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Eureka Concrete in Ballarat has struck gold, recently collecting a bright yellow FYJ 300-350 Auto concrete agitator to add to its burgeoning fleet.
Providing services in Ballarat, Ballan, Beaufort and Maryborough for over 50 years, the family-run business has four concrete plants alongside a quarry in Amphitheatre.
“Back when Dad [Graeme Beaston] first started the business 52 years ago, he had two concrete trucks and a front-end loader,” explained Eureka Concrete Manager, Troy Beaston.
“I’ve been here for over 30 years with my three brothers also working for the business.
“We now run around 45 concrete trucks plus a few tippers as well.”
The foundations for the working relationship between Ballarat’s biggest concrete supplier and one of the region’s busiest truck dealerships were cemented some time ago.
With their new Isuzu FYJ Agitator on hand, Eureka provided a substantial quantity of concrete for the build of Ballarat Isuzu’s new dealership in Mitchell Park.
“Eureka Concrete enjoys looking after the local community and businesses in Ballarat, providing high quality service and support,” Troy said.
“We have a connection with Ian Deacon, Chris Todd, Jason Homberg and the team at Ballarat Isuzu. We’ve known them for a long time and we’re glad to do business with them.”
While Eureka Concrete can be found delivering concrete for government projects, commercial projects and domestic builds, they also provide for clients from display homes, industrial sites and wind farms through to local mining operations.
Trucks in Eureka’s fleet such as their new FYJ Auto Agitator will take on five to six loads per day on average, with busy days jumping up to as many as 10 loads. This is prevalent on “the sunny days, which are always busy,” according to Troy.
“Eureka’s new FYJ Agitator would probably travel up to 200 or 300 kilometres a day and be in operation for up to 10 hours,” he added.
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Traditional trailers are a solid and reliable way to transport your customers’ goods. But there’s another way to efficiently and effectively get things from A to B – and it has the potential to significantly grow your business. We’re talking about intermodal containers.
Just like trailers, intermodal containers are made to carry freight. But unlike their traditional counterparts, containers can be quickly and easily swapped out for new freight types. That means a single skel can be put to work in a huge range of ways, and unlock a huge range of opportunities.
With 30-plus years in the industry, and a fleet of over 16,000 units across a nationwide footprint, SCF has deep insights into the many pros of intermodal containers. Here’s why they have the potential to transform your business, and why you should seriously consider adding them to your fleet.
The ultimate in flexibility
Freight profiles change constantly. And with a fleet of trailers alone, it can be hard to adapt to meet those evolving needs. This means equipment can end up under-utilised, and new work opportunities can go untaken.
With intermodal containers, change is second nature. Instead of being locked into one trailer type, you can easily lift a container off a skel and drop another variant on in minutes. The ability to quickly pivot to new combinations unlocks a raft of new freight types and customers.
Here’s just one example of this flexibility in action. You could use a standard end door container for rear dock loading in the morning. Then by lunchtime, you could swap it out for a tautliner container, and carry lengths of steel that rely on side opening access. And you can do it all using the same skel base.
A new standard in availability
In the transportation industry, long lead times on new trailer builds can be a sticking point. SCF intermodal solutions offer consistently low lead times, with built-to-order custom containers turned around in just 3-6 months.
Along with shorter wait times for new builds, SCF’s Australia-wide depots are also home to a huge fleet of 16,000 containers, available on-demand. Our stock includes standard and specialised containers – ranging from tautliners/curtainsiders to refrigerated containers, tanks and more. With a focus on maintaining stock volume, we can quickly deploy the containers you need, when you need them.
A cost-effective solution
With costs continuing to rise above inflation, every traditional trailer sitting idle in the depot is a potential drain on your business’s resources. Operational inefficiencies and missed opportunities mean the cost of having the wrong equipment can quickly add up.
Intermodal containers give you similar features and functionality, with significantly less cost attached.
Here are just a few potential ways containers can help save on costs
Purchase & lease expenses. Manufacturing efficiencies mean containers tend to cost less than traditional trailers. For example, a refrigerated container can cost up to 25 per cent less than a traditional refrigerated trailer.
More streamlined fleet. Clever use of containers can help bring down the size of your fleet. For example, you could replace one refrigerated trailer and one tautliner trailer with just one skel and two containers (a reefer and a tautliner).
Better fleet utilisation. You can use idle skels to do the work of a trailer, just by adding an intermodal container. And improved utilisation means improved profitability.
Less maintenance. SCF containers are engineered to endure Australia’s harsh conditions, resulting in less wear and tear and lower repair costs. Plus, any leased containers can be managed by SCF – saving you the costs of workshop staff having to keep equipment maintained.
More flexibility. SCF’s high availability of intermodal containers means you can easily swap bodies and only need to pay for what you need, when you need it – meaning less valuable equipment sitting idle in the depot.
All the trailer functionality and features you love, and then some
There’s a reason traditional trailers are relied upon throughout the transportation industry. They’re purpose-built to carry freight, they hold incredibly large volumes, and they’re a tried and true solution.
With SCF intermodal containers, you get all that same great functionality – plus a few extra bonuses. It’s all part of an outstanding product, trusted in the industry since 1992, and specifically designed for Australian intermodal transportation.
Here’s a handful of SCF clients’ favourite features:
Two Australian pallet wide internal spaces – designed to maximise storage
Optional mezzanine decks for a second layer of storage that protects soft pallets
Vertical Load Bars to double the internal pallet capacity on end door containers
Load binder winches, F Track freight restraint system and tie down rails to keep cargo safe and secure
Reinforced floors and handling points to reduce R&M
The ability to easily and flexibly switch between skels and transport modes.
New growth opportunities in rail
Branching out from road-only to road-and-rail means opening the door to new territories, new clients, and new expansion. But when relying on a fleet of solely traditional trailers, that expansion can come at a big upfront cost.
Having both traditional trailers and intermodal containers in the mix gives you a whole new level of flexibility and availability. By setting aside skel and container solutions for rail, you can free up your existing trailers for other work. That means new territories, new freight options, and new revenue streams.
With intermodal container solutions, anything is possible
Talk to SCF to find out how you can bring intermodal containers into the fold – and transform your business’s flexibility, efficiency, and growth.
The post Enhance your trailer fleet with intermodal containers: SCF appeared first on Trailer Magazine.
Image: Martin Valigursky/stock.adobe.com.
The Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ) named Queensland’s Bruce Highway as the most despised road in the state in their 2024 Unroadworthy Roads Survey.
According to the Club, drivers travelling along a stretch of the highway between towns Childers and GinGin are nearly 10 times more likely to be involved in a serious crash than if they were travelling on another highway, such as the Hume.
On ABC News Radio, Queensland Trucking Association CEO Gary Mahon sat down to discuss this survey result, the significance of the Bruce Highway and its dangers for truck drivers and other motorists alike.
Mahon firstly emphasised the Highway’s importance as a connector for Queensland.
“It’s basically the vital link from the top to the bottom of the state, it runs from Brisbane through to Cairns, around 1,670km,” said Mahon.
“It links all the coastal cities and towns, and is a vital link to the east and west corridors as well.”
Following this, Mahon outlined the Bruce Highway’s many dangers that drivers face, from tight road stretches to poor visibility, and even the Highway’s major susceptibility to flooding.
“There’s just hundreds and hundreds of kilometres where the shoulders are no more than one metre,” he said.
“Visibility is low—there’s fog, sometimes smoke, and particularly by intersections. Then, you move into a lack of overtaking lanes, pavement width, narrow bridges. There’s quite a lot of improvements that need to be made.”
Mahon’s final comments discussed the issue of the Highway’s funding. Contribution disagreements between the Federal and Queensland government are resulting in a lack of total funding being given to the Highway.
“The Federal Government has stepped back from the funding principle of 80/20,” said Mahon.
“They’re now quite steadfast that it’s 50/50, which puts quite an imposition on the state. When it’s the nation’s number one national highway, and they’ve multi-laned every other highway in the state, we’re saying it’s time Queensland got its turn.”
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A low loader carrying an excavator collided with the overpass in April. Image: WordInThePit Mining
The Caval Ridge Mine overpass on the Peak Downs Highway in Queensland has reopened to traffic, five months after a low loader caused significant damage.
The extensive reconstruction works required included propping and stabilising the structure and removing the damaged span before it could be replaced.
The overpass was closed in late April this year after a low loader transporting an excavator got wedged beneath it.
The highway was temporarily closed to ensure the safety of road users and site workers while the area was made safe, damage assessments were undertaken and a sidetrack was built.
A two-kilometre, fully-sealed temporary sidetrack was quickly constructed to ensure a safe passage for all road users while work to reinstate the overpass was completed.
Regional director for Central Queensland, David Grosse, said: “The Queensland Government is pleased to announce the reopening of the Caval Ridge Haul Road overpass on the Peak Downs Highway.
“Reconnecting the community has always been our priority, and we are grateful for the community’s support during these crucial works.
“We acknowledge the challenges the community faced during this period and thank everyone for their patience.”
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Speed limit changes will come into effect on multiple roads in NSW’s Monaro area over the next three weeks.
Reduced speed limits will impact roads in Cooma, Jindabyne and Bombala.
According to a Transport for NSW (TfNSW) spokesperson, the speed zones were reviewed in consultation with NSW Police and local council.
Following community feedback, speed reductions will be implemented on Yareen and Polo Flat roads, Wangie and Thurrung streets at Cooma; Barry Way at Jindabyne; and Bucky Springs Road at Bombala.
The speed limit will be reduced from 60 km/h to 50 km/h for the entire lengths of Yareen Road, Wangie and Thurrang streets at Cooma.
According to TfNSW, the speed limit changes for the three roads in Cooma were initiated after residents raised safety concerns due to an increase in pedestrian activity, access to local schools and development of residential areas.
The limit will be reduced from 80 km/h to 60 km/h for a three-kilometre length of Polo Flat Road at Cooma from 100 metres south of Yareen Road to 300 metres north of Saleyard Road.
The spokesperson said this review was initiated by council after they received numerous requests to lower speed at this location, and due to the increase in heavy vehicle movements, along with residential access points.
The limit will be reduced from 100 km/h to 80 km/h for a 3.5-kilometre length of Barry Way at Jindabyne from 100 metres south of Jillamatong Street to 300 metres south of Snowy River Way.
“The review was initiated by council and local police following development of new schools and homes along Barry Way, and after they received numerous requests to lower speed at this location” the spokesperson said.
The limit will be reduced from 100 km/h to 80 km/h for a 5.1-kilometre length of Bucky Springs Road in Bombala, from 130 metres east of Hyde Street to 530 metres east of Rosehill Road.
“This review was initiated by local residents due to the volume of heavy vehicles using the road, the road width, and the presence of school children and would increase travel by about 46 seconds,” the spokesperson said.
The speed zones will be changed starting from October 3, 2024 at Polo Flat Road and Yareen Road, weather permitting.
Barry Way and Bucky Springs Road will be changed from 9 October 2024, weather permitting.
Signs will be onsite to advise of the speed zone changes for one week prior to installation and one week after.
Traffic control and reduced speed limits of 40 km/h will be in place while the new speed zones are being installed.
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In today’s trucking industry, where equipment costs are rising, operating expenses are climbing, and driver shortages are becoming a growing concern, optimising every aspect of fleet management is crucial.
One of the critical areas that significantly impact both efficiency and driver well-being is the time and effort spent on managing on-board mass (OBM) systems.
Air-Weigh, a state-of-the-art scaling system offered by E-Max, presents a revolutionary solution that enhances fleet operations by simplifying one aspect of a driver’s workload.
Wireless OBM systems often rely on Bluetooth pairing with each individual scale in the combination, which can be time-consuming and require constant driver input. This manual input increases the risk of errors, such as pairing the wrong trailer or in the wrong order, wasting valuable time and delaying deliveries. The constant need for driver involvement in managing these systems adds to their workload, contributing to stress and inefficiency.
By comparison, E-Max, a leader in on-board weighing systems for over two decades, offers a refreshingly superior alternative with its intelligent state-of-the-art system, Air-Weigh. This system connects to the vehicle’s ignition and utilises the existing seven-pin electrical suzi coils to transmit data and automatically assign trailers. This eliminates the need for Bluetooth pairing, extra cables, and manual configurations, significantly reducing the time and effort required from drivers.
“Our system is designed and manufactured in the USA and is ISO 9001:2015 certified,” said Ben Harris, E-Max head of sales and operations. “This ensures that Air-Weigh enables truck operators to accurately measure their load, eliminating any guesswork from loading. This precision helps reduce overweight fines and maximise each trip’s efficiency while also ensuring compliance.”
The plug-and-play feature of Air-Weigh demonstrates the system’s true simplicity in action, enabling seamless transitions and efficient fleet management. By requiring no manual input from drivers, Air-Weigh helps streamline processes, resulting in smoother operations.
Extended driver efficiency is achieved by reduced loading times, allowing drivers to focus on driving rather than load management. This shift not only enhances road safety but also decreases vehicle liability, resulting in happier, more productive drivers.
As Ben explained, “The simplicity and precision of our system not only saves time but also reduces the cognitive load on drivers. This is crucial in an industry where every minute counts. By minimising the time drivers spend on non-driving tasks, we help them focus on what they do best – driving safely and efficiently.”
Supporting customers nationwide, E-Max offers comprehensive after-sales support with a skilled team capable of training and educating fleets to implement the product effectively, whether it’s five combinations or 500. This ensures that fleets of all sizes can benefit from the efficiency and simplicity of Air-Weigh. Additionally, E-Max provides individual support via phone for those on the road, ensuring that help is always available when needed.
In an industry where every minute counts and the pressure on drivers continues to grow, solutions like Air-Weigh are more important than ever. As equipment becomes more expensive, operating costs rise, and drivers become fewer, the minutes wasted on manually connecting trailers and ensuring correct loads can significantly cut into the fleet’s bottom line. Air-Weigh offers a practical and efficient solution that improves operational efficiency and eases the workload on drivers, ultimately enhancing productivity across the board.
By investing in intelligent systems like Air-Weigh, fleet operators can ensure that their drivers are not burdened with unnecessary tasks, allowing them to stay focused and efficient on the road. This not only benefits the drivers but also improves the overall performance and profitability of the fleet. In a challenging and competitive industry, adopting such innovations is key to staying ahead and ensuring long-term success.
On-board scales like Air-Weigh add increased vehicle profitability by maximising every load, extending driver efficiency by allowing them to focus on driving, and enhancing road safety by ensuring accurate load management. They eliminate repeated scale events, unproductive time and kilometres spent reworking loads, under-loading, load guesswork, and overweight fines. This results in a more streamlined, productive, and profitable operation, with drivers who are happier and more focused on the road.
For more information, please call 1300 850 575 or visit air-weigh.com.au.
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Despite wet weather threatening to put a damper on the proceedings, this year’s Gold Coast Truck Show went off without a hitch.
Truckies and their families rolled up to Mudgeeraba Showgrounds in Worongary, Queensland over the weekend for two days of car, bike and truck displays, live music, food, kids’ rides and more.
Event co-ordinator Kathryn Franklin told Big Rigs: “We had a lot of wet weather leading up to the show, so we were working around the clock making sure the grounds weren’t too soggy.
“Thankfully we were able to go ahead and everything went according to schedule apart from the last hour of the show on Saturday and the last half hour on Sunday.
“We managed to pull it off!”
Trucks were the star of the show on the Sunday, with a great variety of rigs and awards handed out across 13 categories.
Exhibitor Julie Munro told Big Rigs that she and her family were chuffed to be coming home with “Best Bling” and “Best Paint” thanks to their 2015 Kenworth 509 and 1993 Kenworth 950.
“It’s always a good weekend down there,” she said. “We love our truck shows!”
This 1990 Ford LTS is a real looker. Image: Julie Munro“It took us a few years to get the 950 looking the way she looks now.
“It was hard to find the time when [my husband] Mick drives all week so it was pretty much every weekend getting dirty.
“We had help from the son, Matt.”
A 1988 Ford LTL all shined up. Image: Julie MunroSaturday was the “Retro Family Day” featuring monster trucks, cars and bikes, an FMX stunt crew, fireworks, and much more.
“The Monster Trucks were able to perform, which was great, but they missed the last performance on Saturday because of the weather,” Franklin explained.
“Thankfully they agreed to come back on the Sunday so everyone who was there on Sunday got to see that as a bonus!”
The team are looking forward to coming back again next year – hopefully with a bit more sunshine!
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A further $20 million has been committed to the Cunningham Highway, however the extra funding will be used for ‘detailed planning’ rather than actual upgrades.
The Australian Government is providing $16 million and the Queensland Government will commit the remaining $4 million.
It will be used to undertake businesses cases on the Ipswich-Rosewood Road (Amberley) intersection, and the Ripley Road and Swanbank Road interchanges.
The Ipswich-Rosewood Road (Amberley) intersection planning will investigate options for a long-term solution at the intersection, including grade separation, a bypass or duplication of the highway.
It will also take community feedback into consideration, which was received during the consultation process.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King commented, “Our aim is to identify and implement a way to improve safety and efficiency for both local residents and freight vehicles.
“So much work goes into detailed planning for an upgrade of this calibre, and we want to ensure the design options reflect the needs of the community.”
The Ipswich-Rosewood Road (Amberley) intersection is a key connection for freight and the local community. It also acts as the main access point to Australia’s largest operational military air base, the Royal Australian Air Force Base Amberley.
This project is part of the Australian Government’s broader $170 million investment in the Cunningham Highway.
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One of the most important dates in the trucking calendar every year, Lights on the Hill is set to take place at the Gatton Showgrounds in Queensland this weekend.
Organisers are expecting a big turnout for the event, which brings the transport industry together in memory of truckies who have lost their lives.
Two convoys, one starting in Brisbane and one in Toowoomba, will converge at the showgrounds for a day of entertainment and socialising on Saturday October 5.
The packed schedule for this Saturday. Image: Lights on the HillThe convoys will depart from Mica Street, Carole Park in Brisbane and Brown and Hurley Toowoomba at 9.30am.
The showground gates open at 9am and attendees can look forward to plenty of flash trucks, markets, trade stalls, food, kids’ rides and fireworks in the evening.
There’ll be live music from artists including Lane Pittman, Viper Creek Band, Liam Brew, Jeremy Turner, and more.
Then on Sunday October 6, a memorial ceremony will take place at 10am at Lake Apex Park.
The below names will be added to the memorial wall:
Robert James “Bob” BAGLEY
Glen Robert BEAN
Kevin “The Ox” BEATTIE
Daniel James “Belly” BELL
Philip Adair “Phil” BLACK
Robert Clive “Roosta” BONNELL
Ian Neville “Browndogg” BROWNSEY
Nathan BURR
Neil Leslie CAREY
Rodney “Rocket” CHAPMAN
Jake “Crighto” CRIGHTON
Colin “Col” CHRISTIAN
Scott Hamilton COMER
James Andrew “Jimmy” CURTIS
Frederick George “Freddo” DAHTLER
Peter Edward DAWE
Terence “Dusty” De LESLIE
Colin Sydney “Doddsy” DODD
Timothy John “Tim or “Gully” DOESSEL
Keith Harold “Porky” EDWARDS
John Henry “John” FARNHAM
Wayne Ross “Finny” FINN
John Joseph “One Eyed Doc” or “Fitzy” FITZPATRICK
Rowan William “Rowda” GOLTZ
Malcolm John “Gator” HEATHCOTE
Peter William “Hillbilly 1” HILL
Preston “Percy” HOWARD
David Patrick “Dave” JEFFREY
William Henry Thomas “Bill” JEFFRIES
James KELLY “James”
Allan Lance “Kirky” KIRKEGAARD
Frederic Leslie “Peter” LARNER
Dana Jan Lester “Dan” LAWSON
Alan McEWAN
Joseph (Joey) “Redmow” McPHERSON
David “Dave” MOORE
John Charles “Cowboy” MUNDT
Robert Bede “Smiley” NEALE
Andrew Dallas “Andy” NIELSEN
Rein “Pancho” OLT
Desmond John “Des” O’MEARA
Bruce Joseph PHELAN
John Allen “Plattsy” or “Big Dog” PLATTS
Norman James “Gunna” ROBERTS
Lennie John ROSE
Mervyn Lloyd “Spuddy” SCHWERIN
Darryl “Tin Man” SMITH
Noel “Towelly” TOWELL
Brendon “Ross” “Twid” or “Twiddle” TWIDALE
Darryl John “Vico” or “Bones” VICTORSEN
Brian WALL
William Donald “Don” WILLIAMS
Brent Robert WILLIAMSON
Dale Brian WINKLER
Those attending the memorial service are asked to bring their own chairs, water, sunscreen and umbrellas.
A coffee van and a barbecue will be on site, provided by the Gatton Men’s Shed.
Truck space at the wall is limited – contact lightsonthehill@live.com.au if you wish to bring your truck.
The service will also be live streamed on the Lights on the Hill Facebook page.
Tickets for the event are priced at $27.50 for adults, $16.50 for children, $77 for a family of two adults and two children, and $66 for a convoy participant.
Convoy tickets and vehicle registrations are available online here.
Brisbane: Mica Street Carole Park • right at roundabout to merge onto Logan Motorway • Ipswich Motorway • Warrego Highway to Gatton exit • Eastern Drive • left onto Golf Links Rd • right onto Woodlands Rd into Showgrounds.
Toowoomba: Rear exit from Brown and Hurley • left onto Hillman St • left onto Lewis St • Left onto Boundary St and follow through to second range crossing Warrego Highway • Gatton exit onto Eastern Drive • left Golf Links Rd • right onto Woodlands Rd and into the Gatton Showgrounds.
Boundary Street Toowoomba
Helidon
Gatton- Eastern Drive and showgrounds
Anywhere safe along the highway between Brisbane and Gatton
Spectators have been asked to keep a safe distance from the roadside for safety reasons.
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