ATN #418

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