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47 Articles

Challenges close to home

A common theme in this edition of ATN centres on the importance of attracting new entrants to the ranks of truck drivers. No news there, you would be forgiven for thinking. After all, the generation crunch had been spoken of for most of the previous decade. But there is a difference now, thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic. And it speaks to an economy-wide issue that the nation blithely ignored until importing workers, skilled or otherwise, as an easy way out failed exist as an option. Make no mistake, this laziness has been endemic to Australia for decades. Part of the Lucky Country syndrome. Don’t put skills into youth, poach it from elsewhere. This column has complained about it all before. It is particularly poignant when an operation of the calibre of Ron Finemore Transport says…

Challenges close to home

NEWS Dogs & Chains

One of the constant puzzles here in Godzone is the attitude towards technology. Many bemoan that conservative Australia prefers being first to be 10th in anything cutting edge. Of course, trucking puts a lie to that, particularly with combinations. And then there are the historical innovations: utes; Hills hoist; black box flight recorders; electronic pacemakers; spray-on skin; Google Maps; penicillin improvements; Cochlear bionic ear; electric drill. Yep, brilliant! So, how is it that Qube was forced to write down $215 million on automation at its container import-export operation at Moorebank? That’s a fair chunk before the $1.67 million it got from Logos and partners. Slow business growth in Sydney’s south-west, the company says. Things to ponder there on the pitfalls of really long-term planning. Meanwhile, can someone tell the good…

NEWS Dogs & Chains

TRIO IN $465,000 INJURY PAYOUT

Klosed Pty Ltd, TNT Australia Pty Ltd and Redstar Transport Operations Pty Ltd (in liquidation) were all found partially accountable for their roles in driver Anthony Paul Muller’s ongoing pain and suffering caused by an incident in Caringbah, NSW while moving a steel gate to prepare for unloading by a forklift driver. The Wangaratta Common Law Division heard Muller’s work involved driving a prime mover, owned by Klosed, towing two tautliner trailers belonging to TNT. The latter was also responsible for the delivery of freight transported by Muller, though it engaged Redstar to inspect, service and repair the trailers. Muller was required to move large steel gates on the side of each trailer, which he struggled to roll along the tracks on the front passenger side gate of one trailer. In March 2015, the…

TRIO IN $465,000 INJURY PAYOUT

Jail and suspension for former industry high-flyer

Former director of Crane Trucks R Us, Farmouz Farhaad Mohammed, is disqualified from managing corporations until 2026 after his recent jailing for fraud, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) reported. Also known as Fred Mohammed, the Queensland-based company director was found guilty and convicted of three counts of dishonestly causing detriment to Crane Trucks R Us (ACN 128 496 597). An ASIC investigation found that, in August 2015, on three separate occasions, Mohammed dishonestly withdrew a total of $256,000 from the company account about 10 weeks before it was placed in liquidation and was most likely insolvent. At the time of its liquidation, the company had total liabilities of $6,266,394.69 owed to 198 creditors. Mohammed appeared in the Queensland District Court in June, was found guilty and sentenced to two years and six…

LINDSAY FLAGS ATO PROBE IN ASX GUIDANCE

An otherwise assured Lindsay Australia earnings guidance was tempered by an Australian Tax Office (ATO) notice of amended assessment relating to past fuel tax credit (FTC) claims. The diversified road and rail freight firm expects unaudited earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) from underlying operations in the range of $44 million to $46 million for the financial year. This represents an increase of 8.9% to 13.8% on FY2020 underlying EBITDA. "This guidance remains subject to final audit and assessment of the last few trading weeks of the financial year, as well as the impact of any one-off issues, including the ATO Fuel Tax Credit (FTC) audit outlined further below," Lindsay added. That issue, which Lindsay noted it outlined in recent annual and interim reports, relates to the company being subject a FTC…

LINDSAY FLAGS ATO PROBE IN ASX GUIDANCE

SAFEWORK UNDERTAKING SEES LINDSAY DEVELOP SAFETY APP

SafeWork NSW and Lindsay Transport have developed a truck safety training tool for the on-boarding and induction of workers in the NSW road freight industry. With an aim of promoting safer practices, the augmented reality phone or online app will guide a driver through processes for entering or exiting the cabin, how to safely couple and uncouple trailers, conducting safety inspections and preventing vehicle rollaway incidents. The new app was produced as part of an enforceable undertaking with Lindsay Transport, which included a three-month radio media campaign targeting driver fatigue, speeding, use of mobile phones and uncontrolled movement of vehicles. SafeWork's director of WHS services regional, Lisa Foley, said the nature of the work in the transport industry makes it a high-risk for workplace fatalities and serious injuries, with major claims for injuries…

WA CATTLE PROBE HITS TRANSPORT

Recent Western Australia Police action against criminal networks involved in the theft and sale of cattle in the state has extended to a local transport operation. Operation Topography is the Rural Crime Squad’s probe into "individuals and companies linked to the business of cattle including aerial and ground musterers, livestock trucking companies, truck drivers and stock agents", WA Police noted. Its most recent round, in Moora, saw a 41-year-old man charged with: three counts of property laundering – engaged in transaction; one count of receiving; and one count of attempt to pervert justice. A 42-year-old woman was charged with one count of accessory after fact to an indictable (principal) offence. Additionally, a 49-year-old man was charged with one count of possession of stolen or unlawfully obtained property. Western Australia media reports identify two of the…

WA CATTLE PROBE HITS TRANSPORT

PRIMARY PRODUCER TRUCK REGISTRATION CHANGES IN NSW

New South Wales amendments to laws governing the Primary Producer Vehicle Registration Scheme look set to change what are seen as a rort harming rural trucking while cashing up the undeserving. Penalties will rise from $2,200 to $11,000 for corporations that attempt to register a vehicle by making a false statement. The Road Transport Legislation Amendment Bill 2021, introduced by state regional transport and roads minister Paul Toole, proposes amendments to the Road Transport Act 2013 and the Motor Vehicles Taxation Act 1988. "The increase is necessary as the value of the primary producer concession can be almost $10,000 for a heavy vehicle, creating a large financial incentive for ineligible customers to seek to exploit the concession,” Tool said in his second reading speech. "A new offence with equivalent penalties will also be created…

FMH ACQUIRES GKR TRANSPORT

The latest in a recent spurt of acquisitions in transport and related sectors saw the burgeoning Freight Management Holdings (FMH) Group’s Logistics Holdings Australia (LHA) division swallow GKR Transport. Gaining recent backing from Singapore Post’s (SingPost’s) logistics arm, FMH added GKR to the transport and warehousing portfolio comprising Niche Logistics, BagTrans and efm Warehousing. The group’s other two divisions are fourth-party logistics (efm Logistics) and technology (FLIP). With a fleet of road trains, including about 45 prime movers and 100 trailers, GKR provides an express east-west-east service, with presence in Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, the company notes. FMH Group CEO Simon Slagter said the acquisition, for an undisclosed sum, is aligned to the group’s strategy of expanding reach and service offering. "We are delighted to acquire GKR Transport. GKR Transport has a strong…

FMH ACQUIRES GKR TRANSPORT

ACFS PORT LOGISTICS GAINS IPS OPERATION IN PORT OF BRISBANE

ACFS Port Logistics consolidated its Port of Brisbane position by acquiring IPS Logistics Group’s adjoining operation. The addition, for an undisclosed sum, gives ACFS 54,000 square metres of warehousing, 16,000 square metres of container storage, and a transport fleet primarily consisting of higher productivity vehicles (HPVs). IPS has been a strategic operator within the port precinct providing logistical services to national and state-based importers and exporters. "There has been a long-standing relationship between both organisations, resulting in the progression of a binding transaction," ACFS noted. The respective parties expect to complete the transition, subject to regulatory processes and approvals, in mid-July. The acquisition further cements the ACFS service offering within the Port of Brisbane and to the broader import and export market in Queensland. "Demand within warehousing is outgrowing supply in the market, and hence securing…

SCULLY RSV GROUP AND ATR IN MERGER

Refrigerated truck rental consolidation saw private equity-backed Scully RSV Group swallow Australian Trailer Rentals (ATR). The acquisition combined the two locally-owned and -operated businesses to deliver a large-scale refrigerated fleets from vans through to full 34-pallet B-double combinations that will operate under the Scully RSV brand, a statement noted. Both deliver short- and long-term refrigerated hire to the refrigerated supply chain sector, with the acquisition bringing together "a significant current customer base" of food and beverage operators and logistics suppliers, enabling new customers access to a rapidly growing fleet of refrigerated vans through to B-double refrigerated trailers. Scully RSV also offers new and used truck sales available for 1–12 tonne and up to 14-pallet capacity, with both companies also offering an extensive servicing division and asset finance options. "I am encouraged by the shared…

SCULLY RSV GROUP AND ATR IN MERGER

Administrators hand Autocare business back to Linx

Car carrier Autocare Services has been returned to parent company Linx Cargo Care Group, having exited voluntary administration on July 1, the latter announced. It re-joined with a new operating model, leadership team, property footprint and structure that "places the business on sustainable footing into the future", Linx noted in a statemen "The voluntary administration process for Autocare Services has completed following the implementation and effectuation of its creditor-endorsed deed of company arrangement (DOCA) proposed by Linx CCG. "The end of this process means control of Autocare Services has been handed back to the company director by the administrators and the business has re-joined Linx CCG. "The decision to return Autocare Services to Linx CCG was resolved by Autocare Services’ creditors at the second creditors meeting in June, with the overwhelming majority of creditors…

QUBE SELLS MOOREBANK TO LOGOS

Leading Asia-Pacific logistics asset management firm Logos and a consortium of partners have agreed to buy Moorebank Logistics Park (MLP) from Qube. The $1.67 billion deal is in the form of a binding agreement for Australia’s largest intermodal logistics facility at Moorebank in south-western Sydney. "The acquisition of Moorebank Logistics Park is a landmark investment by a consortium comprised of leading investors with a deep commitment to furthering the logistics, e-commerce and distribution landscape in Australia," the Logos consortium said. Logos has joined with existing partners, Ivanhoé Cambridge, AustralianSuper, and NSW Treasury Corporation (TCorp) as well as a new partner, AXA IM Alts, to deliver this milestone strategic investment. "In addition to its investment alongside the consortium, Logos is appointed as the investment and development manager for MLP," the consortium said. "By acquiring MLP, the…

QUBE SELLS MOOREBANK TO LOGOS

McColl's smart OBM system gains TCA regulatory approval

A smart on-board mass (OBM) system devised in-house by McColl’s Transport is granted Transport Certification Australia (TCA) Category B type-approval. The McColl’s Integrated Mass Management System (MIMMS), developed exclusively for use by the company, uses an innovative combination of technologies, systems and processes to meet the performance requirements of the OBM System Functional and Technical Specification, TCA noted. The product is used to aid McColl’s as a liquid carrier of milk, food and bulk chemicals. "We are very pleased to have received TCA approval for MIMMS," McColl’s CEO Simon Thornton said. "This comes after two years of hard work for our team to deliver this new capability to us. "Safety is at the top of our values list and this system will be another asset to help us to keep our drivers and other road…

PARTS FOR TRUCKS… AND TRAILERS TOO!

PACCAR Parts has launched volume one of its new trailer catalogue. The comprehensive reference guide will cover all parts interpretation requirements for leading trailer parts suppliers through four volumes. PACCAR Parts national sales and marketing manager Michael Long says the team is proud to have developed one of the most comprehensive reference tools in the market today for trailer parts needs. “It will be a single point of reference for fleet managers, workshop mechanics, owner-drivers and anyone working with trailers, no matter what the application,” he says. “The easy-to-use format of the catalogue allows customers to quickly access exploded assembly drawings and the component reference table to help them quickly identify the parts they are looking for and get their trailer back on the road. “Not only that, customers can be confident that all…

PARTS FOR TRUCKS… AND TRAILERS TOO!

INFO RELEASED ON HVNL OUTCOMES

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has released details on recent court outcomes in Victoria pertaining to Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) contraventions. Of particular note to transport companies, multiple entities were penalised primarily for dimension breaches. In one example in early July, a company was fined $20,000 in the Dandenong Magistrates Court. NHVR noted the company was observed operating a prime mover towing an extendable heavy trailer loaded with a crane gantry beam. The vehicle was intercepted and the load inspected, with the vehicle revealed to be travelling over the prescribed dimension limits. "The company did not have a permit for the return trip. Accordingly, the dimensions were assessed against the statutory limits," NHVR explained. "The allowed length was 19m. The length of the vehicle was 33.5m, an excess length of 14.5m. "The allowed width was…

INFO RELEASED ON HVNL OUTCOMES

ILLEGAL ENGINE REMAPPING FOCUS IN NEW NHVR SAFETY EFFORT

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is launching an education campaign to highlight health and safety risks caused by illegal engine remapping. The campaign will focus on educating the heavy vehicle industry and public on the harmful effects that engine remapping can have on heavy vehicle drivers and logistics workers, as well as communities and the environment. The campaign will be delivered in two phases, with an initial focus on the exposure that toxic diesel emissions can have due to engine remapping. Research from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) January 2017 Motor Vehicle Census indicates remapped engines can release up to 60 times more pollutants into the atmosphere, which can cause damage to the health and safety of workplaces, communities and the environment. The second stage of the campaign will focus on remapped…

TFNSW AGREES ENFORCEABLE UNDERTAKING

The road freight industry is familiar with enforceable undertakings (EUs) being agreed to by companies but less so by government departments. In a rare showing, Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW) has agreed to an EU with SafeWork NSW following a road work fatality three years ago. The department was alleged to have failed to discharge its obligations as a person conducting a business or undertaking under sections 19(1), 32 and 33 of the WHS Act in that it did not ensure so far as reasonably practicable the health and safety of workers. Though not employed by the department, the worker died after being struck by mobile plant in the course of helping fulfil a road maintenance contract with TfNSW undertaken by an unnamed shire council. "Transport for NSW is committed to complying with…

TFNSW AGREES ENFORCEABLE UNDERTAKING

Heavy rigids lead improvements in fatal truck crash statistics

After years of resisting the falling trend in heavy vehicle fatal crashes and fatalities, heavy rigids have made a solid and all too welcome reversal in the past two years. Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) figures for the first quarter of this year reflect the sort of divergence heavy articulated trucks previously led; the latter now trending slightly upward. Since the June 2019 quarter, heavy rigids quarterly fatalities have fallen from 31 to 10. And on a 12-month-to-March basis from 2018, fatal crashes involving heavy rigid trucks fell from 85 to 54 and deaths in those crashes fell from 93 to 58. Much of the reduction has occurred in New South Wales, which, since 2019, has recorded three quarters in double figures – 12, 14 and 11 – in the past…

VICTORIA EXPANDING HPFV NETWORK

“This is a win for farmers, businesses, freight operators and the community by reducing freight costs and encouraging investment in safer trucks” The Victorian government is expanding the state’s High Productivity Freight Vehicle (HPFV) network. Around 3,000km of road have been added to the pre-approved HPFV network. The state government spruiked the move as reducing costs and saving farmers and businesses time by eliminating the need for individual route assessments. "This is a win for farmers, businesses, freight operators and the community by reducing freight costs and encouraging investment in safer, cleaner and more efficient trucks," ports and freight minister Melissa Horne said. "Improving access for High Productivity Freight Vehicles is vital to meeting the state’s growing freight industry needs as efficiently as possible while minimising the number of trucks trips on our road network." The…

VICTORIA EXPANDING HPFV NETWORK

Work to start on Western Australia's rest-area upgrade program

About $14 million of major upgrades to 14 heavy vehicle rest areas across regional Western Australia will soon be underway, the state's transport minister, Rita Saffioti, has announced. The locations for the first phase of the program were determined through extensive consultation with industry groups including the Transport Workers Union (TWU) WA, Livestock and Rural Transport Association of WA (LRTAWA) and Western Roads Federation (WRF), Saffioti said. Industry priorities comprised major upgrades at Newman, Auski, Karijini and Leonora, and improvements at 10 key heavy vehicles sites in the Pilbara, Mid-West Gascoyne, Wheatbelt, Goldfields-Esperance and South-West regions. The state and Commonwealth governments have committed $50 million under the Freight Vehicle Productivity Improvements Program (FVPIP) for improvements across the state road network. "Freight drivers provide an essential service and it's important we have the necessary amenities…

SCOTT AND SMITH-GANDER HONOURED

The freight transport and logistics (T&L) sector had a modest but deserving representation in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours. Industry luminary the late Ray Scott and present Western Roads Federation chair Craig Smith-Gander are the leading lights and are now members (AM) of the general division of the Order of Australia. Scott, owner and director of the Ray Scott Group, was recognised for "significant service to the road transport industry, and to the community". He was also a sponsor and benefactor to a range of Mr Gambier events and services and the regional community Stand Like Stone Foundation. Smith-Gander was recognised for "significant service to surf lifesaving, to transport logistics, and to the community". The owner and managing director of Kwik Logistics since 2005 has chaired the Western Roads Federation (WRF) since 2017. He has also…

SCOTT AND SMITH-GANDER HONOURED

WA INDUSTRY IN MOURNING AT RECENT PASSING OF STEVE POST

The Western Australian freight industry marked the passing of Transafe WA current and founding chair Steve Post. Post succumbed recently following a brave battle with brain cancer. The event is felt keenly by the staff and committee of management of Transafe WA, who extended their deepest sympathies and condolences to his wife, Carole, his children, Matthew, Kate and Louisa, and the extended Post family. They described him as a passionate and dedicated advocate for the road transport industry in WA, who strove for safe and fair outcomes for individuals, industry and the community. As chair of Transafe WA since its incorporation in 2012, his vision was to provide a forum for industry to share information and progress positive change that would ensure personal and industry risk was absolutely minimised. "Steve was a forward thinker…

NHVR WELCOMES RETURN OF JOYCE

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) recently welcomed the appointment of Barnaby Joyce as federal infrastructure and transport minister and thanked outgoing minister Michael McCormack. NHVR chair Duncan Gay said he looks forward to working with Joyce to continue to grow safety, productivity and efficiency across the heavy vehicle industry. "On behalf of NHVR staff, chief executive and the board, I congratulate Barnaby and welcome him to the role," Gay said. "Barnaby has always been a supporter of delivering improved transport and infrastructure outcomes." Gay also thanked McCormack for his support. "Michael was a strong advocate for regional communities and I thank him for his ongoing support of the NHVR," Gay said. "I have no doubt that he will continue to play a role in championing the importance of heavy vehicle safety well into the future." Also…

NHVR WELCOMES RETURN OF JOYCE

NTC issues impact statement on heavy vehicle charge changes

The National Transport Commission (NTC) has issued a consultation regulation impact statement (C-RIS) seeking feedback on a range of options for setting heavy vehicle charges that would apply from 2022–23 onwards. "This consultation regulation impact statement (C-RIS) seeks feedback on options for setting future heavy vehicle charges to recover the cost of road construction and maintenance attributed to 27 classes of heavy vehicles that form the basis of the heavy vehicle charges determination," the executive summary noted. "The National Transport Commission (NTC) was directed by transport ministers in November 2019 to conduct a new heavy vehicle charges determination that would form the basis for setting heavy vehicle charges to apply from 2022–23." Heavy vehicle charges consist of a yearly registration charge and a road user charge (RUC) on diesel fuel. "These charges are set…

PUSH FOR URGENT FWC ATTENTION TO PORT DISRUPTION

The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) may claim an enterprise agreement with stevedore Hutchison Ports Australia but that will fail to stop frustrated exporter and trade representatives from seeking emergency action to deal with ongoing industrial disruption at the nation’s container terminals. Paul Zalai, Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) director and secretariat to the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA), reported that his side is seeking urgent Fair Work Commission (FWC) action through the federal Attorney General’s department in light of years of pain to unrelated parties. “The additional cost is one factor, however, a critical concern for the entire import and export supply-chain is that, with a bumper season for the agriculture sector, container volumes will quickly mount at these transition points with the intermodals and empty container parks likely to very…

PUSH FOR URGENT FWC ATTENTION TO PORT DISRUPTION

There was a small but important moment in the pandemic when the health experts who determine Australia’s fate acknowledged the importance of the heavy vehicle industry. It was in March 2020 and at the height of business closures. The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee recommended to the National Cabinet that it exempt roadhouses, dedicated truck stop facilities and truck driver lounges from having to shut. Of course, National Cabinet gave the idea the green light. It could hardly do otherwise: heavy vehicles were keeping essential goods moving around the country; truck deliveries were ensuring supermarket shelves stayed stocked; they were making sure pharmacies had adequate medicines on hand. Keeping road facilities open was a recognition that drivers need access to showers, restrooms and facilities for their basic human needs as well as to…

CRONIN APPOINTED ARMAGUARD CEO

Mick Cronin has been appointed CEO of Linfox Armaguard Group, replacing Annette Carey, who retired from the position. The company noted Carey, the predecessor to Mark Mazurek as Linfox Logistics CEO before he moved into a non-executive director role, deferred retirement to take on the Armaguard leadership role for 12 months. Armaguard Group executive chair Peter Fox described Carey as a true asset to the business who had been a strong and dedicated leader through challenging times and had defined the strategic framework that will enable a sustainable future for the business.…

CRONIN APPOINTED ARMAGUARD CEO

Arming for the future

Change. It can make us excited and it can make us nervous. Some people embrace change, while others want to turn and run the other way. Whether it be new business processes, modern vehicle technologies or a global pandemic, there will always be change and challenges. It’s how we prepare ourselves and our businesses that can be the difference between whether we succeed or fall behind. So, what is the best way to prepare? Continued learning and professional development are fundamental elements of preparedness and how we can adapt to our changing world. Time and again industry members have told me that learning is not gained solely from structured qualifications and educational material. A primary source of knowledge is our coworkers and those who have been in the industry for years gaining firsthand…

Arming for the future

STANDING THE TEST OF TIME

This is Ross Transport’s 46th year of operation. The business was founded by Alan’s parents, Reg and Frances Ross, in the ‘70s. Reg bought the first Freighter trailer in 1977. Alan, who was 14-years-old at the time, remembers painting the trailer himself. “My dad bought it without wheels and tyres, and it was unpainted to keep the cost down,” Alan says. “I painted it for us, and we fitted our own wheels and tyres. We got our first few trailers that way. Forty years on, I’m still buying from Freighter. It’s a relationship that has stood the test of time and I can’t see myself ever going to any other brand for flat top and tautliner trailers. “We didn’t buy a lot of trailers until the 1980s. Once my dad left the business…

STANDING THE TEST OF TIME

ENCOURAGING EXCELLENCE

Depending on whose study you reference, the average age of an Australian truck driver is somewhere around the 47-years-old mark. This figure would suggest that there is also a high percentage of truck drivers working within the transport industry well in excess of 50-years-old. On the one hand, this is a positive in that the vast majority of the driver pool should theoretically have many years of driving experience and a generally speaking higher skill set that goes with it. It’s a good thing. On the negative side, these figures could also indicate that, as the current workforce retires or moves into different vocations, there are not a significantly high enough number of younger recruits entering the industry to take their place. We have been seeing the effect of this for some years now,…

ENCOURAGING EXCELLENCE

NHVR’s plan for productivity

During the past 18 months, our industry has faced unprecedented change. This is why the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) remains focused on safety and productivity goals. Right now, we’re grappling with the pressures of Covid-19, as well as a rapidly growing national freight task – set to increase by another 80 per cent by 2030. As we progress a safe, efficient, and productive heavy vehicle industry to support a strong and prosperous Australia, a key roadmap is our Heavy Vehicle Productivity Plan 2020–25 (HVPP). The HVPP outlines how we will work with industry and government to identify and deliver on noninfrastructure productivity solutions. Close to one year since releasing the HVPP, the NHVR has completed or significantly progressed 30 of our outlined goals. One key initiative is the Strategic Local Government Asset Assessment Project…

NHVR’s plan for productivity

Ron Finemore has been in the transport and logistics game for more than 60 years but still likes to keep things simple. Adhering to long-standing basic values has seen regionally-focused Ron Finemore Transport consolidate its footprint across eastern Australia, winning major contracts to serve customers from Rockhampton to Adelaide and everywhere in between. The company leads the way in embracing the latest safety and technological innovations in its incredibly young fleet and is growing faster than the labour market can provide workers. “We do what we do and we try to do it well,” Finemore explained, with trademark simplicity. Finemore got started in 1962, when he launched the transport side of his parent’s farming supplies business. Over the next 40 years, he built up a formidable reputation for excellence and was crowned GM Supplier…

Customers stronger together

Agroup of freight brokers made a notification recently to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to collectively negotiate with freight carriers for a term of six years. The ACCC has not objected to this notification, meaning that, instead of having to negotiate one-on-one with freight carriers, the freight brokers can consolidate their bargaining power and negotiate as a bloc. Ordinarily, businesses requiring transport services will negotiate one-on-one with a carrier or logistics provider. How good a deal they get will largely depend on the level of competition in the marketplace and the relative bargaining power of the business vs that of the carrier or logistics provider. It is almost universally true that the more volume you have to ship, the more buying power you have and, therefore, the more bargaining power you…

Customers stronger together

CHANGING THE MAKE

If, as the old adage goes, “nothing lasts forever”, someone should tell a few fleet-owners in this country. While not quite as old as some European entities, the venerable operations here are fairly close behind. Toll Group is often the first to come to mind of those who began haulage using horse and cart. Its lineage can be traced back to 1888 Newcastle. But it gets more than pipped by Sadleirs, which counts the Swan River colony, forerunner of the state of Western Australia, and 1829 for its foundation. Inbetweeners include leading part-food, part-distribution operation PFD Food Services. And, as if to prove that though history doesn’t repeat but it does rhyme, PFD, the former J Hill & Son that kicked off in 1864, delivering fresh fish, has made a strong seafood push in…

CHANGING THE MAKE

How our freight won the Covid fight

Having lived through my own Covid crisis as the then CEO of Virgin Australia, I admired how the freight and logistics sector quickly mobilised to keep moving Australia’s economy. The tragedy in India, and recent transmissions at home, have reminded us of the lightning speed and destructive effects of coronavirus. The links within our national supply chain must remain unbroken to help protect jobs and businesses. Looking into the menacing jaws of a 1-in-100-year global pandemic, Australia’s freight and logistics sector faced an uncertain future this time last year. The speed of Covid-19 transmission tested finely tuned international and domestic supply chains, threatening to derail delivery of household goods and export commodities. With Australians isolating in their homes reliant on supply chains remaining open, the virus started to rapidly eat through links binding rail,…

How our freight won the Covid fight

HINO AIMS HIGHER

It was no surprise that a major upgrade of the Hino 700-series heavy-duty range would follow much earlier updates to its 300-series light-duty and 500-series medium-duty models. What did surprise, however, during a recent preview of the latest heavy-duty hopefuls, was just how far Hino has gone in its bid to make the 700-series a far more competitive and appealing line-up and, in the process, provide a platform entirely capable of challenging European competitors as well as its Japanese rivals. Have no doubt, on first impression, this is a heavy-duty line-up far beyond anything Hino has ever offered before in any weight class. Moreover, while company insiders say it’ll be three or four months until we get the chance to climb behind the wheel, there was enough to see and hear at…

HINO AIMS HIGHER

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JAKE

Hiding in the shadows of Hino’s preview of its new 700-series trucks, and the use of a Jacobs engine brake in all models, is the fact that 2021 marks the 60th anniversary of Jacobs Vehicle Systems. Jacobs introduced the first engine brake for commercial vehicles in 1961 and, since then, more than nine million Jake brakes have been produced for trucks around the world. In fact, Jacob engine brake use has grown markedly over the past few years. The company sold its eight millionth engine brake in 2019 but it was only two years later, in March 2021, that the nine millionth unit rolled off the Jacobs assembly line. It may, however, surprise more than a few people to learn that the world’s best known engine retarder was actually invented by Clessie Cummins,…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JAKE

The buzz around electric vehicles (EVs) continues to intensify. Introduced to the masses by the likes of Tesla and then catapulted to the forefront of political-economic interest as traditional vehicle manufactures race to snag a piece of the pie – with ‘green transition’ targets shifting consumer focus towards EVs. Truck makers have only dipped their toes in the burgeoning electric market until now, with Fuso’s light-duty eCanter doing the rounds, while light-through to heavyduty manufacturers are forming electric-focused alliances in a bid to hasten progress. There’s a new kid on the block, though, who’s beaten the big players to the party, in locally-founded global e-mobility outfit SEA Electric, headquartered in Los Angeles but building trucks here at Dandenong in Victoria. While the manufacturer has been making moves on the scene since 2013, it’s only…

SHORT ’N SWEET

Sometimes, things just don’t go the way you expect. Like, it was supposed to be a simple, short suburban drive of Fuso’s recently released electric eCanter in Sydney’s west. A refresh, of sorts, of what we’d already experienced in previous stints, first in a Japanese prototype on Fuso’s test track and then in late 2019, behind the wheel of an early evaluation unit through the streets of Melbourne. What wasn’t expected, however, was that the Sydney stint would be quite so short. Someone, apparently, had forgotten to flick the switch the night before and, rather than a full charge, the dash ‘distance predictor’ said there was only 58km worth of charge in the batteries rather than the reported ‘full charge’ potential of 100km. Still, it was at least a worthwhile exercise to some…

AIMING FOR HIGHER GROUND

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…

AIMING FOR HIGHER GROUND

Welcome to a clash of the titans – the five most popular utes on the market today! In 2020, five models of ute – the Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max, Mitsubishi Triton, Nissan Navara and Toyota HiLux – accounted for 13 per cent of the overall new car market. And that’s just the 4x4 versions. Add the less popular 4x2 variants and they account for 15.8% of the market; this means that one in six new cars sold in Australia is one of these five models So, we have put each one to the test, including straight-line performance, load-carrying and towing capability, on- and off-road dynamics, infotainment and comfort and convenience, all at the ex-GM Lang Lang proving ground outside of Melbourne. We have lined up our quintet as closely as possible within the…

THE INSIDE TAKE

TOYOTA HILUX SR5 Inside, the HiLux cabin presents a neat and relatively fresh-looking workstation. Clearly designated areas for controls improve functionality while the front seats, which Toyota calls high-grade bucket items, fare okay for comfort and support. Legroom up front is a touch smaller than rivals. Meanwhile, outward visibility is on par with the class average – except smaller rear windows penalise your over-shoulder view on the left side. The SR5 comes with single-zone climate control, power windows with an auto function on the driver’s side, keyless entry and start, side steps, heated side mirrors and auto LED headlights but misses out on auto wipers. The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) awarded the HiLux with a five-star crash safety rating in 2019. Equipped with seven airbags, it sports active safety features like adaptive…

THE INSIDE TAKE

Dual-cab utes are a bit expensive these days, aren’t they? But they do not need to be. While, no doubt, we would all love to have $70,000 or more to splash on a jacked-up trayback, those who have a more limited budget need no longer miss out thanks to these two – the GWM Ute Cannon-L and Ssangyong Musso XLV Ultimate You can drive away in either of these for around $40,000, including on-roads. The GWM, which stands for Great Wall Motors, costs $37,990 driveaway for the mid-spec Cannon-L variant we have here, while the Ssangyong, even in long-wheelbase XLV guise, lists at $41,790 driveaway, which currently includes three years of free servicing. Do not think these bargain basement prices mean you miss out on kit, though. Both are fully loaded, with…

OFF-ROAD RIPPERS

It took dual-cab ute manufacturers a while to catch on that lot of buyers seem to immediately modify their utes but they have certainly done so now. The end result is the four utes you see here: the Ford Ranger Raptor; Jeep Gladiator Rubicon; Mazda BT-50 Thunder; and Toyota HiLux Rugged X. We have dubbed these the ‘lifestyle’ quartet, primarily because they are aimed at buyers who want to play just as much as they want to work. Arguably more. How they look is as important as what they can do and it is the butch, beefed-up Ford Ranger Raptor that has clearly been hitting the gym hardest. It is a whopping 161mm wider than a Ranger XLT and wears chunky 285/70 BF Goodrich All-Terrains. Don’t think it is all style and no…

OFF-ROAD RIPPERS

OFF-ROAD COMPARISON

Four-wheel drives are meant to be used off-road, so we devised a comprehensive off-road test loop to see which dual-cab ute was the most capable in low-range 4x4. Our test course was made up of mud, steep hill climbs and descents, rutted-out wombat holes and a water crossing, as well as some faster corrugations, to gain an understanding of how each ute held together over traditional Australian off-road terrain. This was an accurate representation of what we feel most dual-cab owners will be putting their own vehicles through. It is also a back-to-back comparison designed to highlight any shortcomings or highlights of each 4x4. SSANGYONG MUSSO UNLIMITED XLV The Musso struggled in the off-road test, due mainly to a lack of ground clearance. It bottomed out more than any other ute and was the…

OFF-ROAD COMPARISON

STRONG CLAIMS FOR RECORD TRUCK SALES TERRITORY

Commercial vehicle observers viewing the bumper 2018 sales performance could have been excused for thinking that was a peak that would take a while to surmount. But, if the trend revealed in Truck Industry Council (TIC) T-Mark statistics says anything, it is to confirm that record years are now perhaps only three years apart. June’s 4,741 units of all sizes make for a first half of 19,920 and this compares with 2018’s 4,231 and 19,970. That year ultimately saw a total of 41,628 vehicles sold, with the second half accelerating to 21,658. If the impetus behind this June’s 510-unit lead over June 2018 holds firm, the record will be in peril. Of the top-sellers, Isuzu gained 1,085 sales in June for a year to date (YTD) of 4,768. While that compares very favourably indeed with…

STRONG CLAIMS FOR RECORD TRUCK SALES TERRITORY

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