smith and Stewi Castle
Above (L to R): Who doesn’t love a good fire truck! A big shout out to all these
guys who helped out and showed off at the Kilcoy Konvoy; I sort of promised
Marcus Fairbrother, who was standing with his three girls Temprence,
Peyton and Ambrosia, that I wouldn’t share this photo. But how could I not?
Even Travis Scott, who drives the Followmont Western Star and the lovely
Jade Harney, who is one of Followmont’s forklift drivers, would agree this
shot is the best
Below: Another of my all-time favourite rigs is the Mack Super Liner. Matt
Kranenburg stands with his sons Parker and Kip in front of the Kranenburg
Earth Moving bulldog
“The tarp tying comp looked
interesting, until I realised I haven’t
tarped in years.”
I just couldn’t find a kid to go buy me one – dammit.
When lunch rolled the barbecue stand produced an
extremely good steak sandwich or, in my case, two really
good ones. I was very tempted to have a go at a couple of the
competitions they had running. The tarp tying comp looked
interesting, until I realised I’m a tautliner driver and haven’t
tarped in years. So I avoided that. Big congratulations must
go to Kurt from HLE Smith & Co for winning that one.
Then there was the truck stopping competition. You had
30 seconds from the time you planted your butt in the
driver’s seat to pull the truck forward, stopping as close to
the bollard as possible with only one braking manoeuvre.
It was fun to watch actually. For the record that prize went
to a fella called Healy who stopped 7.5cm from the bollard.
Impressive!
All in all it was a great day put on by the Kilcoy Konvoy
team. My go-to lady for the day was the fabulous Debbie
Dawes who, along with her husband Ian, are an integral part
of the team. Ironically, I hardly spoke to Debbie as she was as
busy as the rest of the team all day. So I thanked her lovely
daughter Linsie for her assistance.
A huge shout out to the entire committee and the Kilcoy
township for breaking our truck show drought with an
outstanding show.
28 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

NHVR Sal Petroccitto
HV health check
Over the next 12 weeks the National Heavy Vehicle
Regulator will inspect around 8,000 heavy vehicles
Sal Petroccitto became
Chief Executive of the
National Heavy Vehicle
Regulator (NHVR) in May
2014, bringing an extensive
knowledge of heavy
vehicle regulation to the
role. He also has extensive
experience across state and
local government, holding
senior leadership roles in
transport and logistics,
transport planning and
strategic planning, and
has worked closely with
industry and stakeholders
to deliver an efficient and
effective transport system
and improved supply chain
outcomes. He was the
Queensland government
representative on the NHVR
Project Implementation
Board and the Board of
Transport Certification
Australia. Over the past five
years, as CEO of the NHVR
he has led a significant
program of reform across
Australia’s heavy vehicle
industry including the
digital permit systems, or
NHVR Portal, harmonising
heavy vehicle regulations
across 400 road managers
and modernising safety laws
for the heavy vehicle supply
chain and heavy vehicle
operators.
THIS MONTH the National Heavy
Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) will
embark on its second National
Roadworthiness Survey (NRS).
The NRS will allow us to assess
the mechanical condition of
Australia’s heavy vehicle fleet.
The inaugural survey was conducted
five years ago and, since then, there has
been increased education and improved
efficiencies across heavy vehicles and
operators. This survey will provide a
progress update for the industry about
where we have excelled and what we need
to focus on.
It’s important the NHVR delivers an
overview on how we are doing as a heavy
vehicle industry so that, together, we can
focus on improved safety and productivity
outcomes.
So, what will take place and how might it
affect you?
Over the next 12 weeks, approximately
8,000 heavy vehicles will be inspected by
the NHVR and our partner agencies in every
state and territory.
Each vehicle will undergo a detailed visual
inspection and some mechanical testing by
authorised officers using inspection trailers
and brake-testing equipment.
It’s our intention to add as little
disruption as possible to drivers and
schedules and I have no doubt that our
officers will aim to achieve this on every
occasion. It goes without saying that
the safer the vehicle, the smoother the
inspection process.
I must stress that vehicles will only be
inspected once as part of the survey. We
understand the need to keep vehicles and
supply chains moving and I want to thank
businesses and individuals in advance for
their cooperation and support as we carry
out this important work on behalf of the
industry.
WHY IS THIS SURVEY NECESSARY?
Simply put, this is about ensuring the safety
and condition of the heavy vehicle fleet.
We need to continue to understand what
and who is operating across our road
network so that we can support the industry
and individuals achieve greater safety and
productivity outcomes.
DAILY STEPS TO KEEP VEHICLES SAFE
The NHVR is urging heavy vehicle operators to use a Daily Safety
Checklist as a regular part of their pre-trip routine.
The checklist is a series of simple steps that every driver should
undertake daily that align with the National Heavy Vehicle Inspection
Manual.
A daily visual inspection should only take a few minutes and gives
drivers peace of mind ahead of their journey.
Each checklist should include checking brakes, couplings, wheels, tyres
and hubs, structure and body condition, lights and reflectors, mirrors,
windscreens and windows, and the engine, driveline and exhaust.
For more information on Daily Safety Checklists visit www.nhvr.gov.au/
dailycheck
“This is
about
ensuring
the safety
and
condition of
the heavy
vehicle
fleet. ”
WHAT DID WE LEARN LAST TIME?
As part of our 2016 survey, the NHVR
inspected just over 7,000 vehicles across
all states and territories except for Western
Australia (WA). This time, WA vehicles and
operators will be included as part of the
survey.
Combined results from the initial survey,
together with the National Transport
Insurance Major Investigation Report
(released in March this year) confirmed
that operators who effectively maintained
their vehicles were less likely to be involved
in an accident.
Further, the report found that there were
fewer claims on vehicles when they were
properly maintained.
While these results will come as little
surprise, it reinforces the fact that, with the
right safety procedures in place for heavy
vehicles and their operators, there is more to
gain and less chance of error.
Once again, I thank you for participating
in this important piece of work and for
your ongoing commitment to making our
industry a safe and productive environment
for all. I look forward to sharing the results
of our latest NRS with you.
ownerdriver.com.au
MAY 2021 29

truck rebuilds
BUILT FOR
BEER MONEY
When it comes to having the grunt to pull
a big load, the Kenworth T658 was the only
choice for Brenda and John O’Brien in their
road works business up in the gulf country
of North Queensland. But getting their ‘Beer
Money’ wasn’t an easy road. Ben Dillon writes
Photos by Ben Dillon and Brenda O’Brien
LOOKING FOR the right truck to fit your
needs is tough enough, but for the O’Brien
family their search was made all the
more difficult by the tyranny of distance.
Based in Normanton, Queensland, near
the Gulf of Carpentaria, the O’Brien’s
remit was simple enough; find a truck
tough enough to pull a set of side-tippers
and make it look schmick to promote the
business. Oh, and it had to be done and delivered
in a timeframe measured in days, not weeks or
months. Simple, right?
Enter Jon Kelly, known for his hit TV show
MegaTruckers, who is no stranger to turning out
a top-looking truck on short notice, but when
Brenda called him up on an ex-Curley Cattle Truck
T658 he had for sale, even he knew it would be a
tough test. We can imagine the conversation, the
sharp inhalation of breath on both sides when
talk turned to timeframes, but what you see here
is the final product of those long distance phone
calls in this stunning Kenworth.
“When I first contacted him on the phone we
had deadlines to meet for a tender and I was just
pushing him the whole time,” Brenda says.
“I just needed the truck registered so we could
put it into a tender and I don’t know if he got sick
of me, but I just kept pushing him. Sometimes I
reckon I could have reached through the phone
and choked him but it was definitely worth the
wait because we ended up with Beer Money!”
Brenda laughs.
“She was tough on me,” Jon smiles.
“She wanted to make sure the truck was perfect
and we did a good job, and I said ‘Brenda, I haven’t
done a shit truck yet, so you can trust I’ll do it
right’.”
The fact that Brenda was dealing with someone
more than 2,000km away on a truck that was
a big investment for her business wasn’t her
only worry, so with a tight deadline in mind she
started to do her research on the bloke who was
going to build her truck.
“I’m talking to this guy and I can honestly say
I didn’t have a clue who Jon Kelly was when we
started negotiations,” Brenda laughs.
“I have a daughter who is 25-years-old and a
son who is 19 and they were telling me who
Jon Kelly was and about HHA [Heavy Haulage
Australia] and MegaTruckers and I can honestly
30 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

“Sometimes
I reckon I
could have
reached
through the
phone and
choked him.”
Left: The whole unit looks spectacular
hooked up to a set of Tristar side-tippers
Opposite top: Gotta have a little ‘Beer
Money’ in your life
ownerdriver.com.au
MAY 2021 31

“He called me and said he had a
peachy colour for the pinstripes on
the truck and I nearly hit the roof.”
Top: Brenda and John O’Brien with
their ‘Beer Money’ Kenworth T658
Above right: The T658 in the paint
booth. Brenda O’Brien wasn’t
impressed with the Curley colours
Left: Peach pin-striping was an
interesting choice but works
surprisingly well with the colour
scheme
say I’ve never seen an episode, and never knew about him.
“My kids sat me down and we watched an episode of
MegaTruckers and I said ‘Jon Kelly doesn’t come across like
that on the phone, I guess it’s a TV program so he has to act
a bit’.
“You’d see him go off about stuff going wrong and my
daughter looked at me and said ‘who does that remind you
of’ and I’m like ‘yeah ok’, I don’t put up with a lot of shit
either,” Brenda says.
This fact wasn’t lost on Jon either, who knows that you’re
only as good as your last build in this game and was keen to
deliver a truck that would hopefully surpass the O’Briens’
expectations.
“It’s one thing to sell to a customer who just walks into
the yard and buys a bland truck, but for someone to entrust
you with a couple of hundred thousand dollars and put
their faith in you delivering the goods, is another thing
completely,” Jon says.
“Like, this is Brenda and John’s first heavy truck so it’s a
bit of gamble for them, it’s not just selling them a truck it’s
about helping them take a gamble in the industry and I don’t
think we’ve just delivered the product they wanted, we’ve
delivered a showpiece.”
“We’re from a road works background and mainly had
graders and water trucks over the years and we just wanted
to diversify a bit and not have as many graders in the fleet
and go into the side tippers,” Brenda says.
“This truck is an all new thing for us, we’ve been around
graders for 30 years, my partner John is a final trim operator
and a lot of people want him to do their roads.
“My father had trucks for 40 years so that’s how we got into
the road works business, I used to wag school and go out in
the trucks with him [laughs]. He’s helped us out as we are all
in the same industry, he’s 75-years-old and he still has trucks
and gives us a bit of a hand as well.”
Artistic licence
The 2010 Kenworth T658 you see here is a 140-tonne rated
truck, which did its service not too far from its new home
with the O’Briens in Normanton but previously sported
the white and green livery of Curley Cattle Transport in
Cloncurry, Queensland, a colour combo that Brenda wasn’t a
fan of.
“Our son-in-law actually found the truck for sale at Heavy
Haulage Australia for us,” Brenda says.
“Curleys are from up in our area so I guess a lot of people
know they have really good spec trucks and that sort of
thing so we knew it’d be a good truck to start with.”
Jon’s responsibility was to spruce the T658 and put his
stamp on it, and that meant a full colour change, stripes and
of course a name for the truck.
“Brenda wasn’t impressed with the Curley colours and she
has a LandCruiser ute in Toyota’s ‘Merlot Red’ so I sent her a
picture of a Renkie’s T909 I did in a similar colour and she
loved it,” Jon says.
“I told Brenda that I wanted some artistic licence with the
truck, with colour of the stripes etc. The Curley stripes are
a cool design so we kept the stripes but just changed the
colour of them and added some other touches.”
It’s usually about this time in any artistic endeavour where
‘creative differences’ start to emerge and the build of ‘Beer
Money’ was no different.
“He called me and said he had a peachy colour for the
32 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

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“The whole town is talking about it and we are just 100 per
cent happy with how it turned out.”
pinstripes on the truck and I nearly hit the roof,”
Brenda says.
“I wondered how the hell that would look with the Merlot
Red and the rest of it, but it came out really well.”
Country influence
One thing they did agree on was that the truck needed a
name, but coming up with a suitable handle was left to
Brenda and John. John O’Brien is a big fan of country singer
Kip Moore so with his favourite song being ‘Beer Money’ the
choice was easy.
Getting ‘Beer Money’ from Brisbane to Normanton was a
challenge also but luckily Jon was able to accommodate the
O’Briens in this also.
“Brenda was a bit nervous to come down to Brisbane to
pick it up and she’s been an awesome client and allowed
us to do this truck the way we wanted so I try and go that
extra mile and help people out. So we took this truck up to
Townsville and met her and the rest of her family there,”
Jon says.
“My partner, John, and I are as happy as anything with
it. I mean Jon Kelly hooked up all the hydraulics and also
delivered it up to Townsville which was a big thing for us,”
Brenda says.
“My John drove it back from Townsville, and he’s been
operating graders for over 30 years so the truck is a new
thing for him, but I don’t know if he’ll get to drive it
too much because we work for local council and they’re
wanting him to do what he does best and get back on a
grader.”
The truck has caused a stir in its new home of
Normanton, with the whole town following the build of
‘Beer Money’ and just as eager as the O’Briens to see the
truck in the metal.
“The whole town is talking about it and we are just 100
per cent happy with how it turned out. Jon Kelly kept
saying he wouldn’t let us down and that he’d deliver us
a really good truck and he delivered on that promise,”
Brenda says.
“We just want Jon Kelly to come up to the outback as
the whole town has Jon Kelly stories and most of them
probably have never met him before.”
Second chances to ride again are rare in this world, so to
see this ex-Curley’s T658 get its mojo back and traverse its
old stomping ground in a flash new suit is a pretty good
deal for a little beer money, something we’re sure Jon Kelly,
and Brenda and John O’Brien will agree with too.
Top: They don’t come any tougher-looking than the Kenworth T658
Above left: US country music star Kip Moore, whose 2021 hit song ‘Beer
Money’ was the inspiration for the naming of the O’Brien’s Kenworth.
Photo by Wild One Publicity
34 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

The legal view Sarah Marinovic
Opportunity to educate
If a driver has made a minor, honest error, why
doesn’t discretion come into play?
RECENTLY I’VE COME across a
new example of over-the-top
enforcement of work diary laws.
This time, it’s about pulling out the
wrong duplicate pages.
As we all know, the Heavy Vehicle
National Law has detailed rules
about how to fill in the diary and what to
do with the pages once they’re filled in.
Part of those rules require drivers to pull
out and give their duplicate pages to their
record keeper.
But did you know you could be taken
to court and fined up to $11,390 if you
accidentally pull out the wrong pages? And
that’s for each page! I certainly didn’t until I
met several drivers in that exact position and
I must say they were equally surprised.
There were a couple of different mistakes
these drivers made. One mistakenly pulled
out both the yellow and pink duplicate pages,
and then dutifully filed them with their other
records, ready to produce to the authorities if
required. Another mistakenly pulled out the
pink copy instead of the yellow.
Most importantly, though, these mistakes
didn’t impede the proper investigation or
enforcement activities of the transport
inspectors in any way. The work diaries were
still produced with the white pages dutifully
filled out, and all the duplicates were
available on request. All of the information
the authorities needed to check whether the
drivers had complied with their work and
rest hours was available to them.
HONEST MISTAKES
It’s situations like these that leave me
wondering why they couldn’t have been
dealt with as an opportunity to educate. A
SARAH MARINOVIC is a
principal solicitor at Ainsley
Law – a firm dedicated to
traffic and heavy vehicle
law. She has focused on this
expertise for over a decade,
having started her career
prosecuting for the RMS, and
then using that experience
as a defence lawyer helping
professional drivers and
truck owners. For more
information email Sarah at
sarah@ainsleylaw.com.au or
phone 0416 224 601
conversation with the driver to explain
where they had gone wrong would have
done the job. Instead, valuable public
resources are spent pursuing these cases
through court.
In the end common sense often prevails
once these get to court. The ones I’ve
worked on have resulted in the Magistrate
recognising that it’s an honest mistake
and agreeing to waive the fine. But by that
time the driver has been put to the effort
and expense of attending court to plead
their case.
I want to be clear that I fully support the
sensible enforcement of the heavy vehicle
and road transport laws. Making sure
people are doing the right thing keeps all
of us safe on the road. But at the same time,
a bit of discretion in cases like these goes a
long way.
Finally, in the hope of helping others
avoid the same trap, it’s useful to reiterate
the following instructions at the front of
the work diary:
1. You must give the yellow copy to your
record keeper within 21 days of the date
recorded on it
2. You should keep the pink copy in the
work diary unless:
a. An authorised officer copies or seized it
b. You have worked for two separate
employers on that day in which case you
should give the pink duplicate to the
second employer.
3. Keep the white pages in the work diary
and carry it with you for 28 days after the
date recorded on it.
If you’re ever in doubt feel welcome to
give us a call. We’re happy to chat.
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MAY 2021 35

driver profile
LOOKING BACK
AT RAZORBACK
Barry ‘Sleepy’ Grimson has enjoyed a fulfilling life in road transport,
commencing with tending horses to participating in the Razorback
blockade and currently behind the wheel of a Kenworth Legend
900. Warren Caves catches up with the evergreen truck driver in
Shellharbour, NSW
ASHORT HOUR-AND-A-HALF drive south
of Sydney leads me to the quiet coastal
hamlet of Shellharbour. My navigator
announces, in her digitally sterile voice:
“You have reached your destination.”
I had travelled here to interview Barry
Grimson, although to most, he is more
commonly known as ‘Sleepy’, a nickname
given to him by his father.
If any additional confirmation was needed that
I was at the correct address, I need look no further
than the side fence adorned with the signage,
‘Razorback Range’ and ‘Truck Rest Area’. Yep, this
is the place.
I am warmly greeted by an overall-wearing greyhaired
gentleman who is in mid-conversation with
a neighbour out for his morning walk.
I first met Sleepy in 2016, at the BP Marulan
truck stop, in strikingly similar attire. Overalls are
seemingly the trademark garment of choice for
Sleepy, with the only variation being the colour.
According to Sleepy, the overalls came to be after
he completed a dangerous goods training course
some time ago, during which the trainer explained
that when transporting dangerous goods, drivers
should be dressed appropriately at all times to
attend to any spills or leaks should they occur.
Prior to this, Sleepy says he dressed
predominantly in shorts and thongs and reasoned
these did not suitably comply and, let’s face it,
running from a chemical spill in your ‘jandals’
would be no easy task. Subsequently the trademark
overalls were implemented and have stuck ever
since.
After chatting for a bit I get the impression that
Sleepy was perhaps a bit of a larrikin in his day
and has quite a few stories of the good old days
of trucking that might not necessarily be seen as
responsible to print. He’s a truck driver through
and through.
If there was any doubt that Sleepy was not a
dedicated truck driver of high standing, the fact
that his wife Leslie delivered a cuppa to him
during our interview in a Highway 31 travel mug
drove it home.
36 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

Four-legged horse power
Sleepy, a post-war baby, was born into a transport family in
1945. His grandfathers – and later his father – were originally
involved in horse drawn freight cartage, with one of his
grandfathers, Alex Grimson, having a team of 100 horses.
Alex would cart building materials south from Sydney to
somewhere along the track, meet up with other carriers
carting wool and transfer loads for the return journey (who
said changeovers were a recent tactic?).
Similarly, Sleepy’s other grandfather carted wood for
charcoal among other things. Interestingly, according to
Sleepy, both his grandfathers vehemently opposed this
new-found mechanised transport system (trucks) that was
evolving, citing that it would never last. In defiance, Sleepy
says that neither of them ever got a licence to operate trucks
when they did eventually prove as reliable as a horse.
Sleepy’s father fell into the transport business after
spending his formative years tending the horse teams.
He originally carted timber with trucks to Melbourne for
Slazengers, before returning with cement. This proved a
handy additional income to the family sawmill and hardware
business operating from Liverpool. For a time, timber was
also carted from the Blue Mountains west of Sydney across the
Burragorang Valley.
As a result of hanging around yards and sheds with his dad,
uncles and other drivers, Sleepy would sit around listening to
stories from the road and fell in love with the romance and
adventure. These stories entranced him to a point where his
destiny had been set.
“I was washing trucks from about the age of six or seven, I
wanted to do what these guys had done,” Sleepy recalls.
“At the age of 18 I got a truck licence and started driving
for my dad and uncles, firstly in a Ford F600 truck. When I
started driving, I was mixing with a lot of blokes looking
for that adventure of truck driving; blokes who enjoyed
what they did.”
Sleepy admits to in the early days having a lot of jobs: “It was
quite unbelievable; I had heaps of different jobs working for
Noel Peterson and Tony Napoli among others. I didn’t really
settle down until my 40s,” he laughs.
Sleepy spent many years “working on the coal” as it was
known, carting coal from the Burragorang Valley to the
Glenlee Washery and down to the coast for export. The black
gold had been carted out of the valley for decades but had
begun a slow demise with the flooding of the Burragorang
Valley in 1960 by the construction of Warragamba Dam to
quench the thirst of a burgeoning Sydney population.
Valley Coal was, at the time, serviced by 200 subbies and 200
company trucks operated by Foxies (S&M Fox) and Clintons,
before being bought out by Cluthers.
“The road down into Burragorang Valley was that narrow,
that on the descent from Nattai westbound we would have to
pick our spots to pull up if another loaded truck was coming
the other way, then drive onto the wrong side of the road as
“I was
mixing
with a lot
of blokes
looking
for that
adventure
of truck
driving.”
Below: Trucks converge
on Razorback for the 40th
anniversary of the blockade
ownerdriver.com.au
MAY 2021 37

to not put the loaded truck too close to the road
edge, which was at risk of dropping away under the
weight,” he explains.
“Work was tough at times and if a coal truck
broke down, we would shovel the 20-ton load from
one truck to another.”
In contrast to today’s health and safety
regulations, working on the coal could be a
hazardous vocation.
“If they ran out of coal at ‘the pit’ we would
sometimes jump into the hopper and shovel out
the remaining coal in order to make up a load,
all the while keeping a keen ear on the conveyor
belt above, [which kept running] listening for the
first of the next lot of coal coming down before
scrambling swiftly out of the way when it did.”
Blockade prelude
It was during his time working on the coal that
Sleepy gained experience in workplace industrial
relations. “It was a unionised show and I became
the delegate. That time as delegate for the coal
drivers gave me the realisation that we should all
get fair reward for what we did. The company paid
the contractors well so that they could pay the
drivers the award wage.
“While most of the contractors were good blokes,
they did at times need reminding of what they
were expected to pay the drivers.”
According to Sleepy, his dad was also known to
challenge governing bodies on industry issues,
being very vocal about having the Hume Highway
upgraded at the infamous Tarcutta bog and other
locations dating back to the early ’50s. Fighting
for the transport industry it would seem for the
Grimsons was somewhat genetic.
Around 1970 to ’72 saw Sleepy leave the coal
game for different pursuits, including freezer van
work for McGlashans of Mildura and many years
working for Jimmy Bond on interstate. Eventually
buying his own truck, an LNT Ford Louisville with
a Cummins 903 under the bonnet. The year was
now 1974.
Sleepy has many humorous tales of life on the
road, such as tying his boot to the throttle pedal
of an International ACCO he was driving because
he had broken the return spring. This was the only
way he could back off when needed.
All was going well until he was pulled up
for a logbook check by the police at Kankool
(Murrurundi, NSW), who asked him to get out of the
cab. Sleepy replied: “I can’t, the boss ties me in here,”
promptly opening the door to show the officer the
shackles binding him to the trucks throttle pedal.
Fortunately, the officer saw the funny side of the
situation and Sleepy was sent on his way.
At the end of a particularly long week, Sleepy
found himself northbound out of Picton in his
Louisville for the final couple of hours before
knocking off. With the big 903 sporting Lukey
mufflers pulling up the hill and around the bend,
the accompanying roar from the pipes scattered
a bunch of cockatoos from their restful perches
in the roadside trees. The screeching and frantic
departure of the feathered flock brought bouts of
laughter to Sleepy. The distraction was just what
was needed to finish the run with his ‘bird-scarer’
engine living up to its name.
Sleepy had been operating his own truck for a
few years but there was discontent simmering
in the industry. Road taxes and what many saw
as unfair competition from the rail transport
sector (backed by the government of the day) were
causing unrest. Tensions had been rising from the
early ’70s with many letters and correspondence
from concerned operators falling on deaf ears.
Without getting too political here and
writing a complete history of the Razorback
38 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

“When we got there we were taken
by cab to a motel.”
Top: The Ted Stevens memorial
parking bay at Razorback
Left: Sleepy taking a break at
Marulan in 2016 with Unanderra
Tanker Hire’s Kenworth T909
Below: A big line-up of trucks for
Razorback’s40th anniversary
blockade, I will paraphrase somewhat for this story.
According to Sleepy, the catalyst for the eventual blockade
was the road tax, which was supposed to go into road
and infrastructure funding, but was actually going into
general revenue, leaving the roads in a less than satisfactory
condition. Road transport was booming in direct competition
with the rail network which the government was heavily
invested in.
Some of the larger road transport players were also shifting
road freight onto the rails, which left those exclusively in the
road transport sector feeling as though they were subsidising
rail transport via the road tax.
Many impromptu meetings and rallies were held in the
years preceding the eventual blockade, with supporters
concerns largely being ignored. In 1972, a group of 30 to
40 protestors blocked Macquarie Street in Sydney to draw
attention to their plight. As Sleepy recalls, this rally turned
into a wild brawl. The subsequent blocking of the union
building in Sussex Street by a half dozen or so like-minded
protestors is where Sleepy first met Ted ‘Greendog’ Stevens,
lauded as one of the main instigators of the eventual
blockade.
A general meeting of the Long-Distance Road Transport
Association at Liverpool RSL was where the blockade idea
was first discussed. Those in control of the meeting were
imploring attendees to write to their local members to
highlight their plight, but the letter writing had done nothing
to address the situation and it seemed radical action was the
only way forward.
Eventually a meeting was arranged to take place at
Liverpool Speedway. According to Sleepy, 500 or more people
turned up to that and another subsequent meeting at that
same location, with pressure being placed upon the union
for support. Under the prevailing Labor government, union
backing was not forthcoming, leaving those in the industry to
face the battle on their own.
Finally a decision was made to start a blockade. The top
of Razorback Range on the Old Hume Highway just south of
Sydney was deemed a suitable location.
“We went to the top of the hill to block the road, only to
be greeted by a copper,” Sleepy recalls. “He asked if we were
planning to block the road and if we were would we hurry up
as his shift was about to end. Someone had obviously let the
cat out of the bag.”
Sleepy says that he and the other blockade organisers
expected that their trucks would simply be bulldozed
off the road, but even in the face of that realisation, the
determination to secure better working conditions was strong
enough to prevail.
In the end, the union and TNT broke the blockade with a
ownerdriver.com.au
MAY 2021 39

“As I get
older the
job has
become
easier.”
Top: Sleepy’s current steed – a
Kenworth Legend 900
Above: Barry ‘Sleepy’ Grimson
shares tales with old mates at
the Razorback blockade’s 40th
anniversary
heavy police escort, but the point had already been made.
The eventual outcome was the abolition of the muchmaligned
road tax, weight limits were raised from 36- to
39-tonnes and a moratorium on the repossession of trucks
was introduced. A big win for the little guy!
The rest is already well documented by those who have
researched the event more than I, but you get the idea.
Hello Comet
After the blockade, Sleepy sold his truck and went back to
working for Jimmy Bond before settling into a role with Comet
for 10 years.
“Working for Comet was a fantastic job. We were paid one
hour’s pay for every 57km we drove. We would leave Sydney
for Melbourne and when we got there we were taken by cab
to a motel. After our rest, we would get a phone call one and
a half hours before our truck was ready to go back to Sydney.
This would give us enough time to freshen up and have dinner
before we were again picked up by a cab to go back to the
depot and head north again. The same was done for Brisbane
runs.”
These days, as he has done for the past 16 years, Sleepy
can be found at the wheel of a Kenworth Legend 900,
owned by south coast-based company Unanderra Tanker
Hire (UTH). UTH services the eastern seaboard of Australia,
transporting bulk chemicals and liquid waste.
“UTH are a great company to work for. I started out with
UTH driving a little Volvo before moving into a larger 600hp
[447kW] Volvo, then later a Caterpillar-powered Kenworth SAR
became available.”
Around the time of his 70th birthday, Sleepy was driving to
his home after work when he spotted a lot of fancy lights in
his driveway. Upon moving closer he identified the sparkling
white T909 parked in his driveway was signed up with UTH
branding.
“The boss Jerrimiah [JJ] had surprised me with the allocation
of the new Kenworth [tanker] as a birthday present,” Sleepy
says. “My wife had known all along, but didn’t let on.”
Similarly, as a 75th birthday present, Sleepy was handed the
keys to a new Kenworth 900 Legend.
I asked Sleepy if he was planning to still be driving long
enough to get an 80th birthday truck? He replied: “As I get
older the job has become easier.
“With the compliance and regulation we adhere to it’s a lot
easier than years ago. If I had to work like I did in the ’70 I
wouldn’t be able to carry on, but these days all you have to do
is be safe, cart the freight and get fair reward for what you do.”
Sleepy still holds a B-double licence and dangerous goods
accreditation, and shows no signs of slowing down after
nearly 60 years and millions of kilometres on the road.
Maybe JJ should start looking for a new truck and 80
candles?
40 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

NatRoad Warren Clark
Price hike inaccuracies
Despite government thinking, increasing fuel prices
does not equal increased industry revenue
tolling, unacceptable landside port charges
and stamp duty on the purchase of newer
vehicles.
Stamp duty is a financial disincentive
to buy newer, safer vehicles and it adds a
further three per cent to already increasing
costs of new trucks.
NatRoad continues to lobby governments
at all levels to address these concerns. If
you would like to add your voice to this
continuing effort to keep charges and
costs in-check, contact the NatRoad team
on 1800 272 144 to let them know your
experience with contract price negotiations.
If you need any professional advice on
contract management NatRoad’s experts are
able to assist and advise you throughout the
contract process.
THE GOVERNMENT recently
announced a 2.5 per cent increase
in heavy vehicle registration and
road use charges from July 1, 2021.
The state governments wanted to
increase these charges by over 10
per cent, but the federal government
has agreed to a 2.5 per cent increase only; the
first increase in two years. The National Road
Transport Association (NatRoad) has fought
to keep this increase as low as possible.
It seems that many in the state
governments believe that an increase
in operating costs can automatically be
passed on to the customers of road freight
companies. But the reality is different:
very few operators have that kind of
bargaining power.
The Heavy Vehicle Charges Consultation
Report (Consultation Report) was released by
the National Transport Commission (NTC)
in January this year, where road freight
industry stakeholders, such as owneroperators,
were asked for their views on the
proposed increases in registration costs and
the road user charge. One of the questions
asked was whether those increases could be
passed on to their customers.
NatRoad made a submission explaining
that any changes to price are often regulated
in one-sided contracts that are prepared by
the customer. Customers wield significant
buying power and almost always have a
standard form contract that they require
transport operators to adhere to if they
want the work.
NatRoad’s submission demonstrated
that that the view owner-operators can
pass on most cost increases is deeply
flawed. For example, the experience of
NatRoad members is that increased fuel
charges actually lower profit margins, a
matter evidenced in the recent COVID-19
induced recession.
In fact, many of the customer contracts
we examine show that with ongoing, longerterm
contracts, the customer builds in a
decline in prices for the transport operator
under an assumed productivity increase in
the range of 5 per cent per annum. These
contracts are often presented on a “take it
or leave it” basis and it is for that reason
that urgent reform of the unfair contract
law is high on NatRoad’s policy agenda.
Quite simply, these contracts drive down
operator profits.
FINANCIAL DISINCENTIVE
NatRoad has previously argued the need
to consider a range of other charges that
apply to the heavy vehicle sector when
assessing increases in government charges.
That discussion has focused on increased
costs of doing business through mandatory
WARREN CLARK, NatRoad’s chief
executive officer, has more than
20 years’ experience leading and
developing business for emerging
companies. Warren has held
the position of CEO at various
companies and is a certified
chartered accountant.
“Urgent
reform of
the unfair
contract
law is
high on
NatRoad’s
policy
agenda.”
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MAY 2021 41

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42 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

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truck of the month
The immaculate
restoration of
this 1982 White
Road Boss may
have been driven
by sentimental
attachment,
but it’s still out
on the Mackay
roads, five to
THE BOSS’S
six days a week,
earning its keep
in style. Warren
Aitken writes
44 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

RESURRECTION
ownerdriver.com.au
MAY 2021 45

The motivation behind a good restoration is
often traced back to sentimental attachment.
Resurrecting a piece of personal history. Creating
a showpiece truck that will honour the hard
work of years gone by. The opportunity to own
an influential slice of mechanical history. Or
something moving and inspirational.
Every now and then though, you get a restoration
project that serves two purposes. In the case of
WMT’s impressive White Road Boss, It may be a testament
to the past, being that it’s one of the company’s founding
vehicles and rebuilding one is a great way to honour the
company’s history. But the other purpose of this rebuild
is simply to make money. This amazing tribute to the
company’s origins is still hooking up to trailers and
putting money in the bank for the family-owned company
in far north Queensland.
“Mechanically-speaking, the
Cummins N14 was still very sound.”
WMT, or Wayne Martin Transport, has been part of the
Mackay transport landscape for nearly 40 years. Wayne
Martin started the company back in 1980 with a couple of
strong Aussie icons: the first truck being a 1978 White Road
Commander followed closely by a White Road Boss.
Those two original trucks helped launch the success of
WMT, carting anything and everything around Queensland.
Its early success was built on the back of relationships with
local companies. These relationships saw WMT carting
everything from containers to tallow, general freight to
sugar cane and its by-products.
As the company heads into its fourth decade servicing the
Mackay area, it is still going strong, predominantly carting
general freight but also still doing a lot of local work with
all manner of sugar cane by-products – the major industry
around Mackay. The fleet has consequently expanded past
the original two White trucks to a fleet of 36, though now
the fleet is dominated by Kenworths, with a sprinkling of
Western Stars.
The interesting thing about the Stars in the WMT colours
is that there are very few new models in the stunning
green livery. Most of the sparkling Stars are rebuilds and
restoration projects, just like the Road Boss. All those resto
projects are in-house jobs as well, with the mechanical side
done by the company’s workshop. The paint and panel work
is also done in-house, overseen by Wayne’s son Josh. He’s
the man I sat down with to learn a little more about WMT’s
stunning Road Boss.
What I learnt is Wayne loved his old Road Boss; it worked
tirelessly for him and the company for many years. As did
the Road Commander. While Wayne has held onto the Road
Commander (I’m hoping Josh will have this in his panel
shop for a resto soon), he chose to sell the Road Boss to one of
his drivers who was moving back down south and was keen
to buy it for his farm truck.
Top: The old neglected White Road Boss was sitting in a paddock in a neglected
state when Wayne and Josh Martin found it
Above left: Once the truck was stripped down the extent of the ‘couple of rust
holes’ became more obvious
Left: The Martins ended up almost completely replacing the entire roof as well
as a fair bit of the rotted-out fibreglass bonnet
46 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

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“The boys blew holes straight
through the floor and the roof.”
Neglected state
Skip forward a couple of decades. Wayne is still driving,
as it’s in his blood, but now three of his four sons have
returned to the company after mastering their trades.
Darryl and Travis returned as diesel fitters and Josh as a
spray painter. For the record, the fourth son Timmy became
a butcher and keeps the company’s fridge vans stocked.
Not to mention, I’m sure, the family’s freezers full. So the
mechanics went to work in the workshop and Josh set about
building the paint and panel side of the company – his
main job being maintenance and touch-ups on the everexpanding
fleet.
I also learnt from Josh that his father Wayne is a fan of
old-school trucks. He built WMT in an era where roadside
repairs and in-house modifications required thinking
outside the box rather than plugging into a computer. So he
was more than happy to stack his fleet with trucks he knew
how to maintain and knew he could rely on.
The purchase of an old 1982 White Road Boss, 30-plus
years after it had first turned a wheel, wasn’t just because
of his love for reliable, fixable rigs. There was a touch of
emotion as well. It was a truck he loved and a proven beast
of a working truck. His original White was not an option,
though it would have been a good one to buy back. Wayne
Top: The end result – a 40-year-old
truck that looks brand new
Above left: The White Road Boss
starting to look like its old self
Below: Wayne wanted to run the
lines that ran on his original
Road Boss
did know of another one in the area. It’s a truck he knew
well as the owner was a friend and had done more than his
fair share of work alongside WMT through the years.
Sadly, when Wayne went looking for the old White it was
in a rather neglected state, hiding in a paddock under a
tarp. Wayne informed Josh when he told him he wanted it
resurrected that it was “not too bad, a couple of rust holes
here and there”. Josh’s summation was more like “pretty
rooted”.
Mechanically speaking, the Cummins N14 was still very
sound. The WMT boys knew the truck’s history, having
replaced the gearbox and a few other issues over the
previous years. Getting the engine back up to scratch was
the least of the problems. Technically, the truck was a day
cab, though at some stage in its life a WMT Western Star
sleeper had been mounted onto it. When it was fitted they
didn’t bother integrating the bunk, leaving external access
50 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

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“Getting someone who knows how to change a spider these
days is harder than overtaking a grey nomad on a Sunday.”
Above: Not a show truck, the ’82 White
Road Boss is out and about on the
Mackay still earning its keep
Below: Wayne Martin started the
company back in 1980 with a couple of
strong Aussie icons, the first of which
was a 1978 White Road Commander
to the sleeper only, which meant it was a fairly easy job
for Josh and the team to remove without any scars.
That was the easy part. Once Josh and his panel beater
Billy Cross got the truck stripped down the extent of the
‘couple of rust holes’ became more obvious. In fact, the
boys blew holes straight through the floor and the roof.
There were a lot of structural problems as well, not just
superficial rust. It didn’t dissuade Billy the panel beater
maestro though.
“He’s an old woman when it comes to doing it right,”
Josh admiringly admits.
They ended up almost completely replacing the entire
roof as well as a fair bit of the rotted-out fibreglass
bonnet. A true testament to the quality of work is when
the windscreen gets refitted, and in the case of the Road
Boss the screen slotted straight – perfectly. Three months
of hard work paid off.
Company heritage
Once Billy had worked his magic, the truck was rolled into
Josh’s spray booth and the next stage began. The current
company colours were always going to be the call as it was
to be a working restoration, but Wayne wanted to run the
lines that ran on his original Road Boss. Two weeks in the
spray booth, getting multiple coats of colour followed by
multiple clear coats, and the Road Boss was done.
The next man to add his touch was the talented Tony Grey
from Revival Pinstriping & Signs in Airlie Beach. He came
down and spent a couple of days putting his skills to work
with the old-school lines and stripes.
It was decided to leave it on 10 studs rather than go
back to spider rims. I’m guessing, aside from the look, the
decision might have been swayed by the fact the truck
would be working and getting someone who knows how to
change a spider these days is harder than overtaking a grey
nomad on a Sunday. Bill and Josh spent hours bringing life
back to the original bullbar and the truck’s original tanks.
The end result of nearly 300 hours of blood, sweat and
cursing is a 40-year-old truck that looks brand new. It
would be the perfect sort of restoration to set wrapped
up in private shed and venture out for all the local truck
shows. But not the WMT Road Boss. Yes, it’s a reflection of
the company’s heritage, a damn fine looking one at that.
It is, however, an indication of what made the company
so successful, and what continues to keep the company
going. With a ‘never say die’ attitude, the 1982 White Road
Boss is still out on the Mackay roads, five to six days a week,
earning money with style and class.
So enjoy the path this truck has taken and keep an eye
out up North Queensland way because this beast will be
making many more miles yet.
52 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

WILKIE’S WATCH Ken Wilkie
Singled out … again
Bureaucrats appear to suffer from brain fog when it
comes to persecuting the road transport industry
IT LOOKS LIKE more shiny bums are
trying to justify their existence. Don’t
ever consider that I discount the
importance of truckies being sufficiently
competent to deliver our essential service
in a safe manner.
Apparently folks from the National
Road Safety Strategy are calling on
governments to put regulatory pressure
on industry operators to purchase latest
model gear so that all the latest whizz-bang
technology is available to improve our safe
operation. I consider this to be persecution of
truck drivers and persecution of the industry.
How many more half-baked ideas do
we have to suffer, such as spray suppression
and the likes? Again, this industry was
forced by ignorant fools to spend heaps
of brass on a wish. If all road surfaces
were covered by low spray asphalt, all
vehicles would produce less road fog.
If one has been driving the Pacific Highway
in recent times, they would be well aware of
the fog created by heavy volumes of traffic
on wet concrete. It’s not just B-doubles
that create road spray. To give credit to
industry associations, none have been too
keen on the suggestion. However, none
have suggested that every driver and a good
many pedestrians would benefit from driver
training in secondary schools.
KEN WILKIE has been an
owner-driver since 1974, after
first getting behind the wheel
at 11. He’s on his eighth truck,
and is a long-time Owner//
Driver contributor. He covers
Rockhampton to Adelaide
and any point in between.
His current ambition is to
see the world, and to see
more respect for the nation’s
truckies. Contact Ken at
ken@rwstransport.com.au
“This nation spends heaps
more on teaching sport than
it does on saving lives.”
I’ve said it before: this nation spends heaps
more on teaching sport than it does on saving
lives via driver training.
GOOD SERVOS SCARCE
On the subject of enhancing road safety
via providing more rest areas: I’ve heard
that numerous service stations that used to
provide good driver rest points, relaxation
areas, food and parking have closed. Since
all governments have gotten into throwing
money around like confetti, why not subsidise
fuel companies to provide an essential service
for an essential industry? Knowing how greedy
most fuel companies are, I’m sure they would
not knock back such an offer. I’d reckon they’d
add it to their community service portfolio.
The farcical road train break up/hook up
point at Gatton? Extend the limit a little
further to Hatton Vale, for instance, so that
single truck operators could utilise the extra
service stations then available and not be
burdened by the restrictive time allowed at
the current toiletless facility.
Another case of industry persecution! A
light vehicle driver moved in front of a fuel
tanker, which then overturned in an effort to
avoid the light vehicle. The light vehicle driver
received a $550-odd fine. Sure, there were
demerit points, but in a sense, demerit points
are similar to being on bail. Behave yourself
and they are no impost. Compare that with
almost $700 for four clerical errors over the
space of many months.
My required reading for the month: Enemy
Coast Ahead by Guy Gibson, VC DSO DFC. If we
ever need reminding that we have been lucky
not to have been born in that era, this read
should do it. Gibson did not survive the war.
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MAY 2021 53

Reconnect
19 - 21 August 2021
Gold Coast - QLD

NatRoad 2021
National Conference
Amazing Gold Coast Location
Stay at the InterContinental Resort Sanctuary Cove,
located close to three championship golf courses,
theme parks, a world-class marina and much more.
Great Speaker Line-Up
Hear from experts and leaders in the road frieght
industry, laugh along with our guest entertainment,
and have your say as well at NatRoad Parliament.
Networking & Social Events
Kicking off with welcome drinks on the Thursday night
and finishing with the Gala Dinner & Awards evening
there will be plenty of networking opportunities.
WWW.NATROAD.COM.AU
CALL US TO REGISTER - 1800 272 144
88391-CS-340

Your Say
Letters to the Editor need to be typed or clearly handwritten and be no more than
500 words. Letters should include name, title (e.g. owner-driver, manager) and city for
publication, unless otherwise requested. Letters may be edited for clarity or space.
Please be concise, so we can offer more people an opportunity to express themselves.
SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
Greg.Bush@aremedia.com.au or fax: 07 3101 6619 Level 5, 451 St Pauls Terrace, Fortitude Valley, Qld 4006
We prefer letters by e-mail, but handwritten letters will be accorded the same opportunity to be published.
Remembering a giant among
truck drivers
We would like to pay tribute to
our great mate Stephen ‘Tiny’
Monkhouse, one of the great
characters of the highway, who
passed away suddenly on April 4
following a short illness, aged 70.
It was only a few months ago that
Owner//Driver profiled Tiny, a giant
among truck drivers in more ways
than one.
Since then Tiny virtually went
straight from doing Sydney-
Melbourne five nights a week to
hospital. He never got to enjoy the
retirement racing his cars that we
had been encouraging him to have
for a long time.
His health had been very ordinary
for years, but he was extremely
tough both physically and mentally,
and he loved life on the road – the
camaraderie with all the mates he
had out there; the loyalty to the
same company he had worked for
in various forms for more than two
decades (Bunkers, Silk then Redstar);
and the job itself, which he made
seem easy.
We had the privilege of working
with Tiny together for Bunkers since
2013, when we were all carrying TNT
out of Sydney together.
Since then we talked with Tiny
most nights, and we had the honour
of being number one and two on his
nightly call list. We had dinner and
breakfast with him a couple of times
a week too.
Tiny was the life of the lunchroom
in the Melbourne depot of Bunkers/
Silk/Redstar. He made everyone
feel at home, whether they had
been with the company for years or
whether they were a nervous casual
on their first day. He loved talking
and engaging with people.
It didn’t matter who you were, Tiny
treated everyone the same, whether
they were drivers, mechanics, office
staff, managers or owners. He had
the rare ability to get on just as well
with the managers as his fellow
workers.
They loved him too at his regular
30-minute logbook break spot, the
Caltex at Tarcutta, where he was part
of the furniture.
Tiny loved a laugh but was straight
to the point when he had to be too.
He was the complete professional
who did everything properly and
expected the same of others.
He would help and advise anybody,
and did so on countless occasions.
His brilliant technical knowledge
(he was a mechanic by trade) and
ability to improvise, got many
Vale Stephen ‘Tiny’ Monkhouse.
Photo by Warren Caves
people – including us – out of
many sticky situations out on the
road, with brakes, axles, busted
fifth wheels, etc.
Tiny was a truck whisperer. He
would hear different noises in
trucks and tell the mechanics
what was wrong, and he was
usually right.
Sometimes his technical
knowledge was too much – you’d
need to do a TAFE course for 20
years to understand some of the
stuff about racing cars that he
talked about.
We had so many laughs and great
times with Tiny and we will never
forget our friendship. He’ll live on
in our passenger seats forever.
Our sympathy goes out to Tiny’s
beloved family – his wife Irene,
daughter Alison, son Nathan, and
grandkids Amber and Adrian.
Rest in peace old mate.
Craig Barsley and Scott Peden,
former Redstar drivers
Alarm for aged heavy vehicle
owners
What part of ‘La La land’ do
Austroads inhabit? I read with
disgust the proposal to increase the
registration of older heavy trucks
as a means of getting them off the
road and improving the age of the
Australian truck fleet. Do you have
any idea what flow-on effect this
will have on the Australia-wide
community, as well as putting many
small business people like myself
out of business?
You just haven’t thought it
through. It all sounds lovely up
there in the fluffy clouds away
from reality.
There seems to be total
unawareness among your well-paid
minions who so easily survived the
extreme measures mandated to
“protect” the population. There are
hundreds of thousands of genuine
hard working people in all areas
of society trying to hang on and
keep their businesses going – don’t
mention those who have already
been bankrupted.
Among those who kept us
functioning as a nation, look at
the truck drivers who have kept
people fed by delivering the goods
needed, or people who may only
use their trucks for comparatively
brief periods. Consider the families
and businesses that rely on these
trucks in so many ways who will
go to the wall if the “studies” are
implemented. The list is endless.
Come down from your well-paid
ivory towers and think about what is
happening in Australia as a priority.
We ourselves have not asked for
any subsidies, loans or government
assistance such as JobKeeper during
this crisis. My remaining cash
reserves have gone to develop my
small business and endeavour to
keep it going in these very trying
times.
56 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

We were hit by drought and poor
harvests. Now the rains hopefully
will give us the first decent season
for four years but we still have a
long way to go. It will take some
time and hard work before we can
make up the losses to get ahead.
Note that it will be some years, not
an instant fix.
If you want to improve the age
of the trucking fleet, I suggest
you disband your noxious study
groups and use the monies saved
to buy us all the vehicles you seem
to think we need. I hope your
proposals end up where they belong
– in the WPB.
Private enterprise and minimal
government involvement is what
will help us recover, not punitive
taxing measures, restricting
road access, etc., to satisfy egos
(not forgetting appeasing those
really important international
government think tanks) all the
while filling depleted government
coffers.
Apparently the rank depths
of government feel all private
enterprises are rich and can afford
any dictatorial measures dreamed
up in committees and research
groups. I really don’t care and I
am certain everyone else feels
the same that: “Across the world,
governments have taken action to
reduce the impacts of aged trucks
in their jurisdictions.” This is now;
this is Australia 2021 with so many
livelihoods destroyed and people
ruined. Reality and recovery after
COVID-19 means private enterprise
must be allowed to get back on its
feet, but not by kicking it into a
deep abyss.
Our enterprises must be allowed to
flourish. Hard work and endeavour
creates real wealth and growth,
which amazingly produces the taxes
to pay the wages of government
people, not these endless costly
studies.
To quote from your web page on
the subject: “Our study presents
examples of actions that could
directly influence the aged truck
fleet. These can be broadly classified
into four types of action: road access
restrictions, financial penalties,
financial incentives, and retrofit/
repower programs.”
What a lot of hogwash. Nothing
about encouraging private
enterprises, and the “financial
incentives” and “retrofit/repower
programs” (whatever that means
in committee speak) will come at a
cost. We all comprehend the threats
of “road access restrictions” and
“financial penalties”.
Private enterprise will in time
recover, update and improve (we may
even be able to afford a new truck),
but not at the point of a gun.
Julie Tadman
Wamuran, 4512
INSURANCE
PROTECTING
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AUSTRALIA WIDE
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Anywhere in Australia
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Simon Leckie on 0417 761 835
simon@leckieinsurance.com.au
Corporate Authorised Representative Number 001257072 of Insurance Aid General Brokers Partnership Pty Ltd. AFS Licence Number 239049
ownerdriver.com.au
MAY 2021 57

oversize loads
THERE ARE A couple of really
good reasons why I don’t get
out to do many oversize shoots
these days. Number one, because
photographing them requires a
special sort of skill set. Moving
objects, at night, in poorly lit areas,
yeah it’s tough. When you do jag
some good shots it’s worth it, but
there’s always a lot of shots just not sharp
enough, or a little too dark. It is a real
challenge. That’s not the main reason
though.
The main reason is that you have to be
up really, really early! Or sometimes really,
really late. However, when you find out a
classic fighter jet is going to be doing a lowlevel
pass through the streets of Sydney,
well you just can’t pass that up.
Boy, am I glad I sacrificed my muchneeded
beauty sleep earlier this year and
stayed up for this shoot though. Nearly 12
months of planning and preparation had
gone into this and, finally, the Clein Group’s
Kenworth K200 left Bankstown Airport
with a huge piece of RAAF history in tow –
a 1968 Dassault Mirage III Jet Fighter.
Lucky for me the first folk I ran into while
we awaited the 9pm departure time for
the Mirage were the delightful John and
Anne Parker. John and Anne run Warbirds
Online and are heavily invested in a lot of
major airplane restoration projects. Along
with the Hunter Fighter Collection board
they played an integral part in this major
restoration and relocation project.
Once the mighty Mirage is restored it
will spend the next 10 years on display
at the soon-to-be-opened Scone Warbird
Attraction, obviously in Scone. When the
58 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

PLANE SAILING
Hauling a jet fighter through Sydney’s streets and motorways is no
mean feat, but for the top gun team at Clein Transport Solutions it was
another day at the office. Warren Aitken tags along for the flight
museum is completed and opens at the
end of 2021 there will be around 16 historic
planes on display, as well as joy rides, flight
simulators and plenty of other attractions.
It’s more than enough to entice me back
for sure.
John and Anne were able to fill me in on
the aircraft. It’s a 1969 Dassault Mirage III
IIIO(F) and has spent its entire life based in
Australia. Already I was learning stuff. I’d
always assumed that, as a French aircraft,
the Mirage originated in France. However,
John informed me, like many, this Mirage
III was built in the Government Aircraft
factory in Victoria back in 1969.
The plane spent most of its time in the
76th Squadron and had the notoriety of
being flown by the world’s oldest fighter
pilot, squadron leader Phillip Frawley.
Obviously, he wasn’t the world’s oldest
Right: One of the tightest squeezes
in Sydney was the toll booths
coming off the M2
Opposite bottom: Justin Clein
takes centre stage as he gathers
in his team and the team of pilots
to go over the plan one last time
before the fly off
ownerdriver.com.au
MAY 2021 59

Top: Sitting outside Bankstown
airport, the Clein’s K200 looks
almost small compared to the big
Mirage
Right: The Clein Group team take
a few minutes break to check
everything is nice and secure
before they tackle Sydney’s
Pennant Hills Rd
Opposite top: Just getting out of
the city streets is a mission when
you’re over 8m wide
Opposite bottom: A police escort
helped ease the way
60 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

when he flew this particular Mirage; that came in 2012 when he
surpassed a 60-year-old F-16 pilot.
Delicate relocation
The Mirage had spent the last decade at the Bankstown
Museum, which has now closed, leading to John and Anne
helping to arrange its restoration and relocation to Scone.
Enter Clein Transport Solutions. Justin Clein and his heavy
haulage team have built up quite a reputation when it comes to
these types of delicate aircraft relocations. Hence, they were the
first port of call for this shift.
“It was 12 months in the making,” Justin informs me when
I ask how long it takes to organise things, going on to explain
that COVID played a massive hand in things as well. Clein
Transport Solutions had been hired to not just move the Mirage
to Scone but also an Aermacchi MB-326 jet from the Amberley
RAAF base in Queensland down to Scone as well.
“When COVID hit they basically closed down the airbase to
everyone.”
So as the coronavirus pandemic did to everyone, it threw a
spanner at the Hunter Fighter Collection’s plans as well.
“We spent a good three to four solid months with different
councils … TMR and stuff to get it approved,” he explains, adding
that it was still getting worked on and finalised right up until
the night before.
Preparation for a move like this saw Justin and his team
doing a couple of dry runs, measuring out all the areas where
it would get a bit tight with the 8.5m-wide plane. Their plan
was then backed up by a third party who did an independent
evaluation.
It’s worth noting that all the planning in the world can’t
avoid last minute hiccups. Thankfully the only minor hiccup
would have occurred during the navigating of Muswellbrook
where a local company had installed new fencing and signs
“We spent a good three to four solid months
with different councils.”
ownerdriver.com.au
MAY 2021 61

“The 330km journey
took nearly eight hours.”
that would have been an issue, if it wasn’t for an oversize load
the night before ripping it all down. Timing, hey?
Obviously the old Mirage wasn’t moving to the truck on its
own accord so on the early hours of Friday morning a crane
was brought in and the eight-tonne aircraft was lifted over
the airfields fence and delicately placed on the custom build
setup on the back of the Clein Transport Solution’s Kenworth
K200. The morning was spent strapping it down and making
sure it was set to go when Justin’s driver arrived ready to head
out at 9pm.
Top: The final hurdle: A very tight roundabout straight off a narrow bridge, but easily managed by the crew, then it
was just a simple run to the airport. Well done guys!
Above: Negotiating the streets of Scone; its airport the last challenge for team Clein and one it handled with ease
Below: Pennant Hills Rd was definitely an easier journey at this hour of the night
Intersections checked
Word can spread pretty quickly among both oversize load fans
and aircraft enthusiasts when there’s a special move on. So,
when the truck pulled out onto Milperra Rd, there was already a
small crowd watching.
The stressful exercise of getting underway through
Sydney’s narrower streets and onto the motorways required
incredible finesse from not just the driver, Steve Sternberg,
but also Justin and his chauffer Stephen Joyce, who were flat
out checking every intersection and corner, jumping out and
guiding the truck through, often with mere centimetres to
spare.
Once the boys hit Sydney’s motorways it was fairly good
running, with the police escorts ensuring there wasn’t your
typical highway idiots trying to squeeze up the inside.
The 330km journey took nearly eight hours, concluding with
a concentrated effort through the back roads of Scone to get
to the airport. It gave me another opportunity to watch the
high level of skill as the team squeezed round corners and
roundabouts that bear the scars of a few 4WDs that failed to
negotiate the roads.
The Clein team and the Mirage were greeted with a welcoming
committee of around 400 people, a celebratory reception. They
all watched as the Mirage was lifted off the truck and placed in
its new home. It had been a year-long project, brought to an end
by an eight-hour road trip.
Well done to all those involved. I can’t wait for the Scone
Warbird Experience to open in late 2021; I’ll be there for sure!
62 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

TWU Michael Kaine
Sneaky stevedores
regulation of the top of the supply chain
so that wealthy companies at the top can
no longer blankly refuse to pay more for
their goods to be transported, leaving
other elements of the supply chain
scrapping among themselves to stay
afloat.
This is why we need a system of
safe rates, backed by an independent
tribunal, which can look at the entire
supply chain and regulate to ensure
transport operators and drivers are not
financially squeezed.
Stevedores appear to be unstoppable in their
pursuit of milking dollars from truck operators
THERE IS AN issue that
happening at our ports that
shows how our industry is in
desperate need of regulation.
Out of the blue, with no
warning or explanation,
stevedores, which handle the
containers coming in and out of our
ports, began unilaterally imposing
charges on trucking companies on
a container basis. Since 2017 these
charges have increased and new
charges have been imposed.
The simple fact is that stevedores at
our ports were able to impose the charge
on trucking operators and there is no
organisation or agency that can stop
them. The financial burden on transport
will cost jobs – and risk lives.
The hike in fees for containers reads
like something out of an extortion
racket. Since 2017, per-container charges
have jumped from $24 to $121 in New
South Wales. In Victoria charges have
gone from $27 to $128. In Queensland
the jump has been from $34 to $118.
The revenues and profits scooped up by
the stevedores by these fees are huge.
The Australian Competition and
Consumer Commission (ACCC) in its
annual port monitoring report states
that: “As an industry, the stevedores
collected $256.4 million in revenues
from Terminal Access Charges in 2019–
20. This figure is 51.9 per cent higher
than the $168.8 million recorded in the
previous year.”
Total revenue increased to $1.4 billion
in 2019–2020, with operating profit up
almost 10 per cent. In 2018–2019 the
ACCC reported that revenues generated
by charges imposed on transport
companies rose by 63 per cent.
Even last year the ACCC says port
operators saw higher earnings last year
despite shipping volumes plunging
because of the pandemic.
But stevedores aren’t content to
leave it there. They have begun
introducing ridiculous charges that
attack our industry’s efficiency and
productivity. These new charges are
piling on more pressure and costing
operators subsisting on tight margins
significant sums.
Stevedores have even been caught
out at one point trying to explain the
need for the charges by blaming rising
rents by the ports. However, NSW Ports
explained this wasn’t the case – and that
in fact rent charged to stevedore Patrick
at Port Botany had dropped.
What is occurring at our ports is
corporate bullying and evidence that
companies at the top of the transport
supply chain know they can get away
with doing what they like.
GOVERNMENT IGNORANCE
The Transport Workers Union, along
with reputable industry bodies, has been
calling for years for an investigation
into these charges and for regulation
to ensure against this kind of financial
squeeze on transport. Port operators like
ACFS have bravely spoken out about the
effect on the industry.
But the federal government has
ignored the problem while the ACCC
says it is powerless to act.
What this issue shows is just
how vulnerable our industry is to
exploitation.
Perhaps the stevedores are themselves
under pressure from the clients that
they deal with when it comes to moving
their goods through ports, such as
wealthy retailers and manufacturers.
But is the answer to this to go after
the companies which can least afford
to pay more and where all the risks
to safety are borne? Wouldn’t it make
sense to go after the multi-billion dollar
companies at the top, like Amazon,
which is responsible for so much freight
movement nowadays, and make them
pay instead to ensure their goods are
being moved safely and fairly?
This is precisely why we need
MICHAEL KAINE is the
national secretary of the
Transport Workers
Union of Australia.
Contact Michael at:
NSW Transport Workers
Union, Transport House,
188-390 Sussex Street,
Sydney, NSW 2000.
twu@twu.com.au
PUSH FOR REGULATION
Ports, like any other element of the road
transport industry, are displaying the
effects of the risks to safety that are a
direct result of that squeeze.
Poor safety outcomes prompted the
Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal
to open an investigation into the port
sector, before it was torn down in April
2016. At a hearing on the inquiry in
2015, evidence was presented about
how pay rates at the ports for drivers
and operators do not cover the time or
cost it takes to carry out work. It heard
there was increasing pressure to speed,
drive for long hours, skip breaks and
overload trucks. One port driver gave
evidence of how he lost a finger because
of lack of maintenance on a side loader
vehicle and how friends of his had died
unloading containers at the ports.
This is what happens when safety is
held to ransom for profits. This is what
happens when road transport is left
vulnerable to companies throughout the
supply chain intent on gouging it.
This is why we are pushing for
regulation and accountability at the top
of the supply chain. We are fighting for
this as a united industry of reputable
employer associations, operators and
drivers. For those interested in getting
involved go to: www.twu.com.au
“We need regulation of the
top of the supply chain.”
ownerdriver.com.au
MAY 2021 63

EYES ON THE ROAD Rod Hannifey
Come along for a ride
For suit-wearers who’d like to see life through a
truck driver’s eyes, the passenger door is open
IAM NOW a month into my sixth week of
wearing a sling after shoulder and tendon
surgery. It is a bugger sleeping with the
sling on. But not only did I miss all of
the flooding and detours many of you
suffered, I’m not worried about getting
tired on the road. Even trying to type is
taking me much longer, but I was told if I did
not have the surgery, I may not be able to lift
my right arm above my shoulder within two
years. I need to work a bit longer than that
before I might get to retire.
I had an email problem when I got home
after surgery and that took hours on the
phone and is still not resolved properly. They
now want me to pay to fix it, or I will have
to sort through nearly 11,000 emails. Not
something I am keen on doing at the moment.
I have done some Zoom meetings, one of
which was the AGM for the National Road
Freighters Association (NRFA). The AGM and
conference last year was held in Dubbo, but I
was away filming our ‘Sharing The Road With
Caravans’ videos for Whiteline Television at
Glendambo, so I could not attend. However,
I got the call to say I had been elected vicepresident.
With the virus and members covering most
states and to meet our statutory requirements,
it was decided to do it via Zoom this year
and hope to be back to a physical AGM and
conference next year. Gordon McKinlay has
done a terrific job representing members and
was often ideally placed at Albury to be able
to attend meetings. Gordon has now stepped
down from the president’s role but has agreed
to remain on the board and fill in if possible.
So I was elected as president with Trevor
Warner as vice-president, plus there are
some new and experienced board members
filling other roles. Please have a look at
www.nrfa.com.au for those names, roles
and membership details.
I have been on the board of NRFA for a
number of years, often as the only employed
driver, among a passionate group of ownerdrivers.
To me, they are the only truly
grassroots group, all on the road seeking both
representation and change. We currently
have an agreement in place to work with the
Transport Workers Union (TWU) on aims and
issues. Sure, not everyone is a fan of unions,
but they do look after members who work
in depots and have the infrastructure and
people to be able to pursue issues that a
smaller group simply cannot hope to have.
RIDING SHOTGUN
I welcomed the new CEO of the Australian
Trucking Association, Andrew McKellar,
and have phoned him with an invitation to
come along for a ride in the next TruckRight
Industry Vehicle. Glenn Sterle has also agreed
to do a trip and so, subject to Covid settling
down, I may well have a few passengers when
I’m back on the road.
I have said many times – if you want
change, you have to be involved. I started
many years ago with the Australian Road
Train Association, as the CEO John Morris was
based in Dubbo. At the time John said to me:
“You can’t do it all on your own; we will help
a bit if we can.” They gave me a spot as driver
liaison on their committee and even helped
me get to Canberra for the National Inquiry
into Road Safety in 2003 where I was the only
truck driver to appear after I had put in a
written submission before being asked to
attend.
The biggest disappointment was that, of the
ROD HANNIFEY, a transport
safety advocate, has been
involved in raising the
profile of the industry,
conducting highway truck
audits, the Blue Reflector
Trial for informal parking
bays on the Newell, the
‘Truckies on Road Code’,
the national 1800 number
for road repairs proposal,
and the Better Roadside
Rest Areas Group. Rod is
the current president of
the NRFA. Contact Rod on
0428 120 560, e-mail
rod.hannifey@bigpond.
com or visit
www.truckright.com.au
BELOW LEFT: Former ATA
CEO Ben Maguire took the
plunge back in 2018 and
went along for a ride in the
TruckRight Industry Vehicle
with Rod Hannifey. Photo
Whiteline TV You Tube
35 recommendations from the inquiry only
two were specifically mine, one being the blue
reflector marking of informal truck bays. The
other, after having been asked by the chair to
make a second submission, was regarding the
marking of the length of overtaking lanes. I
was a party to three other submissions but,
even now, the government has never acted
on any.
Still we try. Yes, you may well say I do most
of my stuff alone, not through want of trying
to get support from others, including the TWU,
the ATA, NatRoad and others in the past. Each
of them has their role and is committed to
serving their members, so what I have sought
help or support for has not been a focus for
them, and that’s fine.
MEMBER POWER
I won the NatRoad (2000) and then the ATA
(2001) Driver of the Year awards and have
been nominated for other ATA awards. Ben
Maguire, the former ATA CEO, came along for
a trip with me in the truck. In addition, both
the ATA and NatRoad have, in recent times,
been very vocal and strong on the need for
more truck rest areas.
But no group can survive or achieve
anything without members. While many
people may join, it is always a core few that
put in much of the effort. The three main
groups mentioned above all have lots of
members and paid staff, but the NRFA does
not. However, it is still growing and I will
be blatantly supportive of them. All I ask is
that, if you don’t think you can get help with
on-road issues elsewhere, please consider
joining the NRFA and give them a chance to
achieve more.
Well done to Health in Gear getting its
website www.healthingear.com.au up and
running. There are many useful hints and tips
to improve your on-road health. I am one of
six ambassadors for them and, along with the
other five, hope to see you all consider and use
this information.
If you know it all, well and good, but even if
you pick up one piece of info that helps you,
then it has been worth you looking.
“If you want change, you
have to be involved.”
64 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

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ownerdriver.com.au
MAY 2021 65

isbane truck show
QUEENSLAND MINISTERS
PRAISE INDUSTRY FESTIVAL
Mark Bailey and Stirling Hinchliffe underline the importance
of Australian Heavy Vehicle Industry Week
The Queensland government has rolled out some
big guns in support of one of its biggest and most
sustained industry events – the 2021 Australian
Heavy Vehicle Industry Week (AHVIW) and the
events under its umbrella.
Two ministers have put the state government’s
weight behind the initiative, which is facilitated by
industry body Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA),
owners and organisers of the Brisbane Truck Show, and
now the accompanying South Bank Truck Festival.
The heavy-duty showing is a tribute to the
importance officially attached to it and HVIA chief
executive Todd Hacking states that the Queensland
government’s support enabled the expansion of the
iconic industry event into South Bank Parklands and
across the city.
“We are extremely grateful to the Queensland
government and the City of Brisbane for coming
on board to enable this initiative to come to life,”
Hacking says.
“They recognise that the Brisbane Truck Show is a
vital Queensland business, tourism and cultural asset,
recognised internationally amongst the world’s leading
industry business events.
“This is such an important occasion for our industry
to get together. The business that is done at the show is
incredibly important but this year, more than ever, it is
an important reunion.
“It is a reward for the incredible job that has been
done keeping Australia moving over the last 18 months
through drought, bushfires and the pandemic.”
Tourism minister Stirling Hinchliffe welcomes the
return of Queensland’s big wheels to Brisbane.
“Whenever big rigs and heavy machinery are on show
in one location, they draw a crowd,” Hinchliffe says.
“Australian Heavy Vehicle Industry Week brings
together an industry that’s vitally important to
all Queenslanders, whether its delivering food to
supermarket distribution centres or building the
infrastructure our growing state needs.
“The 2019 Brisbane Truck Festival brought almost
40,000 visitors to the capital and contributed more than
$21 million to our overnight visitor economy.
“In its new format, AHVIW is expected to provide a
significant boost for the local economy.
“The Queensland government is investing in business
events to help kick start the conference industry, which
has been hit hard by the global COVID pandemic.
“This is great opportunity to attract interstate
business visitors to Brisbane and support local jobs in
the tourism, conference and logistics industries.”
Moving economy
State transport and main roads minister Mark
Bailey says his government’s support reflects all
Queenslanders’ gratitude for the efforts of freight
operators, businesses and industry, in keeping the
economy moving.
“The heavy vehicle industry’s role in that effort,
working with our government to establish dedicated
freight lanes at border controls, was critical and helped
ensure our state is today the place to be,” Bailey says.
“Our collective efforts mean the Palaszczuk
government can now focus on the state’s economic
recovery plan and keep construction powering on to
create jobs.”
Bailey points out that freight volumes in Queensland
are expected to grow more than 20 per cent over the
next decade.
“That is why we are delivering our fifth record roads
and transport program: a $26.9 billion pipeline of work
over the next four years to support freight efficiency
and safety,” he says.
“While supporting greater productivity for our heavy
vehicle industry, it will also spark 23,600 jobs at a time
we need them most.
“We look forward to continuing to work closely
with heavy vehicle industry to support its growth in
Queensland and beyond, and to meet the challenges
and opportunities ahead.
“I would like to welcome you all to this year’s
Brisbane Truck Show – an event we’ve been able to
host because of your efforts to manage the COVID-
19 pandemic – and congratulate the organisers for
bringing together this industry despite the challenges
of the pandemic.”
Family friendly
Among the AHVIAW attractions are:
• A new Future Fuels and Sustainability Hub at the
2021 Brisbane Truck Show
• an expanded Technology and Innovation Centre
• the South Bank Truck Festival featuring a truck and
trailer display along Little Stanley Street and Stanley
Street Plaza
• the National Apprentice Challenge, staged live at
the South Bank Piazza including Jobs Hub and
innovation masterclass series
• Laservision water projection spectacular at
Streets Beach
• family friendly Rainforest Play Zone and TruckFest
Outdoor Cinema plus other live free entertainment
• Civil Construction Field Days heavy equipment and
machinery show.
HVIA notes that AHVIW is underpinned by a set of
themes that exhibitors chose to represent the values
of the heavy vehicle industry: safety, innovation,
sustainability, knowledge, careers and community.
“Those themes really do a great job of capturing our
capability and our aspirations in just a few keywords,”
Hacking says.
“The truck and trailer displays, along with all the
other entertainment and events throughout South
Bank, the Brisbane CBD, and other venues across
Brisbane, shine a light on our industry in a way that
has never been possible before.
“The opportunity to showcase our industry in this
spectacular location provides the perfect opportunity
to share our story with the community in a tangible
and lasting way.”
Beyond the walls of the BCEC, the Jobs Hub and
the HVIA National Apprentice Challenge, will
showcase career opportunities to the broader
community with free entry at the South Bank
Piazza amphitheatre.
Hacking emphasises the heavy vehicle industry
offers diverse and rewarding career paths.
“With hundreds of jobs available directly from Jobs
Hub exhibitors, this will open doors to young people
just entering the workforce and others considering
something new,” he says.
“The Australian community has really come to
appreciate how important our industry is to Australia’s
resilience, and there has never been a better time to get
on board.
He underlines that the week is about expressing
pride in the heavy vehicle industry while starting a
conversation with the broader community about its
innovation, local manufacturing and sustainability;
about road safety, skills development, education
and careers.
“We’re having conversations around workplace
safety, health and wellbeing and importantly, our
connection with the community that we both serve
and belong to,” he says.
“We encourage every participant to fully embrace
the opportunities that the Australian Heavy Vehicle
Industry Week offers and to be a part of sharing our
great story.”
66 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

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ROAD SOUNDS Greg Bush
As well as being involved in road transport
media for the past 20 years, GREG BUSH
has strong links to the music industry.
A former Golden Guitar judge for the
Country Music Awards of Australia, Greg
also had a three-year stint as an ARIA
Awards judge in the late 1990s and wrote
for and edited several music magazines.
New music on show
Six new release albums to cater for diverse tastes
O.M. DAYS
Raf Rundell
Heavenly Recordings
www.rafrundell.com
Raf Rundell had
worked behind
the scenes of the
British music
industry before
teaming with
Hot Chip’s Joe
Goddard in 2009.
However, Rundell’s serious attempt at a
solo career came in 2018 with his debut
album Stop Lying. For new release O.M.
Days he continues along the rhythmic
funk direction, with help from a few likeminded
friends, including Chaz Jankel,
formerly with legendary ’70s rock band
Ian Drury & The Blockheads, who adds
his distinctive sound to the danceable
‘Monsterpiece’. Soul singer Terri Walker
takes the lead on ‘Always Fly‘, an R&B track
stacked with rich harmonies, and ‘Luxury’
boasts ‘80s-style vocals from English band
Man & The Echo amid offbeat percussion
and other effects. Lias Saoudi, of English
rock band Fat White Family, adds his
subtle touches to ‘Ample Change’, one of
O.M. Days’ more laid back tracks.
TIMELINES
Michael Fix & Mark Cryle
Independent
www.michaelfix.com
Award-winning
guitarist Michael
Fix has generally
preferred to let
his six-string
Maton do the
talking. However,
a meeting with
Brisbane-based singer-songwriter Mark
Cryle (formerly of Brisbane band Spot
the Dog) opened a new chapter in his
long career. Hence, the resultant album
Timelines – subtitled “Australian Stories
In Song” – is an all-vocal affair. The pair
gel well, especially on ‘The Lamps Of
Valparaiso’, an emotive tale of Tasmanian
convicts stealing a brig in 1834, while
‘Quarantine’, a cheerful ditty, is a timely
reminder of the Spanish flu pandemic.
Fix recalls his Port Kembla upbringing on
‘Coppertown Blues’, a track that previously
appeared on his 2014 album Lines & Spaces
but gets a thorough overhaul here – it's a
cool mix of rock, blues and Crosby-Nash
style harmonies. ‘The Granville Train’,
a poignant reminder of the 1977 rail
disaster, is another strong track on what is
a classy, well-produced album.
SWEEP IT INTO SPACE
Dinosaur Jr.
Jagjaguwar
www.dinosaurjr.com
Sweep It Into
Space, Dinosaur
Jr.’s 12th album,
was originally
scheduled for
release in 2020
but COVID put
an end to that.
However, it’s been worth the wait for fans
of the Michigan rock trio. Heavy guitar
licks abound on ‘I Met The Stones’, and
there’s grinding riffs on the opening track
‘I Ain’t’ amid lead singer Joseph Mascis’
familiar grungy vocals – not unlike those
of Dave Grohl. Bass player Lou Barlow
sings his own composition and softens
the tone on ‘Garden’, and again on ‘You
Wonder’. Guest guitarist Kurt Vile brings
his 12-string to the upbeat ‘I Ran Away’,
complementing Mascis’ almost subdued
lead vocals. Dinosaur Jr. then takes a more
aggressive tone on the quicker ‘Hide
Another Round’, and there’s a hint of
Jamaican music on ‘Take It Back’. Sweep It
Into Space fits into the category of raw but
melodic rock.
GET ON BOARD
The Badloves
Warner Music
www.thebadloves.com.au
Australian
rock band The
Badloves, who
have disbanded
and reformed
a number of
times since
the early ’90s,
are back on the touring trail as well as
recently releasing a couple of new tracks.
To embrace the occasion, Warner Music
has re-released a "deluxe edition" of Get
On Board, The Badloves’ debut album in
1993 that garnered three ARIA awards. The
11 original tracks have stood the test of
time, notably the bluesy ‘Green Limousine’
and the soulful ‘I Remember’. And who
could forget the duet with Jimmy Barnes
on a cover of The Band's classic track
‘The Weight’. As with all re-releases, this
deluxe edition features four bonus
tracks, recorded back in 1993 as part of
the "Triple J Live At The Wireless" series.
The Badloves don’t miss a beat on ‘Sugar
Daddy’ with frontman Michael Spiby
delivering a great blues vocal, and again
on the live version of ‘Lost’. Definitely an
album worth revisiting.
BE HERE INSTEAD
Parker Millsap
Thirty Tigers/Cooking Vinyl
www.parkermillsap.com
Singersongwriter
Parker Millsap,
from the US state
of Oklahoma,
is up to album
number six with
his new release,
Be Here Instead. Written in parts during
the COVID lockdown, his new music
travels from the powerful pleading ballad
‘Empty’ to the mid-tempo ‘In Your Eyes’,
a track on which Millsap lets his strong
vocals run free. He takes time out to view
life as a phase on ‘Passing Through’, a
roots-type number, while ‘In Between’ is
a quiet, acoustic guitar-backed track. ‘The
Real Thing’, a song about touring and
FaceTime catch-ups, starts off in similar
fashion before evolving into layers of
acoustic guitar riffs and a catchy melody,
its impact aided by folk singer Erin Rae’s
backing vocals. Arguably the best track
honours go to ‘Dammit’, which starts with
an incessant U2-style base line before
building to a rock anthem.
TOMORROWLAND
Bob Evans
Universal Music
www.bobevans.com.au
Australian
singersongwriter
Bob Evans (real
name Kevin
Mitchell), as well
as fronting rock
band Jebediah,
has proved popular with his solo output.
Evans scored big with his 2006 album
Suburban Songbook and the hit single
‘Don’t You Think It’s Time?’. However,
he’s likely to surpass those efforts with
Tomorrowland, his sixth studio album.
While his earlier work was mostly acoustic
and “unplugged”, this new album has
Evans moving more into rock territory.
He takes his vocals to a higher register
on ‘Falling’, a vibrant rock track which
contrasts with ‘Luxury Car’, a softer,
smoother mid-paced number. There’s a
Dylan flavour to the piano-backed ‘I Don’t
Wanna Do Anything (Without You)’, and
delivers one of the album’s best with
‘Born Yesterday’, a track that echoes The
War On Drugs’ sound. Jangling guitars are
a feature of the ’60s-flavoured ‘Concrete
Heart’, rounding out a great album.
Country
Corner
LEFTOVER FEELINGS
John Hiatt with The
Jerry Douglas Band
New West Records
www.johnhiatt.com
John Hiatt has
one of the most distinctive
voices in US contemporary
music. As well as his
releasing own albums since
1974, many other artists have
recorded his songs over the
years. In this new venture,
Hiatt has teamed up with
in-demand dobro and lap
steel guitarist Jerry Douglas.
Recorded in Nashville,
Leftover Feelings boasts 11
lyrically strong songs. ‘All
The Lilacs In Ohio’, with
its fiddle backing, is about
an unrequited late night
dalliance; Hiatt appears to be
mimicking Elvis on the road
song ‘Long Black Electric
Cadillac’; and there’s nice
blues harmonica to the slow
but determined ‘Mississippi
Phone Booth’. A meeting of
two top musicians in country
music territory, Leftover
Feelings will be released on
May 21.
FINALLY CLEAR
Raechel Whitchurch
Compass Bros/Universal
www.raechelwhitchurch.com
Australia’s
Raechel
Whitchurch had already
kicked a few goals before
the release of Finally Clear,
her debut album, earning
praise for her 2016 EP
Outlaw. Whitchurch wrote
or co-wrote all but one of
these 13 new tracks, the
exception being Buddy and
Julie Miller’s ‘Wide River
To Cross’. She recruits The
Flood’s Kevin Bennett for
the witty duet, ‘I Used To
Think I Was An Outlaw’, and
delivers another whimsical
track, ‘There’s Enough To Go
Around’. Whitchurch salutes
her parents on ‘Too Much
Work To Do’, and presents
a “reimagined” version of
her previously released ‘Sure
Thing’. Whitchurch possesses
a pure country vocal
and with a host A-grade
musicians and Matt Fell’s
production, she’s on a winner
with Finally Clear.
68 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

THE GOODS NEWS FROM THE HIGHWAY AND BEYOND
WHAT’S ON upcoming events
BRISBANE TRUCK SHOW
May 13-16, 2021. Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Qld
Organised by Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA), the Brisbane
Truck Show is held every two years and attracts approximately 290
exhibitors and up to 40,000 attendees. As the largest event of its type
in the southern hemisphere, the Brisbane Truck Show stands alone as
the premier event in Australia for the transport industry showcasing the
latest in heavy vehicles, technology, engineering and innovation.
For further info see the website at www.brisbanetruckshow.com.au
CONVOY FOR THE CURE TOWNSVILLE
May 30, 2021. Townsville, Qld
The Convoy For The Cure, expected to attract more than 200
trucks and 100 motorbikes, will start at 9am from Webb Drive, then
Duckworth St, Dalrymple Rd, Thuringowa Drive, Riverway Drive to Ross
Dam Park. Entry $100 per truck, $50 per motorcycle. Sponsored by
radio station Power 100 and Brown & Hurley. All funds to be donated to
children’s brain cancer research charity The Cure Starts Now.
For further details see the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/
Convoy-for-The-Cure-180333995784683. For donations see the
website www.givenow.com.au/crowdraiser/public/convoyforthecure
Townsville Convoy
back on track
Convoy For The Cure will be run on
May 30, with funds being directed
into brain cancer research in children
ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S largest charity
convoys, and the biggest in north
Queensland, is back on the calendar
following COVID-19 restrictions in 2020.
The 2021 Convoy For The Cure, sponsored
by Brown & Hurley, will take place in
Townsville on May 30.
“Last year the event moved simply due
to COVID-19 issues, but this year we are
moving back to its traditional month of
May,” says convoy director Todd Martin.
Now in its fifth year, Convoy For The
Cure participants are requested to pay an
entry fee, with all proceeds going to the
local charity The Cure Starts Now.
Convoy registration is $100 per truck
and $50 per motorcycle. However,
individuals and companies are
encouraged to bid for the lead truck
position. In 2018, more than $20,000 was
raised by Longpocket Earthmoving for
the right to lead the convoy.
In addition, the 2021 ‘People’s Truck’,
a refurbished 1985 Scania 112H 6x4, will
cater for those who don’t have a trucking
connection and wish take part in this
worthy cause.
“We’re encouraging members of
the public to make a donation to the
cause and get their name or logo on
the side of the tipper body. In previous
years this concept has been a great
way of including Australians who are
not truckies, but who want to make a
contribution to the fundraising.
“We’re sponsored by the local Power100
radio station which will promote the
event throughout the run-up and during
the day as well,” Martin says.
However, the Scania is also vying for
the position of lead truck in the convoy.
The historic truck is owned by Ross
Gofton, a cane farmer who lives just
outside Townsville. A while ago he
bought six Scanias on their retirement
from the city council. The Scania 112
to be used in the convoy has been
repainted, has new seats, and is in
generally very sound order despite
having had 35 years on the road as a
tipper.
The truck is now dedicated to static
display and charitable activities and has
been painted throughout in two-pack
paint. The cab is finished in Scania blue,
with a red chassis. The tipper body is
pristine in glowing white.
“The good people in our community
come together with one aim to find
a cure for a disease that doesn’t stop
during COVID and neither will we in
our efforts to beat cancer,” says The Cure
Starts Now director Ren Pedersen, who
lost his daughter Amy to brain cancer
in 2009.
The cavalcade of trucks rolling through
Townsville will exceed 15 km at its peak,
with some trucks expected to arrive from
as far away as the Northern Territory.
Radio station Power 100 will broadcast
the convoy live with thousands expected
to line the streets to witness over 200
trucks and 100 motorcycles along the
route.
ALEXANDRA TRUCK UTE & ROD SHOW
June 13, 2021. Alexandra, Victoria
Celebrating 25 years. Sunday Show ’n Shine on Alexandra’s main street.
Includes live music, Victorian woodchop tournament, exhibitions and
trade displays, kids’ amusements. Be early for Saturday June 12 truck
driver’s memorial service at 2pm and sponsors’ dinner at 6pm.
For truck show details email trucks@alexandratruckshow.com.au, or for
further info phone Gordon Simpson on 0409 577 212, Andrew Embling
on 0418 266 038 or see the website www.alexandratruckshow.com.au
SA TRUCK AND UTE SHOW
June 13, 2021. Mannum, SA
Sponsored by The Truck Factory. Mannum’s main streetscape will
become one massive trucking garage with polished prime movers,
trucks and utes from across the state and over the border. Show ’n
Shine, trade displays, live entertainment at Pretoria Hotel and more.
For further into see the website at www.satruckanduteshow.
com.au or the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/
SaTruckAndUteShowMannum
CASINO TRUCK SHOW
August 7, 2021. Casino, NSW
Show sponsored by North Coast Petroleum. Westlawn Finance
Truck Parade will roll through Johnston and Centre Sts from 10am
on Saturday. Truck registrations ($30 each) from 6am at the Casino
Industrial Area on the town’s east side. Includes live music, amusements
and markets. Over $12,000 in cash and prizes. Presentation at 2pm. The
blinged-up trucks from across Australia will be parked in the CBD.
For further info email info@casinotruckshow.com.au or Darren Goodwin
at dtgoodwin1@yahoo.com.au; website www.casinotruckshow.com.au
and Facebook page. Phone 02 6662 8181 or 0424 340 330.
NATROAD CONFERENCE 2021
August 19 to 21, 2021. Gold Coast, Qld
After a difficult year for road freight operators, NatRoad is pleased to
invite members to the NatRoad National Conference 2021, to be held
at the InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort, Gold Coast from August
19 to 21. Includes the ‘NatRoad Parliament’ and the NatRoad Awards
presentation at the Gala Dinner.
For further info see the website at www.natroad.com.au/eventsnetworking/2021-conference
NATIONAL ROAD TRANSPORT HALL OF FAME REUNION 2021
August 23 to 29, 2021. Alice Springs, NT
The National Transport Historical Society and The Old Ghan Historical
Society has the announced the inaugural ‘Festival of Transport’. As well
as the regular reunion activities there will be new events to experience.
For info and nomination forms see the website at
www.roadtransporthall.com, www.facebook.com/Trucks.n.Trains,
email info@roadtransporthall.com or phone 08 8952 7161.
To have an event listed, phone (07) 3101 6602
or e-mail odonline@bauertrader.com.au
ownerdriver.com.au
MAY 2021 69

truck technology
FUSO ON THE CHARGE
There’s an electric revolution sweeping the automotive
world and, in the light truck league, Daimler’s exciting Fuso
eCanter sits at the top of the tree. The electric lightweight
is now officially part of Fuso’s local line-up but don’t go
thinking diesel developments aren’t also on the agenda. On
the contrary, we now have first details of a bold initiative to turn
Fuso’s Shogun into the most potent Japanese heavyweight on the
market. Steve Brooks writes
70 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

ownerdriver.com.au
MAY 2021 71

“Ours is a complete
truck. It is not a
Frankenstein addition
to an existing truck.”
DAIMLER TRUCKS AUSTRALIA chief Daniel
Whitehead is an affable, agreeable bloke. Most of
the time. However, there are other times when,
with his competitive instincts suitably stoked
or umbrage taken at something or someone
considered less than adequate, an abrupt and
somewhat stern countenance can quickly surface.
Admittedly, those latter times are rare – at least
in the public gaze – but such a transformation
was briefly, and perhaps justifiably, evident at the recent
media launch of Fuso’s electric eCanter at Daimler’s
Mulgrave (Vic) headquarters.
“The eCanter,” he said earnestly at the start of the
presentation, “is a full production electric truck.”
Then, with an instant change of tone and an intent most
assuredly planned to hit a carefully targeted mark, it was
a dour Whitehead who gruffly added: “Ours is a complete
truck. It is not a Frankenstein addition to an existing
truck.”
Thus, with a few seconds to let the barb bite and with the
deliberate diatribe off his chest, a confident and entirely
upbeat Whitehead returned to extolling the many virtues
of both the eCanter and Daimler’s various paths to a
sustainably cleaner automotive future.
Significantly, he would also outline the part Daimler
Trucks Australia will progressively play in facilitating
the local introduction of some of the most advanced
powertrain technologies the commercial vehicle world has
ever seen.
But why the Frankenstein jibe and, more to the point, was
the entrepreneurial Melbourne-based SEA Electric company
the target? After all, less than a week before the eCanter
launch, SEA Electric appeared to steal Fuso’s thunder when
it issued a detailed press release announcing it was about
to start local production of electric trucks based on the
cab and chassis of Hino 500 and 300-series models, which
Top (L to R): Switched on. Daimler
Trucks Australia chief Daniel
Whitehead has pushed hard for
eCanter to become part of the
Fuso range; City specialist. Metro
work is the obvious target for the
electric Canter
Above and opposite bottom: On
the inside, differences between
eCanter and its diesel counterpart
are largely limited to a different
dash and a better seat for the
driver of the electric truck
would, the statement asserted, ‘place the brand [SEA] at the
technical forefront for the industry”.
“No comment,” a blunt Whitehead answered at the end of
the eCanter presentation when asked his opinion of SEA
Electric’s announcement.
“We have the only full production [electric] truck in
Australia … ours is a Daimler truck from front to back, with
all Daimler support and warranty, and everything that
comes with that.”
Likewise, it was an emphatic Whitehead who remarked:
“It would be easy to do nothing but it’s what the market
will need. This is a serious truck,” adding that the full
gambit of standard Daimler Trucks’ safety systems –
anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brake
force distribution and advanced emergency braking, an
electronic stability program, lane departure warning, hill
hold, reversing camera and driver and passenger airbags
72 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

ownerdriver.com.au
MAY 2021 73

truck technology - first details
SHOGUN MUSCLES UP
For whatever reasons, Japanese brands have been reluctant to step into the
modern world with a genuinely effective and efficient 500hp engine. Until
now! Fuso has seen the light and will later this year introduce Daimler Trucks’
formidable 13-litre powertrain. Steve Brooks reports
Continental competitors
such as Volvo, DAF
and Iveco are the
prime targets for the
flagship Fuso
To be blunt, it was a surprise when word starting filtering
through late last year that Daimler Trucks Australia was
extensively testing a 500-plus 13-litre engine in Fuso’s
flagship Shogun model.
After all, Japanese makers have, over many years,
appeared to have an historic and almost ritualistic
indifference to engines of such size and output in their
heavy-duty contenders.
Whether that apparent indifference has been driven
by European masters in the case of Fuso (Daimler) and
UD (Volvo), or by a dearth of domestic demand in the
case of Hino and Isuzu, is contestable. Whatever, the
lack of an advanced, efficient and potently powered
engine in Australia’s burgeoning 13-litre class has kept the
Japanese contingent largely caponised as true heavy-duty
contenders.
Take market leader Isuzu, for example. Sure, it sits
consistently high on the heavy-duty leader board but much
of that ranking comes from three- and four-axle rigids
rather than prime movers, despite the fact that Isuzu’s
Gigamax flagship is the only Japanese truck on the market
with a 500-plus rating.
It is, however, easy to understand why Isuzu’s
heavyweight doesn’t attract much business. With Giga’s
lumpy in-line six displacing 15.7 litres yet producing just
512hp (382kW) and a comparatively timid 1,663lb-ft
(2,255Nm) of torque, it’s not much muscle for such a big
heap of heavy iron.
There has, of course, been plenty of talk and no lack
of encouragement from Isuzu Australia insiders for an
alternative power source for Giga. Indeed, it’s no secret a
13-litre Volvo prime mover was bought and tested here for
a number of years in a bid to convince Japan of the need
for a respectably efficient engine. Moreover, rumours were
rife not so long ago that Cummins’ lively X12 engine was
being considered for Giga but, to date, nothing has come of
either enterprise.
Maybe Isuzu’s acquisition of UD from Volvo will deliver
a more muscular contender but given Volvo Group’s long
74 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

– are intrinsic features of eCanter, just as they are in its
diesel-powered sibling.
Whatever or whoever was in Whitehead’s crosshairs,
it was easy to appreciate his commitment and passion
for the eCanter product. In the development of electric
trucks, specifically at the lighter end, Fuso has been at the
forefront of Daimler’s vast technological resources while
on the local scene, Mulgrave’s senior management has
advocated long and hard for eCanter to become part of the
Australian operation. And for good reason.
During a trip to Japan in 2017, for example, in the wake
of eCanter’s global launch, a small group of Australian
truck writers were surprised with an opportunity to drive
a loaded prototype model on Fuso’s strictly controlled
Kitsuregawa test facility. It took just an hour or so to
satisfy most of us that Daimler’s investment had the
potential to change the world in shorthaul metro
delivery work.
Two years later, with Whitehead openly keen to at
least start putting light-duty electric trucks in front of
carefully selected fleets, an eCanter trial unit was shipped
to Australia from Japan’s specialist E-Fuso division and
prominently displayed at the 2019 Brisbane Truck Show.
Almost immediately after the show, the truck started a
short-term trial with Australia Post and soon after that,
in the few days before the demo unit was shipped back to
Japan, we had the opportunity to spend a day driving the
truck around Melbourne.
“Trucks will be leased for up to six
years rather than bought outright.”
As subsequently reported: “… just like the Japanese
experience, driving a small truck with no engine, no
transmission other than an electric motor driving into a
single-speed diff, and no noise other than the roll of rubber
on the road, makes driving an entirely new experience. Early
on, you’re waiting for gearshifts that never come but routine
and acceptance soon set in.
“Judgements will vary, of course, but this exercise was
something truly unique and entirely worthwhile. True,
eCanter development remains a work in progress but
even at this relatively early stage, it brings the future
into stark focus.”
All up, and suitably impressed with the model’s dynamic
performance in both acceleration and deceleration, it
seemed just a matter of time before the electric truck would
became part of Fuso’s local ranks.
Steady start
Despite the positive feedback, a serious Whitehead says it
took a good deal of negotiation and commitment to build
the business case for Daimler Trucks Australia to join
Opposite top: Fully loaded,
eCanter has a range of 100km
and top speed of 80km/h. With
instant torque, acceleration is
extraordinary
insistence that its highly versatile 13-litre engine
will definitely not be finding its way into UD’s
likeable Quon, Isuzu’s local leaders would be well
advised to not hold their breath in anticipation.
Then there’s the Toyota-owned Hino brand, the
only Japanese truck with its own 13-litre engine
and with a new 700-series heavy-duty range set
to hit the Australian market later this year, there
was some speculation the markedly updated
line-up might actually crest the 500hp (373kW)
mark. However, and for whatever reasons, the
word from within Hino is a definite ‘No!’
So, back to Fuso and what is almost certainly
the most overdue, enterprising and potentially
rewarding move by a Japanese brand in the
Australian heavy-duty sector for many years.
It’s fair to ask though, will the 13-litre Fuso with
its Daimler-derived powertrain be viewed by
buyers as a competitively priced alternative to
an equivalent Mercedes-Benz model?
“We have no fear whatsoever that the Fuso
will encroach on Mercedes-Benz sales,” affirmed
Daimler Trucks Australia chief, Daniel Whitehead.
“There are more opportunities for incremental
business than any negative impacts. A lot more.”
Quiet for a few seconds, he resolutely added:
“This will not be a cross-over model but it will
obviously have the full Daimler safety package
and the target isn’t necessarily other Japanese
brands. It’s more the likes of DAF, Iveco and
Volvo. The way I see it, it simply gives the
market more choice.”
Much the same response came in quiet
conversation with the head of Mercedes-Benz
truck business in Australia, Andrew Assimo.
“No, I don’t see the 13-litre Fuso being a
concern. Not at all, but it’ll be a concern for our
competitors.”
Nonetheless, Daniel Whitehead didn’t deny
that it took a detailed business case with the
surety of a reasonable return on investment to
convince Fuso’s Japanese hierarchy that the
installation and thorough testing of a 13-litre
Daimler powertrain in Shogun (known in Japan
as the Fuso Super Great) was a good move for
the Australian and New Zealand markets.
“The potential here and in New Zealand for
a higher powered Fuso was obvious to us,” he
commented before quickly adding, “but it took
a lot of time and a lot of negotiation between
Australia, Japan and Germany before it was
agreed to start development and testing.
“And it certainly wasn’t a quick or simple
development process. There were plenty
of engineering factors that needed to be
considered before the project went ahead.”
The exercise actually started in 2017, when
a team of Fuso engineers flew to Australia for
secret tests of a 13-litre prototype Shogun.
It’s worth noting that at the time, this new
generation Shogun hadn’t even been launched
and was still known in Japan as simply the ‘Black
Panther’ project.
With the prototype quietly shipped to
Australia, the primary intent of early testing was
to gauge the suitability of Daimler’s 12.8-litre
OM471 engine in the Shogun chassis and ensure
the truck’s cooling system was up to the job of
coping with heavy weights in the heat of Central
Australia. Consequently, and with sophisticated
test equipment installed, the truck was hooked
to a B-double set and at a gross weight of 63
tonnes, sent on a return run from Melbourne to
Adelaide and Alice Springs.
Australia, however, hasn’t been the only testing
ground for the 13-litre engine under a Fuso cab.
According to Daimler sources, test units have
notched upwards of 500,000km in the widely
differing demands of South Africa.
Following the positive results of early
evaluations here and abroad, final assurances
and tweaks of the 13-litre Shogun specification
are being determined this year by a 50,000km
test program (including 10,000km in New
Zealand) covering 800km a day on routes
through regional Victoria, running as a flat-top
B-double grossing 61 tonnes.
Daimler Trucks Australia is currently keeping
Above: Inside the Shogun test truck. Daimler family
features aren’t hard to spot
timing for the 13-litre Shogun’s launch under
wraps but our guess is for some time in the third
quarter of this year.
What we are sure about is that the powertrain
will largely be the same as the current
Mercedes-Benz 2651 model which sees the
Euro 6 OM471 engine dispensing peak power of
375kW (510hp) at 1,600rpm and top torque of
2,500Nm (1844lb-ft) at 1,100rpm.
Likewise, the engine will drive through
the same highly intuitive 12-speed overdrive
automated transmission as its Benz counterpart.
As for the rest of the spec, Daimler isn’t hiding
the details: The final drive ratio is likely to be
4.22:1, tyres will be 295/80R on the steer and
11R 22.5 on the drive, mounted on a taper-leaf
front suspension and airbag on the rear, while
stopping power will come from drums front
and rear.
With a GCM of 63 tonnes, shorthaul and
regional B-double work will almost certainly be
a targeted application, along with anything else
befitting a modern, efficient and proven 13-litre
powertrain with more than 500hp on tap.
There’s little doubt the competition will be
watching closely. Some enviously!
ownerdriver.com.au
MAY 2021 75

SPECS AT A
GLANCE
Model: Fuso eCanter 4x2
Wide Cab
Drive System: Permanent
synchronous electric motor
Power: 135kW
Torque: 390Nm (from
standstill)
Emissions: Zero local
emissions
Transmission: Direct drive
automatic
Wheelbase: 3,400mm
Brakes: Front and rear discs
with regenerative braking
Tare weight: 3,280kg
GVM: 7,490kg
Top speed: 80km/h
Range: Around 100km loaded
Charging time: DC (Level 3)
1 to 1.5 hours using CCS Type2
plug type and 50kW charger
and AC (Level 2) 8 to 10 hours
using IEC62196 7.2kW with
three-phase wall connector
High voltage: 365-volt using
six liquid-cooled lithium-ion
batteries. Total usable
capacity is 66kWh, total
capacity is 82.8kW/h
Low voltage: 12-volt using
two 100AH-760A lead acid
batteries
Safety Features: Advanced
Emergency Braking (AEBS),
Anti-Slip Regulator (ASR),
Electronic Stability Control
(ESC), Lane Departure
Warning System (LDWS)
ABS plus Electronic Brake
force Distribution (EBD), Dual
SRS Airbag and ECE-R29
Compliant cab
Warranty: Five years or
180,000km, whichever
comes first
“The eEconic waste collection model and an
eActros are already on the Australian agenda.”
with counterparts in Europe, Japan and the US in adding
eCanter to the model range. But now, the deal is done
and, with production for Australia confirmed, a strategic
path has been set to slowly, cautiously and selectively put
eCanter into specific local delivery roles.
In fact, as this report was being prepared, Daimler’s
local leaders were not prepared to identify eCanter’s first
customer apart from logical indications it is a specialist
provider of local delivery services. Even quiet questions
post-press conference could not draw the customer’s name
but as one insider mentioned, the high profile customer
wants to make a big thing of being first with Australia’s
first electric Canter.
However, it was at least confirmed that trucks will be
leased for up to six years rather than bought outright to
ensure Daimler’s ability to react quickly to any issues and
implement inevitable technical upgrades as they occur.
“The technology continues to move at an incredible pace,”
Whitehead commented.
Even so, according to several sources, demand is already
outstripping Australia’s allocated supply. As Fuso’s press
statement explains: “Given the global popularity of the
eCanter, a limited number will be available for customers
in Australia during the initial stages of the introduction
but production availability is expected to increase in time.”
Meanwhile, future uptake obviously depends on
recharging infrastructure and while local Daimler insiders
concede the current situation is ‘very fragile’, fiscal and
logistical partnerships between supplier and users will be
vital in establishing a network of recharging installations.
Equally, the availability of interchangeable – slide in, slide
out – batteries has still to be clarified.
Above: Fuso’s Vision F-Cell’ (fuel cell) hydrogen-based prototype at the 2019
Tokyo Motor Show. Fuso states it will have hydrogen-powered vehicles in
series production by 2029
Yet, recharging infrastructure is, as Whitehead noted, all
part of the evolution in electric vehicles and, critically, the
local extension of Daimler Truck’s stated principle to be
“the most advanced and capable CO2 neutral company in
the world”. In fact, the global giant confidently states that
all its new vehicles in Europe, North America and Japan
will be CO2 neutral by 2039.
What’s more, eCanter is just one of 10 electric-powered
Daimler trucks now in production and Whitehead
confirms that Benz-badged electric trucks such as the
eEconic waste collection model and an eActros are already
on the Australian agenda.
So, too, is Freightliner’s eCascadia an eventual possibility
for shorthaul work here. Two years ago, during a visit to
Daimler Trucks North America, we were given a short,
exceedingly rare, yet undeniably enticing, look at the vast
extent of eCascadia development as Freightliner ramps-up
plans to introduce an electric powertrain for shorthaul
heavy-duty applications in the US. Accordingly, Daimler’s
local leadership is paying close attention.
It is, says Whitehead, all part of a current Daimler Trucks
clean transport strategy based on battery-electric systems
for shorthaul roles and hydrogen technology for long
distance operations, with series production of highly
advanced hydrogen-fuelled models slated for launch in the
2025 to 2030 timeframe.
For its part, Fuso showcased its ‘Vision F-Cell’ (fuel cell)
hydrogen-based model at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show and
76 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

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STRENGTH
IN NUMBERS
Fuso’s contribution to Daimler Trucks
Australia’s market performance is perhaps
easily overlooked but in sheer numbers, it
leaves its big brothers well behind
“The timing is good. We
are in the middle of a
revolution.”
states it will have hydrogen-powered vehicles in series
production by 2029.
Well aware of Fuso’s critical involvement in Daimler’s
rapidly evolving technology is the new head of Fuso in
Australia, Alex Müller. Appointed to the role of director
at Fuso Truck & Bus, COVID-19 delayed his arrival from
Germany for more than a year, but at the launch of eCanter
he was quick to insist: “The timing is good. We are in the
middle of a revolution [and] today we are making history.”
According to Fuso’s press statement, eCanter has a
range of more than 100km when fully loaded, and can be
recharged to 80 per cent capacity in an hour using a 50kW
rapid charger or fully charged in 90 minutes.
Six liquid-cooled lithium ion batteries mounted in the
eCanter frame store 82.8kWh of electricity (with 66kWh of
usable power) and feed a permanent magnet synchronous
motor. Power output is rated at 135kW and 390Nm of torque
can be delivered the moment the accelerator pedal is
pressed.
Built at Fuso’s Tramagal factory in Portugal, whereas
diesel-powered Canters are produced at the Kawasaki
plant in Japan, the eCanter cab is fundamentally the same
as the standard Canter but features a unique instrument
cluster which shows driving range and how much energy
is being recouped through regenerative braking when the
vehicle slows.
Unlike its diesel brother though, eCanter drivers sit on a
quality Isri suspension seat.
And, just as it did in 2019, eCanter will be a major Fuso
attraction at this year’s Brisbane Truck Show. This time
though, it’s here for good. In more ways than one.
Top: Thumbs up from Scott Buchholz, federal assistant minister for road
safety & freight transport. The assistant minister is a regular guest at
trucking events but the federal government’s support for cleaner trucks is
neither clear nor consistent
Such has been the coverage and promotion of the latest Freightliner and
Mercedes-Benz models over the past few years, you could be forgiven for
thinking Fuso is something of a poor cousin in the Daimler Trucks world.
But not so, and certainly not in Australia.
Fuso, in fact, sells many times more trucks in our part of the world than
either of its high profile partners. Admittedly, the Japanese brand contests
all three market segments – light, medium and heavy-duty – whereas
Freightliner and Mercedes-Benz trucks are almost entirely dedicated to the
heavy-duty class.
Even so, Fuso figures in 2020 leave no doubt of its critical importance
to Daimler’s Down Under department, delivering 3,529 units for the
year. Mercedes-Benz, on the other hand, continued its steady rise with a
respectable 1,291. Freightliner, however, notched just 257 units, due in no
small part to COVID-19 and stalled supply of its new Cascadia.
In total, Daimler Trucks Australia last year delivered 5,077 trucks across the
three market segments, and 69.5 per cent of them carried the Fuso badge –
2,022 light-duty, 1,074 medium-duty and 433 heavy-duty.
In the first quarter of this year, Fuso delivered 925 units, Mercedes-Benz
387 and Freightliner 90, still giving Fuso around 66 per cent of all Daimler
Trucks Australia sales.
A year from now though, with its new 510hp (380kW) Shogun no doubt
pushing for a bigger slice of the heavy-duty market, Fuso’s overall influence
could be even greater.
A confident Daimler Trucks Australia boss Daniel Whitehead agrees but
predicts substantial growth from all three brands, with Mercedes-Benz
continuing to record exceptionally good figures and Freightliner Cascadia
now starting to gain momentum after a slow start.
“I couldn’t be happier with the way things are going. We now have the
biggest order intake for Freightliner in the past 10 years,” Whitehead
commented on Cascadia, citing a recent order for more than 60 heavy-duty
roadtrain units to Centurion Transport.
“And truly, that’s just one example of the momentum that’s now building,
not just for Cascadia but across all three brands.”
78 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

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truck dealerships
AIMING FOR HIGHER
GROUND
IT WAS WITH a sense of déjà vu
the International Harvester days,
that I paid my first visit to Iveco’s and it hasn’t had any real investment
new dealership in the Brisbane
at all, apart from updates after the
suburb of Wacol. It wasn’t until
2011 floods,” Brisbane Iveco dealer
climbed the stairs to the reception principal Geoff Buswell explains.
counter that, despite the building’s “We just outgrew it.”
major modifications, the realisation With its end of lease looming in 2020,
hit home that I’d been to this
Iveco, like other truck dealerships,
address before.
began to look elsewhere with the aim
Back in 2018, the site was Volvo
of relocating to higher ground well
Commercial Vehicles HQ, before that
away from the flood area. Buswell says
The Iveco Brisbane
company’s move to its current location Daimler Trucks is another that’s on the
just over 1km away. However, apart from move to Darra, opposite the Kenworth
dealership’s move to a new
the Iveco signage, there were quite a
dealership. And, as far as Iveco is
number of important changes to the
concerned, its new site is also a more
flood-proof location has
facility since the Volvo days.
convenient location.
Once Volvo had signalled its
“We’re a hop, skip and a jump to
proved to be a boon for
intention to move on, Iveco grabbed the Cummins, and we’re near Penske, who
opportunity to set about vacating its old do all our Allison transmissions.
both customers and the
dealership at Rocklea, for a number of
“With this new truck hub at Wacol, all
reasons, not least its close proximity to the dealerships are understanding now
dealership’s team members.
the flood-prone Brisbane River.
to just get out of the flood area.”
The other was that the previous
Greg Bush writes
premises were, to be put it bluntly,
Essential service
passed its use-by date.
Iveco’s refurbishment of the old Volvo
“The old site was built in 1966 from premises began in November 2019,
80 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

commencing business at Wacol on Tuesday, December 1,
2020. In between were COVID lockdowns, with Buswell and
his team continuing with hygiene and social distancing
protocols that are still in place today. Indeed, apart from
customers picking up spare parts, visitors must scan a QR
code when entering the building. And there are definitely no
handshakes on offer.
While it could be pointed out that this caution could
have come via Iveco’s parent company CNH Industrial
being headquartered in Italy, one of Europe’s most
“It’s about
making
sure that
we can stay
open as an
essential
service.”
Above: Iveco Brisbane dealer
principal Geoff Buswell
Left: Plenty of social distancing
space in the parts and service
showroom
ownerdriver.com.au
MAY 2021 81

“You still get guys coming
in with the old ACCOs.”
Top: The facility includes a 20-bay
fully refurbished workshop
Above: The Daily customer lounge
Right: Queensland Police are
among Iveco’s customer base
Opposite: Parts warehouse:
“There’s no-one in the Iveco
network that holds more parts
than we do,” says Geoff Buswell;
The workshop boasts the latest
diagnostic tools
COVID-affected countries, Buswell says Iveco Australia
adopted specific measures from day one.
“It’s not about being a germophobe; it’s about making
sure that we can stay open as an essential service,”
Buswell explains.
“We have a lot of interstate truck drivers coming in. If
we get one case of COVID we could shut down, so from a
customer point of view we’re not going to able to service
vehicles and supply parts.
“We only had one day’s downtime last year. From an
essential service point of view, we had to provide the
service for the garbage trucks, transport workers, concrete
trucks and water trucks.”
In addition, every vehicle that enters the workshop is
sterilised, and the steering wheel wrapped.
The pandemic also played its part when it came to
updating the premises, with Buswell playing a handson
design role. The social distancing angle becomes
apparent for customers entering the vast parts and service
showroom. In fact, parts take up much of the building’s
ground floor, from the awning outside the showroom way
back through to the extensive warehouse.
In between are the one-way windows separating the
showroom from the team’s lunchroom, making sure
customers are not left waiting.
“The whole area here was completely revamped, so when a
customer walks in all our guys can see them. The windows
at the back are like a mirror and we can see them but they
can’t see us,” Buswell explains. “There’s no-one in the Iveco
network that holds more parts than we do.”
The dealership also maintains parts and service for the
International brand stretching back decades, as well as
catering for older model Ivecos with an eye on the growing
interest in vehicle restoration. Under the spare parts
counter sits a variety of well-worn catalogues from up to 50
years ago, and requests are filled where possible.
“You still get guys coming in with the old ACCOs,”
Buswell says.
For service customers prepared to wait it out, there
are two well-appointed lounges – one for Daily customers
and the other for truck drivers. Both come equipped with
toilets, coffee machine, books, free Wi-Fi and TV with
Netflix.
For truckies, there’s the welcome addition of showers
plus washing machine and drying facilities. There’s
also a separate room equipped with four beds for long
haul drivers.
“We had a guy in from Adelaide who slept for around
82 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

five hours while he was waiting to get a radiator
changed,” Buswell points out.
“From a retail customer experience, that’s the
key. Whether you’ve only got one truck or 100
trucks, they all deserve the same level of respect.
That’s my motto.”
As far as servicing is concerned, the facility
includes a 20-bay workshop, fully refurbished,
including two drive-through B-double service
pits.
“We can drive a B-double truck here without
unhooking it,” Buswell says, adding that it’s an
area of the business that he’s keen to grow.
As well as the latest diagnostic tools, the
workshop boasts brake roller testing with shaker
for Iveco’s range of commercial vehicles.
Employee wellbeing
As well as customer comfort, the Wacol premises
have also been designed with employees in
mind. For the showroom’s exterior, including the
customer drop-off area, awnings have been added
or, in the case of the workshop bays, lengthened
out to nine metres. No more being on the
receiving end of the elements.
In addition, LED lighting is standard across
the Wacol facility, a welcome inclusion for
technicians whose visibility was hampered by
shadows from the old lighting at Rocklea.
“We took a long time in planning it,” Buswell
says. “Did I get it all right? Probably not, but I
think I got 90 per cent of it right.”
Buswell believes the move out of dusty
old Rocklea to Wacol has also provided extra
motivation for his team, which is a mix of new
apprentices through to some who have been with
Brisbane Iveco for around 20 years or more.
“By giving them a nice facility it’s put a smile on
their faces.”
ownerdriver.com.au
MAY 2021 83

tech briefs
Hella
lights up
Brisbane
HELLA AUSTRALIA is back at the
Brisbane Truck Show with what it says
is a state-of-the-art array of signal
and forward lighting solutions for
truck and trailer manufacturers and
operators, including the customisable
Shapeline range.
The Hella stand will also feature
the Scantrip work and inspection
lamp ranges and Mahle thermal
management aftermarket products,
ABOVE: Hella’s LED Rallye 4000 lamp range will
make its public debut in Brisbane
BELOW: Hella’s DuraLED Combi-SR rear
combination lamp
distributed nationally by Hella
Australia.
“We will welcome visitors to our
stand which is stacked with a broad
selection of products aimed at the
commercial vehicle market, both for
original equipment manufacturers
and aftermarket customers,” says
Cameron Hoy, Hella Australia national
manager, special original equipment –
on-highway.
“All of our products are focused on
providing premium quality, enhanced
durability and unbeatable reliability.
“One of the stars of our show will
be the new, all-in-one, slimline, fivefunction
DuraLED Combi-SR rear
combination lamp that incorporates
a built-in retro reflector, saving both
time and money on installation,” Hoy
says.
“This makes the Combi-SR the ideal
choice for vehicles with limited space
to mount a separate reflector.
“Hella is a significant supplier to
Australia’s trailer market with around
65 percent OE coverage. This market is
now wholly LED, with Hella’s ‘Fit and
Forget’ engineering ensuring high
levels of reliability and durability, with
low current draw. The robust DuraLED
Combi-SR tail lamp comes with an
unrivalled lifetime warranty for the
first fit,” he adds.
“The lifetime warranty is a statement
of confidence in our DuraLED product
range, which also ensures reduced
downtime for truck and trailer
operators.
“The opportunity cost of a trailer offroad
to fix a blown globe is far greater
than the cost of the replacement
part. But with Hella’s quality and
durability, there’s no vehicle-off-road
costs to incur, just seamless, durable
performance.
“They’re impervious to truck-wash
and other chemicals commonly used
in the transport industry, so they won’t
breakdown or become brittle in typical
Australian operating conditions.”
In addition to the DuraLED Combi-
SR signal lamp on show, Hella says it
is also displaying its range of optical
warning system lamps. This includes
the low-profile mini and micro LED
light bars, plus the three LED or six
LED surface mount BST slim series
lamps, which it points out is ideal for
owner-driver truck/trailers, tow trucks,
compactors and general utilities
vehicles.
The new K-LED Rebelution low
profile amber warning ‘rotating’
beacon with its new-look smooth
optical light-guide pattern is also on
display, marking a step-change from
the flashing matrix pattern of old.
Hella says its Shapeline signal lamp
series is a true innovation in vehicle
lighting, for the front, side and rear
of trucks and trailers. The range of
lamps is integrated and customisable,
melding LED lighting technology with
premium three-dimensional designs
in contour and form.
“Hella Shapeline allows the vehicle
or trailer builder or owner to add a
variety of signal or marker lamps
around the vehicle, providing a
unique, customisable lighting
signature,” Hoy continues.
“The lighting components offer
simple and clever mounting methods,
plus the added benefit of integrated
AMP connectors. The Shapeline series
is ECE compliant and multi-voltage,
allowing for seamless connection to
either 12V or 24V vehicles.
“A full range of regular and auxiliary
lighting options will be displayed on
our stand.”
In addition, Hella’s LED Rallye 4000
lamp range will make its public debut
at the Brisbane Truck Show. For the
forward driving lamp, in pencil or
spread beam pattern, Hella says there
is now an LED insert replacement
for customers who want to retain
their existing wiring, mount and
lamp casing and update to LED
illumination.
“The Rallye 4000 has long been a
stalwart of the Hella range and the
arrival of the LED Rallye 4000 will be
warmly welcomed b y a large portion of
the truck driving market,” Hoy says.
“The new LED lamp will be quickly
adopted by drivers who want the best
and latest gear, and the Rallye 4000
continues in its position as a highlydesirable
premium performance
product.”
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TRAILERS
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84 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

Western Star’s blind spot radar option
WESTERN STAR TRUCKS has
announced that blind spot radar
has been introduced across its
range, which it says will give drivers
even greater confidence behind
the wheel.
By scanning the area alongside the
truck, the ‘Spotto’ blind spot radar
system is said to help eliminate
the dangers associated with blind
spots at all times and in all weather
conditions.
Mounted to the passenger-side
step, Western Star says the radar uses
advanced microwave technology to
detect objects that might be hidden
from the driver’s view including
vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles,
pedestrians and infrastructure.
An indicator fitted in the
passenger-side A-pillar, within
the driver’s direct line-of-sight
when checking their side mirror,
provides visual and audible alerts to
potential collisions with objects in
the blind area.
The radar system is said to
utilise intelligent algorithms
to calculate the velocity and
distance of objects relative to the
side of the truck, resulting in a
safety system that’s accurate and
reliable, with minimal false alerts.
“The introduction of the option
to have the blind spot radar
option fitted to any vehicle across
the Western Star range will give
drivers that added assurance when
changing lanes or making turns,”
says Dale Christensen, national sales
manager – Western Star Trucks,
Penske Australia.
“By contacting one of our
Western Star dealers, existing or
new customers can have the radar
system installed on their truck.
“And for customers who get in
before the end of May, a special price
of $900 is currently on offer.”
The Spotto radar has been
developed in Australia by
technology supplier FleetSafe,
specifically to address the issue
of collisions due to blind spots
around trucks.
“It’s made for trucks and
engineered to withstand the
harsh environment of Australian
trucking,” says Ian Kalmek, business
development manager at FleetSafe.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering
with Penske and the Western Star
brand to enhance the safety of their
trucks.”
EURO 6 FOR HINO 700
HINO AUSTRALIA has confirmed that the all-new 700 Series will be its
cleanest heavy-duty truck yet, while also being designed for improved
fuel efficiency.
“Like the 500 Series Standard Cab, the all-new Hino 700 Series will
exceed the current Australian exhaust emission standards,” says Daniel
Petrovski, manager of product strategy for Hino Australia.
“The new models will meet Euro 6 exhaust emission standards before
they are legislated in Australia.
“The all-new 700 Series will break new ground for Hino in terms of
safety and environmental commitment, which are key features in
today’s competitive marketplace,” he continues.
In addition, Hino says its all-new Hino 700 Series will boast the most
comprehensive safety package ever offered in a Hino truck for the
Australian market.
The all-new 700 Series models will feature a pre-collision system
with autonomous emergency braking, vehicle stability control, LED
headlamps and daytime running lamps plus a suite of additional
safety features.
Hino says the comprehensive safety package, Hino SmartSafe, features
driver-assist technology, which takes an active focus on protecting the
lives of drivers, passengers and other road users.
“At Hino Australia, safety is a central design principal and the all-new
700 Series is no exception,” Petrovski says.
“It will answer a lot of the major safety issues that confront the
transport industry and other road users with the implementation of
advanced driver assist technology, Hino SmartSafe.”
Further details about the all-new 700 Series will be released closer to
its launch in June.
The launch of the new 700 Series follows the resignation of Hino
Australia vice-president of brand and franchise development, Bill
Gillespie, due to personal reasons.
Gillespie, whose last day was April 16, joined Hino Australia
in February 2014 following a 30-year career in strategy, network
development, marketing and sales in the automotive industry.
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MAY 2021 85

tech briefs
New Actros in Supercar support
A NEW MERCEDES-BENZ ACTROS
will haul the Red Bull Ampol Racing
transporter for the 2021 Repco
Supercars season.
It will carry the cars of seventime
Supercars champion, Jamie
Whincup, and 2016 Supercars
championship winner and current
series leader, Shane van Gisbergen,
as well as a vast amount of spares
and team gear.
Whincup was on hand to collect
the keys to the top-of-the-line Actros
prime mover at Daimler Truck and
Bus headquarters in Mulgrave,
Victoria, recently and took the truck
for a quick drive.
The range-topping 16-litre Actros
produces 625hp (466kW) of power,
not far off the ‘635hp-plus’ output
of Red Bull Ampol Racing Holdens
it hauls, but the big Mercedes-Benz
also makes a hefty 3,000Nm of
torque.
Mercedes-Benz says the Actros
features predictive powertrain
control, which uses topographic
map data and GPS information to
help the truck anticipate terrain
and select the optimum shift
pattern and engine response for
maximum fuel economy.
It also features two 12-inch
(30.5cm) customisable tablet screens
that present information in super
crisp detail, which Daimler says
gives the driver more control and
information in a clear and stylish
manner.
Red Bull Ampol Racing also ticked
the box for the optional MirrorCam
system, which captures vision from
cameras on aerodynamic wings and
displays it on screens mounted on
the A-pillars in the cabin.
Whincup, who has a multi
combination heavy vehicle licence,
enjoyed his drive in the Actros
prime mover.
“The cab is a real stand out. It’s
LEFT: Jamie Whincup, who holds a MC heavy
licence, took the Across for a spin
really impressive how much of the
technology you see in Mercedes-
Benz cars is also in these trucks,”
Whincup says.
“These screens and the touch
controls on the steering wheel are
excellent, because it’s really easy to
keep on top of everything.”
Whincup, who is competing in
his last full season of Supercars,
welcomed Daimler Trucks on board
as a sponsor and supplier of the
team’s trucks.
“We always want to work with the
leaders in each field and it’s clear
that Daimler Trucks is a leader with
advanced trucks like this Actros,”
Whincup says.
Whincup is hoping to hit the road
for a longer run in the Actros on the
way to one of the events during this
season, but regular driving duties
fall to experienced transporter
driver Dave Lewin.
Like all Actros models, the Red
Bull Ampol Actros comes standard
with the Mercedes-Benz active
brake assist system, a radar/camera
system that can automatically
perform full emergency braking for
vehicles and pedestrians.
Come and talk to
us about Brisbane
Truck Show
Specials!
Stand #240 on the
Plaza level
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Call Superchrome on 02 9060 1610 or visit us at www.superchrome.com.au
86 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

Janus to showcase electric Kenworth
JANUS ELECTRIC has announced
that it is set to unveil a world first
patented exchangeable battery that
will revolutionise the road transport
industry. Its first proto-type - an electric
converted Kenworth T403 – will be
unveiled at the Brisbane Truck Show.
Developed by professional engineers
led by co-founder Bevan Dooley and
transport operators, Janus claims its
batteries remove the need for heavy
electric vehicles to plug in and charge
for 12 hours.
Instead, the Janus “revolutionary
solution” can be swapped out in three
minutes with a ready to go battery
thereby increasing vehicle utilisation.
Lex Forsyth, Janus Electric’s general
manager, says the exchangeable battery
is a game changer for the transport
industry globally.
“The fact it’s exchangeable and can
be done in three minutes at one of
the charge stations located initially
at key locations along the east coast
from Brisbane to Sydney is world class,
Forsyth explains.
“Janus Electric has solved the scale,
price-point and battery technology
challenge for conversion to electric.
“We want to lead the transition to
electric heavy vehicle road transport
in Australia, and we want Australian
businesses to be at the forefront of this
next phase of road transport globally.”
This viable next-generation battery
technology claims to deliver a carbon
zero solution for the electrification
of road transport fleets. Forsyth says
the Janus Electric technology has the
potential for a huge positive impact on
the global environmental footprint.
“It features a battery that can be
charged utilising renewable energy
sources such as solar, wind and hydro,”
he says.
“Janus batteries can be charged
when and where it makes sense both
environmentally with renewable
energy and economically when the
electrical grid is not in high demand.”
The new technology is a significant
boon for the transport industry
looking to convert from diesel to
electric. Existing fleets can now be
converted to electric drive for the same
cost as refurbishing a diesel engine.
Forsyth claims it takes less than a week
for Janus to convert any existing heavy
duty prime mover into an electric
vehicle.
“This means fleet operators can
Three-minute battery swap
cost-effectively undertake mass
electrification of their entire fleet for
the same cost of re-working a diesel
engine,” he adds.
“There are substantial cost savings to
fleet electrification.
“The Janus solution can deliver up to
a 30 per cent reduction in maintenance
and operating costs. There are positive
benefits for the drivers fatigue
management and overall health and
well-being with the Janus conversion
from diesel to electric through the
reduction of vibration, noise and
harmful fumes,” Forsyth says.
“Janus is a technology led business
with a smart solution that will
benefit everyone within the transport
ecosystem from governments to
large scale fleet operators, individual
owner drivers and renewable energy
providers.”
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PHONE (07) 3376 6188
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FREE DELIVERY AUSTRALIA WIDE
ownerdriver.com.au
MAY 2021 87

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A
TRUCKING SUPPLIES
TRUCKS FOR WRECKING WAGGA WAGGA
334 Copland St, P.O. Box 2373, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650 Web: truckingsupplies.com.au
Ph: (02) 6925 8888 Fax: (02) 6925 8889
KENWORTH K104
2003, Cummins ISX engine, 18 speed gearbox, Eaton dd462 x lock
diffs on Airglide 4oo, drop on cab, bull bar, hydraulics, Alcoas. W2496.
TA1077018.
POA
KENWORTH K108
2010, Cummins EGR engine, rtlo20918 gearbox, Spicer rt46-170 diffs
on Airglide 460, cab parts. W2500. TA1077031.
POA
KENWORTH K104
2001, Detroit 12.7 reman engine,rtlo18918b gearbox, Meritor rt46-160
diffs, cab parts, Alcoas, bullbar. W2497. TA1077021.
POA
FREIGHTLINER ARGOSY
2005, Cummins ISX engine, 18 speed auto, Meritor diffs, cab parts,
bumper, Alcoas. Wrecking. W2494. TA1071612.
POA
DAF XF 105
2014, Paccar engine, ZF16as2430 gearbox Meritor diffs on Airglide
460, cab parts, Alcoas. Wrecking. W2493. TA1077017.
POA
FREIGHTLINER ARGOSY
2009, Detroit 14l EGR, rtlo20918as3,meritor rt46-160 on Airliner, cab
parts. Wrecking. W2487. TA1071595.
POA
VOLVO FH12
2003, Volvo d12 engine, auto gearbox, Volvo diffs, cab parts,
aluminium tipper body, ring feeder. Wrecking. W2495. TA1071614.
POA
KENWORTH K104
2002, Caterpillar C15 engine, 18 speed gearbox, Alcoa, cab parts,
Eaton ds461 diffs. W2498. TA1077024.
POA
FREIGHTLINER CORONADO
2013, Drop on cab /bonnet, Alcoas,radiator/intercooler. Dd15 parts.
W2486. TA1071593.
POA
FREIGHTLINER C120
2003, Cummins signature engine, rtlo20918b gearbox, rt46-160 diffs
on airliner suspension, cab parts. Wrecking. W2492. TA1071607.
POA
FREIGHTLINER FLXC112
2000, Cat C12 engine,rtlo18918 gearbox, Meritor rt46160 diffs, cab
parts, Alcoas. W2499. TA1077026.
POA
DAF CF85
2007, 430hp engine, ZF ecosplit 16s18 4it gearbox, rt46-160 diffs on
Airglide 400, cab parts, Alcoas. W2485. TA1063501.
POA
TRUCK DISMANTLERS
Email: tsenquiries@truckingsupplies.com.au
WEBSITE UPDATED DAILY truckingsupplies.com.au
MDL 19571
MVRL 24428
OWD-FP-5011320-B

www.trucktools.com.au
TRUCK REPAIR TOOLS AND
WORKSHOP EQUIPMENT
Australia’s Largest Specialty
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info@trucktools.com.au

DRAKE 4X2 2016, in excellent condition and well maintained,
6V9T23ABKG0074006. QLD. DIY1076085. 0421 663 322. $74,500
MACK SUPER-LINER 1984, E9/525hp, 12 speed. Genuine low
kms, No. VIC. DIY1074656. 0419 881 837. $148,000
FREIGHTLINER ARGOSY 101 2008, low kilometre 2008
Freightliner Argosy 110, bisalloy Hercules Tipper with sleeper
cab. This has done genuine low kms - 227,000 - Build date:
11/08. This unit is in excellent condition, tipper has done little
work and is in excellent condition, no. QLD. DIY1074560.
0410 630 261. $82,000 Ex GST
ISUZU F SERIES 2018, Almost new, only 11000kms, XQ57BU.
NSW. DIY1073768. 0407 787 675. $98,000
IVECO ACCO 2350G 2003, White Crane Truck, XV48KI. VIC.
DIY1062749. 0422 705 669. $40,000
ADVERTISE
IN PRINT &
ONLINE
$
59
FROM
IVECO STRALIS 360 2012, Iveco Pantech,
WJMA1VPH404393068. QLD. DIY1066449. 0417 712 754.
$76,890 incl gst neg
ARGOSY AIRLINER 2006, Argosy rear cut 46-160 4.1, Airliner
1, both diffs lock, full ABS harness and computer for retrofit,
7ab4v2600000zzzzz. QLD. DIY1062745. 0409 355 662.
$6,600 Argosy rear cut 46-160 4.1, Airliner 1
KENWORTH T404 SAR 2006, Cummins ISX engine,
RTLO18918B trans, 46-160 (4.30) diffs, 79132765. NSW.
DIY1060582. 0409 706 430. $148,500
HINO FS 270 SUPER DOLPHIN 1990, Good sturdy solid truck.
Goes well for its age, CM22WU. NSW. DIY1056837.
0417 518 424. $23,000
OR CALL 1300 362 272
The publisher accepts no responsibility or liability for any losses incurred by a buyer responding
to an advertisement in this magazine. Buyers are solely responsible for their own negotiations and
transactions with advertisers. Bauer Trader Media advises buyers beware of negotiating by email only;
of paying deposits to private advertisers for goods unseen; of transferring money (for example via
Western Union) interstate or overseas. Buyers should contact Bauer Trader Media customer service
on 1300 362 272 if they suspect an advertisement may be fraudulent. In the event that a buyer suffers
financial loss as a result of responding to a private advertisement in this publication Bauer Media Ltd
(The Publisher) shall not be held liable or responsible.
MERCEDES-BENZ 2653 2018, Mercedes Actros with
Freightliner 45' flatop top trailer and introduction to work,
WDB96342420203089. NSW. DIY1052322. 0418 780 402.
$319,000 ONO incl GST
ll
0 -- 0
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Filter
c:;,
Clutch
Wheel Hub
0 A
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Brake
i
Compressor
Shaft
Steering
Spring Leaf
AIR SPRING • AXLE • BRAKE • CABIN • CABLES • CHASSIS • CLUTCH • COMPRESSOR • COOLING • DIFFERENTIAL EXHAUST • ELECTRICAL • ENGINE • FILTER •
FUEL • OIL EQUIPMENT • SHAFT • SPRING LEAF • STEERING SUSPENSION • TRAILER EQUIPMENT • TRANSMISSION • UNIVERSAL • WHEEL HUB .
STOCKISTS FOR : VOLVO • MERCEDES • MAN • DAF • IVECO . RENAULT
4/55 Glenbarry Road Campbellfield, Victoria 3061
Telephone: (03) 9357- 7081 or (03) 9357-8259 Fax: (03) 9357-8261
Email: sales@volwreck.com.au Website: www.volwreck.com.au

ownerdriver
MUDFLAPS
Stephen Langham
M: 0422 799 302
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Ph: (02) 9899 4090
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VISIT TRADETRUCKS.COM.AU/SELL
OR CALL 1300 362 272
TANKS FOR TRUCKS
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CUSTOM MADE ~ FUEL, WATER & HYDRAULIC
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CANFRED Engineering Pty Ltd - 48 Barry St, Bayswater, Vic
canfred@outlook.com
OWD-SBC-5031723-CS-319
Hook: trailer connected, trailer tyre data shows on display
Drop: trailer detached, tyre data will not show.
www.promata.com.au
02 9922 7270
PLAZA #281
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1800 625 746
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• Fast Food takes on a whole new meaning with the Travel Buddy
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Ph: (03) 5441 3388 www.travelbuddy.net.au
SACKED OWNER DRIVERS
REDUNDANT OWNER DRIVERS
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Helping Owner Drivers Aust-wide for over 20 years
• Unfair Dismissal and Termination claims
• Underpayment claims re Hourly & Km rates
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• Advice Owner Driver Legislation Australia wide
6 Year Time Limitation Period
CONNECT LEGAL
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Contact Jake - Principal Solicitor
02 9889 2239
www.connectlegal.com.au
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02 6925 8788
www.tbiinsurance.com.au
Transport & Business Insurance Services Pty Ltd ABN 22 622 458 593 - AR#
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Australia Pty Ltd - ABN 81 006 528 329 - ASFL No. 238 963

visit www.ownerdriver.com.au
OWD-EP-5210624-CS-340
NEWS & REVIEWS USED TRUCKS FOR SALE
JOBS NEW TRUCK SEARCH
TIPPER/TANKER
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OWD-EP-5211458-TS-340
Busy Transport company based in Oaklands NSW is
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Email a copy of your resume to
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Or alternatively call Peter on 02
60354 354 or 0408 477 661.

FOR THE OWNER-DRIVER Frank Black
The squeeze on safety
Will the increase in high productivity vehicles push
owner-drivers out of the picture?
THE INCREASING push towards
high productivity trucks could
have dire consequences for
owner-drivers, small operators
and the travelling public.
I recently welcomed the
opportunity to join a Heavy
Vehicle Reference Group Meeting by
the Department of Infrastructure and
Transport, called the ‘SA Road Safety
Strategy to 2031’.
The focus of some parts of this
discussion was alarming – a push
to reduce heavy vehicle numbers by
increasing high productivity trucks
and giving them greater access to cities.
The objective of this being to reduce
heavy vehicle/light vehicle interactions,
therefore supposedly reducing accidents.
That paints a very bleak future for
owner-drivers and small operators.
Heading it up with a title of ‘road
safety strategy’ is equally damaging.
The idea that swapping out smaller
trucks for bigger ones will decrease
fatalities is short-sighted and ignores
the squeeze on transport that puts
pressure on drivers to work long hours
and take risks. It’s no great secret that
there are drivers that take drugs to stay
awake. We constantly hear of drivers
being detected driving fatigued or with
drugs in their system, at times after
horrific accidents with loss of lives and
destruction of innocent families.
There are deep rooted problems in
trucking that will continue to exist even
if smaller trucks are wiped out entirely.
Switching to bigger, heavier trucks
without addressing the fatigue,
financial stress, health problems and
other pressures on drivers is only going
to make our roads more dangerous.
Opening up access for B-doubles, triples
or road trains into populated areas
could be disastrous.
Initially, B-doubles came about for
efficient depot-to-depot runs of large
consignments. Distributing smaller
consignments from depots to customers
is generally where us owner-drivers
come in. Now, B-doubles are increasingly
going straight to the customer, and it is
clear the Department of Infrastructure
and Transport is prioritising this type
of freight as a misguided method for
reducing death and injuries.
SPREADING THE MYTH
It’s no surprise that the Australian
FRANK BLACK
has been
a long distance ownerdriver
for more than
30 years. He is a former
long-term owner-driver
representative on the ATA
Council.
“Very few
ownerdrivers
would
have the
upfront
funds
to buy a
B-double.”
Trucking Association (ATA) is involved
in steering the government in this
direction. Touting a plan that protects
the ability of wealthy companies to
cut costs while squeezing out smaller
operators and owner-drivers proves
where the ATA’s interests lie.
The irony is that associations like the
ATA were actively involved in spreading
the myth that the Road Safety
Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) was bad
for small operators and owner-drivers.
In actual fact, it would have provided
a safety net with minimum standards
that wealthy clients would have been
forced to fund. It has now been five
years since the RSRT was abolished
and transport supply chains have
continued to struggle under a race to
the bottom on rates, causing owneroperators
to do it tough and many to go
out of business.
What is truly going to crush ownerdrivers
and small operators is this
emphasis on ‘high productivity’ trucks
that the ATA is driving. Very few
owner-drivers would have the upfront
funds to buy a B-double and even fewer
would have the means to store one.
To stay afloat with the trucks we
already own we’d be forced to charge
more to cover the dip in business,
which isn’t going to work either.
There is, and always will be, a
great need for transporting small
consignments and the reality is that
owner-drivers provide a flexible and
versatile solution. We carry everything
from bricks to medicine and can do so
efficiently.
SAFETY SQUEEZE
The government’s lack of action on
trucking means there is no shortage of
ways safety can be improved.
Stopping the squeeze through supply
chains should be the first priority to
ensure drivers can rest, drive within
safe parameters and maintain their
vehicles.
This applies no matter the size of
the truck. It should be recognised as
the first principle in saving lives on
our roads, but it is overwhelmingly
ignored.
Once this has been addressed there
are many other methods to improve
safety, like creating a minimum
speed limit on highways to reduce
overtaking, cutting the heavy vehicle
speed limit through cities to 50km/h
to assist with emergency braking, and
improving roads and rest areas.
Australia relies on road transport
to keep our economy going. Clearing
the roads of smaller trucks is not
going to make them safer by replacing
them with B-doubles under the same
shattered transport industry.
When it comes to B-doubles and
triples, we need a cap on the amount
of them on the road and their access to
populated areas or busy routes for cars.
For the industry as a whole, we need
safe, minimum rates and standards
throughout trucking supply chains.
I do commend the department for
bringing an owner-driver voice into
the discussion and would welcome the
opportunity to maintain a dialogue.
Driver representation on boards is
crucial to success, especially when it
comes to road safety.
94 MAY 2021 ownerdriver.com.au

TRUCK | TRAILER | BUS | 4WD
& INDUSTRIAL PARTS
NEW
NEW
SAMPA 300T
FIFTH COMPLETE WHEEL
PRODUCT
AIR SUSPENSION
HIGHLIGHTS
Designed to perform in the toughest road conditions!
Key Points!
• Smoother ride and enhanced cargo safety
s! • Exceptional handling and ride control
• Diminishes trailer lateral movement and roll steer force
• International quality 5th Wheel with Australian approvals
PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS
• Interchangeable with common Australian brands
• Long-lasting, durable body and pedestals
• Full range of replacement parts available
Please, scan with your smartphone camera or
QR code app to watch Sampa Air Spring videos
• Designed and tested for extreme conditions.
Spare Parts
SAMPA 300T
COMPLETE
501.186 501.187
Complete Beam, Balance Arm Axle
SAMPA 300T
COMPLETE
Spare Parts
AIR SUSPENSION
PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS
AIR SUSPENSION
• Stiff, strong, durable and safe
Complete Beam, Balance Arm Axle
PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS
• Full range of replacement parts available
• Compatible with industry standard frames
• Suspension beam with rigid connection to the shaft
• Simple and robust design for minimal maintenance
501.176 501.177
Beam, Balance Arm Axle
Beam, Balance Arm Axle
Replaces: D-20186-1, S-20186-1
Replaces: D-20186-2, S-20186-2
• Approved and tested for Australian conditions.
501.186
Complete Beam, Balance Arm Ax
501.176
Beam, Balance Arm Axle
Replaces: D-20186-1, S-20186-
501.188
HEADQUARTERS
Yavuz Sultan Selim Bulv. Alemdag Cad.
Perla Vista AVM B-Blok Kat: 10 No: 92 34528
Beykent-Beylikduzu / ISTANBUL / TURKEY
T : +90 212 707 59 00
F : +90 212 872 80 84
FACTORY & WAREHOUSE
Sabanoglu OSB Mahallesi Organize Sanayi Bulvari
SP No: 31 C7 Tekkekoy D 001 / SAMSUN / TURKEY
SP C8 D1 002
T : +90 362 362 63 00
sampa.com
F : +90 362 266 93 58
Surface Diameter 37” sampa.com
38”
King pin 2” 3.5”
Total Height 185mm 190mm
D Value 152 kN 260 kN
sampa.com U Value 20 Tonnes 36 Tonnes
CRN 51041 51042
Bracket, Balance Arm Axle
Replaces: S-23790-1, C-23790-1
HEADQUARTERS
Yavuz Sultan Selim Bulv. Alemdag Cad.
Perla Vista AVM B-Blok Kat: 10 No: 92 34528
Beykent-Beylikduzu / ISTANBUL / TURKEY
T : +90 212 707 59 00
F : +90 212 872 80 84
FACTORY & WAREHOUSE
Sabanoglu OSB Mahallesi Organize Sanayi Bulvari
No: 31 Tekkekoy / SAMSUN / TURKEY
T : +90 362 362 63 00
F : +90 362 266 93 58
sampa.com
501.178
Specifications & General Dimensions
501.179
501.188
Bracket, Balance Arm Axle
Capacity: Replaces: 30,000 S-23790-2, lbs. C-23790-2 (13,600 kg)
501.188
Suitable Axle Data: 5-inch diameter round, 5/8-inch wall, 15- and 16.5-inch brakes
Benchmarking
Parameters SAMPA IAM Competitor OEM Competitor
Cataphoresis Coating Yes sampa.com No Yes
501.180 501.181
Plate, Air Spring
Salt Sprey Test Up to 1000 h Up to 480 h Up to 1000 h
Replaces: A-20031
sampa.com
Stress Relieving* Yes No Yes
Plate, Air Spring
Replaces: C-20199-1
*The parts shown are products of Sampa that can be used instead of the original part of the vehicle manufacturer. OEM numbers and trademarks are stated for comparison only.
Welded Frame Material St 52
S355MC / ASTM A 1018
HSLAS-F Grade 50 Class 2
Air Spring Fatigue
Test Cycles
St 37
EN 10025-2:2004 S235JR /
ASTM A 1011 SS Gr.33
St 52
S355MC / ASTM A 1018
HSLAS-F Grade 50 Class 2
5M+ 1 M Failed at 3.4 M
501.178
Bracket, Balance Arm Axle
Replaces: S-23790-1, C-23790-
501.180
Plate, Air Spring
Replaces: C-20199-1
*The parts shown are products of Sampa that can be used instead of th
ON DISPLAY AT THE TRUCK SHOW. VISIT US AT STAND 20 / 21.
BRISBANE
1262 Boundary Road, Wacol Qld
07 33 444 156
BURNETT
4 Barron Park Drive, Kingaroy Qld
07 4162 1266
GOLD COAST
4 Computer Road, Yatala Qld
1300 657 645
TOWNSVILLE
1/585 Ingham Rd, Mount St John Qld
1300 657 645
SYDNEY
19 Memorial Avenue, Ingleburn NSW
1300 657 645
OWD-FP-5210694-CS-340

AUSTRALIAN
See page 8
See page 4
OUR NAME IS CHANGING
Our drive is to keep you safe on the road … now more than ever
AUSTRALIAN
OWNED & OPERATED
PLAZA 315
High
quality
parts
Expert
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Next 500,000 km
FUEL HAND
PRIMER PUMP
To suit most Japanese trucks.
Part number 14295.001
$25
FILTER KITS
Suits Volvo D9A, D12D, D13A,
D16A, D16C and D16G applications*.
Part number MK14450
$84
FLEETRUNNER
HEAVY-DUTY BELTS
With more than 40% better load and wear
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■ Adhesion gum layer gives composite belt
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■ Available in various sizes.
TURNTABLE REPAIR KIT
Replacement insert kit, suits JSK37 series.
Part number SK3106007
$299
ENQUIRE
IN STORE
FOR PRICING
OWNED
OPERATED ED
&
ASK FOR YOUR
COPY IN STORE
Apr - Jun 21
FALL FOR
OUR AUTUMN
SPECIALS
High
In Best
Expert
quality
stock value for
advice
parts
now money
Next 500,000 km
INTRODUCING
POWERSONIC
BATTERIES
Through 50 years of
battery manufacturing,
PowerSonic has
developed a winning
formula to deliver
power, robustness and
reliability in all commercial
applications.
PLAZA 315
NOW
AVAILABLE AT
TRUCKZONE
YOUR PARTNER IN PARTS
BECOMES
CLUTCH KIT TO SUIT ISUZU
Exedy is known around the world for their
high-quality OE replacement Clutch Kits.
24 month/40,000km warranty.
MADE IN
JAPAN
LUBE FILTER
Suits Cummins ISC/ISL
applications*.
Part number LF9039
$55
FUEL FILTER
Suits Cummins ISC/ISL
applications*.
Part number FF5488
$18
SPRING BRAKE
CHAMBERS
Fuwa Spring Brake
Chambers are tested
to the SAE J1469, SAE
J11469, SAE J2318
standards and are
registered at DOTARS.
Type 24/24.
Part number 2424TZ
Type 24/30.
Part number 2430TZ
Type 30/30.
Part number 3030TZ
ENQUIRE
IN STORE
FOR PRICING
VOLVO
MIRROR
Mirror electric and heated,
670 x 260mm. RH and LH.
Part number VMEH670260RH
& VMEH670260LH
ENQUIRE
IN STORE
FOR PRICING
RX SUPER
15W-40 CJ-4/E9. 20L.
Part number 3418280
$105
205L.
Part number 3418279
$990
*Check application guide. All prices include GST and valid until 30 June 2021.
*Check Application Guide.
All prices include GST and valid until 31 March 2021.
BECOMES
truckzone.com.au
CALL 1300 TRUCKZONE