Trailer Magazine November 2025

From the Editor’s desk

CHAIRMAN

John Murphy

john.murphy@primecreative.com.au

MANAGING EDITOR

Luke Applebee luke.applebee@primecreative.com.au

EDITOR

Peter White peter.white@primecreative.com.au

JOURNALIST

Sean Gustini sean.gustini@primecreative.com.au

ADVERTISING

Adrian Kos: 0413 777 670 adrian.kos@primecreative.com.au

Ashley Blachford ashley.blachford@primecreative.com.au

DESIGN

Alejandro Molano

HEAD OF DESIGN Blake Storey

CLIENT SUCCESS MANAGER

Ben Sammartino ben.sammartino@primecreative.com.au

HEAD OFFICE

Prime Creative Pty Ltd

379 Docklands Drive Docklands VIC 3008 Australia

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ARTICLES

All articles submitted for publication become the property of the publisher. The Editor reserves the right to adjust any article to conform with the magazine format.

COPYRIGHT

Trailer Magazine is owned by Prime Creative and published by John Murphy.

All material in Trailer Magazine is copyright and no part may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic or mechanical including information and retrieval systems) without written permission of the publisher. The Editor welcomes contributions but reserves the right to accept or reject any material.

While every e ort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information Prime Creative will not accept responsibility for errors or omissions or for any consequences arising from reliance on information published. The opinions expressed in Trailer Magazine are not necessarily the opinions of, or endorsed by the publisher unless otherwise stated.

O cially endorsed by the VTA

Channel zero

The Australian Government has released its Net Zero Roadmap and Action Plan to reduce national emissions by 43 per cent on 2005 levels by 2030, 62-70 per cent by 2035 and net zero by 2050. This means both advantages and potential challenges for the transport industry.

The Transport and Infrastructure Net Zero Roadmap and Action Plan (one of six included plans) outlines a clear strategy to reduce emissions across the transport sector. Covering all transport modes and issues such as low carbon liquid fuels, freight and supply chains, systemwide efficiencies and infrastructure, it’s guided by five key priorities: invest in enabling low and zero emissions transport infrastructure; electrify and increase transport’s energy performance; switch to low carbon alternatives (LCLFs) to power transport where electrification is not feasible; innovate to expand cost competitive transport technology options; and scale up efforts to reduce embodied emissions in transport infrastructure.

While there are a plethora of steps and actions involved in the path towards net zero, the plan clearly states that a combination of low emission technologies and fuels will be required to decarbonise heavy vehicles, depending on payloads and distances. This includes the widespread adoption of battery electric vehicles (BEVs), transitioning to LCLFs and hydrogen, the use of battery swapping and range extending technologies and the uptake of productivity and efficiency improvements. But several obstacles stand in the way.

Australia’s lack of charging infrastructure, for example, will likely impact their roll-out. The widespread adoption of battery electric technologies will need to be supported by a national charging network.

According to the Australian Government, the additional weight of batteries in BEVs will have a significant

impact on the total mass of BEVs –especially for trucks which generally carry heavier loads over longer distances. The Government said the impact of this increased mass on road pavements will “result in additional road maintenance being required”, and additionally, that “more research and development will be needed” to decarbonise these vehicles.

On the plus side, increased productivity is one of the main benefits identified in the plan. It proposes that higher productivity freight vehicles will move more goods more efficiently. Additionally, modernising and efficiency improvements in internal combustion engine (ICE) trucks and their components is expected to reduce fuel usage, leading to cost savings and better emissions. There’s so much more to the Net Zero Roadmap and Action Plan that we haven’t touched on in this space. But one of its key messages is that the decarbonisation of Australia’s transport system will require collective action between all levels of government, business, industry and the community to ensure a fair and equitable transition.

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November 2025 18 22

Business partnerships, people movements, developments that bolster freight productivity and more.

16 Economy

A new star rating system highlights where the biggest road safety risks are located and what upgrade opportunities there are.

18 Modern road tankers

See the industry’s latest tanker technology.

22 Low loaders

National Heavy Haulage and Ace Heavy Haulage have bolstered their oversized transport operations alongside two industry giants.

26 Trailer builder

Australia’s trailer manufacturing industry is as strong as ever.

32 Moving floor

AAA Transport’s interstate waste and rubbish carting services have been notably strengthened by KEITH Walking Floor systems.

36 Weighing systems

Find out about the latest developments from KnorrBremse and Tramanco.

38 Trailer building materials/components

A showcase of the products and services that keep trailers on the move.

48 Safety insight

Safety is something that is deeply embedded into the operations of Norman Carriers.

50 Infrastructure spotlight

What you need to know about Australia’s biggest road projects this month.

52 World map

Although disparate in many circumstances, such as language, culture and geography, India and Latin America appear as the ideal partners in trade.

57 Fleet of the month

JD Refrigerated Transport, in the midst of a considerable growth period, is preparing to take the next step.

58 What’s on Upcoming shows and field days.

Vale Justin O’Donnell

Justin O’Donnell is remembered as a tireless advocate for safer roads and stronger industry practices.

He passed away on Tuesday 23 September 2025.

O’Donnell began his career with 3M Australia in 2010 and served in the company’s Transportation Safety Division for 13 years, leaving in 2023.

During that time, he was instrumental in introducing and promoting 3M’s reflective and conspicuity tapes – high-intensity markings that improve the visibility of heavy vehicles.

O’Donnell worked closely with the Victorian Transport Association (VTA) and its members, delivering detailed presentations and hands-on training sessions on the benefits and correct application of reflective technologies.

Many road transport operators, including FBT Transwest, adopted the technology as a result of his guidance and passion.

“Justin played a pivotal role in bringing and educating the industry on the safety benefits of conspic tape,” said FBT Transwest Managing Director, Cameron Dunn.

Former 3M employee, Mark Gorman, said O’Donnell’s professional approach was defined by diligence, integrity and quiet determination.

“The safer roads and stronger industry

practices evident across Australia today are a testament to his tireless efforts,” he said.

“His legacy lives on every time a truck or trailer marked with conspicuity tape is seen clearly by a driver at night, and every time a family member arrives home safely.”

VTA CEO, Peter Anderson, said Justin was a terrific friend of the VTA and a strong advocate for safety.

“We are saddened by his passing,” he said.

“Justin was a regular at VTA conferences, seminars and regional forums where he spoke with passion about innovative products to improve safety for all motorists.

“We extend our sincerest condolences to Justin’s family, friends and colleagues.”

Xtreme Freight Director, Amanda O’Brien, said O’Donnell was a respected figure in the transport community.

“His contributions and presence will be deeply missed by all who had the pleasure and privilege of working with him,” she said.

“He had a warm and supportive disposition and he always encouraged me throughout challenging times.

“His dedication and commitment left a lasting impact on many.

“My thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to Justin’s family, friends and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”

Linfox launches NZ logistics operations for international partner

Linfox has extended its partnership with global diabetes management technology company, Dexcom, by launching logistics operations in New Zealand.

The move is one which follows two years of successful service delivery in Australia.

Linfox Executive General Manager New Zealand, Rob Farrar, said Linfox is looking forward to assisting Dexcom’s operations on this scale.

“We are proud to deliver services for a company that provides vital diabetes management and healthcare equipment for thousands of New Zealanders,” he said.

“Our distribution centre in Auckland enables us to provide specialised, temperature-controlled warehousing and reliable transport services across the country.

“The success of this onboarding reflects the dedication and collaboration of our project team, who ensured a seamless transition into the New Zealand market.”

Kuehne + Nagel signage. Image: Ricochet64/stock.adobe.com.

Kuehne + Nagel launches FTL services in Australia

International intermodal transport provider, Kuehne + Nagel, has launched Full Trailer Load (FTL) solutions for its Australian operations.

The official rollout of this service has been in the works at Kuehne + Nagel Australia since last year, providing the transport operator with ample time to build a national network, create a market strategy and onboard partners.

Kuehne + Nagel Australia’s FTL offering has been developed to specifically target semi-trailers and B-doubles, with optional mezzanine floors.

These units are considered to be the market’s most common vehicle requirements according to Kuehne + Nagel National Road Logistics Business Development Manager, Anthony Robertson.

“Serving this demand positions us to immediately partner with and support a significant portion of the Australian FTL market,” he told Trailer

“Beyond these core services, our offering also includes road trains, flatbed trays, tilt trays, high cube and mass-managed vehicles across the country.”

Kuehne + Nagel Australia’s FTL value proposition will be operating nationwide, with a specific focus on transport lanes between capital cities as well as an overall capability to service any location accessible via road transport.

In addition to a wide range of vehicles and operating locations, the FTL offering is bolstered by stringent safety and compliance practices, which are fundamental to the company at large.

“Safety and compliance are and always

will remain core priorities for our business,”

Robertson told Trailer

“Our carrier onboarding process is robust, incorporating multiple checkpoints to ensure carrier compliance across legal, regulatory, and insurance requirements.

“In addition, our dedicated Quality, Safety, Health Environment team conducts random audits of our carriers to verify ongoing adherence to all standards and obligations.”

The rigor of this onboarding process extends to Kuehne + Nagel Australia’s selection of future carrier partners.

“We understand that our carriers are a direct extension of the Kuehne + Nagel brand,” Robertson said.

“Because of this, we hold them to the same high standards that define our reputation in the market.”

Team Global Express announces new logistics partnership

Team Global Express has entered a partnership with New Zealand A-Leagues football team, Auckland FC, to provide logistics services around Australasia.

As part of the agreement, Team Global Express will leverage its extensive multimodal transport network to ship Auckland FC’s new team jersey to fans across Australia, New Zealand and around the world for the upcoming season.

Team Global Express New Zealand CEO, Stewart Smith, said the company is proud to support Auckland FC’s transport

and logistics needs.

“Team Global Express supports Auckland FC’s mission to build and nurture talent, to punch above its weight and to succeed on the world stage,” he said.

“We’re incredibly excited for the season ahead and delighted to be a part of one of the most important sports and entertainment movements in Aotearoa.”

Auckland FC CEO, Nick Becker, said Team Global Express’ logistics network will help support the team with its

outreach to fans.

“The growth of Team Global Express has been impressive,” he said.

“They’re building a global brand here in New Zealand and Australia, mixing up the status quo and doing things differently. We like that a lot and are pleased to be partnering with this company.

“The support they will be providing us, in particular to our retail team, helping get much coveted merchandise out to fans, will be invaluable.

“They will be the team behind the team.”

Mineral Resources to acquire WA garnet miner

Mineral Resources (MinRes) has executed a binding Asset and Share Sale Agreement with a garnet miner based in Perth, Western Australia.

Under the agreement, MinRes will acquire Resource Development Group Limited’s (RDG) assets.

This includes the Lucky Bay garnet mine following creditor approval of MinRes’ proposed Deed of Company Arrangement (DOCA) proposal on 1 September.

Details of MinRes’ DOCA proposal were contained in the RDG administrators’ report to creditors as notified in an announcement on 25 August.

On 28 July, it was revealed that RDG (a business which MinRes is a secured creditor of and holds 64.3 per cent of its issued shares) would be entering voluntary administration.

MinRes had already been reviewing its arrangements with RDG including a request from the miner for a cash advance against existing loan arrangements to meet operating expenses.

The MinRes Board determined not to provide these arrangements at the time.

Now, MinRes will be assessing options to best realise value from the assets for RDG’s shareholders.

“The Board and I sought to ensure that MinRes shareholders could realise some value from their investment, and that there were no perceived conflicts in our decisions on RDG’s future,” Bundey said.

“I want to thank RDG’s employees for continuing to operate safely and productively during this process.”

All decisions relating to RDG and the acquisition have been undertaken by the MinRes Board.

MinRes Managing Director, Chris Ellison, and nominees on the RDG Board were not involved in deliberations.

Electric dolly innovation a game-changer for A-doubles

Intelligent transport specialist, iMOVE Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), will contribute part of $2.7 million to fund a new electric converter dolly for Electric Haulage Australia (EHAULA) under the Impact Extension Program’s second round.

The eDolly can be integrated into an A-double combination for testing and will be designed for seamless integration with Australia’s multi-trailer high-productivity vehicle configurations.

“The impact will be felt more significantly across mining, agriculture and long-haul logistics, sectors that carry the largest freight task and generate the highest emissions,” said EHAULA Finance Director, Jerome Coleman.

“These are precisely the areas where innovation will deliver the greatest carbon abatement. We call on regulators to modernise the Australian Design Rules so

we can safely deploy electric dollies and trailers across the country.”

By hybridising standard diesel combinations with the powered eDolly, operators will be able to achieve 40 per cent in fuel savings with lower capital investment.

EHAULA said that electric-powered trailers and dollies will play a major role in enabling heavy vehicles in Australia to transition to zero-emission road freight transport.

A 284 kWh swappable battery pack will be completed to help power the eDolly before testing begins at the Australian Automotive Research Centre.

This new hybrid approach will support the transition and provide the additional technology to allow full electric combinations to operate.

HVIA Powered Trailers Working Group

has expressed its support to start trialling the powered dolly technology.

However, range and potential payload reduction, and refuelling limitations will prevent heavy freight operators to adopt fully electric prime movers.

Electric trucks are also not designed to handle Australian road train weights and do not carry enough energy to meet the demands of the country’s freight tasks.

ThunderHaul, a ‘through-the-road parallel hybrid and drivetrain module’, and LightningVault, a scalable battery pack to suit required range and weight restraints, will help EHAULA deliver electric-powered dolly and trailer technology.

EHAULA’s partners Wettenhalls, Bulk Transport Equipment and Tiger Spider are expected to assist with the construction of the eDolly.

Rentco announces new CEO

Mark Kirkpatrick has been appointed as Rentco’s new CEO.

Kirkpatrick brings more than 30 years of executive leadership across international freight, asset leasing and heavy maintenance to Rentco.

As CEO of Rail First Asset Management, he transformed one of Australia’s largest independent rail leasing businesses by driving service improvements, sustained growth and operational excellence.

Prior to that, he spent seven years at Aurizon in several General Manager positions.

Rentco Chairman, Bob Fast, welcomed Kirkpatrick to the business.

“Mark’s appointment signals an exciting new chapter for Rentco,” he said.

TRP launches new Victorian branch

PACCAR Parts’ TRP brand has opened a new truck and trailer parts store in Bendigo, Victoria.

The new store will stock well-known brand consumables for all major truck brands.

Owned and operated by Leake Group, the Bendigo site joins TRP 358 outlets worldwide including 19 in Australia.

“Graham Thomson Motors is proud to bring our award-winning spare parts team to Bendigo with a new TRP store,” said Graham Thomson Motors General Manager, Anthony Conte.

“Bendigo has been a cornerstone to Graham Thomson Motors’ success for many years, with valued customers and stakeholders in Central Victoria.”

Conte said the new Victorian site will service customers in Bendigo and surrounding areas through a range of quality, warranty-backed parts for all makes of trucks and trailers.

This range varies from filtration, lubricant and electrical products to brakes, suspensions, steering, wheel ends, trailer parts and accessories.

“We look forward to strengthening our partnership with existing stakeholders and forging new relationships to support the growth of the Bendigo area,” Conte said.

“With his proven leadership and industry insight, Rentco is well-positioned to expand our offerings and deliver innovative transport solutions while staying true to the values of reliability, service and trusted relationships that have shaped our business from the beginning.”

Rentco founder and outgoing CEO, Bob Shier, will remain with the organisation as Executive Director where he will continue

continue to support the leadership team and Board.

“I’m honoured to join Rentco at such a pivotal moment,” Kirkpatrick said.

“Bob and his team have built an exceptional business with a strong reputation for customer service and operational integrity.

“I look forward to working with the team to build on that legacy and lead the next chapter of growth.”

HELLA Managing Director steps down

HELLA Australia Managing Director, Darren Robinson, has announced his resignation.

Robinson’s 15-year tenure was split between the vehicle component manufacturer’s operations in both Australia and the United Kingdom.

Reflecting on his journey with HELLA, Robinson expressed his gratitude for those who worked with him and played a role in his transition to the Australian market.

“I would sincerely like to thank all those who have helped and supported me in my HELLA journey, and for making my transition from the UK to Australia a truly awesome experience,” he said in a statement online.

“I have had to make some tough decisions over the years, and on the way, I made my fair share of mistakes.

“But those who know me, know that I have given my all. I have been honest and open and have truly strived to make HELLA a strong partner, and a great place to work.

“Together, we have driven change, smashed targets, had more than a few laughs, and delivered what we promised.”

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Fonterra reports strong financial year results

Dairy cooperative, Fonterra, has released financial year 2025 results which demonstrate continued success for the company.

Fonterra generated $26 billion NZD (approx. $22.91 billion AUD) in revenue during FY25. This was a 15 per cent increase year-on-year which led to a 30.6 per cent increase in total cash returns to shareholders of $16 billion NZD (approx. $14.10 billion AUD).

The cooperative’s final calculated Farmgate Milk Price for the 2024/25 season was $10.16 NZD (approx. $8.95 AUD) per kilogram of milk solids, resulting in $15.3 billion NZD (approx. $13.48 billion AUD) in milk payments to New Zealand farmers.

Fonterra also announced a FY25 full year dividend of $0.57 NZD (approx. $0.50 AUD) fully imputed. At the upper end of its dividend policy, this equated to $916 million NZD (approx. $807.28 million AUD) of cash to shareholders and unit holders.

Fonterra CEO, Miles Hurrell, said FY25 has been one of the company’s strongest financial years in relation to shareholder returns.

“We continue to see good demand from global customers for our high-quality products made from New Zealand farmers’ milk and this is driving returns through both the Farmgate Milk Price and dividends,” he said.

“Our vision is to be the source of the world’s most valued dairy. Our strategy is designed to grow end-to-end value for farmers by focusing on being a B2B dairy nutrition provider, working closely with customers through our high-performing

Ingredients and Foodservice channels.

“During the year, we’ve taken important steps towards this goal, including running a robust divestment process for global Consumer and associated businesses. This resulted in an agreement to sell the businesses to Lactalis for $4.22 billion (approx. $3.72 billion AUD), subject to approvals.”

Hurrell said Fonterra is being positioned to deliver further value through its Foodservice and Ingredients businesses.

This will include continuing to invest in new manufacturing capabilities to meet growing customer demand for its highvalue products.

“We have a pipeline of potential growth investments we’re assessing, with plans to invest up to $1 billion (approx. $881.42 billion AUD) over the next three to four years in projects to generate further value and drive operational cost efficiencies,” Hurrell said. These projects include growing the value of Fonterra’s existing protein portfolio; investments in site operations which include an Enterprise Resource Planning system replacement, data, AI and automation; and adding value to milkfat through new butter and cream cheese investments which will support the company’s Foodservice and Ingredients businesses.

Reported operating profit for Fonterra increased to $1.7 billion NZD (approx. $1.50 AUD), up from $1.5 billion the year prior.

Profit after tax was $1.1 billion NZD (approx. $969.57 million AUD).

The cooperative also delivered an increased Return on Capital of 10.9 per cent in line with its target range of 10-12 per cent.

Followmont Transport partners with Chemist Warehouse

Followmont Transport has collaborated with Chemist Warehouse by delivering a tailored IT solution to meet its complex freight needs.

The Followmont Transport team recently designed a customised pallet consolidation and carton tracking system

for Chemist Warehouse.

Seamlessly integrating into the Followmont Customer Portal, this provided Chemist Warehouse with full freight visibility across its network.

“This solution not only met operational requirements but also showcased the

Fonterra’s New Zealand head o ce. Image: JHVEPhoto/stock.adobe.com.

“This result was driven by higher operating profit in the ingredients business, due to demand for our protein portfolio and our use of margin hedging tools and indexed-based pricing,” Hurrell said.

“Foodservice sales volumes continue to grow off the back of continued demand in Greater China for our high-value products including UHT cream, butter and mozzarella.”

Fonterra’s business proposed to be divested, Mainland Group, benefited from sales volume growth in the Consumer business and the Australia business having a stable milk price against higher global commodity prices.

According to Hurrell, Fonterra’s balance sheet metrics are in line with the prior year, maintaining the cooperative’s robust position and providing optionality for the future.

Looking further ahead, as well as targeting earnings to return to current levels in three years, Fonterra has confirmed it is maintaining the strategic targets and policy settings announced in September 2024 if Mainland Group is divested.

This includes a target average Return on Capital of 10-12 per cent from FY26, which is above Fonterra’s five-year average.

“Our ongoing balance sheet strength, combined with our focused strategic direction, means the Co-op is well prepared for the future and positioned to continue delivering positive returns to shareholders,” Hurrell said.

innovation and adaptability of our people,” Followmont Transport said.

“A huge thank you to our sales and IT teams for working together to deliver this outcome quickly and smoothly, and to the Chemist Warehouse team for their collaboration throughout the process.

“This partnership is a great example of how working together and embracing innovation continues to drive Followmont forward as a trusted logistics partner.”

Linfox extends partnership with Pilbara-based iron ore company

Linfox has strengthened its partnership with one of the world’s largest iron ore mining companies, Fortescue.

Fortescue is a global metal mining company headquartered in Western Australia, with major mines in operation in the Pilbara region.

Linfox, a leading transport and logistics provider in the country, is extending its transport and logistics services with the company.

“We are proud to deliver specialised warehousing and distribution services for Fortescue as we grow stronger in WA and provide comprehensive supply chain solutions for the global company,” said Linfox President Resources and Industrial, Gary Pyne.

“With a large fleet of company-owned vehicles and a significant property footprint tailored to servicing the mining sector, Linfox leads the provision of vital freight services to mining customers in WA.”

Wodonga heavy vehicle training facility to receive major upgrade

Construction has started on the Logic Innovation Precinct in Wodonga, Victoria, with $24 million in funding provided by the Australian Government.

The funding includes $22 million to be added for a Heavy Vehicle Technology Program and $2 million for Phase One of an Advanced Manufacturing Centre of Excellence.

“Our investment in this cutting-edge precinct will create jobs and economic opportunities in the Albury Wodonga region, as well as benefitting Australia’s heavy vehicle industry,” said Victorian Minister for Regional Development and Local Government, Kirsty McBain.

“Transforming how heavy vehicle operators are trained will better equip them for new technologies and practices, making our roads safer for everyone.”

The new facilities will primarily include a heavy technology workshop. Once operational, they will also have experimental advanced manufacturing with 3D printing, robotics and automation.

The precinct is expected to draw in up to 1,200 students in its first four years by expanding Wodonga TAFE’s Heavy Vehicle Technology Program to include Advanced Manufacturing.

It will also support the Australian Defence Force (ADF) emergency services and education sector.

“Wodonga TAFE is excited to be able to provide this fantastic opportunity to our industries and communities,” said Wodonga TAFE CEO, Phil Paterson.

“With this funding and the facilities and capabilities it will bring, we are preparing our workforces for the skills needs of the future, as well as providing a space for collaboration, experimentation and innovation.”

Joss Construction has been appointed as the main works construction provider for the precinct.

The upgrades to the Heavy Vehicle Technology Program and Advanced Manufacturing Centre of Excellence are just two of the projects being funded through the Albury Wodonga Regional Projects initiative.

“Joss is thrilled to be a trusted partner for the delivery of these significant local projects, which will ensure the engagement of local trades and material suppliers throughout the entire construction phase,” said Joss Group CEO, Ed Whiting.

“Wodonga TAFE’s Vehicle Training Facility and Phase One of the Advanced Manufacturing Centre of Excellence will provide a substantial economic benefit to the region for the coming years and create a legacy we will all be very proud of.”

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Austroads’ star rating program is identifying which roads pose the highest risks of death and serious injury and where road upgrades will have the greatest impact. Image: mastersky/stock.adobe.com.

Follow the stars home

Australia’s freight routes keep the economy moving, but not all roads are built equal. A new star rating system highlights where the biggest safety risks are located and what upgrade opportunities there are.

With transport and commuter traffic surging across the country’s busiest highways, a nationally coordinated effort is addressing critical road safety concerns.

Austroads has launched safety star ratings for Australia’s major arterial roads in a significant step towards making them safer.

The star ratings are part of the Australian Road Assessment Program (AusRAP), a nationally coordinated effort led by Austroads to identify which roads pose the highest risks of death and serious injury and where road upgrades will have the greatest life-saving impact.

The AusRAP star ratings assess how safe a road is on a scale from one to five. One star indicates the least safe while five represents the safest.

The stars reflect the level of safety built into the road and consider factors such as road layout, speed limits and traffic volumes, not necessarily driver behaviour.

Identifying these factors, according to Austroads, will help classify where road upgrades are needed to make roads safer for drivers and the community.

Austroads Chief Executive, Geoff Allen, expressed great enthusiasm for the star ratings system, emphasising how it will

make it easier for government to prioritise critical road developments.

“We know not all roads are equal when it comes to risk,” he said. “That’s why the focus of AusRAP is on the country’s most travelled roads – the highways and major arterial routes where millions of Australians drive every day, and where fatal and serious injury crashes are most likely to occur.”

Allan explained that Australia has a vast road network, and while many regional and local roads also need safety improvements, this phase of AusRAP is intentionally focused on the busiest corridors –where the risk is highest because of the sheer volume of traffic and higher travelling speeds.

This targeted approach, used together with or alongside other tools, will look to assist governments to prioritise investments where they will save the most lives, the soonest.

Future phases will also expand coverage as new assessments and data become available.

“Road safety star ratings are a robust and trusted tool for communicating road safety information to the public, and Austroads is proud to coordinate and publish our

members’ results,” Allan said.

“Importantly, these results provide a snapshot in time of the safety of our roads – and there is still much work to be done to reach our goal of having 80 per cent of all travel occur on roads rated 3 stars or better by 2030.

“By publishing star ratings and crash history data on a single, national dashboard, we’re giving governments and the community a clear line of sight to where upgrades will have the greatest impact,” he said.

“That’s why the focus of AusRAP is on the country’s most travelled roads – the highways and major arterial routes where millions of Australians drive every day, and where fatal and serious injury crashes are most likely to occur.

“The roads that carry the most people are where the greatest risks, and greatest opportunities lie.”

The AusRAP platform has already analysed 71,441 kilometres of road and more than 128 billion kilometres of travel to date.

Victoria has the most kilometres tracked by AusRAP out of any state – AusRAP’s analysis covers 24,501 kilometres of road carrying around 49 billion vehicle kilometres

of travel each year.

Meanwhile, an AusRAP assessment of the majority (~95 per cent) of Western Australia’s state-controlled road network has been completed.

Analysis of these results covers 18,888 kilometres of road, carrying roughly 26 billion vehicle kilometres of travel each year.

According to Austroads, WA is the first jurisdiction world to use newly emerging AiRAP methodology to assess the road network.

AiRAP utilises artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques to extract the required features from mobile laser scanning.

Relative to road use, 82.3 per cent of traffic on the analysed state-controlled network in WA travels on three-star or better roads.

By road length, 77.7 per cent of the analysed state-controlled roads in WA are rated three stars or better – the highest rating of any state in Australia.

“It is encouraging to see that currently 82 per cent of vehicle travel on the WA state network is on three-star standard, or better,

roads,” said WA Deputy Premier, Treasurer, Minister for Transport; Sport and Recreation, Rita Saffioti.

“We are committed to continuing to maintain and improve our state network to provide safer travel for all road users.

“WA is pleased to be part of this national initiative as it is one that supports both increased road safety as well as a consistent evidence-based approach to identifying and prioritising high risk roads.”

Results from Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania, as well as further assessments in other states and territories, will help the AusRAP platform reach a target of nearly 190 billion kilometres of travel.

All of Australia’s national AusRAP results are published through the interactive AusRAP Dashboard, an evidence-based tool which shows AusRAP star ratings, crash history metrics and traffic volumes.

Full force

McKittrick Bulk Haulage has deployed a Holmwood Highgate Performance-Based Standards 30m B-double tanker to increase productivity and revenue.

Canberra-based McKittrick Bulk Haulage is known as a transporter of bulk diesel to many. But its former identity meant the fleet had associated with a completely different sector of the industry and customer base for much of its existence.

McKittrick Bulk Haulage originally set out in 2010, with a truck and dog tipper combination to cart mining materials from quarries to concrete plants and landscape businesses throughout the east coast. But a very competitive market saw McKittrick Bulk Haulage Director, Todd McKittrick, shift gears and transition to fuel tankers. That was five years ago now.

“It was very hard trying to make money out of truck and dogs,” Todd explains. “A lot of people were coming in and cutting rates to get work which was making the job harder for everyone. I just wanted to change.”

Todd, having been a tanker operator for

another business before starting his own, decided to return to something familiar.

“We got into the fuel industry,” he says.

“We started off with transporting bulk diesel to two BP sites and grew until we were doing it for everybody.

“Transporting bulk fuel is so much better than what we were doing before, especially on the maintenance side. Tippers are very hard on brakes and tyres, but tankers don’t use them as much because they’re mostly just going up and down the highway.”

McKittrick Bulk Haulage went on to expand rapidly following the alteration of its operations.

“We’ve had big growth phase in the last three years,” Todd says. “We’ve received some pretty big contracts that have made our operations larger.

“In terms of our fleet, I wasn’t going to go past five combinations at the start. We’ve

ended up with 11 B-doubles.”

The 11th unit is a recently deployed Holmwood Highgate Performance-Based Standards (PBS) 30m B-double tanker which is made up of a new quad-axle A trailer and pre-existing quad-axle B trailer. McKittrick Bulk Haulage invested in this combination to increase the amount of fuel it can carry, and with a payload of 61,500 litres of diesel at a Gross Combination Mass (GCM) of 77.5 tonnes, the B-double is on the right path to achieve that.

“We get paid by the litre”, Todd says, “so the more fuel we can get on, the more we get paid. We already had a quad B trailer which we bought four years ago, and instead of running that as a single, I decided to make it into a PBS B-double so that we could cart bigger loads.”

The new PBS combination has been in operation for around two months,

Todd says the Holmwood Highgate unit has already increased McKittrick Bulk Haulage’s workload by allowing it to transport more bulk fuel – exactly what the company originally set out to do.

“The trailer set does everything that we need it to do,” he says. “We’ve been carrying more diesel with it and we’re therefore turning much more over.”

Todd has been very impressed with the PBS combination’s on-road performance so far.

“It handles really well,” he says. “The tankers are being pulled by a new Kenworth, and they sit dead straight behind it. It’s a very good combination.”

Equally impressive has been the overall quality of the Holmwood Highgate product.

“The finish is what really stands out to me,” Todd says. “Holmwood finishes off really nice trailers. They might be a fraction dearer, but you get the quality that you pay for. You always get a really good product at the end of the day.”

Quality is one of the main reasons why McKittrick Bulk Haulage chose Holmwood Highgate for this latest application.

“I always knew that Holmwood’s trailers were Australian-built,” Todd says. “The barrels are made in Queensland and everything else is built in Victoria.

“It’s a very durable product. I’ve got Holmwood trailers from 2005 that are still

going strong with no issues at all.”

Todd says there have also been several other elements in his past dealings with Holmwood Highgate which have made him feel like a very valued customer. This has allowed him to place his trust in the OEM for more trailers beyond the latest delivery as well.

“We’ve got another 25m B-double and an A trailer coming,” he says. “I’ll stick with Holmwood because of their service and the way they look after us. It’s just a matter of calling them. If there’s ever an issue or something that we need help with, they’ll sort it out over the phone. If they can’t, they’ll come over and see me straight away. They’re pretty good with things like that.”

Holmwood Highgate has provided McKittrick Bulk Haulage with an unconditional level of service over the years. This has gone far beyond just aftersales support.

“Holmwood recently conducted a Safe Load Program (SLP) training course for me,” Todd explains. “They taught me how to do inspections on my trailers so that I could ensure they would pass to get into terminals to load bulk fuel.

“This was a pretty big deal for me because you don’t get through if you don’t have that pass. And instead of having to pay someone to do a SLP inspection beforehand, I can now do it myself.

“Holmwood also services my fleet every six months. They’ll go through and check them to make sure everything is alright. So, the service that you get from Holmwood is exceptional. It’s why I go to them and it’s why I’ll stay there.”

Contact Holmwood Highgate

Ph: 03 9936 0360 | 07 3440 9000

Web: www.holmwoodhighgate.com.au

Fuelling trust

Stevemacs Bulk Fuel Haulage’s reputation as a leading fuel transporter in Western Australia is upheld by its use of tanker components from Liquip West Coast .

Stevemacs Bulk Fuel Haulage has always been on the front line of Western Australia’s fuel transport network. The company was established as a family business in 2003 by owner, Steve McWhirter, out of Perth’s Kewdale and began its operations in the commercial heart of the state. This meant proximity to WA’s road networks, an essential factor for the fleet to cart fuel for customers across far distances.

The prime location of Stevemacs Bulk Haulage, coupled with Steve’s ambition to provide a personal and high-quality service to customers, effectively ensured the company would grow. And grow it did.

Stevemacs Bulk Fuel Haulage expanded its network to cover a solid and wide corridor of WA over the following 22 years. The business now carts fuel for a variety of customers across a network which extends from as far north as Broome to Albany, Esperance in the south and Kalgoorlie in between.

“Our linehaul bulk fuel transport services deliver fuel to a range of customers,” Steve says. “This includes

Perth Airport, air bases in the state and multinational companies like BP and Viva Energy.”

With this expansive customer base came an enlarged operation. Stevemacs Bulk Fuel Haulage therefore grew its personnel considerably and, by extension, its fleet.

“We operate 35 prime movers and 150 tanker trailers in a variety of configurations such as singles, doubles, triples, pocket road trains and quads,” Steve reports. “We also employ 45 people.”

The reliability of this sizeable fleet is integral to Stevemacs Bulk Fuel Haulage and its daily operations. This is why the business has chosen to invest in key trailer components from Liquip West Coast for the last seven years.

Liquip West Coast has been exclusively distributing products from Australian bulk liquid equipment and storage manufacturer, Liquip International, throughout WA since January 2017 –under ownership of Petroleum, Aviation and Mining Supplies (PAMS). PAMS Project Manager, Victor Benjamin, says

the two entities are strongly aligned.

“Liquip West Coast is purely functioning to replicate the range of services which Liquip’s head office offers,” he says. “We have been providing direct access for the stocking and supply of Liquip equipment since our commencement as its WA distributor in 2017.

“The partnership has been strong since origin. There’s a lot of synchronicities between the two companies because our agendas and goals are quite united.”

Stevemacs uses a range of Liquip products including VOH451 hatches, SLV5ARO foot valves, API valves, Haz-Chem signs – all of which provide critical benefits to its operations. The VOH451 hatch in particular is standardised in cast aluminum with metric threads. It’s equipped with four provisions which allow Stevemacs Bulk Fuel Haulage to conveniently mount additional Liquip equipment such as overfill probes, air operated vapour vents, dip and fill tubes and Diptronic measuring devices.

Meanwhile, the SLV5-ARO foot valve ensures high flow rates and the safe loading and discharge of the fleet’s

tankers. Steve has been more than pleased with the performance of all of these components in his fleet of trailers from Tieman Tankers.

“We chose to use Liquip products years ago because of their high quality and the trust that the name carried,” he says. “If we wanted to stay competitive and safe, it only made sense for us to use their components.”

Liquip West Coast greatly benefits from the market reputation and product knowledge Liquip carries by distributing its products via PAMS. Victor says the OEM’s strong impressions on the market have largely been fuelled by the sheer size of its value offering.

“Liquip is a major brand in the marketplace due to its extensive offering, product availability and overall history in Australia,” Victor says. “Liquip West Coast has definitely benefited from its name. Although we haven’t been around for too long, we have capitalised on its brand awareness for our customers.”

Both Liquip brands champion safety and commitment. Victor believes that Liquip West Coast’s approachability in the

marketplace is what attracts customers to use its products and services.

“We pride ourselves on customer service,” he says. “Our dedication to the customer means we can go above and beyond when needed. That involves doing the extra work to make things happen, such as keeping substantial stock available.

“For example, we don’t have to wait for products to arrive from interstate in the case of a potential breakdown. We are self-sufficient and able to service market requirements in WA independently.”

The self-sufficiency of Liquip West Coast’s operations is a testament to the quality and durability of Liquip products in general. Although Liquip is based on the east coast, its components are manufactured to the highest standards so that they will perform the same way anywhere in Australia.

“Given the harsh conditions of WA, we have pretty high requirements for how our tankers are expected to perform,” Victor says. “They cover exceptional distances over very rugged terrain and aren’t really put under that same strain on the east coast.

“It’s substantially hotter over here –temperatures in the northwest during summer can easily exceed 45º C every day. But the beauty of Liquip’s products is that they act as a universal solution.

Even though they aren’t manufactured in these conditions, they’re so well-built that they perform without a hitch in these regional applications.”

At Stevemacs Bulk Fuel Haulage, Steve is looking to further ensure safety and performance across his equipment. As a result, he will continue to invest in Liquip components alongside his upcoming fleet expansion.

“Safety, quality and professionalism are cornerstones for our business, so we’ll continue to use Liquip components on our tankers for a long time,” he says.

“We have our own reputation in the industry to uphold, and Liquip is critical to that.”

Contact

Liquip International

148 Newton Road, Wetherill Park NSW 2164

Ph: 02 9725 9000

Web: www.liquip.com

Larger than life

National Heavy Haulage utilises a trustworthy Drake Trailers fleet of 23 low loaders to carry out some of the biggest transport tasks in Australia.

When it comes to the transport of oversized equipment, there’s nothing too big for National Heavy Haulage. The Queensland-based earthmoving fleet has moved thousands of tonnes of heavy plant machinery during its 14 years in the industry and, as a result, has constructed an extensive portfolio of some of Australia’s largest freight tasks.

The pièce de resistance for National Heavy Haulage was transporting the world’s second largest mining trucks in 2018. The tactical assignment took place over five separate trips during September and October and involved moving five 160-tonne Liebherr T 282 C Ultra-Class dump trucks from Mackay, Queensland, to BHP’s Peak Downs Mine in Winchester. The more than 200-kilometre journey would have been quite the sight to see for those able to get a glimpse of it.

This colossal project presented many challenges to the emerging transport company. Liaising with government bodies and authorities, for example, was required to get permits, escorts and road closures actioned. A fairly stringent survey and analysis process also needed to be completed beforehand to ensure the fleet’s route would be effective and free of any infrastructure obstructions. Yet the heavy hitter emerged victorious like many other times with another trophy to add to the shelf.

National Heavy Haulage’s next showpiece objective arose in early 2024. The company received a contract from a valued client in the Northern Territory to transport a 265-tonne excavator onsite at Groote Eylandt, an island just off the northern coast of Australia in the Gulf of Carpentaria. So, the fleet headed off to Darwin, shipped one of its first ever trailers (a 13-year-old Drake Trailers 11x8 Steerable Full Modular Low Loader) on a barge vessel to the island and pulled off one of the greatest examples of its ability to execute out of the ordinary requests.

These are just some of the many larger than life projects which have given National Heavy Haulage a name that is extremely reputable within the industry.

“We’ll go where the work is and just make it happen,” says National Heavy Haulage General Manager, Woody Scott. “Customers choose us because of this. Our can-do attitude, safety and Chain of Responsibility compliance attract a lot of people who want a very reliable and well-managed business.”

Such monstrous operations require trailing equipment that can be relied on in the most extreme conditions. For this reason, The Drake Group has long been National Heavy Haulage’s trailer supplier of choice.

“All of our heavy haulage trailers are from The Drake Group,” Woody explains. “It was a known factor that Drake were the best

when we were starting out. The quality and reliability of their equipment was second to none, and it still is today.

“Our first trailer combinations were two Drake Steerable Full Modular Low Loaders in 7x8 and 8x8 configurations. These units are 13 years old and they’re still in operation.

When the business grew and we were in a position to buy more trailers, there were no questions about where we would get them. We just knew that we would need to ring Sam Drake.”

That phone call was made, and many more followed. National Heavy Haulage now has a total of 23 low loaders, 10 clips and 12 dollies from The Drake Group in its fleet.

Five of these latest combinations were deployed this year. They include a Quad Full Widener and dolly, 8x8 Steerable Platform with a 2x8 Steerable Clip and dolly, 7x8 Steerable Platform with a 3x8 Steerable Clip and dolly, and two 5x8 Swingwing Low Loaders with dollies.

“We have seen a lot of expansion in the business over the last year,” Woody says. “There’s been a lot of improvement in our market share and an increase in demand, and we needed more trailers to keep up with the growth.”

The Full Widener, Steerable Platforms and Swingwing Low Loader combinations in particular have transformed National Heavy Haulage’s freight capacity. From Woody’s

perspective, these trailers have essentially unlocked a new level of productivity and efficiency for the business.

“Our most recent Drake trailers have vastly improved our capabilities,” he explains. “They have positioned us in a different market because we’re now able to get a lot more volume. On top of that, we have the ability to take up more work and the confidence to put more combinations on the road because we aren’t seeing any breakdowns or issues.”

The five new low loader combinations were well spec’d with the latest and greatest components that The Drake Group has to offer. Woody, having a great eye for detail, ensured the units would be best suited for the varying applications that they would go on to endure. For the Steerable Platforms, this meant requesting something very specific to his applications.

“I went to The Drake Group with an idea to simplify the bleeding of the steering system,” he says. “Byron Foss took it to the table with their engineers and designers, and they ended up fitting it on the last two Steerable Platform combinations.”

The final product allows oil to be automatically filtered into the steering hydraulic tanks of these units. Woody says this has been a major safety benefit for National Heavy Haulage.

“The bleeding system is great because it eliminates the need for drivers to manually

tip oil into the steering hydraulic tanks,” he says. “Our operators were previously climbing on top of units and working at heights to refill the tanks themselves, but they’re being kept on the ground now.”

National Heavy Haulage’s fleet of Drake trailers predominantly operates in Queensland and New South Wales, but due to the business’ flexibility, it also has the capacity to be deployed anywhere in Australia. Within these operations, the low loader units have proven to excel at carting large-scale mining assets and earthmoving equipment with their renowned durability and reliability.

“The Drake Trailers product is something that supports National Heavy Haulage significantly,” Woody says. “I know that I can send my trailers anywhere. It doesn’t matter where they go because they’re going to get there and get back.

“This impacts what we do to a great extent. We don’t have any issues with breakdowns, downtimes or operational delays at all. So putting our trust in the Drake product to such an extent has paid off greatly.”

National Heavy Haulage’s Drake trailers are bolstered with an effective maintenance system in place. Widespread access to spare parts has increased productivity and reduced downtimes even further by ensuring all trailers are constantly operational.

“The Drake Group is very good for parts and back-up service because they’ve got everything on hand,” Woody explains. “We’re able to stock parts in our facility, so if we happen to have a landing leg failure, for example, there are more units on the shelf which can be installed on the spot. This conveniency has made a massive difference for us.”

This sense of availability is something that is also fairly prominent within The Drake Group’s customer-centric approach. This is another factor which has contributed to National Heavy Haulage’s long-term reliance on the OEM.

“I’m very happy with The Drake Group,” Woody says. “I’ve developed a very close relationship with them over the years.

“The Drake Group is a family business and the people there treat you like that. The guys always ask me how my kids are going and what my wife is up to, and that makes me feel like they actually care.

“I’ll continue to buy Drake trailers as the National Heavy Haulage business grows because the product works really well for us and we’re supported by the people behind it.”

Drake Group 19 Formation Street

Wacol QLD 4076

Ph: 07 3271 5888

Web: www.thedrakegroup.com.au

Ace of spades

Ace Heavy Haulage invested in two 4x4 Tilt ‘N’ Slide Wideners and two 10x8 Steerable Low Loader Platforms from Tuff Trailers in a bid to increase efficiency and profitability.

Integrity and service. These are two very powerful words which resonate with Ace Heavy Haulage. The Queensland-based transporter, focused on ensuring every task is completed to the highest level of safety and care, has taken all necessary measures to solidify itself with these values over the last 20 years – an effort which seems to have paid off based on the extensive portfolio of contracts and clients it has collected since.

Ace Heavy Haulage was originally set up on the back of a rental business in 2004. Founder, Michael Sheldon, was running a machinery rental company at the time and needed a way to transport his equipment around. So, rather than relying on third parties to do the job, he set up his own transport operation.

Ace Heavy Haulage was born. But its final form arrived in 2012 when Michael’s business partner, Tom Willis, took over as Managing Director and steered the business in a different direction.

“I wanted to take the company away from the carting of its rental equipment and down

the heavy haulage route,” he says. “So, we stopped doing the rental equipment side of work. We went off and became a completely separate entity so that we could move everyone’s gear. We’re now in the position where we have the trailers to do just about everything.”

Ace Heavy Haulage found its breakthrough around three years ago when it won a contract to transport six 165-tonne renewable transformers to the MacIntyre Wind Farm in Cement Mills, Queensland. Tom sees this event as the main turning point for the business.

“That was what put us on the map,” he says. “We really stamped out our presence in the sector through it. That was about six months’ worth of flat-out work, and it was our first big project job.”

Paramount to Ace Heavy Haulage’s expanding operations in recent years have been four new low loaders from Tuff Trailers. The two 4x4 Tilt ‘N’ Slide Wideners and two 10x8 Steerable Low Loader Platforms have increased versatility, efficiency and productivity by large margins.

“We bought a 4x4 Tilt ‘N’ Slide Widener first,” Tom explains. “There was a hole in our business due to all of the longer buildings and machines that we couldn’t get to, and after I saw these Tuff Trailers Tilt ‘N’ Slide Wideners getting around, I purchased one.

“I was a bit hesitant about it at first because I didn’t know whether it was going to fit into the business or not. But it did, and I liked it so much that I went and bought a second one. I’d buy a third if I had the money.”

The two Tuff Trailers Tilt ‘N’ Slide Wideners have since become integral to Ace Heavy Haulage’s operations of carting heavy machinery.

“The Tilt ‘N’ Slide trailers are a very important part of our business,” Tom says. “They are extremely versatile. You can use them as general low loaders or for specific applications like modular buildings and accessing machines that are mechanically locked up.”

The story around the deployment of the two Tuff Trailers 10x8 Steerable Low

Loader Platforms is pretty meaningful for Ace Heavy Haulage. This is because Tom pinpoints the arrival of the first unit as his biggest milestone.

“That purchase has been the most significant part of my career so far,” he says. “It was my first brand-new platform trailer. It was a really good time for us as a business and a super significant time for me as an individual.”

Tom was so impressed with the first low loader platform that he went back for more. The second unit followed suit just one year later in 2024 and joined its three siblings in several heavy haulage applications around Australia. Together, all four low loaders have since proven to be extremely durable throughout a variety of applications and operating conditions.

“Our Tuff Trailers low loaders are the absolute workhorses behind everything we do,” Tom says. “They’re working flat out all day, every day, Australia-wide.”

The 10x8 Steerable Low Loader Platforms in particular have been a gamechanger for Ace Heavy Haulage due to their maximum manoeuvrability.

“The steering on these units is unbelievable,” Tom says. “There are no fixed axles on the 10-row platform trailers, so every single axle steers. This is a massive benefit when it comes to getting into places.

“If we’re in a tight spot, we can just steer the axle with a remote control and drive forward with the truck to manually steer

it around. We can also operate the whole thing standing 10 metres away which is very handy from a safety point of view.”

Low maintenance has been another advantage of utilising Tuff Trailers’ low loaders. Tom says the 4x4 Tilt ‘N’ Slide Wideners and 10x8 Steerable Platforms are “almost non-serviceable”.

“The trailers have a grease nipple on top of the slack adjusters and the ballrace, and that’s it,” he says. “There isn’t the element of grease lines everywhere, and I’ve found that the team and I don’t need to constantly watch the trailers as a result. The drivers are also more refreshed because everything’s running true and perfect.”

These latest units join three Tuff Trailers drop decks which have also been at Ace Heavy Haulage since 2013. The low loaders, still in their original condition from 12 years ago, are a testament in themselves to the durability of the product.

“It was a no-brainer to invest in these

latest trailers because I knew they were tried and tested products,” Tom says. “I did my research on the people that had them before me and on what they thought, and it seemed that everyone agreed that they are a great benefit. We’ve since seen that firsthand.”

In addition, the customer experience received from Tuff Trailers has made the whole experience a very positive one for Ace Heavy Haulage.

“Tuff Trailers is really good to deal with,” Tom explains. “They’re not in it to sell you something and move on.

“Tuff Trailers has a genuine interest in what you’re doing and where your business is going. They really want to see you do well, and the world needs more of those sorts of people.”

Feel the Byrne

Byrne Trailers has strengthened its manufacturing processes and leadership team in a move which bolsters the business synonymous with livestock transport.

For manufacturers like Byrne Trailers, change is a given. The family business’ patriarch, Mick Byrne, was seemingly no stranger to adaptation, having worked an assortment of jobs around the regional town of Peak Hill, New South Wales, at the beginning of his career. In addition to being a steel merchant and welder, Mick was also a driver, carting livestock with his brother, Bill, in the early 1970s.

Mick’s ability to change and adopt skills with ease was complemented by a critical understanding of road transport equipment. So, when he was directly approached to build a trailer in 1974, he dropped everything to do it. With the help of his other brother, Des, Byrne Trailers was born. Mick and his wife, Teri, helmed operations

while also raising a family. Their son, Jonathon Byrne, remembers the two endeavours going hand in hand.

“Byrne Trailers’ first piece of equipment was manufactured at our old home in Peak Hill,” he recalls. “That was when the idea for the business was conceived. We bought the block of land next to our house and put a shed back there which we eventually built into a small factory.”

Business wins came early after Byrne Trailers was fully established. This was particularly seen in the form of Mick’s own livestock trailer designs which changed the entire industry.

“Livestock trailers were only built with three decks of sheep back in those days,” Jonathon explains. “Dad designed the four-

decker which required a larger height of 4.6 metres. He lobbied with the National Party of Australia at the time and got the law changed to accommodate his trailer height.

“But that wasn’t all. Cattle trailers were predominantly tin-sided trailers in those early days and wooden-sided trailers before that. My dad designed a monocoque diamond pattern which is now used by the vast majority of trailer manufacturers in Australia.”

This string of innovations and subsequent success eventually prompted further changes in Byrne Trailers. In 1988, the company relocated to a new factory in Wagga Wagga, NSW. The business became an interstate operation shortly afterwards in 1993 when it set up a dedicated repairs depot in Toowoomba, Queensland, to

service its northern and western customers.

These facilities have seen their share of managerial changes this year alone.

The Toowoomba depot was the site of an operational shake-up in January when Jonathon purchased the business segment from his parents.

“The ownership of the business has shifted a bit, but we still work very closely together,” Jonathon says. “The relationship between both sites is strong. We’re still aiming to achieve the same business goals.”

Additionally, Byrne Trailers welcomed its new General Manager, Mick Bray, at its Wagga Wagga site. Mick has long been associated with the Byrnes in some form or another.

“ My mum actually taught Mick when he was in primary school,” Jonathon says. “He ended up working for us in Peak Hill for some time before he left. Then, in 2019, he came back as a salesman and worked his way up to General Manager.”

Having seen Mick in action, Jonathon is confident that his wide scope of expertise and personability will be a boost for the business.

“Mick has a lot of industry knowledge and a lot of respect in the sector,” he explains. “The industry can be a bit old school as far as the values it holds and the things it expects. The space is a lot more rural, too. But Mick was brought up in a country area and he has already had so much exposure through his career. I think he’ll be great at building relationships which will be really good for business.”

Mick is spearheading a seismic shift within Byrne Trailers’ operations by steering the business away from some of its manufacturing niches and instead focusing on its main product type –livestock trailers.

“We’ve been doing a lot of bulk

transport with tippers and walking floors over the years”, Jonathon says, “but as of late, we’ve changed our direction and put that on the back burner to purely focus on livestock. It’s like a return to our foundation.”

This refocus was made largely in response to growing demand from the livestock sector. From what Jonathon and the team have seen, this part of the industry is doing very doing well in a period where others are struggling.

“Demand in the livestock space is huge, while other sectors have slowed down a bit,” he says. “The pricing of beef is what’s driving this at the moment. The number of feed lots opening up in the last four to five years has really helped the cattle numbers throughout Australia.

“This is particularly in Queensland, a state which has more cattle than the rest of Australia. That, combined with a few wet seasons in the north which have allowed for an increase in beef production in recent years, makes it very attractive for people to sell cattle.

“All of this, as a result, means more people need to cart cattle. This is where our builds come in and it’s why we’re tailoring our operations to this space. As a business, we’re simply catering to the market demand.”

Accommodating market demand is something that has always been a strength for Byrne Trailers. Jonathon says the team has the capacity to satisfy its clients by shifting its attention away from non-livestock trailer builds in a sense.

“Some customers are very specific about what they want,” he says. “Requirements always vary from customer to customer, but we do get a lot of repeat customers. This allows us to learn the combinations and specifications that they need over time.

“We’re there to service our customers’ needs, and being familiar with them makes this process much easier.”

Byrne Trailers’ flexible manufacturing process has been cultivated over decades of customer feedback, technological changes and the internal development of more efficient methods. One of the company’s more recent innovations, for example, is its stainless steel trailer designs which have been a specialty of the Wagga Wagga site since 2016.

“We’re pulling materials from three or four different countries around the world to manufacture these trailers,” Jonathon says. “Every trailer coming out of the Wagga Wagga factory is completely stainless from the chassis up.”

The Toowoomba depot, which began manufacturing its own trailers four years ago, has largely followed suit.

“Our semi-stainless builds are in Toowoomba because there’s a higher risk of rust in the area,” Jonathon says. “This is due to the climate and the effluent from the animals that customers carry.”

Between these relatively new builds, the company’s bolstered management structure and the business’ altered direction, it is clear that a new age of Byrne Trailers has been ushered in.

“Our products and services have greatly evolved from when the company was founded,” Jonathon says. “But, with everything that’s been happening this year and our future plans, there’s a lot more for us to do.”

www.byrnetrailers.com.au

Diesel delivery

Winslow’s fifth rigid refueller from Holmwood Highgate will be the latest delivery in a near decade-long arrangement.

Before becoming an interstate civil construction empire, Winslow began in a backyard. Founder and Managing Director, Dino Strano, conceived the company out of his home in Rosanna, Victoria, in 1985. In the beginning, the operation was equipped with nothing more than a single piece of equipment and all the ambition Dino could muster. It’s safe to say that things have changed since then.

Winslow expanded across Australia in the years that followed, amassing machines and people along the way. Today, the company’s presence extends to Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia, with more than 800 pieces of equipment and an army of 1,600 full-time workers across various construction applications.

Winslow’s fuel division plays a vital role in supporting site operations and logistics. Within this part of the business, Winslow works closely with trusted partners such as Holmwood Highgate which have built and customised its fleet of fuel tankers, hose reels, barrels and related systems.

Holmwood Highgate has provided Winslow with four rigid refuellers so far. A new unit is expected to join the fleet before Christmas and will change Winslow’s operations quite significantly.

“We outsourced the fueling of our machines to other companies entirely

for some of our sites in the past,” says Winslow Fuel Service Manager, Dimitrios Gountsiotis. “This incoming rigid refueller will allow us to do it ourselves in a specific area of our operations.”

Though it may seem like a big task for one rigid refueller, the unit is custom-designed to get the job done. It features a total payload capacity of 22 tonnes, including a 15,000-litre fuel barrel and two additional tanks carrying lube oil and AdBlue diesel exhaust fluid.

The rigid refueller is also equipped with Alfons Haar pumping equipment and a specialised hose reel for diesel metered deliveries. In addition, a dedicated control unit inside the truck cab allows operators to directly adjust fuel pressure and ensure precise control when refuelling machinery.

“Some of our machinery can take up to 1,000 litres of fuel a day, while others only take 20,” Dimitrios says. “Being able to adjust this fuel pressure is very important so that we don’t damage certain equipment or waste fuel.”

The Holmwood Highgate rigid refueller will also include toolboxes on both sides for storing essential equipment such as grease cartridges. These features have become standard due to the OEM’s long-term understanding of Winslow’s operational needs.

“One of the biggest benefits of working

with Holmwood is how straightforward they are,” Dimitrios says. “We’ve been partnering with them for close to 10 years, so they know what we like.

“The equipment they provide us suits our operations perfectly. It doesn’t get much easier than that.”

Holmwood Highgate’s expertise in design, fabrication and engineering has been a key factor behind Winslow’s success. Its ability to deliver custom, high-quality builds which perform reliably under demanding site conditions has made the OEM a trusted partner for the fleet. With a strong focus on safety, precision and innovation, Holmwood Highgate has ensured that every unit is built to the highest standard – helping keep Winslow’s fleet running smoothly and efficiently across all job sites.

“We were still a big company 12 to 13 years ago, but we only had two fuel trucks,” Dimitrios says. “We decided to look for new partners with deeper knowledge and expertise, and Holmwood Highgate had exactly that. They don’t waste time when solving problems because they understand the size and complexity of the operation we run.”

Contact Holmwood Highgate

Ph: 03 9936 0360 | 07 3440 9000

Web: www.holmwoodhighgate.com.au

A game-changing delivery system

By popular acclaim, the SWIFT Delivery System from Liquip is the industry’s simplest, lightest, smartest and – yes –fastest fuel-delivery solution.

The SWIFT’s innovative metering delivery system uses level gauging to accurately and conveniently deliver multiple products through a single pump – whether the method of delivery is gravity-fed, bulk-drop or hose reel.

Make the SWIFT Delivery System the star of your fuel-delivery production!

Holmwood Highgate is a leader in the tanker manufacturing industry, renowned for its diverse range of capabilities. With cutting-edge technology and a commitment to innovation, we specialize in creating tankers that cater to various sectors, including oil, gas, and chemical transport. Our expert team blends engineering excellence with sustainability practices, ensuring each tanker is built for efficiency, longevity and safety. From bespoke designs to robust production processes, Holmwood Highgate, and it’s associated brands, are dedicated to delivering high-quality solutions that meet the evolving needs of our global clients.

With growth in our brands we have seen the expansion into local firsts and industry demanding transportation systems. We offer various applications for bulk liquid, gas, bitumen, food, ANE and more to cover Australia’s ever growing need and hunger for unique transportation options.

OUR CAPABILITY

BITUMEN TANKERS

AMMONIUM NITRATE EMULSION

FOOD AND MILK

INDUSTRIAL GASES - (LPG & CRYOGENIC)

DRY BULK

AVIATION FUEL

COMMERICAL GRADE FUEL

Queensland 07 3440 9000

20-26 Burchill Street, Loganholme, QLD, 4129

Victoria 03 9936 0360

425 Fitzgerald Road, Derrimut, VIC, 3026

A walk in the park

AAA Transport’s interstate waste and rubbish carting services have been notably strengthened by KEITH Walking Floor systems.

AAA Transport is as much a family heirloom as it is a company. The operation was established over 30 years ago in Sydney, New South Wales, to specialise in the transport of waste and rubbish products such as glass, paper and scrap metal for recycling companies.

With time, AAA Transport’s influence in the industry grew. As did its scale. The company would eventually spread into surrounding suburbs in Victoria, South Australia and the Australia Capital Territory with efficient services.

AAA Transport Director, Omar Kreidie, is the latest holder of the heirloom, and he’s proud of it.

“I’ve been with the company for a long time,” he says. “I grew up around the business in my childhood, and when the time was right, my father passed it onto me.”

Under Omar’s watchful eye, AAA Transport has prioritised key business principles such as honesty, reliability and safety in order to best serve its customers.

“We believe these values are the most important to keeping customers happy,” he explains. “We make sure our employees live by these rules so we give the best service we can. If a customer wants us to jump, we ask them ‘how high?’. We’re fully in tune with what they need.”

AAA Transport’s commitment to safety can be clearly seen with its five semi-trailers fitted with KEITH Walking Floor systems. The fleet’s use of the moving floor product began just five years ago when it was after a new waste unloading method to replace its tipper trailers. According to Omar, they have since transformed AAA Transport’s operations.

“We were previously using standard tipper trailers but they kept falling over when unloading waste,” he says. “It was a major hazard for us, so we needed to make our operations safer.”

AAA Transport did just that through KEITH Walking Floor systems. Rather than having to empty waste materials at elevated heights and at a weight imbalance, these units utilise the moving floor’s hydraulic power to push the floor slats (and whatever freight is on them) out of the trailer’s tailgate.

“The KEITH Walking Floor trailers are very easy to use,” Omar says. “You only have to flick two buttons and the system begins unloading. It’s a much quicker process than what it was with our tippers, because we seem to just finish jobs and get to other ones sooner now.”

The KEITH Walking Floor systems

have also increased safety for AAA Transport’s operators. This is primarily due to the system’s ability to effectively eliminate material hang up and the need for drivers to manually clean out harmful waste materials.

“The scrap metal and glass that we carry can be dangerous for our employees if they’re sharp or unclean,” Omar explains. “Drivers can injure themselves in the process of unloading if they have bad form. But the KEITH Walking Floor systems have eliminated the need for them to even get out of the truck and deal with the waste inside the bins.”

The efficiency and safety advantages of the KEITH product are further supported by an aftersales service which has been very beneficial to AAA Transport.

“KEITH Walking Floor Australia’s customer support is top notch,” Omar says. “The whole company is great at helping us when we need them to.”

KEITH Walking Floor systems have greatly assisted the last five years of AAA Transport’s operations. As the family heirloom continues to service Australia’s waste and rubbish carting needs, KEITH will be alongside it.

YOUR DUMP BODIES

Service with a smile

Knorr-Bremse utilises talented third parties such as Ryan’s Diesel Maintenance & Repairs in its Expert Network to support an extensive customer base in Australia.

Knorr-Bremse is a safety-first kind of company. This is evident in its product range of braking solutions and weighing systems which, rooted in a 120-year history of safety and innovation worldwide, play a big role in helping fleet operators run logistical operations safely and smoothly. This is executed via efficient braking and correct trailer mass calculations.

Knorr-Bremse continues its commitment to ensuring safety across the transport industry with an extensive range of service providers. Knorr-Bremse’s Expert Network was first introduced in the European market in 2016 to maintain the performance of its customers’ braking solutions and to keep their operations running. Following international success throughout the northern hemisphere, it arrived in Australia.

“Our mission is to have every vehicle

consistently checked and back on the road as quickly as possible,” says KnorrBremse Sales Manager for OE Trailers and Aftermarket – Commercial Vehicle Systems, Jannie Geldenhuys. “To fulfil this mission, we offer a refined Expert Network that sources quality partners through a loyalty program.

“This initiative began in Europe and it has since expanded into the global market. By adapting to various regional markets, the Knorr-Bremse Expert Network has become one of the most successful aftermarket networks in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.”

Knorr-Bremse’s Expert Network recruits skilled personnel within the transport industry to support fleets with vehicles that are fitted with Knorr-Bremse braking solutions and On-Board Mass (OBM)

weighing systems. Knorr-Bremse approaches trailer OEMs, customers and mobile repair businesses to represent the Expert Network with highly technical service and maintenance capabilities.

Jannie says those who are selected must meet very high standards.

“The people and businesses that we onboard need to fit certain criteria,” he says. “We screen them internally with our own stringent guidelines and then provide them with extensive training so that they are qualified to best support our customers.

“We consider certain market conditions and the players within them during this process, but the criteria always remain constant. It’s a matter of safety and quality assurance.”

This safety and quality assurance has

certainly been upheld since Ryan’s Diesel Maintenance & Repairs joined KnorrBremse’s Expert Network. The company, established in 2019 by founder, John Ryan, was born out of concern for the state of safety.

“I had been in the repair business for 25 years before I started Ryan’s Diesel Maintenance & Repairs,” John says. “I was servicing a fleet of log trailers one day when I noticed their Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) warning lamps were illuminated.

“There was a fault in the system, and that made me think about how many more fleets needed help with their braking systems.”

John was motivated to make a difference after this experience. So, he set up his family business, Ryan’s Diesel Maintenance & Repairs, with his wife and championed values around safety, quality service and frequent communication with customers.

John ensured he could deliver on these values even further by purchasing a KnorrBremse braking systems diagnostic kit. It then wasn’t long until the manufacturer contacted him.

“Knorr Bremse reached out to me and invited me to join their service network,” he recalls. “I was very excited to join it, especially when they told me I would get all the support I needed.”

Support was provided to John in many forms. First, he was introduced to some of the customers he would be assisting in Knorr-Bremse’s Expert Network. He also

received comprehensive education on the network and how it operates as a callout service.

John then underwent essential training to be a part of the network.

“There was a day of training at KnorrBremse’s old site in Keysborough in Victoria when I initially joined the network,” he says. “Knorr-Bremse had a dolly with a Trailer Electronic Braking System (TEBS) model installed, and we ran through theory and practical work on servicing it.”

In recent times, John has further participated in specific iMass OBM system training days. He has also been invited to various Knorr-Bremse showcases which have shared key products to him and other Expert Network partners.

“The great thing about Knorr-Bremse’s Expert Network is that it’s continuous,” he says. “The sessions have provided me with great opportunities to meet others in the network. I have really felt like part of the family.”

John now focuses more specifically on EBS and ABS inspections. Having assisted customers all over Victoria and South Australia in the Knorr-Bremse Expert Network, he is now equipped to provide others with the type of critical maintenance skills which pushed him to buy a KnorrBremse diagnostic kit five years ago.

“I can really see that I’m making a difference to the safety of these fleets and their trailers,” he says. “I’ve noticed that a lot of customers aren’t fitting their

TEBS systems in line with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s (NHVR) VSB6 guidelines. These guidelines are imperative for heavy vehicle modification, and I’ve been able to help customers to stay compliant in this space.”

In his work, John collaborates with KnorrBremse to ensure the utmost safety of its customers. This is completed via a final check – the last step across the OEM’s entire Expert Network.

“I can guarantee that a quality job has been done because I’ve worked on every stage of it,” he says. “Then, an Approved Vehicle Examiner (AVE) or AVE Inspector will complete a brake calculation for the trailer and give the final sign-off to ensure my fitment is correct.”

While John is proud to make these tangible improvements to the safety of operators on Australia’s roads, he has also recognised Knorr-Bremse’s positive impact on his own expertise.

“I’ve really grown with the brand by being a part of this Expert Network,” he says. “I’m prepared to invest in the future with KnorrBremse to support their customers.

“Being around their innovations and sharing them with customers has been great for my business. My wife and I can’t thank Knorr-Bremse and the Expert Network enough for that.”

Contact

Knorr-Bremse truck.knorr-bremse.com/en/au/

The heavy weight

Tramanco’s extensive range of upgraded On-Board Mass software provides critical weighing and maintenance solutions to the world of transport.

The Tramanco name has been synonymous with accurate weighing systems in Australia for 50 years. This enduring legacy began as a one-man operation founded by Roger Sack in Queensland in 1975.

Roger and his wife, Judith, wasted no time in making an impact with innovative equipment. They started manufacturing and modifying truck engineering components together – completing wheelbase alterations, building lazy axles and making twin-steer, tandem and tri-axle setups before pivoting to On-Board Mass (OBM) systems just three years later.

Tramanco spent the next few years developing and perfecting its own OBM technology before reaching a watershed moment in 1981 with the release of its flagship product, the CHEK-WAY Eliminator. This unique OBM system was soon complemented with Tramanco’s own line of weighbridges, known as WAY-BRIDGES. These products all use the SMART-AMP which, being a software-based system, allows Tramanco to activate the correct software programme accordingly. This has made the multifunctional CHEK-WAY product a simple yet complete replacement OBM system for fully imported truck and trailer weighing systems since 1984.

Roger says these products, combined with an extensive list of certifications, have transformed Tramanco into a one-stop shop for customers and all of their weighing, data monitoring and recording needs.

“Tramanco is now a certified approved service provider for Telematics Monitoring Application and Road Infrastructure Monitoring within Transport Certification Australia (TCA),” he says. “We offer a fully comprehensive experience as one manufacturer while still interfacing our proven plug-and-play products with many other ASPs as well. Our products only have a responsibility to owners, enabling their operations to automatically meet both OH&S standards, Chain of Responsibility (CoR) requirements and many other legislative requirements.”

The CHEK-WAY Eliminator system collects mass and other system information from air or hydraulic pressure transducers connected to either air bag suspensions, hydraulic suspensions or load cells which are mounted on the vehicle. This information is then sent to the system’s LCD metre which displays the various weight and system diagnostics. These statistics include the net or gross weight of each individual group of axles as well as the total weight of all axle groups.

The CHEK-WAY ELIMINATOR has been updated over time to include the industry’s latest innovations and to comply with various standards. For example, the product is built using cables that comply with the Australian Dangerous Goods Code as well as Australian Standards 2809.0-2008 for road tank vehicles.

The latest version of the CHEK-WAY

Eliminator is known as a Smart OBM due to the inclusion of enhanced technological capabilities in its hardware which combine the measurements of various payloads and vehicle weight statistics. These capabilities make the product a simple and effective tool.

“Simplicity is the hallmark of our CHEK-WAY Eliminator system,” Roger explains. “It has been designed for commercial use with Tramanco’s own Wi-Fi communications link or commercial grade Bluetooth communications via our Phone-WAY software. This software has a confirmed range of at least 90 metres, whether it be hand-held, in a fixed position, on a silo or at a weighbridge.”

In addition to Phone-WAY, Tramanco develops other in-house software that are integral to the running of its OBMs.

“Our systems have never been hardware based, as updates only involve a plug-and-play software update,” Roger explains. “Tramanco also writes its own software which enables existing systems to be removed and re-installed by simply updating the software at the same time. This also allows different OBM systems to track important diagnostics.

“As a result, we have some systems which are well over 15-years-old and on their third or fourth truck or trailer. This is an exceptional return on investment.”

Tramanco’s main software, INS-COM, automatically records OBM data from the

CHEK-WAY Eliminator. This allows operators to keep close track of suspension weights and tyre/suspension wear rate diagnostics without having to invest in a separate software from another manufacturer.

Meanwhile, Tramanco’s Trak-N-WAY software checks the calibration, tampering and health of any CHEK-WAY Eliminator system every 30 seconds to ensure any malfunctions are reported in real time, rather than after an accident or component failure has occurred.

“Our INS-COM software allows any operator to keep their units in working order by constantly recording weight and diagnostics,” Roger says. “This keeps their vehicles safer and more compliant as a result.

“Another one of INS-COM’s automatic functions is the ability to prove weight and speed for first mile to last mile access, with a simple load and speed test over any culvert, bridge or any other type of infrastructure. This saves our customers time and money.”

Tramanco’s product line now houses TCAcertified Type B Smart OBM and Smart-R AMP systems, the latter of which retains all weighing functions for both new and existing Tramanco customers.

AUTO-CAL and AUTO-ID are just two examples of the SMART-R AMP features which work to automatically recognise any OBM’s scales when a new vehicle or trailer is connected. This easy and automatic calibration recognition feature saves operators the time in not having to calibrate the scales themselves, and in turn, allows them to use the CHEK-WAY Eliminator system on a variety of combinations at any time.

Meanwhile, Tramanco’s security and quality assurance policies have also become more advanced with the implementation of modern technologies. They now allow operators to track the weight and health of their transport units with more ease than ever.

“Our technology enables consistent productivity and profitability through diligent weight checking, safe practices, compliance with OH&S, CoR and duty of care,” Roger says. “Compliance and maintenance are not luxuries. They are necessities, and the key responsibilities of every operator.”

Contact Tramanco

Ph: +617 3892 2311

Web: www.tramanco.com.au

Levelling up

Australian Portable Camps is upgrading its expansive fleet with JOST fifth wheels and Loc-Light sensors to improve safety.

Australian Portable Camps is a unique company born from a unique dream. Its history is rich and began with the arrival of Frank Martino to Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory in 1968.

Frank took a risk when he came to Australia. Looking for success as a chef by trade, he found work in the kitchens of Tennant Creek’s mining and construction camps. The risk appetite proved hard to satiate, as Frank’s time around these camps seemingly inspired him to run one by himself, and to do it better. So, his idea eventually became Australian Portable Camps in 2001, around 33 years later.

Frank had relocated to Monarto, South Australia, to establish the modular construction company. In the years that

followed, it took off.

Australian Portable Camps has grown both in size and capability, now servicing a plethora of industries across the country.

“We can build portable camps for any sector that needs them,” says Australian Portable Camps Transport Manager, Mick Tilley. “While we predominantly service the mining industry, our abilities also extend to gas companies, solar power installers and more.

“A lot of this work is remote, particularly up in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. But our operations stretch across the country. We can do camps anywhere, including overseas if requested.”

These operations include the construction of offices, gyms, kitchens,

sewers, spiritual rooms and more for portable camps which require a lot of material to be moved through particularly rugged terrain. Because of this, Australian Portable Camps has accrued an extensive yet particular fleet of trucks and trailers to move modular home freight quickly and effectively.

“Our trailers are mostly bogie 45’ extendables along with some tri-axle trailers which can carry up to 20 tonnes for our modular buildings,” Mick says. “We also use some curtainsider B-doubles and a couple of super tilts and mega tilt low loaders.”

Parts of this fleet have recently been undergoing some significant changes. Australian Portable Camps is in the

process of fitting JOST JSK37CZ fifth wheels and Loc-Light sensors across all 25 of its dollies – one of the business’ many planned moves to increase safety.

“We’ve been assessing all of our operations to find ways that we can improve safety for our workers and the road users they’re around,” Mick says. “We’re trying to achieve this by modernising our equipment. Our fifth wheels seemed like a very good place to start.

“I approached JOST around six months ago and we’ve since fitted their fifth wheels onto eight of our dollies. We have a goal of replacing two each month.”

JOST’s JSK37CZ fifth wheel and LocLight sensor assist with trailer coupling processes by displaying the status of a fifth wheel coupling through both visual and auditory indicators.

Visual alerts are shown through the sensor’s LED light which flashes different colours depending on three points of connection. A successful fifth wheel coupling will include a trailer’s skid plate making contact with the fifth wheel plate, its kingpin being correctly located in the fifth wheel’s jaw and the safety latch being in the fully locked position. This is represented by a green ‘Go’ light. An unsuccessful coupling will be represented by a red ‘No-Go’ light and a sharp alert sound.

This intuitive and thorough coupling process is what drew Mick to choose the Loc-Light system for Australian Portable Camps’ fleet.

“ I think Loc-Light is an exceptional product,” he says. “The visual indicator is very clear and it makes it easy for drivers to know when the dollies are coupled. Loc-Light provides great peace of mind to our operation.

“The fifth wheels and Loc-Light sensors have slotted nicely into our existing safety checks too. When our trucks leave our facility, our own security team conducts visual inspections to make sure our trailers are coupled right. Now, with the sensor’s clear green light display, this check is even easier to complete.”

Australian Portable Camps, in addition to

implementing Loc-Light sensors, has also chosen to customise its fifth wheels.

“We’re changing the legs that the fifth wheels come with,” Mick explains. “We’ve changed from the E-type to the C-type to ensure that the fifth wheel legs are the same heights across all of our dollies. We’re very eager to standardise this so that we can bring more harmony to our equipment.”

Mick says the comprehensive bolstering of Australian Portable Camps’ fleet couldn’t have been done without JOST.

“JOST and Grant De Bais in particular have been a massive help in this process,” he says. “They were able to supply us with high-quality equipment without any issue.

Grant even came to see our operations, speak with our team and see what everything looked like up close.

“JOST has provided great advice and support throughout this fitment journey, and there’s a lot more to do.”

This rings true for Australian Portable Camps, particularly as Mick is on the hunt to find more systems he can refine and improve within the company.

“It’s all part of our big push to change how we do things,” he says. “We’re committed to becoming safer and more efficient wherever we can be. Changing our fifth wheels is only the first step.”

Contact

JOST Australia

Ph: 1800 811 487

Web: www.jostaustralia.com.au

E: sales@jostaustralia.com.au

Quality control

A long-term partnership with Castrol has ensured the longevity and reliability of KS Easter’s fleet for many decades.

When KS Easter started out nearly 50 years ago in 1976, it was just Ken Easter with his wife, Barbara, at the helm of the company. KS Easter, at the time, was operating just one truck which had been bought from a friend of Ken’s father.

The business has grown steadily since those humble beginnings – one trailer, prime mover and route at a time. Today, KS Easter operates a fleet of over 300 trailers and 120 prime movers to deliver timesensitive freight between Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. It also possesses the ability to transport anywhere else in Australia.

“There’s been a lot of growth along the way,” Ken says. “You don’t keep customers for 45 years by accident. Service comes first.

“People trust us because they know the freight will get there on time, every time. That’s what we’re paid for. It’s the whole point of the business.”

Ken was introduced to transport at a very young age. He would often wait for his father, an owner-operator himself, to come home from work in the evenings so that he could climb into his truck and ride up the driveway. It’s these early experiences which sparked Ken’s interest in the industry

and later shaped how he would approach running a business of his own.

What started as a husband-and-wife effort remains a family business to this day. Ken’s children are now involved in KS Easter’s operations, helping to carry forward the values he and his wife built from the very beginning. This continuity is something Ken is deeply proud of.

“I think about all the years of hard work, and it wasn’t always easy to balance our work and personal life,” he reflects. “But seeing what we’ve achieved and knowing that it will continue with the next generation after I’m gone makes it worthwhile.”

For Ken, KS Easter has always been about creating something lasting. This is why the business is one that specialises in efficient transport services while also supporting families.

“It has always come back to relationships,” he says. “Whether it’s with customers, staff or suppliers, those connections really help keep you moving in business.”

Ken, even with a modern fleet and decades of experience, is quick to point out that people remain central to what KS Easter is achieving.

“I’ve always had an interest in trucks and trailers,” he explains. “That part comes

naturally to me because I enjoy them and I understand them.

“The real challenge and opportunity is the people. Finding good operators and building the right culture is not always easy, but it’s very important to get right.”

Ken says KS Easter’s reputation around reliability comes from the operators transporting goods every day.

“Dependability has to be part of our business,” he explains. “Our customers rely on us for time-sensitive freight, so it’s not tolerable to run late. That’s why having the right people paired with the right equipment matters so much. Everything has to work together all the time.”

Ken still enjoys playing an active part in running the business by checking in and seeing how things are running. But he takes immense pride in knowing it operates smoothly even when he isn’t there.

“That’s how it should be,” he says. “It’s taken years of effort and sacrifice, but the systems, people and foundations are now in place. That’s the real legacy.

“The business is bigger than me and it’s set up to continue well into the future. You can see it in the way things run day in and day out.”

Ken is clear about what has kept the

business strong for so many years – a focus on quality. This is the reason why KS Easter’s partnership with Castrol has endured for many decades.

“It all comes back to quality and understanding quality these days,” he says. “Whether it’s the equipment, the people we employ or the people that service us, it all needs to be quality. It all matters, and nothing else really works if it’s not right.

“We’ve had such a long-term association with Castrol because I like dealing with the company, and we can trust them. Castrol’s products deliver the kind of performance we need.

“We’ve had differentials and gearboxes go nearly three million kilometres without needing a rebuild. That says a lot.

“The amount of effort Castrol puts into their product gives us the longevity and reliability that keep our trucks on the road. That’s massive for a business like ours.”

Ken says the effort and commitment on Castrol’s part also extends into customer service.

“They’ve been very good to us,” he says. “That support matters. When you’re running a fleet this size, you need the right products at the right time, every time. Castrol has always been there for us and that really makes a difference.”

As KS Easter approaches its 50th anniversary in the industry, it’s looking ahead for further growth opportunities.

new state-of-the-art workshop facility in Carole Park.

“Space has always been a challenge,” Ken says. “The new site is something we’ve invested heavily in and it’s designed to set us up for the future. It will allow us to keep everything in order, run things efficiently and keep improving on what we do.”

The facility reflects the same commitment to quality that has guided KS Easter since day one. Multiple investments in specific types of equipment solidifies this.

“The pits in our new workshop have hydraulic floors to make it safer and easier for staff to work under the trucks,” Ken says. “We’ve also got multiple tanks of Castrol product installed underground.

“The Carole Park facility is impressive and it brings a lot of new technology into the business, thanks to Castrol and a few other partners. It’ll be fantastic when we get there.”

For Ken, the move is about ensuring KS Easter can continue to operate with the same standards for decades to come.

and technology, keeping the right culture and delivering for our customers.

“We’ve got long-term plans and good relationships with our long-term customers, so it’s onward and upward for all concerned.”

The KS Easter company looks very different nearly half a century after its first truck rolled out. Its fleet is bigger, its facilities are set to be much more advanced and its scale is national. But at the core, the business hasn’t changed. KS Easter is still a family-owned and operated company which is customer focused, about quality and proudly partnered with Castrol.

“Fifty years is a long time in transport,” Ken says. “But the principles are the same as when we started – take care of your people, take care of your customers and ensure quality in everything you do. That’s what’s kept us here and that’s what will keep us going.”

Having already outgrown its current Wacol, Queensland, site several times over, the transport company will be moving into a Contact Castrol

“Expansion is happening nicely,” he says. “If the business grows rapidly, it grows rapidly. If it doesn’t, that’s okay too. But what matters most is maintaining control over compliance

Ph: 1300 554 890

Web: www.castrol.com

Shock waves

Ride performance specialist, Monroe Australia, has been making strides with a footprint encompassing local manufacturing, global OEM partnerships and Road-Friendly Suspension certifications.

Monroe is a name that has become synonymous with quality, durability and longevity. The world leader in ride performance has been a trusted provider of shock absorbers for more than 100 years by specialising in extremely dependable suspension solutions that have measured up to any and all demands.

Born in 1916 from August Meyer’s ingenuity in Monroe, Michigan, Monroe began as Brisk Blast Manufacturing Company – filling a market gap with tyre pumps for early motorists. From those beginnings, the company evolved into a global pioneer in ride control technology with innovations such as Monroe RideSense, the fastest electronic shock absorber on the market which continuously adapts damping forces every 10 milliseconds for unmatched grip, handling and comfort. This legacy of precision and adaptability now drives Monroe’s expertise in developing robust, high-quality suspension solutions for heavy-duty trucks and trailers built to perform on and off the highway.

In 2020, Monroe Australia started manufacturing 45mm bore shock absorbers out of its Adelaide plant – a

revolutionary milestone which put its heavy-duty truck and trailer shock absorber range, Monroe Magnum, on the map. Shortly afterwards, Monroe obtained Road-Friendly Suspension (RFS) certification for two of its shock absorber products. This enabled the company to expand its coverage to popular RFS trailer axles such as BPW Transpec RFS Long and Short, Krueger RFS, Hendrickson RFS HT230T/300T/300U and INTRAAX AAL230/250 Front, INTRAAX AANT.

RFS systems are developed to reduce the impact laden axles have on road pavements and most bridge structures. For a suspension system to be considered road-friendly, it must be certified to the requirements set out in the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts’ Vehicle Standards Bulletin 11 – Certification of Road-Friendly Suspensions. Monroe’s coverage ability has given the business a heavy presence on the list. The company also offers several other axle options including Weweler Ultra Light Long, York Tecair FB, Fuwa K Hitch KT250 and KT300 and more.

Monroe has reached the pinnacle of ride

performance and suspension systems in Australia with more than 40 years of local manufacturing under its belt and a remarkably long legacy of innovation including extensive knowledge gained from the global OE market.

The company also has a strong OE pedigree as an OEM supplier for some of the world’s leading heavy commercial manufacturers. This includes BPW Transpec, Hendrickson, Daimler Truck, Volvo Group, DAF Trucks and more. By building durable and longlasting shocks while working with these manufacturers, Monroe has gained extensive knowledge, capabilities and the ability to continuously improve technologies which enhance the performances of these vehicles all over the world.

“Monroe possesses an extremely reliable shock absorber range which is Australian designed, engineered and manufactured for all of the popular trailer axles in the market,” says Monroe Australia National Commercial Sales Manager, Chad Torok. “Australia has some of the toughest environments known to man, and our shock absorbers are proven and tested in these conditions. We have a

heritage of durability, and our customers have showcased that through their use of our products.”

Monroe’s local manufacturing aspect delivers various design and performance advantages. For example, all reserve and pressure tubes in the Monroe Magnum Heavy Duty axle range are made from the company’s own tube mill with locally sourced materials, producing high frequency welded tube at speeds in excess of 100 metres per minute. This equates to higher productivity and reduced downtime for the business.

Custom designed rebound and compression valving and mirror finished hardened inner tubes are some of the other unique benefits of this locally manufactured heavy duty commercial vehicle range. Each Monroe Magnum heavy duty trailer shock absorber is also 100-per-cent damping force performance tested to ensure that they are optimised for their specific trailer application. These factors result in ultimate durability.

The quality of Monroe’s products is further assured with world-renowned ISO standards. All ride performance products are made using the latest IS0 9001 Quality System manufacturing processes and to ISO 14001 environmental standards. Design validation testing is conducted

in compliance with the latest ISO90012015 standards.

“Monroe’s Australian manufacturing footprint is based on coverage requirements and demand,” Chad explains. “We will endeavour to source whatever product is in demand so that we can always provide product availability to our customers.”

Accommodating Monroe’s production process is an established engineering centre in Adelaide which collaborates directly with its counterpart manufacturing plant to specifically design and develop shock absorbers for local conditions. Chad says this is essential for Monroe to deliver its core value proposition which revolves around quality and reliability.

“This process is a huge strength because it enables us to understand the local market and the country’s toughest conditions,” he says. “We deal with a lot of major transport fleets and they’ve seen the benefit of using Monroe shock absorbers due to the product’s longevity.”

manufacturers are the keys which have unlocked its unrivalled design and engineering standards.

Monroe Australia prides itself for offering high-quality products which increase uptime and reduce replacement needs for fleets and installers. Partnerships with all major Australian parts distributors and extensive collaborations with local and international heavy duty commercial

“Monroe has the ability to source products from global engineering centres and adapt its technology in the aftermarket for Australia,” Chad explains. “We utilise the same design features of global OEM products, meaning customers can have the confidence that our part is just as good as OE if not better.”

Contact

Monroe Australia

Ph: 1800 088 205

E: support@monroe.com.au

Web: www.monroe.com.au/commercial

Turning heads

SAF-Holland

recently hosted a session at the 2025 Technical and Maintenance Conference which included a deep dive into its fifth wheel offering.

The Australian Trucking Association’s (ATA) Technical and Maintenance Conference (TMC) is an annual two-day event which brings together some of the industry’s most prolific and important personnel. This year’s instalment was hosted last month at the Melbourne Showgrounds in Flemington, Victoria.

Among the companies involved at TMC25 was leading manufacturer, SAFHolland, which showcased its range of fifth wheels in a comprehensive workshop session. The presentation, led by SAF-Holland Technical Officer, Ross Molloy, provided an in-depth update on SAF-Holland’s fifth wheel operation, serviceability and attractive range.

Ross began the session by explaining that although modern fifth wheels may look familiar, years of refinement have tightened tolerances, improved castings and enhanced sensor reliability.

“All the moving parts underneath are basically the same as 40 years ago,” he said. “What’s changed is how we manufacture and maintain them.”

Despite the foundation of fifth wheels in general being largely unchanged, SAFHolland has improved its own product range in certain ways.

“There have been a few changes over the years,” Ross continued. “For instance, we’ve upgraded the castings on some of the fifth wheels so that they look a lot more refined, among other small things.”

These changes have specifically been applied on the company’s FW331 and FW351-E models for stronger and more stable coupling capabilities. The Holland FW351 and FW331 models have seen their ratings increased to 210kN, supported by upgraded castings and tighter pin-and-bore tolerances that reduce vertical movement.

“We upgraded the casting for these models, and their pin and bore tolerances are a lot higher, which means there is less vertical movement in the fifth wheels,”

Ross explained. “This last upgrade was imperative. For the last seven years or so, we have had some fifth wheel castings experience vertical movement which led to irregular wear in a trailer coupling and had the potential to reduce lifespan. But with all the improvements, fifth wheels are very reliable nowadays.”

SAF-Holland’s presentation also highlighted the ongoing evolution of electronic lock indicator technology –technology that is now easily accessible through SAF-Holland’s own ELI-te system.

The ELI-te’s plug-and-play 12-volt setup provides both visual and optional audible alerts to verify coupling integrity. The visual system conveys an unsuccessful fifth wheel coupling status

to operators via red lights. Alternatively, a successful coupling triggers white lights which illuminate the king pin throat for easy inspection.

“ELI-te can now be implemented to both our 331 and 351-E fifth wheels,” Ross said. “Due to the software’s advancements, the current ELI-te system is extremely reliable.

“It comes with two distinct sensors – a flag sensor on the fifth wheel’s jaw and another proximity sensor on the cam plate to show when the cam plate is actually closed. Through the red or white lighting system, the driver is made aware of the coupling’s status.”

Despite the capabilities of ELI-te, Ross urged those in the audience at TMC to check the couplings of their combinations themselves.

“The ELI-te system is there to assist the driver, not replace good practice,” he said. “Drivers still need to get out, look and perform a tug test.”

SAF-Holland’s FW331 and FW351-E models are suited for various applications.

While the FW331 was designed for fitment on B-double combinations in particular, the FW351-E model can be used on single, double and road train combinations.

The FW331 and FW351-E models have become very well-known within SAFHolland’s fifth wheel portfolio. But they are also supported by other fifth wheel types which Ross delved into during his TMC workshop session.

Ross specifically shed light on SAFHolland’s G36 range of fifth wheels which continues to be prominent in SAFHolland’s product offering.

“The G36 range of fifth wheels have a different jaw design,” he explained. “These fifth wheels are built with a single swinging jaw as opposed to a twin-jaw system. Apart from that, they feature other similar characteristics like a standard ISO bolt on their feet, D-value rating from 152kN to 200kN and a vertical rating of 22 tonnes.”

Ross’ discussion on the mechanics of fifth wheels was also supplemented by information on how operators can keep

their equipment maintained. He covered issues such as improper lubrication, over-tight jaw adjustment or neglecting wear tolerances.

Much of this information was made available to attendees with USB sticks which contained various checklists and materials related to fifth wheel servicing.

“The USBs we have include fifth wheel lubrication and inspection checklists, which we encourage all operators to use when they are servicing our fifth wheels,” Ross said. “It’s a great tool for documenting the maintenance that you can apply to our products.”

SAF-Holland’s display at TMC25 clearly demonstrated a robust, reliable and safe product line.

Contact

SAF-Holland Australia

115 High St Melton VIC 3337

E: sales@sa olland.com.au

Web: https://sa olland.com/au/en/

Weathering the storm

SSAB’s Strenx Weathering range consists of high-strength structural steel options which are both corrosion-protective and cost effective.

Corrosion is a common threat to steel manufacturing. The process of material deterioration can be caused by a variety of factors, many of which are present in Australia due to its different environmental conditions.

According to UNSW Sydney, the process of material deterioration in steel can be caused by many of environmental

factors, many of which are present in Australia due to its different climates. High humidity, moisture, chemicals, pollutants and temperature fluctuations are all causes of corrosion – elements which are frequently dealt with in the infrastructure, automotive, agricultural and mining sectors among others.

Additionally, the annual cost of corrosion

on domestic industries is as high as two to three per cent of Australia’s gross domestic product, according to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).

In the face of corrosion being a major challenge across Australia, global steel manufacturer, SSAB, has brought a solution to the domestic market in the form

of its Strenx Weathering product line. The entire range is made up of weathering steel, an alloy which has proven to be effective against corrosion by forming a protective patina layer on itself over time when exposed to cyclical atmospheric conditions. This eliminates the need for repainting or recoating, and as a result, means the steel is virtually maintenancefree and cost effective.

“Weathering steel’s patina process has no effect on the steel’s mechanical properties,” says SSAB Marketing Manager – South East Asia, Japan, India and Pacific, Kris Chua. “As a result, structures made from SSAB Weathering steel require low to no maintenance for as

long as the structure stands. SSAB Strenx Weathering steel is strong, reliable and guaranteed to last, as will its vivid natural appearance.”

SSAB’s Strenx Weathering steel features additional benefits in strength and durability. This essentially allows the steel to support more weight for its builds, while weighing less on its own.

“Strenx Weathering is available with yield strength of both 700 and 960 MPa, which allows for increased load-bearing capacity and high-performance designs,” Kris says. “Additionally, the high-strength quality of Strenx Weathering allows for a reduction in the thickness of steel and can potentially reduce the weight of steel structures by up to 30 per cent.”

SSAB’s Strenx Weathering is extremely durable due to the product’s paint adhesion properties. As Kris explains, paint on SSAB Strenx Weathering steel adheres better than on standard painted carbon steel.

“When scratched or dented, Strenx Weathering’s self-healing properties will minimise creepage or corrosion underneath the painted layer and remove the risk of porous expansion of rust,” she says. “The result is minimal maintenance and repairing costs, making it a costeffective choice.”

This factor is matched by a sustainable design. The weathering steel products meet the same C5 corrosivity standards as hot dip galvanised steel, meaning they are highly susceptible to corrosion but don’t require extensive protective processes like galvanising or zinc coating due to their paint coats. SSAB Strenx Weathering, as a result, is also more environmentally friendly.

“The benefits of skipping these coating processes and associated negative environmental impacts are significant,” Kris says. “For example, the European

average for hot dip galvanising a tonne of steel accounts for more than 120 kilograms of CO² emissions. Around 160 kilograms of CO² emissions are embodied when painting that same amount.

“With SSAB Weathering steels, these embodied carbon emission coatings can be avoided over the product’s lifespan,” Kris says. “Weathering steel’s patina develops naturally over alternating wetdry cycles in atmospheric conditions which slows down corrosion and provides a service life comparable to coated carbon steel when applied properly. This is fully natural and occurs without any active industrial process.”

SSAB’s Strenx Weathering product line is used by a number of companies across a broad range of applications due to the strength, durability, cost-effectiveness and sustainability of it. This wide scope includes trailer builders, manufacturers of shipping containers, agricultural equipment OEMs and applications in a myriad of other industries.

“For many customers, switching to Strenx Weathering is ensuring greater scratch and dent resistance and longer product lifespans,” Kris says. “In certain applications, such as trailer chassis, the reduced weight of Strenx Weathering also enables higher payloads.”

SSAB’s Strenx Weathering product range offers a long-term solution for users despite the various environmental risks challenging the longevity of steel in Australia. Between the portfolio’s strength, durability and sustainability, it has proven to be a popular option within Australia’s transport industry.

Contact

SSAB

Email: techsupport@ssab.com

Web: www.ssab.com

On the safe side

Safety is something that is deeply embedded into the operations of Norman Carriers.

Norman Carriers is a family-owned transport company which was first established in 1949. The business has adapted and evolved significantly in the time that followed.

Norman Carriers now specialises in a range of transport, warehousing and custom freight solutions in addition to the port logistics services which it was built on. But as evolved as the company has become over the past 76 years, one thing has remained the same – its commitment to safety.

“Safety is at the heart of everything we do,” says Norman Carriers Safety and Compliance Manager, Richard Wyles. “It underpins every operational and commercial decision across our transport, warehousing and logistics network.

“We have built our reputation over 76 years on reliability, professionalism and care, and safety is the foundation that supports those values. Our approach is proactive rather than reactive, ensuring that our people, our customers and the communities we operate in are always protected.”

Norman Carriers continues to invest heavily in safety through modern equipment, technology and training. The fleet’s latest additions include MercedesBenz Actros 2653 prime movers fitted with integrated camera monitoring systems as well as lane-assist, emergency braking and adaptive cruise control technology.

The company has also expanded its Performance-Based Standards (PBS) trailer combinations to improve stability and payload efficiency while integrating load restraint and prestart verification systems. Although Electronic Work Diaries (EWDs) aren’t currently being used, it does operate a robust fatigue management and compliance system which monitors driver hours in real time through MTData.

“This system integrates GPS tracking, driver efficiency data and run-sheet compliance to provide us with a comprehensive view of driver activity and

fatigue risk,” Richard explains. “We are actively evaluating an electronic solution that can seamlessly integrate Freight Tracker, MTData and Gearbox, but we haven’t found a platform that fully meets our operational and compliance needs for both local and regional activities.”

Over 90 per cent of Norman Carriers’ fleet is fitted with camera monitoring systems. The benefits have been significant.

“Camera systems have improved situational awareness and reduced near-miss events, particularly in confined delivery areas and container yards,” Richard says. “They have allowed us to identify early fatigue risks, monitor shift compliance and maintain strong transparency across depots.

“These systems have provided us with valuable insight for incident reviews, driver coaching and behavioural training. This enhances safety outcomes and gives both management and drivers greater confidence in compliance performance.”

Safety is further embedded into Norman Carriers via daily operations through structured systems and behavioural reinforcement.

“We conduct regular toolbox meetings, safety alerts and performance reviews that connect our drivers, warehouse teams and administration staff to our safety objectives,” Richard explains. “All incidents, near misses and hazards are reported and managed through our Safety Champion platform, enabling data-driven decisionmaking and continuous improvement.”

Norman Carriers is also National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme (NHVAS) qualified for Mass Management and

Maintenance Management. It maintains HACCP certification for food safety, complies with Dangerous Goods transport and biosecurity regulations across multiple states, and takes Chain of Responsibility (CoR) obligations seriously by integrating CoR education into all aspects of the business.

“Our programs ensure every employee understands their role in the supply chain and how their actions impact compliance and safety,” Richard says. “We encourage open communication, where every team member feels empowered to report hazards or stop work if something does not feel safe. We also collaborate with customers and contractors to reinforce shared CoR responsibilities, helping to raise standards across the broader logistics network.

“As Norman Carriers continues to expand nationally, our focus remains on doing things safely and responsibly. We are proud of our 76-year legacy, but equally proud of the modern, technology-driven business we have become.”

Australia’s largest supply chain and logistics trade show, MegaTrans, is returning in 2026.

Scheduled to take place from 16-17 September 2026 at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, MegaTrans 2026 will once again shine a spotlight on the Sustainable Supply Chain of the Future – attracting key players across freight, logistics, warehouse operations, transport technology, infrastructure and more. To participate, visit www.megatrans.com. au/get-involved/.

i MASS® SMART OBM SYSTEM

Knorr-Bremse’s iMass® On-Board Mass (OBM) system provides drivers with highly accurate, real-time load data and delivers messages to telematics providers – helping you maximise payload while staying compliant with mass regulations. The result: lower operational costs, improved safety, and complete confidence in every load.

With its user-friendly in-cab display, operators can monitor loads at a glance, check trailer lift axle status, and view fault codes or error messages instantly. The system integrates seamlessly into existing truck and trailer CAN architecture, with full TEBS G2.2 compatibility and automatic trailer VIN recognition.

Designed as a robust, hardwired solution, it requires no additional cables between truck and trailers, supports road trains of up to seven trailers, and can be easily retrofitted to both European and North American vehicles. Contact your local Knorr-Bremse representative or a member of our Expert Network for more information.

| truck.knorr-bremse.com/en/au/

Road upgrades & new developments

What you need to know about Australia’s biggest road projects this month

$11.5M upgrade to bolster vital Pilbara freight corridor

Pilbara Ports has marked a major milestone by completing Stage Five of the Utah Road Pavement Rehabilitation Project and strengthening one of Western Australia’s busiest and most important freight corridors.

Utah Road is a critical link between the Great Northern Highway and Pilbara Ports Utah Bulk Handling Facility.

More than 500 road trains and super quads carrying up to 140 tonnes travel through the route every day.

Utah Road also serves as the primary access route for both Fortescue Metal Group’s Anderson Point and BHP’s Finucane Island facilities.

The fifth stage of the Utah Road Pavement Rehabilitation Project was delivered as part of a $32.2 million multi-stage investment in critical Pilbara Ports freight infrastructure.

The $11.8 million upgrade was aimed at reducing wear and tear on freight vehicles and increasing efficiency in moving bulk products to global markets via the Utah Bulk Handling Facility.

WA Ports Minister, Stephen Dawson, said the works will significantly benefit heavy vehicle operators in the Pilbara region.

“The completion of Stage Five not only strengthens a key freight route but also enhances safety and efficiency for many operators who rely on this corridor every day,” he said.

“Investing in critical infrastructure like Utah Road ensures we can continue to support Western Australia’s thriving resources sector.”

The works were delivered with minimal disruption to port operations, ensuring trade continued to flow throughout the project.

“The project delivers safer, more reliable access to the Utah Bulk Handling facility, which plays a vital role in moving our regions commodities to the world,” said Pilbara MLA, Kevin Michel. “It is great to see government and industry work together to solve problems, while maintaining safety and efficiency of port operations.”

$1B Tonkin Highway extension project underway

One of the biggest road transport infrastructure investments to ever be delivered in the southeast corridor of Perth, Western Australia, has begun.

The $1 billion Tonkin Highway Extension and Thomas Road Upgrade will deliver a 14-kilometre extension of highway from Thomas Road to the South Western Highway and duplicate 4.5 kilometres of Thomas Road.

The project is expected to strengthen freight efficiency, significantly improve road safety and reduce congestion for one of the fastest-growing regions in the state.

With early works including site establishment and traffic realignments underway, workers will now transition into major construction.

Large-scale earthworks, bridge structures and interchange building are set to ramp up over the coming months.

WA Transport Minister, Rita Saffioti, said the project, totalling over $1 billion, will be essential to increasing supply chain efficiency and productivity.

“Extending Tonkin Highway will be critical to getting the larger, heavy freight off local roads, making them safer for locals but also improving the efficiency of supply chains and the movement of goods around our state,” she said.

“This is a once-in-a-generation project that will transform Perth’s south-east, improve safety, and create thousands of critical jobs for Western Australians.”

State Member for Darling Range, Hugh Jones, said the diversion of heavy vehicles will benefit motorists and local traffic in the area.

“As our community continues to grow, this project will provide safer and more efficient connections to improve ease of movement and separate local traffic from heavy freight on our roads,” he said.

“I would like to acknowledge and thank people for their patience and understanding during this time of growth and transformation for our community.”

NSW Govt reinvests $46M to increase road safety

The New South Wales Government has announced almost $46 million in 16 new safety projects under its Towards Zero Safer Roads program.

The funding, part of the State Government’s campaign to reduce crashes and save lives on roads in regional NSW, is particularly directed to northern areas such as Armidale, Kyogle, Moree and the Clarence and Richmond Valleys.

There is also funding for the west of the State including Young, Dubbo, Liverpool Plains and Junee in the Riverina.

The projects aim to increase safety for motorists and heavy vehicles transporting freight within these areas.

The projects’ funding targets are:

•Key inland highways and corridors including the New England Highway ($7.9 million), Newell Highway ($8.6 million), Mitchell Highway ($3 million), Kamilaroi Highway ($2.2 million, Summerland Way ($2.1 million) and Olympic Highway ($1.7 million)

•Great Dividing Range crossings including the Waterfall Way ($5 million), Oxley Highway ($1.5m), Bruxner Highway ($1.2 million), Gwydir Highway ($4.4 million) and Illawarra Highway ($4.1 million)

Works will include shoulder widening, new safety barriers, widening of centre lines, audio tactile marking and other improvements to help motorists.

These upgrades are designed to reduce road trauma by addressing high-risk areas and bolstering infrastructure.

They are projected to prevent more than 2,000 fatal or serious injuries.

Minister for Regional NSW and Minister for Western NSW, Tara Moriarty, stressed the benefits of these projects for heavy vehicles carrying agricultural freight.

“This is a win for the safety of country roads used by locals heading to town or trucks freighting crops, livestock and produce to market and the supplies back to farms,” she said.

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F5490 Hendrickson Intraax AAEDL/AAEDT Rear, Intraax AAL230/250 Disc Brake B-25436, S-25436

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* RFS certified part numbers. Conditions apply. Visit monroe.com.au for more info.

Awakening giants

Although disparate in many circumstances, such as language, culture and geography, India and Latin America appear as the ideal partners in trade. After being neglected for decades, the governments and manufacturing sectors from these regions are coming to appreciate the potential of these sleeping giants.

Separated by thousands of kilometres, India and the Latin America (LATAM) region are coming closer together through trade associations, governmental diplomacy and an awareness that each region possesses vast resources to be tapped into – whether it be natural resources, human capital or burgeoning consumer power.

Trade potential between the regions is rapidly accelerating as India strengthens its role as a global manufacturing and export powerhouse, while Latin America continues to grow as a global provider of agriculture, energy and raw materials.

India

With a population of approximately 1.4 billion and a GDP of $4.27 trillion USD (approx. $6.46 trillion AUD), India has firmly staked its place as a global economic powerhouse and the fastest growing major economy, supported by a growing middle class, huge consumer demands and a buoyant economy.

Expanding at an annual rate of up to eight per cent, India is regarded as the world’s fourth-largest economy, based on GDP, and the third largest by purchasing power parity.

India also boasts a Global Innovation Index of 39 with an available investor pool and funding of $560 billion USD (approx. $847.30 billion AUD).

This rising global rating as has been due, in part, to the proactive work of various innovation agencies and incubators, such as the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Startup India, Atal Innovation Mission, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

Consequently, it is home to more than 160,000 start-ups, primarily in the IT,

healthcare and life sciences, education, agriculture and construction sectors.

The most populous nation in the world is also making great advances in spacerelated industries, due to its heavy investments in its nascent space program, primarily through its ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation).

According to the World Economic Forum, by 2040 India is planning to expand its space economy to be worth $44 billion USD (approx. $66.57 billion AUD), as well as commanding eight per cent of the global space market by 2033.

With its beguiling mix of population, voracious consumer demands and a flourishing economy comes influence and power that is attracting the attention of governments and multinational corporations across the Atlantic Ocean.

India’s logistics sector has been forecast to reach $380 billion USD (approx. $574.90 billion AUD) in 2025, growing at a CAGR of 10-12 per cent, according to a report by the India Brand Equity Foundation.

In addition, its domestic consumption market grew by 7.5 per cent in 2024, according to the Asian Development Bank.

One area of steady and sustained growth is India’s commercial trailer market, which in 2023 was valued at about $1 billion USD (approx. $1.51 billion AUD).

It is projected to grow at a CAGR of between eight and 10 per cent by 2028, reaching a market size of $1.5 billion USD (approx. $2.27 billion AUD), with the growth in fast moving consumer goods, steel and cement being contributing factors.

India was estimated to export approximately 5,000-6,000 trailers in 2023, with its main markets focused on the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia. By 2028, exports are predicted to reach

10,000-12,000 units annually, equivalent to a 12-15 per cent growth rate.

Moreover, by 2030, India is expected to become one of the top three trailer exporters in the world, competing with China and Eastern European countries. Complementing India as the growth market is that of the extended Asia Pacific (APAC) region, which is expected to contribute 52 per cent of growth of the global road freight transport market, itself forecast to increase by $204.4 billion USD (approx. $309.22 billion AUD) between 2024-2029.

APAC’s road freight transport market is

India is regarded as a powerhouse economy, driven by its population and growing consumer and energy needs. Image: Ala/Stock.adobe.com.

expected to continue experiencing rapid advances (2025-2029), with key players investing in inland transportation, logistics and short-distance travel solutions that are affordable, adaptable and cost-effective.

LATAM

While not experiencing the meteoric growth of India’s economy, Latin America is projected to experience a positive, albeit modest, economic growth rate in 2025, with some expecting a 2.5 per cent increase.

The giant of the LATAM countries, not just for its land size and its 212.6 million

population, but economic gravitas is Brazil. Mexico is a major exporter and trader, as well as having a strong automobile manufacturing base but, as the largest economy in LATAM, Brazil’s performance is crucial for the stability of South America.

As a major producer of oil and gas and exporter of agriculture and beef, Brazil has garnered a great deal of interest from India, both boasting growing consumer markets.

With a GDP of $3.967 trillion USD (approx. $6 billion AUD) in 2023, Brazil is rightfully South America’s economic powerhouse and is seen as a mainstay of

the BRICS multinational group.

While its Global Innovation Index is less than India’s – at 50 – it is home to an impressive 16,000-plus start-ups, mainly found in the fintech, Edtech, AgriTech, e-commerce and new food sectors.

In 2024, Brazil improved five positions to reach its 50th rank out of a total of 133 countries in the Global Innovation Index. This was the second-best ranking achieved by the Portuguese-speaking country since 2012.

With an investor pool and funding of $119 billion USD (approx. $180.02 billion AUD), Brazil is the largest startup ecosystem

in Latin America with the number of its startups in Brazil steadily growing in recent years.

The Brazilian startup ecosystem is gaining global attention with startups attracting international investments and expanding their operations across Latin America and also to Europe and the US, particularly with the growth of nearshoring.

Brazilian cities, such as São Paulo, Florianópolis, Belo Horizonte, Recife and Campinas are gaining reputations as viable innovation and entrepreneurship hubs.

In May 2025 CEVA Logistics expanded its global deep-sea car carrier operations by offering connections from Asia to Central and South America, via a regular trade lane and spot services.

As a result, three additional roll-on, rolloff (RORO) vessels, ranging from 5,500 to 7,000 car equivalent units (CEUs), have enabled CEVA to expand its finished vehicle logistics (FVL) solutions for the automotive market.

The new, regular trade route now runs between eastern Asia and the west coast of Central and South America, with multiple origin and destination calls available in China, South Korea, Japan, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Chile.

Another global logistics provider, DP World, continues to invest heavily in the LATAM region markets, seeing it as yielding as-yet unfulfilled potential for growth.

It has pumped significant investment into Peru’s Port of Callao and, one year since inaugurating its Bicentennial Pier in June 2024, DP World’s terminal has delivered a 19 per cent increase in container throughput and a surge in agricultural exports, boosting Peru’s economy.

The enhanced terminal has driven an 80 per cent increase in operational capacity, managing a record volume of 1.96 million TEUs during 2024.

The lengthened South Pier of the Port of Callao has an increased annual capacity of

nearly 3 million TEUs and can handle three ultra-large container ships at once.

These improvements play a vital role in boosting trade volumes, attracting larger vessels, and strengthening Callao’s reputation as the country’s leading port and logistics hub for South America’s West Coast.

DP World has invested more than $3 billion USD (approx. $4.54 billion AUD) in infrastructure at Callao since 2010, with the agricultural sector one of the biggest beneficiaries.

In 2024, the terminal facilitated $3.6 billion USD (approx. $5.45 billion AUD) in agricultural exports, including approximately 85 per cent of Peru’s blueberry shipments to Asia and nearly 40 per cent of all agricultural exports from the country.

The terminal was also Latin America’s first electric charging station at a port terminal.

Peru has also drawn interest from shipping and logistics giant, Maersk which opened a new cold chain logistics hub

in Olmos, northwest Peru, in July 2025, to boost fruit exports in the agricultural region.

The new facility strengthens cold chain infrastructure in the Lambayeque region, offering packing, sorting and cold storage centre to support Peru’s agro-export sector.

BRICS

Both Brazil and India are now entrenched on the world economic and trade stage, as foundation members of the BRICS alliance.

The alliance’s growth has spawned an offshoot, comprised of 11 full member states – the five original members of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – and new members Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE admitted in 2024.

Indonesia was admitted as a full member in 2025, while another 30 countries are waiting to join the ranks of the political, economic and diplomatic forum that rivals that of the G7 and other strategic alliances.

The BRICS’ objectives include strengthening economic, political and social cooperation among its members, as well as increasing the influence of those countries in the ‘Global South’ in international relations.

BRICS nations collectively represent approximately 3.3 billion people, accounting for over 40 per cent of the world’s population, with their combined economies contributing more than 37 per cent of global GDP.

The popularity of BRICS has grown so rapidly that there are now the BRICS Outreach – meetings between BRICS member countries and those from the geographic region of the host country.

As foundation members of BRICS, India and Brazil will continue to challenge some of the world’s more developed economies as they continue to reap the benefits of trade relations and agreements that often ignore geopolitical tensions around the world.

A clear example of this was the agreement struck in early August 2025, where India agreed to buy Russian oil despite threats of tariffs being imposed by the Trump administration.

India – LATAM trade

Coinciding with the formation of BRICS in the early 2000s, India and Latin America have revitalised their trade and investment activities in the past 20 years, or so.

According to the Uruguay-based portal Dialogo Politico, trade between the regions in 2023 totalled $40 billion (approx. $60.51 billion AUD), with Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia and Peru standing out as India’s top traders.

Dialogo Politico reported that during the past decade, trade between the two regions mushroomed by 145 per cent, with India mainly exporting automobiles, auto parts, pharmaceuticals and textiles to LATAM countries, and importing raw materials, such as hydrocarbons, metals, minerals, copper, oil and agricultural products.

In 2022, India exported goods to LATAM worth about $10 billion USD (approx. $ 15.13 billion AUD), while its investments in the region were close to $20 billion USD (approx. $30.26 billion AUD) in the energy, pharmaceuticals and automotive sectors. Those investments resulted in a record trade volume of $50 billion USD ($75.63 billion AUD) between the countries in 2022.

As a result of such buoyant markets, Indian companies have established a presence in the region, while reciprocal investments by LATAM companies have been relatively low. However, Latin America has emerged as a vital supplier of crude oil to meet India’s growing energy needs, with imports from Venezuela, Brazil and Mexico accounting for about 30 per cent of India’s imports from the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region.

Nonetheless, in March 2025, India’s union commerce minister Piyush Goyal, said the country was keen to broaden economic ties with the 43 countries in the LAC region.

In 2023 – 2024, India’s total trade with the LAC region was $35.73 billion USD (approx. $54.05 billion AUD), made up of exports worth $14.5 billion USD (approx. $21.93 billion AUD) and imports worth $21.23 billion USD (approx. $32.11 billion AUD).

While raw materials, oil and agricultural products are the main commodities being traded by the LATAM countries, Latin America accounts for one-third of India’s global car and motorcycle exports.

In 2023-2024, motor vehicle exports from India to LATAM reached $1.79 billion USD (approx. $2.71 billion AUD), making up 30 per cent of India’s global car exports of $5.92 billion USD (approx. $8.95 billion AUD).

Mexico stands as India’s second-largest

car market globally, with an average $941 million USD (approx. $1.42 billion AUD) in imports.

DHL Global Forwarding India Managing Director, Edwin Pinto, said DHL saw strong bilateral growth between India and LATAM, it being one of the fastest-growing trade lanes.

“Trade has grown over 12 per cent y-o-y, and in 2026, we expect the LATAM trade to grow by another six per cent, which is significantly higher than the projected growth with North America and Europe,” Pinto said.

He said sectors like pharmaceuticals, IT, and processed foods will join the traditional sectors of textiles, automotive, and chemicals as the drivers of trade, with Brazil and Mexico as DHL Forwarding’s primary markets.

The future

With rising energy demands from its population and industries and the uncertainty surrounding geopolitical and economic tensions across the globe, India, together with international companies, is shifting its attention to Latin America as trade partners.

The world has already witnessed India flex its trade muscles, with Tata Motors’ proposed purchase of Italian trucking conglomerate, Iveco Group for a reputed €3.8 billion (approx. $6.74 billion AUD), announced in late July 2025.

As a result of that purchase, Iveco and Tata Motors’ commercial vehicle business will have combined revenues of about €22 billion (approx. $39.03 billion AUD), split across Europe (50 per cent), India (35 per cent) and the Americas (15 per cent).

Will that be the trigger that unlocks a veritable Aladdin’s cave of riches between the two regions in the coming years?

While BRICS has great potential to multiply and add several new nations to its fold, rivalling the G7, the G20, ASEAN, APEC and other international associations, a separate, stand-alone trade alliance between India and the LATAM region will largely be dictated by the winds of politics and the prevailing economic vagaries.

Perhaps the most crucial issue will be whether India’s juggernaut economy can be reined in to provide parity with its increasingly close LATAM neighbours, and whether the latter’s treasure trove of mineral and natural resources can meet India’s seemingly insatiable demands.

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Two JD Refrigerated Transport B-doubles. Image: JD Refrigerated Transport.

Two steps ahead

JD

Refrigerated Transport , in

the midst of a considerable growth period, is preparing to take the next step.

JD Refrigerated Transport has long been regarded as one of Australia’s most wellgrounded cold chain providers. Fourteen years of operation and more than 30 years of industry experience have constructed a set of values based around safety and the end user – two elements which are now integral to the daily operations of the company.

“We pride ourselves on being a safe set of hands in a market which has undergone quite a bit of turmoil and change in the last couple of years,” says JD Refrigerated Transport Director, Joe Joseph. “A number of players have fallen by the wayside and there’s a lot of heavy price competition, but we know what we’re good at and we focus on that. For us, it’s now about continuing to fine tune our service offering and making sure that we’re best in class.”

Although JD Refrigerated Transport first emerged onto the scene in 2011, it’s been during the last seven years that it has truly established a foothold. This period compromised of various fleet expansion phases, investments in new facilities and the introduction of new clients.

“The last two years have really been about preparing ourselves for the next stage of growth,” Joe says. “I’ve spent a lot of time looking at utilisation of our equipment and filling the gaps in our current fleet. That’s where the predominant

focus has been.”

This focal point led to JD Refrigerated Transport’s most recent trailer delivery of a Performance-Based Standards (PBS) 26-pallet tri-axle Vawdrey Iceliner which has been deployed for a Martin Brower contract. The refrigerated trailer was highly customised for its applications with a dual evaporator setup, side door, tailgate and underbelly stowage for electric pallet jacks. Its specific freight task is delivering frozen, chilled and ambient goods to various McDonald’s stores in North Queensland.

“We’re three months in with this new trailer,” Joe says. “Based on what I’ve seen, I think Vawdrey will be a great partner for our business moving forward.”

Meanwhile, Joe has been investing in a number of other parts of the business to prepare for its next growth phase. This included opening a close to 20,000-square-metre facility in Archerfield, Queensland, with chiller and freezer facilities, six refrigerated docks and new refrigeration equipment.

The new depot has presented JD Refrigerated Transport with many benefits. First and foremost, the business now has its own onsite refuelling and truck washing capabilities. A new warehouse will also look to bring servicing and maintenance inhouse to reduce downtimes. Additionally,

the new Archerfield depot has enhanced JD Refrigerated Transport’s overall service offering with new refrigerated capabilities, temporary storage solutions and crossdocking services for customers.

“We’re listening to our clients and ticking all of the boxes,” Joe says. “We want to be the best partner that we can be. That means using the most reliable equipment which gives us the greatest uptime and investing in skilled people who have the right processes to do the job well.”

Highlights for JD Refrigerated Transport in the last year alone include expanding its suite of accreditations with the addition of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), renewing an electric prime mover trial, rolling out an internal learning management system and heavily investing in new technology such as camera monitoring systems.

“We don’t want to be bleeding edge, but cutting edge would be nice,” Joe says. “I think we’re doing that pretty well.

“We’ve been able to scale without tripping over ourselves by sticking to the things that we know we can do. Knowing where to put your focus and how to grow smartly is just as important as anything in business. We are in a race which we will crawl, walk and then run. So, once the foundation is strong, we’ll take the next step.”

Truck Shows & Field Days

Pencil in some information on dates and venues of various truck shows, field days and road transport industry conferences both locally and internationally.

November

New South Wales

Convoy for Kids Goulburn 8 November Goulburn, NSW Visit: www.convoyforkidsgoulburn.com.au

Dane Ballinger Memorial Truck Show 15 November Bathurst, NSW Visit: www.bathursttruckshow.com.au

Illawarra Convoy 16 November Illawarra, NSW Visit: www.illawarraconvoy.com.au

Victoria

VIC Major Projects Conference 19-20 November Melbourne, VIC Visit: www.viconference.com.au

Castlemaine Rotary Truck Show 29-30 November Castlemaine, VIC Visit: www.rotarycastlemaine.org.au

France

Solutrans 18-22 November Lyon, France Visit: www.solutrans.fr

Victoria

AusRAIL PLUS 2025 25-28 November

Melbourne, VIC Visit: www.ausrail.com

2026

February

Victoria

evokeAG

17-18 February Melbourne, VIC Visit: www.evokeag.com

March

South Australia

South East Field Days 20-21 March Lucindale, SA Visit: www.sefd.com.au

April

New South Wales

National Diesel Dirt and Turf Expo 17-19 April

Sydney, NSW Visit: www.dieseldirtandturf.com.au

May

New South Wales

Tocal Field Days 1-3 May

Tocal, NSW Visit: www.tocalfielddays.com

Brisbane

Australian Manufacturing Week 12-14 May

Brisbane, QLD Visit: www.australianmanufacturingweek.com. au

September

Victoria

MegaTrans 16-17 September Melbourne, VIC Visit: www.megatrans.com.au

November

Brazil

Fenatran 9-13 November

São Paulo, Brazil Visit: www.fenatran.com.br