Australasian Transport News (ATN)

DAVID HARLAND is the managing director of FINH and works exclusively with multigenerational family businesses. He holds both national and international accreditation in the field of family advising and family wealth. The holidays are a time for fami

Western Australia was cut off for road freight from the rest of the country for a period earlier this month due to bushfire in the south and floods in the centre and north. The Great Northern Highway has now reopened to all vehicles after being close

A late flurry of activity has seen Simon National Carriers ushers in eight new additions to its fleet in time for Christmas, including a milestone 300th prime mover. Six Volvo FH540s and two Mercedes-Benz Actros 2653s are now on east coast intercapit

Linfox’s Intermodal and Bevchain arms are new components in a growing strategic relationship with supermarket chain Coles. Amongst the contract wins is a renewal with Coles in New South Wales, securing a long-term contract to deliver primary and seco

A recent National Heavy Vehicle Regulator-led operation targeting fatigue showed 93.9 per cent of truck drivers are complying with fatigue regulations aimed at keeping everyone safe on our roads, the NHVR reveals. NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto says Operat

Dutch heavy haulage specialist Mammoet has started transporting the first heavy components for the new BHP South Flank iron ore mine currently under construction in Western Australia’s Pilbara region. About 1,900 items including prefabricated and mod

Severe injuries caused by a defective truck seat has seen a driver awarded more than half a million dollars in compensation. The Queensland Supreme Court awarded James Anthony Griffin, 38, damages for injury and consequential loss and harm while work

McColl’s Transport has linked with Carlton & United Breweries (CUB) for a Water on Wheels initiative designed to deliver recycled brewing water to farmers affected by drought. The start of the pilot program saw about 25,000 litres of water delivered

Workplace watchdog SafeWork NSW warns operators to never rely on trailer hydraulics or other lowering devices to prevent a ramp from falling, after the recent death of a truck driver. The 55-year-old was fatally injured after being crushed by a hydra

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is seeking feedback on a draft road freight plan addressing heavy vehicle access and productivity. The Draft Heavy Vehicle Productivity Plan 2020–2025 (HVPP) calls for a coordinated approach to addressing A

The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) leads tributes for Barker Trailers co-founder Ernie Barker after his recent passing. Together with his brother, Arthur, Ernie Barker manufactured the first custom Barker Trailer in 1974 and founded the busine

The National Diesel Dirt & Turf Expo is Australia’s major showcase for heavy equipment, specialised vehicles, mowers, attachments and other equipment for public space management and supporting services. For the fifth year the Expo is being held at th

In case you haven’t noticed, the world is changing – big time. And while contemptuous politicians might think it clever to carry a lump of coal into parliament, the raw reality is that fossil fuels are increasingly on the nose with urban society. For

It’s 1.30pm on a warm October day and Joy Kelly has already done 12 hours out of her 17-hour shift. Despite filling in for their receptionist who was away on her honeymoon, the long shifts are a daily occurrence for Joy and Scott Kelly, who started t

Let’s kick off with a fact – heavily laden articulated trucks are generally unable to come to a complete halt in the time it takes a yellow traffic light to turn red. Now, ever heard of the ‘dilemma zone’? You will know it, even if you don’t know its

With a vision to be the most recognised logistics provider in Australia’s resource-rich remote communities, WA heavy haulage specialist Centurion has been doing plenty of heavy lifting in the past decade. Established in 1971 by brothers Frank and Car

Welcome to the 400th edition anniversary Special Report. Enclosed are reports on how companies that featured during the past century of magazines survived and thrived, a view on one of the strongest currents pulling the way transport, a review of the

Family-run Simpson’s Fuel has expanded into fuel cartage, growing by 30 per cent over the last three years. The fourth-generation company based in Alexandra, Victoria, has been going from strength to strength since its early days as a general freight

There are a few things as Tasmanian as scallop pies, huon pine and De Bruyn’s Transport’s (DBT’s) distinct green and red livery. The family business, established in 1965 but with transport roots dating back to the early 20th century, continues to evo

Victorian bulk haulage company Mt Noorat Freighters uses pneumatic transfer via its own custom-built blowers to deliver stockfeed to mills. The Terang-based family business in south-west Victoria has become specialists in raw materials carting as the

Craige Whitton recently celebrated 15 years at Northline; more than a decade of those spent at the helm of the ambitious logistics firm. The last time ATN visited – December 2013 – the firm with South Australian roots was celebrating its 30th birthda

It’s the sort of thing that causes the forces of law and order palpitations. Or is this a kind of backhanded compliment to them? Six months into the Great NSW Trucking Crackdown and what should turn up on eBay from Balmoral in Queensland? Why, a spee

In my 15 years observing the transport industry, perhaps the biggest shift that I have noticed has been what I refer to as the increasing ‘corporatisation’ of the industry. That is, the increasing adoption of structures, practices and focuses seen mo

A decade’s relationship between All Purpose Transport (APT) and homeware firm Ikea is behind the advent of Queensland’s first electric delivery truck entering service. In hindsight, it was a likely outcome as delivery firm All Purpose has made a virt

The ZED70 – an acronym for Zero Emission Drive 70 – runs a 100 per cent electric drivetrain that utilises a 700Nm electric ‘permanent magnet’ motor powered by a bank of lithium-ion batteries with a total capacity of 88kWh – although a battery capacit

Senior Volvo Group Australia (VGA) executives have confirmed that the Australian introduction of new UD Croner and Quon 8x4 models will go ahead as planned, despite the startling announcement in late December of a ‘strategic alliance’ that will see I

Like a wave building beneath a surfboard, SEA Electric president Tony Fairweather is feeling a surge of momentum in his business and the commercial electric vehicle (CEV) sector in general. With 272 units harbouring its SEA-Drive electric power syste

More and more companies are looking to have their very own branding message on their fleets. Branding and advertising on fleet vehicles can boost name recognition significantly as the vehicle is moving along the highway, parked in front of a business

Masami (Mat) Ozono is a proud Japanese man who for more than 40 years has inched his way up the ladder of executive engineering appointments at UD. Fortunately for me, his English is good and more fortunately for UD and its leagues of customers, his

It is both a tad sad and somewhat satisfying to sample a small slice of Thailand’s automotive manufacturing industry. In this case, Volvo Group’s highly efficient Thai-Swedish Assembly (TSA) facility in the province of Samutprakarn, little more than

The rigid truck market is facing a tilt from an unexpected quarter next year, with Scania Australia to enter the fray armed with safety equipment and a 7.0-litre Euro 6 engine. The Swedish firm acknowledges this with the smallest truck engine Scania

Commercial asset valuation and disposal company Hilco Global has been in Australia since 2011. Back then, it was focused around distressed retail, where it helped in the disposal of goods for companies that were involved with retail gear selling out

ATN: G’day, Darren. Since the AMA Group takeover of Wales Bus & Truck Repairs, how have things been settling in for you in your new role? DW: Fantastic! We have a great team around us with a passion for the heavy motor industry and repair industry

Coles Group has been busy updating most of its IT systems over the past 18 months in a bid to reduce costs while delivering a better shopping experience for customers. The Smarter Selling strategy will include increased automation of manual tasks bot

With the exception of a small community of doomsday preppers who had sealed themselves in bunkers under the desert, it is impossible to ignore the rise in popularity of the dual-cab ute. And that’s a shame because, ironically, there’s a thriving segm

Contrary to early indications that it was about to be ousted by a buoyant Volvo, Kenworth in 2019 retained its crown as the most popular heavy-duty truck on the Australian market. Despite the closeness of a contest which at one stage saw just a few d