bulldog spring 2009

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.


Configuration for B-double application with a 28” sleeper cab.


Configuration for B-double application with a 46” sleeper cab.


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.


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.



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.


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.


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 >


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.


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

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