BULLDOG
SAVTRANS SERVICES MINING AND AGRICULTURE IN W.A.
TRIDENT AXLE BACK: THE NEW DOG ON THE ROADS
WINNERS – RIG OF THE MONTH
TAILORING A TRIDENT TO A B-DOUBLE SPEC’
THE MACK MAGAZINE SPRING 2009
the granites
are coming:SCOTT’S TRANSPORT DELIVERS FOR COCA-COLA AMATIL
*The 50% investment allowance applies to new trucks acquired by small business entities under a binding contract before 31 December 2009. For all other entities, the 10% investment allowance will apply to new trucks acquired under a binding contract before 31 December 2009. Conditions apply. Speak to your accountant, financial advisor or the ATO on 132 866 to confirm your eligibility.
Contact your Mack dealer on 1800 803 427 or visit macktrucks.com.au
DON’T MISS OUT
50% OR 10
%
INVESTMENT ALLOWANCE
Qualifi
es for th
e Australia
n Government in
vestment
a
llowance if
purchased before 31 December 2
009*
“For my business, transporting general freight between Melbourne and Sydney, I chose the Trident for both its aerodynamics and fuel economy. The conventional cab
handles the impact of the wind much better than a cab-over, and we’ve already won with the Trident’s fuel economy – it’s currently running at 2.01 kilometres per litre.”
Leigh Naughton,Managing Director
Naughton Transport Services (NTS)
CLASSIC
PRODUCTIVITY
26 FUEL EFFICIENT METRES OFTHE NEW BREED TRIDENT: Productivity and efficiency in one classic package.
Linehaul 26 metre B-double applications. Engine: Mack MP8 500Hp.
Transmission: Mack or Eaton to suit application. GCM: Up to 106 tonnes.
Configuration for B-double application with a day cab.
12 Pallets 22 Pallets
Configuration for B-double application with a day cab.
12 Pallets 22 Pallets
Configuration for B-double application with a 28” sleeper cab.
12 Pallets 22 Pallets
Configuration for B-double application with a 46” sleeper cab.
12 Pallets 20 Pallets
PREMIUM MODERN CLASSICS
®
4 BULLDOG MAGAZINE SPRING 2009 54 BULLDOG MAGAZINE
welcomecontentsSPRING 2009
A WORD FROM AUSTRALIA’S TOP DOG
“With a Dog in front of you, there are a lot of people behind you.”
This is a classic Mack slogan that can be interpreted as leaving
other trucks on the highway in your wake. But in truth, it’s all
about the support you and your business get over the lifetime
of your Mack.
This was brought home to me recently when I had the opportunity
to meet some customers who were taking the tour of our Wacol
factory. These tours are a great opportunity for our customers
to meet Mack people from all areas of the business, but more
importantly, they’re our opportunity to fi nd out what you, our
customers, really want.
It’s clear to me that you want a lot more than just a great truck.
You want to know that Mack is behind your entire operation,
supporting you and keeping your trucks on the road at all times.
We understand that every minute of downtime is a loss for a
trucking business, which is why we offer services like contract
maintenance and driver training.
A good example of a customer who is well acquainted with people
from all areas of the Mack value chain is Scott Savory from
SavTrans (see page 17). Having visited the factory, Scott now knows
everyone in the Mack team, from the local dealership, to the factory,
to the product team in head offi ce. Why is that important? Because
not only does Scott know us, but we know him – and that makes
us all the better able to serve him and his business.
Meanwhile, within Mack there have been some changes in
management. Former Volvo Group Australia President Peter
Hertinge has returned to Sweden to head up the Europe,
Africa and Middle East division of Mack Trucks (see Dog Bites).
Congratulations to Peter, who did a brilliant job here in Oz. Into
his shoes we welcome Arne Knaben. With a strong background in
the retail business, Arne is looking forward to getting to know our
customers and understanding their needs in our Australian market.
Remember, when you buy a Mack, you become part of the Mack
family. Like any family, we can be relied on to support you in any
way we can. Please ask your dealer how we can better support
you and your business.
Dean BestwickGeneral Manager
Mack Trucks Australia
Bulldog – A magazine from Mack Trucks Australia
Bulldog is a magazine for Mack customers, drivers and
enthusiasts. Opinions expressed in articles may not necessarily
be those of Mack Trucks. Neither the publication nor the company
can be held responsible for factual errors within the magazine.
Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without prior
permission from Mack Trucks Australia. Mack trucks is a trading
division of Volvo Group Australia.
CONTENTS WELCOME
y y
06 Feature Story Going the extra mile
Geoff Lane wanted a Mack to pull his
B-double; the standard Trident was fi ve
inches too long, so we built him one that
fi ts – custom designed and engineered
at Mack’s Australian factory at Wacol,
in Queensland.
09 Cover Story When it has to be on time
Having won the task of delivering
Coca-Cola Amatil’s products to the
distribution centres of Adelaide, Bruce
Grubb, CEO of the Scott’s Group of
Companies, knew he needed a reliable
truck for a job with very tight DFOT
schedules. In this article he tells Bulldog
magazine why Scott’s chose the New
Breed Granite.
13 Feature Story Boral Gas Truck
16 Peak Performance with Paul Munro
17 Feature Story SavTrans Trident
In his brand new Trident, Scott Savory
is helping to keep the mines of
Kalgoorlie and the ore loaders of
Geraldton running. We found out what
it’s like doing 1,200-kilometre round
trips overnight in the wide open spaces
of Western Australia.
19 Rig of the Month
20 Trident Axle Back
21 Brisbane Truck Show Pictorial feature
22 Dog Bites
send the
dog a bone
Bulldog magazine keeps you up to date with information from Australia and overseas – but, we also want to hear from you. Please write in with your feedback and stories. If you have pictures, please email high-resolution images, or post copies (no originals).
All correspondence should be addressed to:addressed to:
The EditorBulldog MagazineMack TrucksPO Box 1997Milton QLD 4064Australia
telephone 07 3811 7012
or email [email protected]
6 BULLDOG MAGAZINE
GOING THE
EXTRA
MILE
OWNER-OPERATOR, GEOFF LANE, runs
a B-double load of rice products from Leeton
in NSW to Brisbane three times a fortnight,
returning to his home in Wagga Wagga in
between. It’s a 2,600 kilometre round-trip
that Geoff does in about two and half days.
‘I load on Mondays and I’m time slotted to
unload on Wednesday morning, so there’s
no point in going like a bat out of hell,’ says
Geoff. ‘With 60-odd tons of rice, fl our, dog
food or whatever sitting behind me I prefer
to take it pretty easy. I’m more interested
in fuel economy than speed.’
As an owner-operator, Geoff has a direct
hip-pocket connection to his fuel tank, so
improving economy and range are things
he takes personally. He believed he could
get better fuel economy with a smaller engine
and bigger fuel capacity, so last year he
started looking for a new truck that could
meet those requirements.
‘I was getting 1.58 kilometres to the litre
in my 600-horsepower truck, but I wanted
1.8,’ says Geoff. ‘That’s a difference of about
$1,200 per month. Better off in my pocket
than in the pocket of Mr BP I reckon.’
That sort of fuel saving made buying a new
truck a worthwhile proposition, but the trouble
was dimensions. Geoff had picked his previous
truck, a cab-over, because it was the only
one he could fi nd that enabled him to fi t
his 34-pallet B-double trailers within the
26 metre length limit.
‘I don’t like cab-overs much myself,’ says
Geoff, ‘but I had no choice; for the longest
time I couldn’t fi nd a bonneted truck that
could handle the dimensions. I always wanted
a Mack though, so I thought this might be
my chance to get my hands on one at last.’
Steve Donelan, the Mack Trucks salesman
at Wagga Wagga, showed Geoff a Granite,
a SuperLiner and a Trident. The Granite spec
wasn’t heavy enough and the SuperLiner was
too long, but as far as Geoff was concerned
the Trident was perfect. The only problem?
It had a 46-inch sleeper cab and so with
the B-double trailers attached, the truck
was just fi ve and a half inches too long.
‘There were a couple of other trucks from
other manufacturers that fi tted the spec,’ says
Geoff, ‘but the Trident was the truck I wanted,
so Steve said he’d see what he could do
about the length.’ >
FEATURE STORY CUSTOM-BUILT TRIDENT
Geoff Lane has wanted a Mack ever since 1983, but as a B-double driver he could never get one with exactly the right specifi cations. This year he fi nally found what he was looking for in the New Breed Mack Trident.
FEATURE STORY CUSTOM-BUILT TRIDENT
We only had half an inch to play with in the end. We took off the bullbar and put an aerodynamic roof kit on it, then Mack built the truck to that spec.
SPRING 2009 7
8 BULLDOG MAGAZINE SPRING 2009 9
COVER STORY SCOTT’S GROUP OF COMPANIES
Scott’s Transport recently expanded their fl eet of Macks with seven New Breed Granites.
The Granites will carry soft drinks from Coca-Cola Amatil’s manufacturing facilities to distribution centres around Adelaide. In this sort of business there’s no excuse for turning up late. CEO and MD of Scott’s Group of Companies, Bruce Grubb, told us why his choice of truck for the job was a Mack.
when it has to be
on time
‘Geoff had done his homework,’ says Steve,
‘he knew what he wanted, and it was up to
Mack to deliver. ‘ He measured Geoff’s trailers
himself with a tape, designed the truck
specifi cation and gave it to the engineering
and design team at Mack’s Australian
factory in Wacol, Queensland. They originally
proposed the 28-inch sleeper, but Steve
knew that Geoff, at six-foot two, needed a
bigger sleeper than that to be comfortable,
so Mack came up with the option of a 40-inch
sleeper cab.
It was a close-run thing, according to Steve:
‘We only had half an inch to play with in
the end. We took off the bullbar and put
an aerodynamic roof kit on it, then Mack built
the truck to that spec. Combined with the
fuel advantage of the smaller engine, the
Trident was exactly what Geoff was after.’
Geoff couldn’t agree more: ‘Steve got back
to me and told me Mack could build me a
Trident that was the right length for my trailers,
with a 13 litre, 500-horsepower engine, and an
increased carrying capacity of 700 litres more
fuel than the old truck. That did the trick,
I bought it right away. I’ve always loved the
look of the Macks, so it was great to fi nally
get on the road in one.’
Now, what about the fuel consumption?
‘It’s a new truck, I’ve only done 58,000
kilometres in it so far, but I’m getting
1.72/1.73 kilometres to the litre already.
I reckon once she’s done 100,000 kilometres
and loosened up a bit I’ll get 1.8, no trouble.
Taking the engine size down from 600
horsepower to 500 in the Trident is clearly
helping with the fuel economy. I’m also
expecting that taking some of the power out
of the back axles will give me better tyre wear.’
And how does the driving experience in the Trident compare with other trucks he’s driven?
‘Love it. It’s a very comfortable ride. I’m pretty
tall, so cab size is important to me. The Trident
cab has plenty of room and it’s a good truck
to drive. I’m servicing it every 30,000
kilometres and I’ve had no dramas with it;
everything I’ve asked of it, it’s done. As far as
I’m concerned, in this whole process, whatever
I’ve asked for Mack has responded. I can’t see
how you can beat that.’
Steve Donelan is pretty happy too: ‘Until the
New Breed Macks came out, we weren’t able
to offer anything to the B-double market.
There was no way to get a bonneted rig in
front of two trailers that stretched 21.6 metres
in length, without exceeding overall length
regulations. Plus, the 470 horsepower engine
was a bit under-powered for the job. With this
Trident confi guration, we now have a Mack
prime mover that fi ts inside the trailer
restrictions and has the torque and
horsepower to pull them. It also has more
room and more fuel than the cab-overs that
have dominated in B-doubles – you can
actually live in this truck. I’m defi nitely
expecting to see a lot more people asking
for it.’
It’s a new truck, I’ve only done 58,000 kilometres in it so far, but I’m getting 1.72/1.73 kilometres to the litre already.
FEATURE STORY CUSTOM-BUILT TRIDENT
10 BULLDOG MAGAZINE SPRING 2009 11
COVER STORY SCOTT’S GROUP OF COMPANIES COVER STORY SCOTT’S GROUP OF COMPANIES
SCOTT’S TRANSPORT runs trucks all over
the eastern seaboard and southern states
of Australia. With a fl eet of 40 Macks in their
tanker division alone, Scott’s knew they could
rely on the Bulldog when the going got tough.
When the company won the contract to
deliver Coca-Cola Amatil’s products in the
Adelaide metropolitan area, CEO and MD
Bruce Grubb turned to Mack. We asked
him what it was about the Mack Granite
that won the day.
MEETING HIGH STANDARDS‘This was obviously a high-profi le contract,’
says Bruce, ‘but it has a few aspects all of
its own that meant the trucks we used had
to meet some high standards.’
‘Both Coca-Cola Amatil and their clients
who we deliver to, have strict environmental
benchmarks they’re committed to meeting,
especially in the area of carbon emissions.
This meant that the contract specifi ed the
trucks had to be at least Euro 4-rated.
The Granite’s MP8 powertrain met that
requirement without a problem.’
‘We’ve been working with the Department
of Energy Resources and Trade (DERT)
on this issue ourselves recently, through the
Energy Effi ciency Opportunities programme.
One opportunity we identifi ed was in the area
of matching engine effi ciency to the load.
Again, the Granite met the specifi cation
perfectly. It’s a great fl eet truck and it was
also recommended to me by a colleague
who runs another large transport company.
A recommendation like that carries a lot
of weight.’
ON TIME OR OUT OF HEREThe other major requirement of the contract
was the ability to meet very strict Delivery
in Full In Time (DFIT) standards in a 24x7
delivery environment.
‘We’re moving product from Coca-Cola
Amatil’s production facilities to the distribution
centres of major retailers, fi ve to seven days
a week, depending on the season,’ explains
Bruce. ‘The way these centres work, you have
to deliver at exactly the right time, no earlier
and no later.’
In capital city logistics contracts like this,
the key performance indicator is how well
you meet the delivery standards. What does
that mean to Bruce?
‘It means I can’t afford to have any downtime
and that means I need reliability above all else.’
RELIABILITY IS CRITICALMacks are famous for their reliability,
but Bruce adds that there’s much more
to that than just the truck.
‘Mack’s backup is superb. We’ve been really
impressed with the service we’ve received
from them along the eastern seaboard
in the past and I don’t expect anything less
here in Adelaide. Their network of company-
owned maintenance facilities really enables
Mack to deliver.’
Bruce was also impressed by Mack’s
management structure.
‘Frank Dumay, who arranged the Granites
for us is highly responsive and innovative,’
says Bruce. ‘I know that whatever Frank says
Mack will do, they will do. Having that kind
of certainty is crucial to our business.’
TIPPING THE BALANCEOf course Mack wasn’t an immediate
selection; the Granite had to compete against
a range of offers from other manufacturers.
What was it that tipped the scales in favour
of Mack in the end?
‘Well, it was lots of things’ says Bruce. ‘The
trucks were fi t-for-purpose and, of course,
Mack gave us a very competitive price, but
more important by far was the quality of their
support. We’ve had a long-term relationship
with Mack and they’ve consistently shown
that they are there for us when we need them.
There’s never any question that they will give
us the support we need to keep us on the
road, or to get us running as quickly as
possible if anything goes wrong. We have
total faith in Mack’s support system; they
stick with you in the good and the bad,
whatever comes up.’
‘It’s also clear from the Granites that Mack
is a forward-looking company,’ he adds.
‘Every time we get a new Mack there are
clear improvements over the previous models
and the Granite is no exception. We’re
extremely pleased with their development;
they’re improving their product every time,
which means they’re focussed on the future
not the past.’
‘Another thing we found particularly pleasing
was the pre-delivery performance and
execution,’ says Bruce. ‘That was extremely
professional, they left no stone unturned
in presenting the equipment in impeccable
condition. I think Frank Dumay of Mack would
agree that South Central Trucks did a very
professional handover, they should be proud
of that.’ >
Moving product from Coca-Cola Amatil’s production facilities to the distribution centres of major retailers, fi ve to seven days a week, depending on the season. The way these centres work, you have to deliver at exactly the right time, no earlier and no later.
SPRING 2009 1312 BULLDOG MAGAZINE
a green
agitatorThe Mack Granite becomes the second generation of Boral’s ‘hippy trucks’
COVER STORY SCOTT’S GROUP OF COMPANIES FEATURE STORY BORAL GAS TRUCK
WHEN YOUR REPUTATION IS ON THE LINEContracts like this one are crucial links in
the supply chain that underpins a pyramid
of companies, all of whom have reputations
to uphold. A 100% no-failure performance
is not just expected, it’s non-negotiable.
‘Coca-Cola Amatil measures our performance
on how well we meet their clients’
requirements,’ says Bruce, ‘so what I needed
above all was a truck that would deliver
consistently. I said to Frank, ‘Sell
me something that won’t cause me
embarrassment, because if I’m embarrassed
that means my client is too, and that’s
unacceptable.’
So does Bruce feel that this contract
is in safe hands with the Granite?
‘Absolutely, Mack have never let me down
in the past and I have every confi dence that
the Granites will excel at the job we need
them to do.’
Frank Dumay – Mack Trucks (left) with Eric Filmer – Scott’s Transport, Bruce Grubb – Scott’s Transport, Derek O’Donnell – Coca-Cola Amatil, Ray Brussow – Coca-Cola Amatil, Nev Lord – Coca-Cola Amatil, Dean Kumnick – South Central Trucks and Darryl Smith – South Central Trucks.
Mack’s backup is superb. We’ve been really impressed with the service we’ve received from them along the eastern seaboard in the past and I don’t expect anything less here in Adelaide.
SPRING 2009 1514 BULLDOG MAGAZINE
Looking past compliance
With ever-increasing interest in the overall
carbon footprint an organisation produces,
Boral expect the trucks to be very popular.
‘I’ve had some large construction fi rms calling
me after they’ve seen the hippy trucks,’ says
Shane, ‘they want to know whether they can
get these particular trucks for their green star
projects. Clearly there are fi rms out there now
who are looking past compliance; they can
see that there are genuine commercial
opportunities to be had through environmental
initiatives. The hippy trucks enable them to
demonstrate that they’re aware of the impact
of their operations and are actively taking
steps to reduce it.’
Boral are using the trucks in plants where
there is a combination of high volume and
short cartage distances. In Brisbane for
example, the Eagle Farm facility is one of
Boral’s high output plants that is centrally
located and services a large number of the
city’s building sites. ‘At present we’re using
the council’s CNG refuelling station, but we’re
going to put our own one into Eagle Farm,’
says Shane. ‘The Granites give a us full day’s
operation as it is, but we need the fl exibility
A tricky set of issues
Mack’s design team and Boral’s operational
experts got together to work out the new
design. There were many aspects picked up
during the trial that they had to consider, in
particular the space restrictions imposed by
having to carry a number of gas tanks. With
CNG refuelling stations not that common,
being able to provide a full day’s operating
range was critical.
Other issues were the truck’s tare capacity,
overall length and the distance between the
cab and the agitator engine. Of course, the
truck also had to be easy to drive, comfortable
for the driver and safe to operate.
The solution? New Breed Granite
Mack’s team settled on the New Breed Granite
as the best platform for the job, installing
a Cummins Westport ISL-G gas engine into
the Granite to power both the truck and the
concrete agitator. With this confi guration,
the Granite reduces particulate matter (soot)
by 92% and nitrous oxide by 90%, when
compared with the current Australian standard
(US-EPA04). In fact, the truck complies with
the US-EPA2010 standards, which are not
expected to apply in Australia until 2016.
Concrete trucks spend a fair bit of time idling
at building sites with the barrel turning. This
means that exhaust emissions at a pour can
get pretty dense and this is where the CNG
engine makes a big difference. Shane noted
that ‘The Mack design took us from an
‘add-on’ design to a true CNG unit. The
Granite is well past the requirements for
Euro 5, it’s a world-fi rst in new generation
concrete trucks and it puts us way ahead
of where we were before.’
Mack Granite Technical specs
Engine Cummins ISL 8.9G, EPA 2010 compliant
Power 300hp@2100rpm
Torque 860lbft@1300rpm
Transmission Allison WT MD3200P, 6 speed
Suspension Mack AL 460 airbag
Fuel tank 5 ultra-lightweight tanks combined storage capacity of 150m3
FEATURE STORY BORAL GAS TRUCK
of having our own facility. With these trucks
at the centre of our operations it makes good
economic sense.’
With customers queuing up to use the hippy
trucks, Boral is looking to expand. ‘We’ve
ordered fi ve of them for our Brisbane
operation,’ says Shane, ‘with fi ve more coming
for Melbourne; our aim is to have hippy truck
fl eets in our main centres and with Mack
we’re making that happen.’
‘We really worked together on this one’
Mack’s General Manager, Dean Bestwick,
noted that ‘The hippy truck development
shows what Mack can do to further the aims
of our customers. This sort of application
excellence shows that there’s lots more to
Mack than the durability and reliability that
our drivers love. Our design team was able
to provide local expertise and engineering
to provide the exact solution Boral were
looking for. I’m really pleased to see Mack
producing a world-fi rst with this truck.’
Shane Graham agreed ‘We are committed
to a sustainable environmental strategy, and
to reducing our reliance on diesel. We needed
a truck that could achieve both without
compromising our rigorous operational
production requirements. It’s not every day
that you fi nd a truck supplier working closely
to deliver exactly what the customer needs.
With the CNG-powered Granite, Mack have
certainly done that.’
FEATURE STORY BORAL GAS TRUCK
Boral and Mack have worked together to create the world’s cleanest concrete agitator using the Mack Granite. Shane Graham, General Manager of Boral Concrete, explained why Boral is trialling Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
HEAR THE WORDS ‘green agitator’, and you
might well think of people with dreadlocks
chaining themselves to trees, but in this case
we’re talking about something completely
different: a concrete mixer powered by natural
gas instead of diesel.
With more than 220 concrete plants around
Australia, Boral is one of Australia’s largest
concrete suppliers. Boral are very conscious
of the potential environmental impacts of
their operations and have been looking for
commercially viable ways to reduce their
emissions for many years.
Having participated in a range of voluntary
energy effi ciency and emission reduction
schemes over the past decade, Boral has
reduced its greenhouse emissions from
its cement business by 14% per tonne of
cement since 1990. As cement is Boral’s
most emissions-intensive area of business,
they trialled the concept of an agitator truck
powered by compressed natural gas (CNG)
a few years ago.
The hippy-hippy shake
Boral’s fi rst fl eet of agitator trucks were
standard diesel models simply converted to
use CNG as fuel. The trucks were painted
in a brightly-coloured paisley pattern with
the motto ‘Happily powered by natural gas’,
hence the nickname ‘hippy trucks’.
Boral’s aim was to reduce the particulate
emissions of their trucks by substituting gas
for diesel. The trial models succeeded in this
aim, showing that Boral could reduce the
impact of their agitators without any
commercial disadvantage.
The trial also clearly identifi ed a number
of design aspects that could be improved.
When the time came to produce a second
generation of clean agitators, Boral went
back to the market and asked manufacturers
to submit their designs.
Mack steps out of the pack
Shane Graham says ‘The trial showed what
was possible, so with the second generation
of hippy trucks we set out to establish a whole
new benchmark. In our procurement process
we asked suppliers to explain how they would
approach providing a CNG-powered truck.’
Having thrown out the challenge, Boral
had to choose from a number of suppliers,
so what made them choose Mack?
‘Mack gave the best response by far,’ says
Shane, ‘they had a palpable sense of
commitment to building a truck around the
CNG requirement, rather than just ‘converting’
something. They were clearly fair dinkum
about developing a real CNG solution from
scratch. Mack really stepped out of the pack,
so they won the job.’
The trial showed what was possible, so with the second generation of hippy trucks we set out to establish a whole new benchmark.
One of the Boral ‘hippy’ trucks was a star attraction at the annual Queensland truck and machinery show held in Brisbane recently.
SPRING 2009 1716 BULLDOG MAGAZINE
shrinking the
Mining and agriculture are Western Australia’s biggest industries, and Scott Savory’s SavTrans is a key part of the logistics that enable them to keep operating in the biggest state of Australia. Having recently upgraded his old Trident to the new model, Scott is one very happy operator.
wide open
spaces
of w.a.TYRE PRESSURE AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT – WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO GET THEM RIGHTIn our last issue we looked at how to get the best out of your
engine by matching the vehicle to the journey. This time we’ll
take a look at something that affects every vehicle on the road:
tyres and wheel alignment. Incorrect tyre pressure and wheel
misalignments can have dramatic effects on tyre life and fuel
consumption, so it’s important to check these things frequently
and get them right.
THE EFFECT OF TYRE PRESSURETyre pressure affects rolling resistance because it determines
the amount of tyre that contacts the road surface. If your tyres are
under-infl ated you’re putting more tyre onto the road than you need
to and therefore generating more resistance. As a general rule of
thumb, for every 10 psi (0.7 bar) of under-infl ation you get an increase
in fuel consumption of 1%.
This may not sound like much, but multiply it by a fl eet of trucks
running seven days a week, 365 days a year and it soon adds
up to a substantial amount of money you’re burning away for nothing.
Let’s a have a look at an example. Figure 1 shows three tyres and
the corresponding ‘footprint’ that each has on the road surface:
Over-infl ation
The tyre on the left is over-infl ated, has a small footprint, and therefore
less rolling resistance and lower fuel consumption. Sounds good, but
the problem is that this tyre’s life will be signifi cantly shorter because
the centre of the tyre will wear out more quickly.
Under-infl ation
The centre tyre is under-infl ated, producing a larger footprint, higher
rolling resistance and therefore higher fuel consumption. The tyre life
is also reduced due to the increased fl exing of the tyre wall, which
causes overheating. As you can see, there are no benefi ts at all in
having under-infl ated tyres.
Correct pressure
The tyre on the right is at the correct pressure and gives the best
compromise between tyre life and fuel consumption. Figure 2 shows
the effects of tyre pressure on rolling resistance and on mileage
(graphs in next column). You can clearly see that keeping your
tyres at their correct pressure makes a big difference.
WHEEL ALIGNMENTEven small wheel misalignments can increase your fuel consumption,
but the effects rise dramatically as the alignment gets worse. Figure 3
demonstrates the difference in the fuel needed to haul trailers with
progressively worse alignments.
As you can see, the correct wheel alignment has a huge effect on fuel
consumption and tyre wear. If you’re regularly using up to 15% more
fuel because of poor wheel alignment you can save yourself a packet
by scheduling some regular alignment checks.
On a B-double combination it’s probably fair to assume the B-trailer
cops a good old bashing when the combination is doing the drops and
pick ups in and around the city, so that might be a good place to start.
Getting a wheel alignment done on a regular basis could very well turn
out to be an excellent investment.
Paul Munro is Mack Truck’s Driver Trainer.
peak
0% 2–3% 15% Increase infuel consumption
Figure 3
Rolling resistance %
Tyre pressure %
140
130
120
110
100
90
50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120
Normal pressureMileage %
Tyre pressure %
110100
908070605040302010
020 40 60 80 100 120 140
Figure 2
Footprintarea
Figure 1
performance
with paul munro
FEATURE STORY SAVTRANS W.A.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA is a big state in a big
country, with farms, mines and various other
industries scattered all over the place from
the coast to far inland. With very few railroads,
the people of rural WA are almost entirely
reliant on the big trucks that bring the food
and everything else that people need to survive.
Based in High Wycombe in Perth, Scott
Savory’s company, SavTrans, carries >
18 BULLDOG MAGAZINE SPRING 2009 19
FEATURE STORY SAVTRANS W.A.
Each month, Mack enthusiasts vote for their favourite trucks in the Rig of the Month competition on the Mack website. AND THE WINNERS ARE…
rig of the
monthor Month
RIG OF THE MONTH WWW.MACKTRUCKS.COM.AU
We never know what confi guration we’re going to have to haul from one day to the next, so versatility is very important.
oversized farm machinery to the WA wheat
belt and general freight to towns like
Kalgoorlie and Geraldton. SavTrans has fi ve
trucks running fi ve days a week, carrying a
range of cargoes across some of the most
remote stretches of road in the country.
‘One of our main runs is hauling general
freight to Kalgoorlie for Country Carriers,’
says Scott. ‘It’s 600 kilometres each way, so
we generally do it as an overnighter. We leave
at 6 pm and arrive at 1 am, start the journey
back at 8 am and get home by 3 pm.’
This arrangement sounds pretty convenient
for the drivers, who can get a good number
of trips in a week. ‘That’s exactly right,’
says Scott, ‘but it’s only possible because
the fatigue management regulations over
here are a bit more fl exible than they are in
states like NSW. We can do up to 16 hours
a day as long as we have a day off every
few days.’
Versatility is the key
SavTrans are called on to haul single trailers,
B-doubles, B-triples and double road trains,
so they need prime movers that can handle
any job that’s thrown at them. ‘We never know
what confi guration we’re going to have to haul
from one day to the next, so versatility is very
important to our operations, says Scott. ‘The
new Trident is rated at 120 tonnes, so I’m not
concerned about running out of pulling power
with this truck.’
A good example is the over-sized farm
machinery that SavTrans carries to towns
like Esperance and, in one case, even as far
as Dalby in Western Queensland. ‘A customer
of mine builds fertilizer carts and air-seeder
bars which are in demand on the farms
around here,’ says Scott. ‘We also carry
imported tractors and combine harvesters
inland from the ports. The trucks need
to be up for anything.’
Reliability is crucial
As you’d expect, having a reliable truck
is absolutely essential when you’re
mostly travelling at night along deserted
stretches of road, hundreds of miles from
the nearest habitation. ‘Breakdowns are simply
not an option in this business,’ says Scott,
‘because we guarantee Country Carriers that
all their general freight will be delivered
overnight. I haven’t let them down yet and
I can thank my old Trident for a lot of that.’
Scott bought a 1999-model Trident six years
ago and covered 1.7 million kilometres in it
before trading up to the new model. ‘We got
1.3 million out of it before we had to rebuild
the motor and gearbox and we sold it with
the original diff. That Trident was doing the
same workload as the newer trucks without
a problem. The dealer told me that it was
only in the showroom for four days before
someone bought it.’
Old Trident vs new Trident?
‘All my drivers have been with me long term,’
says Scott, ‘and our rule is, “one driver, one
truck”. Every driver has his own rig and he’s
responsible for keeping it clean and serviced.
When a truck needs to be replaced, the driver
gets the new one; the bloke who was in the
old Trident absolutely loves this one.’
So what does Scott like about the new model?
‘Well, everything! It’s got a lot more power for
a start and the cab is a massive improvement;
it’s roomy, with plenty of space between the
seat and the wheel. The curved dash is also
great, everything is in the right place and
easily accessible. Overall the truck just rides
better, it’s fi nished better, there’s quality
in the build, you can see that clearly.’
More than just a truck though
Scott also has a few Detroit-powered rigs, but
after buying the Trident from the Perth Truck
Centre, he’s considering phasing them out
in favour of Macks. Why? Because
of the high standard of Mack’s service.
‘I couldn’t speak highly enough of the Perth
Truck Centre. The Mack people have an
in-house loyalty and love of what Mack
represents that comes out in everything they
do. They like what they do and it shows. This
is the fi rst time I’ve been made to feel like
a customer.’
In many cases, the issue Scott found with
other dealers was servicing. ‘Some of the
dealers I’ve used turn everything into an
argument, even repairs under warranty. It got
to the point where I’d pay a mechanic myself
to service the truck rather than go through
the bother of getting the dealer to honour
their warranty.’
‘You don’t get shoddy treatment like that from
Mack; their after-sales support has been
fi rst-class. They open extended hours, they
have good product knowledge and they give
me seven-day access to parts. What’s more,
they have company-owned branches in towns
on all the routes I drive, so I know I’ll never
be caught short in the middle of nowhere.’
Rolling on with Mack
Mack invited Scott to come for a tour of the
Wacol plant in Queensland so he could see
his truck come off the line. ‘Their attention
to detail was brilliant. When the truck arrived
in Perth it came exactly as I wanted. The team
in Queensland really know their stuff and
clearly Mack are on top of their game all the
way from the factory to their dealerships.’
SavTrans is due to trade in one of its Detroit-
powered rigs early next year, so will Scott
be going back for more of the same?
‘Not a chance,’ says Scott, ‘when 2010
rolls around I’ll be trading that one in on
another Mack.’
Vote for your favourite truck in our RIG OF THE MONTH competition.To vote, simply go to
www.macktrucks.com.au
and click on the Rig of the Month
link. You’ll help decide who we
feature in the next issue of Bulldog.
Like to see your rig in all its glory
in the next edition of Bulldog?
You can. All you need to do is enter
our Rig of the Month competition.
Rig of the Month – June 2009
John Bickley’s Mack 2006 SuperLiner was
Rig of the Month for June 2009. Here’s what
John’s fi fteen year-old son Jack had to say:
‘Macks have been in our family for over 25
years. Dad started off driving an R Model with
285 hp and a 12-speed in it. The business
grew and so along came more R Models, then
a ValueLiner, then the CH models and a
Vision. Dad always wanted a SuperLiner, so
last year he brought one, and it looks
UNREAL!!! The SuperLiner has a 550 hp
Cummins with an 18 speed gearbox, twin 6’
exhaust, raised air intakes, 4x500 litre fuel
tanks and a tough looking Whitlock bullbar
with 4 Hella driving lights on it. It is the pride
and joy of his trucks. My Dad said he always
wanted a Mack SuperLiner and now he
actually has one of them.’
Congratulations to John, and to his son
Jack who entered his old man’s truck.
Rig of the Month – July 2009
Tim and Leanne Lawson’s 2009 SuperLiner
was Rig of the Month for July 2009.
Congratulations to Tim and Leanne, and
thanks to David Guerin at DMG Truck
Electrics for nominating Tim and Leanne’s Rig.
Rig of the Month – August 2009
Andrew Donaldson’s 2006 Vision was Rig
of the Month for August 2009. His daughter
Laura-Ashley sent us this story:
‘My dad has been driving trucks for 24 years
and he has adored his Vision since the day
he set his eye on it. The Vision is my dad’s
pride and joy. It works fi ve days a week up and
down the highway, but he tries his hardest to
slip into truck bays to wash it while on the job.
In the end, my dad treats his Vision as a show
pony because it gets a bubble bath every
couple of days. The Vision won a “Top Prime
Mover” award at the Newcastle Truck Show
in 2008. My dad also has another Mack, which
is a 1994 CHR. Even though the CHR is old,
dad calls it the “old girl” and he treats it with
all his love and care. My dad has put a lot
of hard-days work into these rigs by dressing
them up, even though they are full-time
working rigs.’
Congratulations to Andrew and thanks
to his daughter for entering her dad’s truck.
20 BULLDOG MAGAZINE SPRING 2009 21
TRIDENT AXLE BACK TRUCK SHOW BRISBANE
BRISBANE – 15, 16, 17TH MAY
The Mack Bulldog was howling once again at the 41st
Queensland Truck and Machinery Show, taking out the
“Outstanding Truck Manufacturer Display” for the third
consecutive show.
Over 36,000 visitors toured the stands over four days.
The Mack stand showcased the next generation of the
New Breed range, with the launch of the Trident Axle Back
and the world’s cleanest concrete mixer, the New Breed
Granite. Also on display was the Metro-Liner 8x4, the
Granite 8x4 day cab and the Trident Axle Forward.
Dean Bestwick, General Manager of Mack Trucks, said the
truck show was a great opportunity for customers to get up
close and personal with the Bulldog. ‘Having the interactive
product displays at the stand was a fi rst for Mack and the
visitors really enjoyed having all the technical information
on our Premium, Modern, Classics at their fi ngertips. The
promotion of the Government Investment Allowance at the
stand was also well received.’
the 41st queensland truck
and machinery show
KNOW YOUR ROAD RULESYou may recall that in 2007, the state
governments raised the single-steer axle
mass limit to 6.5 tonnes. The idea was to
encourage operators to equip their trucks
with emission control systems, under-run
protection and stronger, safer cabins, all
of which added weight.
None of this would be news to you, but it
was just one of the many aspects of local
conditions that Mack took into account
when designing the new Trident Axle Back.
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE COUNTSThe Trident Axle Back was developed and
built in Australia, specifi cally for Australian
conditions and local rules such as the mass
limits. When we launched the new truck at
the Brisbane Truck Show in May, our award-
winning stand was deluged with questions
about the new truck. Why? Because people
could see that this truck wasn’t just another
foreign import, but was engineered by
Australians, for Australians.
FORWARD? NO, BACK!As you’d know, the Trident Axle Forward
has the shortest bumper-to-front-axle
measurement in its class, making it ideal
for short-haul work. The new Trident Axle
Back takes things to the opposite extreme,
moving the steer axle back more than
600mm. This rearward position means
you can take full advantage of the 6.5
tonne front axle mass limit while gaining
unprecedented manoeuvrability in
dense urban environments.
MACK POWER, APPLIED INTELLIGENTLYWith improved cab aerodynamics and
V-MAC4 electronics monitoring engine
performance, the Trident Axle Back
guarantees maximum fuel-effi ciency from
its 500 hp MP8 engine. Behind the engine,
the large Fusion Cab is elevated and fully
suspended. Thanks to extensive real world
ergonomic testing, the cab maximises driver
comfort, providing a quiet and comfortable
space with everything in easy reach.
The Trident Axle Back – another great
example of Mack applying local knowledge.
To fi nd out more about the Trident Axle Back, contact your local Mack dealer today.
TRIDENT AXLE BACK –
WHEN EVERY
KILO COUNTS
SPRING 2009 23
MACK AROUND THE COUNTRY
dog bites
MACK DOG BITES
Cairns
Townsville
Mt Isa
Alice Springs
Darwin
Katherine
Kununurra
Broome
Port HedlandKarratha
Carnarvon
Geraldton
Dalwallinu
MerredinKalgoorlie
SpearwoodKewdale
Albany
BunburyEsperance
South Guildford
Mackay
Bundaberg
GympieCaloundra
BrisbaneCaboolture
RockhamptonEmerald
Warwick Gold CoastAlstonville
Coffs Harbour
Tamworth
Dubbo
Wagga Wagga
Mt Gambier
Adelaide
Port Augusta
AlburyMildura
HorshamShepparton
Traralgon
Hobart
LauncestonBurnie
Devonport
SaleSpringvale
Geelong
Ballarat DandenongLaverton North
Queanbeyan
Wollongong
NewcastleGosford
SydneyPenrith
LismoreGoondiwindi
Toowoomba
mack trucks australia
national dealer networkTHE LATEST:
MACK FACTORY TOURS Recently Mack Trucks has been taking customers on tours through the local engineering and
production facility in Wacol, Queensland, giving them the chance to see the New Breed Macks
in every stage of production.
During the visit, our guests receive detailed information about the manufacturing process as well
as technical expertise about the trucks. They also meet key members of the Mack organisation
so they can share their experiences with them. It’s not all work though, the tours include overnight
accommodation, transfers and dinner at one of Brisbane’s most awarded restaurants with senior
Mack executives.
Here’s what one of our recent guests had to say about the tour:
‘I would like to express my sincerest appreciation at being invited on the recent Mack trucks
factory tour in Queensland, hosted by Truck Centre WA. Not only was the tour of the factory
most informative with regard to the way you guys build both the Mack and Volvo products, but
the hospitality was fantastic.
The other customers that were also invited proved to be a great bunch of guys as well and I feel
that I have made some great business contacts for the future. Compared to purchases of other
brands of trucks, the whole experience has been spot on and I look forward to future business
with your companies.’
TAKING IT TO THE STREETSThroughout October, Mack’s Product Technical Advisor, Dean Hartley and Driver Trainer, Paul
Munro, are getting out of the offi ce and onto the road. They’re taking two New Breed models,
a Trident AB and a SuperLiner for a spin around the country to do some product evaluations
in B-double applications.
During this time, they’ll be touring from Brisbane, through Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne
to Adelaide. This will give local dealers on the route the chance to try the vehicles out, hear
how the evaluation is going and get some driver training.
All-in-all, they’ll be covering more than 30,000km to test these two trucks. Keep an eye out
for them on the road.
PETER HERTINGE TAKES UP NEW ROLE WITH MACK TRUCKS INTERNATIONALIn August, President of Mack Trucks Australia, Peter Hertinge, announced that he was returning
to the northern hemisphere. After his successes in Australia, Mack Trucks Inc. appointed him
Region Vice President for Europe, Africa, and the Middle East (EAME).
In his new role, Peter will be responsible for optimising Mack Trucks’ established distribution in this
region, while growing Mack’s share in select new markets. Since 1 October, Peter has been based
in his home country of Sweden in the city of Gothenburg.
Peter has left Mack Australia in excellent shape and we wish him all the best in his new and
exciting role.
ONCE A BULLDOG…Mack drivers love their trucks, and Brett Conroy of Conbull Kennels in Newcastle is no exception.
Brett drove his Mack SuperLiner on interstate highways for about six years and reckons that the
SuperLiner is one of, if not, the most classic truck on the highway.
‘The one I operated was fairly rare, as it was a 1980 model R766RST 6421, factory-fi tted with
a Cummins NTC400 engine says Brett, ‘That’s a combination I’ve not seen before or since.’
Brett has since sold his SuperLiner to concentrate on dog breeding, and what sort of dogs you
might ask? Well, as you can see from the pictures of his bulldog puppies, you can take the man
out of a Mack but you can’t take the Mack out of the man.
‘The bulldogs are 6 weeks old and are all males we’ve bred,’ explains Brett, ‘the father (Nonpareil
‘Brindle Joel’) is an Australian Champion from Newcastle, NSW.’
So does Brett miss his SuperLiner? ‘Yeah I do, but at least with these puppies we’ll always have
a Bulldog in the family.’
Dealers – Sales, Service and Parts
Dealers – Service and Parts
Customer Service Centres
Brisbane Factory
All Mack Trucks are built in Australia for Australian conditions.
Established in 1972, the Wacol truck factory in Queensland is the largest
assembly plant for heavy duty trucks in Australia. Highly skilled employees
work in cohesive teams to produce custom built, world class trucks.
The New Breed from Mack Trucks.Premium, Modern, Classics, forged in steel.
the brisbane factorybuilding an icon, bolt by bolt
macktrucks.com.au nationwide free call: 1800 803 427
AVAILABLE FROM OUR NATIONWIDE DEALER NETWORK
Ult
imat
e D
iese
l Engi
ne
Oil
15W
-40
Tran
smis
sion O
il G
O-J
80W
-90
Hyd
raulic
Oil
ISO
68
Hig
h P
erf
orm
ance
Gre
ase N
LG
I 2
Gear
Oil
GO
-J 8
5W
-140
Syn
theti
c Tr
ansm
issi
on F
luid
Pre
miu
m D
iese
l Engi
ne
Oil
15W
-40
GENUINE
LUBRICANTS
208LitreDrums & 1000Litre IBCsAVAILABLE FOR MANY PRODUCTS IN THE RANGE