Outlaw Series Mack Super-Liners
We talk to our mate John Saint of transport dealership J.T.Fossey in Tamworth, NSW. John, who joined the company in heavy truck sales and is now its dealer principal, recently led the charge of a project that saw the creation of a new line of limited edition ‘Outlaw Series’ Mack Super-Liners, which have been custom-made with new colours and more accessories.
J.T.Fossey currently employs 28 people ranging from spare parts interpreters, store people, technicians and customer consultants. John’s main role is selling Volvo, Mack, UD and Fuso truck brands.
“Over the years I would have sold over 3500 trucks!” John says.
John says his idea behind the new Outlaw trucks was that he wanted to build a truck that was special, one no one else had done.
The idea was to take a top-of-the-line specced Mack Super-Liner and get some help from the best in the business to customise it.
John’s original plan was to build five Mack Outlaw Super-Liners. All five would be specced-up the same, with the same luxuries and personalised Outlaw branding. The only difference was they would be different colours.
The first truck, Outlaw 1 is red, Outlaw 2 is black, Outlaw 3 is blue, and Outlaw 4 is green. The colour of Outlaw 5 is top secret until it’s finished being built.
John says now there may be a total of 10 Outlaws created.
The trucks have had interior makeovers, including custom shelving with extras like a fridge, microwave, TV and DVD player. John says he gets a total thrill when he sees the trucks out and about.
“I’m so extremely proud of the trucks when they hit the road. It’s been a really amazing experience seeing them come to life.”
Show and Shine!
Rochelle headed along to the Tui Truck Show and Shine at Mangatainoka in New Zealand in March, her favourite event of the year!
I absolutely love the Tui Truck Show and Shine and attend it every year! This year, I set up a display of my paintings and my family came along. We had an awe- some day looking at all the different trucks, catching up with friends, meeting new people, listening to live music and enjoying the overall relaxed, fun atmosphere. The day started off a bit wet but cleared up eventually. The rain didn’t deter people from coming to see the trucks and drivers/owners coming from as far as Taupō to show off their pride and joy. It was a great turn out and I am already looking forward to next year!
PRIZE CATEGORIES AND WINNERS
| Best Classic Truck | Graeme Skou (GK Skou Transport) Kenworth W924 |
| Best Daf | Darren McDermott (Shannon Bulk Haulage) DAF CF |
| Best Hino | Campbell Murdoch (Murdoch Transport) Hino 700 series |
| Best Kenworth | Callum Tews (Hog Haulage) K200 |
| Best Mack | Rikki Wilson (Clive Taylor) Mack Trident |
| Best International | Todd Stephenson (Stephenson Transport) 2022 International RH |
| Best Scania | Paul Jonkman (Beale Trucking) and Greg Cox (Cox Heavy Salvage) |
| Best Sterling | Cameron Kelly (Central House Movers) Sterling AT9500 |
| Best Tip Truck | Paul Jonkman (Beale Trucking) Scania |
| Best Other Truck | Shane Brownell with his CAT Truck |
| Best Vintage | Justin Mill |
| Best Volvo | Sky McCausland-Horn (Booths Transport) |
| Best Western Star | Steve Beale (Beales Trucking) |
| Furthest Travelled | Sean Hulena and Tony Burling (Taupō) |
| Best Local Truck | Jorja Bourke (Bourke Haulage) Kenworth K200 |
| Most Original | Bryan Lowry International C1300 |
| Best Fleet | Beale Trucking Ltd |
| People’s Choice | Paul Jonkman (Beale Trucking) Scania 6205 |
| Shine on Award | Dion Kilmister |
| Star of the Show | Graeme Skou 1977 Kenworth W924 |
Home is where the truck is
Have you ever seen a big truck on the road and wondered what it’s like to live in one?
Life on the road can be pretty tough – long hours away from home, long stretches of road ahead, and changing weather…Did you know truck drivers often sleep in their trucks overnight and to have rests?
Luckily, there are people out there who want to make it easier for truckies, and their names are Tim and Tom from TTSC.
These two guys are experts at making a truck feel like a home away from home. They can fit all sorts of things inside a truck, from microwave to cookers, and even a shower! They can even install a special air- conditioning system called the Icepack to keep drivers cool when they’re sleeping in their truck.
Having this type of stuff inside a truck means that drivers can cook their own meals, stay cool in the hot weather, and take a shower after a long day of driving.
But that’s not all. The TTSC team has lots of other skilled people who can help make trucks even better. They can make custom racks and toolboxes, install spotlights and radios, and even take care of a truck’s hydraulic system. And if a truck needs to stay greased up and running smoothly, they’ve got that covered too with their automatic greasers.
Truck drivers also want their trucks to look good. TTSC has professional painters who can give trucks a fresh coat of paint.
The TTSC team takes pride in being a one-stop- shop for truck fit-outs, which means they can pretty much do anything a driver needs to make their truck more comfortable and efficient. Thanks Tim and Tom at TTSC for making truck life that bit easier!
Multiquip
We get to know the team at MultiQuip, a company that is dedicated to servicing the poultry and aggregate industries in Australia. Transport manager Lyndon Jay tells us all about it.
When was MultiQuip established and who by?
The first company in the Multiquip Group was established in 1984 by Steve and Lucy Mikosic, who owned a chicken farm at the time.
What does MultiQuip specialise in?
The Multiquip group has:
- A large presence in the poultry industry (from picking up fertilised eggs for hatching in our own hatchery at Maldon near Picton, NSW – over two million birds per week) delivering those “day old” birds to farms throughout Australia. We then run a fleet of trucks around Australia that deliver chicken feed to those farms, and a very large fleet of trucks that go into these farms (mostly at night) to collect the fully grown birds for delivery to processing plants throughout the country.
- A fleet of trucks that operate out of our quarry near Goulburn that deliver sand and aggregate material to concrete plants and other aggregate users around NSW.
- A fleet of refrigerated vans operating out of chicken plants around Australia.
- A large diesel servicing business operating throughout the country.
- A manufacturing business in Austral, Sydney that manufactures highly specialised metal products.
- An engineering firm that carries out specialised engineering/ machining for particular clients.
How many vehicles have you got in your fleet?
300+ prime movers, 500+ trailers, 120 heavy rigids (including truck and dogs), 120+ forklifts, 100+ light vehicles (mostly utes), 150 pieces of earth moving equipment, etc. Where does Multiquip operate? Nationally – we have approximately 16 depots around Australia.
What other types of machinery does Multiquip use?
Automated chicken catching machines (yes – that is a thing).
And how many staff members do you have?
There are approximately 1200 employees throughout the company around Australia.
Can you tell us about the different types of trucks you have and what they are used for?
We use many HPVs (high productivity vehicles) to perform the various functions throughout the company, including 28 different PBS designs. Using PBS allows us to increase the gross mass that we can carry and operate under very specific laws and rules.
What’s the best thing about working with trucks and transport in Australia?
The diversity of our operation and the level of safety that our company demands from all employees. We train our drivers very intensely and continuously.
Austin Transport Services Ltd
The white and red predominantly Kenworth fleet of Nelson-based Austin Transport Services Ltd are regular visitors to many parts of New Zealand. Milly McCauley sat down with administrator Sheryl Holt, at the company’s Nelson headquarters to learn more.
Who owns Austin Transport?
The company is owned by Brian and Lisa Austin. Brian also drives one of the company’s trucks, while Lisa is the health and safety coordinator and looks after the human resources side of the business. Lisa and Brian also take an active role in their community by sponsoring many events such as the Pork Pie Run, which is a car run open to any Mini owners. The event is a fundraiser for KidsCan.
How long has Austin Transport been in business?
Lisa and Brian began Austin Transport Services in 2007 and have continued to build the company into what it is today for the past 16 years.
Where do you have trucks based?
The main depot is in Richmond, near Nelson. We have a Christchurch depot and a depot in Auckland which is shared with another company.
How many trucks does Austin Transport operate?
The company operates 32 trucks.
What makes of trucks do you have and how many of each?
Kenworths are owner Brian’s favourite make of truck, so most of the fleet is made up of Kenworths. There is also a Hino, one Scania and a couple of Freightliners.
How many people do Austin Transport employ?
There are 32 employees at Austin Transport.
What type of loads do you cart?
The company carts all sorts of general freight, timber, containers, and machinery. Our tip trucks mainly haul gravel and roading material.
Where are the main areas you operate in around New Zealand?
The company operates New Zealand-wide.
What is your title at Austin Transport and what are your responsibilities?
I am the administrator and work mainly in finance for the company.
Did you always think you would work in transport?
I never thought I would work in transport.
How long have you been involved with the business?
I have worked for Austin Transport for 10 years.
What’s your favourite thing about working in the industry?
My favourite part of working in the industry would be working alongside the team of drivers at Austin Transport.
What things would you like to see change for the transport industry over time?
To see the roads around New Zealand improved.
Do you have a favourite truck in your fleet?
It would have to be one of the fleet’s Kenworths.
What would be some advice you would give to any young people who want to start a career in transport?
l would advise anyone to just get involved, to get to know the industry, and work up from the bottom to the top.
Can you tell me a fun or interesting fact about Austin Transport?
A number of the fleet’s trucks are named after trucking songs by famous Australian entertainer Slim Dusty. This comes from when Brian spent time driving long-haul across Australia and would pass the time by listening to Slim Dusty songs.
From the driver's seat
Our Aussie mate Mike gives us a first-hand look of what he sees from behind the wheel.
I’ve driven some of the biggest and coolest trucks in Australia. From east to west and north to south, I reckon I’ve seen most of my great country in the wind- screen from the driver’s seat. Nothing like picking a rest area and watching the sun go down while munching on a sandwich and having a soft drink or flying down the highway with the roar of that big diesel and a great song on the radio.
I’ve always loved trucks. So I thought I’d go through and find some pictures of things I’ve seen from the driver’s seat. I picked three trucks I’ve driven, and some shots are of the trucks and others are from the dash camera as we rolled down the road.
I came over to New Zealand and went to the TMC show in Christchurch a while back. I was lucky enough to meet Mr Ed Solly. He introduced me to a really cool old W model KW called “Rocky”. I even got to have a drive in New Zealand! You’ve just got to love where trucking can take you.
Big drive to Brisbane
Kiwi turned Aussie Lucas tells us all about truck life in North Queensland.
Hey guys, I’m Lucas Gallagher, and I’m 15 years old. I was born in Thames, New Zealand, but we now live in Airlie Beach in the Whitsundays in North Queensland. The town is a little bit like Queenstown in New Zealand and is based largely around tourism.
My dad Bradley drove trucks for his whole driving career in New Zealand for Main R & L Ltd, Provincial Freightlines and Paul Rudd before we moved to Australia.
Dad’s current boss owns a resort, which also has a restaurant, a bar as well as three bottle shops in town. Because we live so far from any main cities, Dad’s boss bought his own Kenworth T909 B-double for Dad to drive down to Brisbane and back, which is 13 hours each way (1100km) to pick up the alcohol and supplies each week – sometimes two times a week in the busy holiday periods.
I’m lucky enough to go for rides with Dad during the school holidays. His truck is a 2019 T909 Kenworth with a 50-inch sleeper. It went to Bling Man HQ in Brisbane and got all the tanks stainless steel wrapped, with lots of lights and stainless steel everywhere. It has a custom stereo with subwoofers, so we’ve got some good tunes to listen to on the way to Brisbane.
Dad normally goes to one big warehouse in Brisbane and loads up all the alcohol the business needs for the week, then comes back up and unloads it at the hotel. After unloading the trailers, the truck gets a full wash all ready for the next trip. Lots of tourists like to ask Dad questions about the truck and take photos of it when it’s parked at the hotel.
Last year, Dad and I took the truck to the Brisbane Convoy for Kids truck show and Dad’s truck won a trophy for Truck of the Show, beating out more than 700 trucks
Here’s a few photos from my trips with Dad, I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
Go for it girls!
Isabella had the pleasure of meeting Samantha Russell, known as Sam, from Swanson Transport Ltd in Auckland.
One of the interesting things I learnt is that Sam is the only female operator at Swanson Transport. Six years with the company, she now proudly operates an 8-Wheeler Rear Mount Hiab – a job that she didn’t expect to be doing as a young girl but is super proud of.
You can do it, too
In a male-dominated industry, her message to young girls is, “If transport is the career path you are thinking of, and you want to operate one of these big machines, go for it! Girls and women can do the same jobs as the boys and can do it just as well!”
What Sam also loves about her role is the variety of work she gets to do while also discovering some beautiful parts of New Zealand. Getting to know the North Island well, one of her favorite drives would be to Tauranga.
Safety first
Sam knows that being an operator comes with a lot of responsibility, and safety is always key to make sure she can perform her job. Pre-checks every morning to make sure the truck is in good condition to allow her to get to her job. There are also safety checks that are done on arrival and departure from a work site. Operating these machines requires you to be alert of your surroundings, which is why it’s important to get a good night’s rest. Sam has been fortunate that Swanson Transport have been able to assist her get the licences she needs.
Moo-ving Cattle
Name: Zoe
Age: 8 years old
Lives: Queensland
Can be found in: A Kenworth C509
Hey Little Truckers, my name is Zoe and I live in Queensland, Australia. I LOVE getting the chance to go with my dad in the cattle truck some school holidays. The truck is a Kenworth C509 with Cannon Trailer cattle crates.
We live in Goondiwindi, Queensland and our family owns McKelvey Livestock Haulage, which helps farmers move their cattle very big distances across Australia.
Depending on the job, sometimes the truck has a B double hooked up (three decks), but it’s my favourite when the road train is set up because it looks huge! A road train carries six decks of cattle. When they are taking cattle into the feedlot, there are 156 head of cattle on board. That’s a lot of beef!
When I go in the truck, my favourite part is watching and helping load the cattle into the crates. When I grow up I’d like to be a Jillaroo and also drive a truck.
See you on the roads!
Zoe
Dawsons Down Under
Little Trucker Down Under’s Top Truck for this issue is truly trans-Tasman; it was built at Bayswater, near Melbourne and is owned by Dawsons Haulage of Baranduda in Victoria, and the driver, a Kiwi lad, began his driving career the North Island of New Zealand.
Dawsons Haulage runs a striking fleet of Kenworths, towing a variety of trailers from singles and B-Doubles to extendables (trailers that can lengthen out to 22 metres long) and road trains carrying freight all over Australia.
‘Olivia Rose’ is one of four C509 Kenworths in the Dawson fleet, however she is the only one painted in the striking metallic green colour – combine that with her polished tanks and bulbar, she’s certainly a standout out.
A 615 horsepower Cummins X15 engine and 18-speed Eaton Roadranger transmission propel the Kenworth, which can be seen anywhere from Victoria to the far reaches of Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia hauling freight.
Driver of ‘Olivia Rose’, Shane Mitchell, as a youngster spent hours riding around in trucks, learning the ropes and washing them before getting behind the wheel at the end of his schooling.
