Australian Trucking Quarterly

In this Christmas edition of Australian Trucking Quarterly, road test Kenworth’s latest T410 packed with safety features. Technical Editor Howard Shanks joined the Kenworth T410 Roadshow to experience the new high torque output of the PACCAR MX13 and 12-Speed Paccar Transmission under the hood of a T410. 


We catch up WA based ScreedPro and do a review of their new Scania NTG P380 that is pumping more than just tiling screed to building and constructions sites around the country, their unique custom-made pump truck is eliminating deadly silica dust and greatly reducing production costs and time while enhancing safety in the workplace. 


It was mid-morning when Kym Puckridge quietly pulled his 4800FX Western Star off the Newell Highway into the Narrabri truck-stop in northwest NSW. He was two-thirds of the way through a 1900 odd kilometer trek from his hometown of Karoonda in South Australia to Toowoomba in southeast Queensland with a load of premium quality grain. Earlier that morning, he’d dropped his rig into the truck wash a hundred or so kilometers to the south at Gilgandra while he had breakfast. It was gleaming. We chat to him about his rig and find out what it takes to get a machine to do a million kms.


The T403 was introduced in the 2012 Kenworth model line-up as an inexpensive no-frills fleet truck, the combination of proven reliability with affordability saw this model carve new paths into niche market areas. This model gave its competitors a decent sting in the process as Howard Shanks discovered.  


Something a little different, we sent our tech editor off to check out some Fuso Fighters doing a great job in a metro/rural delivery fleet. The owner cited outstanding fuel economy, enhanced safety with increased productivity along with good old fashion customer service are key reasons why DLM Transport in Launceston have continued to specify Fuso Fighter trucks to service their growing state-wide delivery of builder’s trade materials.