Western Sydney-based Bakers Group is always buying new trailers from Borcat. Last year, the company bought three rigid 6×4 truck bodies and three quad dog trailers from Borcat and this year, so far, they have got three 10-wheeler rigid tipper bodies from them.
Currently more than 80 per cent of Bakers Group’s trailer fleet is from Borcat, featuring super dog aluminium tippers and quad dog tippers, with a huge majority built on Performance-Based Standards (PBS) specifications. The fleet also includes prime movers, B-doubles and some drop decks to move its civil equipment. While the trailers are involved in a range of operations from grain and produce cartage to coal transport, the major task is excavation haulage and material and tunnel cartage for the Sydney Metro rail projects and other various New South Wales road infrastructure projects.
All of the company’s PBS fleet complies with the New South Wales Safety Productivity & Environment Construction Transport (SPECT) Scheme. The NSW Class 2 Safety Productivity & Environment Construction Transport Authorisation Notice 2016 (No.1) gives the nominated vehicles greater access to a prescribed network in return for greater compliance requirements. The notice provides the authorisation for vehicles to use the networks developed and administered under the SPECT Scheme.
“It is a big thing in Sydney at the moment. SPECT allows us to drive into full councils rather than applying for single roads, which helps us boost safety, environmental performance and productivity of heavy vehicles,” says Luke Baker, of Bakers Group.
“Borcat’s range of products is forever growing and the quality of products is second to none. In terms of design, usability and construction these trailers are right up there with the best. The Borcat team builds a light enough trailer to get a good payload in without sacrificing longevity or any other aspect. They’re well built and we fit BPW axles and together they deliver a reliable combination with a good warranty.”
It was Luke’s father, Ted Baker, who bought their first Borcat tipper trailer over two decades ago, and Luke has continued to stay with the brand “for its quality and the people behind it”. He currently takes care of the entire fleet of vehicles and plant equipment, he is also responsible for ordering new trucks, changing configurations, fleet maintenance and nearly all day-to-day operations of the business. He also oversees the workshop and maintenance team that includes 10 mechanics.
Luke has inherited a genuine passion for business from his father and the industry that they service. Ted continues to be involved in the daily operations of the business as a director and together the father-son duo is growing Bakers Group’s operations in the Sydney area and beyond. “It’s a family business that dad started back in 1980,” Luke says. “He built the company from nothing – from one little tipper truck back then all the way up to now where we have over 25 trucks on the road working on most of Sydney’s major infrastructure, roads, tunnels and rail projects. We also have over 30 pieces of plant and machinery for our civil contracts, crushing and screening projects and plant hire. We have a team of 50 employees. We’ve surely come a long way.”
With changing times and growing business needs, the Bakers Group team has been exploring newer technologies and vehicle designs and the team at Borcat has been there supporting them in this pursuit.
“These days everyone is trying to find new combinations and new ways to carry more weight and the Borcat team is doing the same. They’re exploring new technologies that help you stand out from other transport companies. They’re pretty much prepared to build anything that you ask for and are constantly helping us find new ways to carry more weight safely,” he says.
“Paul and his team, and the quality of products they make are the reasons we keep going back to them for new vehicles,” he adds. “We have known Paul for a long time now. Dealing with Borcat is not really a business transaction for us anymore, it’s more of a friendship. They’re a great bunch of people and we have complete trust in them.”
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