Tim Giles

This opinion piece will be my last as the PowerTorque Editor. Next week I will be moving on to the next phase in my trucking life. I will still be involved, but at a more hands-off level, writing feature articles for the magazine and the website, but no longer involved in the day-to-day of running a publication. Therefore, it is time for me to reflect on my years involved in trucks and the trucking industry.

With the arrival of the X Series truck range in considerable numbers on our shores the process of Western Star’s modernisation process is well underway

Unlike any other new truck maker entering the market in Australia from Asia, FAW has chosen not to enter the market at the light duty end and work its way up the weight-scale, but instead bring in the top heavy duty prime mover as the first market entrant

The transition across to zero carbon road transport is going to throw up a number of issues along the way, and one aspect is likely to be around the trucking industry living with the rebound effect

Living with the alt rebound effect could create an indirect congestion effect that could result in lower productivity, explained Hadi Ghaderi, Professor of Logistics and Supply Chain Management at Swinburne Business School at the Victorian Transport Association’s Alternative Fuel Summit.

From an observers point of view, it is surprising how well accepted the introduction of an AMT and lower emission engine, alongside a sophisticated electronic safety suite, the technology has been, in the new Western Star X Series models.

The next wave of FAW’s trucks will include a smaller truck it will introduce to the Australian truck market is the JK6, which uses a seven or nine litre engine platform and will be available as a 4×2 or a 6×4. There will not be a 6×2 option.

One of the issues which has dogged O’Reilly Trucks’ operation as it has grown is the ability to source new technicians to handle the increasing volume of work.

A study has been reviewing and renewing the research around the concept of bringing back super singles to improve efficiency in the trucking industry.

The interest shown by traditional Western Star buyers into the new technology on the X Series is a bit of a surprise, but is probably an indication of a step change in sentiment about automatic and automated systems in general in the Australian truck buying population.