– By Caroline Falls –
Fleet Auto News got a VIP pass into the 2017 Brisbane Truck Show thanks to its partnership as media partner at the fleet conference put on by the Institute of Public Works Engineers Australasia.
The show was held in late May and drew a record crowd of more than 33,000 so we still have more stories to share.
Exhibitors covered over 33,000 square metres of the Brisbane Convention and Exhbition Centre included truck manufacturers, trailer, technology, component, engine, fuel and lubricant suppliers, and fleet and vehicle services.
Here are some of highlights in pictures and captions:
Italian truck maker Iveco moved the manufacture of its ACCO 4×2 and 6×2 compactors to Dandenong, Victoria, this year to better control development of the popular vehicle widely used by waste services in Australia and make it to local customer specifications. So not all manufacturing is going offshore. “We are the reverse. It’s one of our best kept secrets,” said Darren Swenson, marketing manager at Iveco Trucks Australia.
Hino Motor Sales Australia Brand Manager Bill Gillespie in front of the company’s new FM 500 series 6×4 wide cab truck which meets Euro 5 engine specifications. He also unveiled the 4×4 300 series, which was developed for the Australian market after four years of testing in Kalgoorlie and Cooktown’s hot, humid conditions. The 300 series, which comes with both crew cab and single cab, was designed to meet specifications for the mining and energy industries.
Volvo Group Australia unveiled its UD brand QUON prime mover. It will be for sale in Australia from October. The vehicle comes with a so-called traffic-eye brake and advanced emergency braking system so that thanks to a fitted camera and radar, the vehicle is always monitoring the conditions around it and will automatically apply the brakes when it senses a potentital collision.
Mercedes unveiled its new rigid range featuring a grill full of character. The company said it has hit the sweet spot with its new trucks, saying customers love the fuel savings and that it can’t keep up with demand. The vehicle is designed for easy cabin entry. In sleeper models a locally-sourced inner-spring mattress is installed to give some comfort for the long-haul Australian driver, said James Stanford, head of public relations for Daimler Truck and Bus Australia.
Here’s a pic of Mercedes sister company Fuso’s special little truck model, the Canter, which comes with a standard five-year warranty. It is designed to fit under 2.1-meter height limits so that it can enter and work in places such as carparks. It’s a popular fleet vehicle for supermarket and store deliveries. It’s also okay for a driver with a car licence.
