Building industry provider chooses IVECO
One of Australia’s largest manufacturers of prefabricated roof trusses, wall frames and related construction products, Timbertruss, has become an industry leader by leveraging new technologies that reduce construction timeframes and minimise waste. A fleet of IVECO S-Ways is also playing an important role.
Headquartered in Geelong, with an additional site in Brisbane, Timbertruss uses automation systems to increase efficiency while minimising manual handling for the manufacturing staff. Timbertruss Transport Manager, Rick Munro, knows this process well. He began in the production team more than ten years ago, before transitioning to delivery driver and then his current role.
“Automation is important for Timbertruss – we wanted to take a lot of manual handling of heavy materials out of the business for added safety and efficiency,” Rick explained.
Along with the safety benefits, automation has also increased efficiency for Timbertruss and supports achieving consistency of quality and production, ensuring shorter manufacturing and delivery timelines for customers.
“Manufacturing in a controlled environment also means we’re not impacted by the weather, we deliver direct to site with materials ready to be erected,” Rick explained. “This is another way in which we bring efficiency for our clients. The aim in building is to reduce time on site, and we can help do this.”
Timbertruss’s relationship with IVECO goes back many years, with the bulk of the company’s fleet previously consisting of Stralis models. However, as part of a recent fleet renewal project, the older Stralis trucks – some of which had been working hard for 10 years – have now been replaced with new S-Way rigids and prime movers.
Despite being satisfied with the Stralis models, many of which had provided close to a million kilometres of service, Rick said it wasn’t a given that their replacements would also be from IVECO.
“Although the Stralis models had been reliable and a fantastic overall truck, we owed it to ourselves to have a good look around,” Rick said. “We evaluated models from just about every manufacturer, before settling on S-Way 6x4 460 AD prime movers and 8x4 rigids.
“For our application, the S-Way was a great fit. The trucks were also extremely well specified when it came to safety features, and we were also attracted by their emission performance being rated at Euro6 (Step E).”
Rick said that the S-Ways have made a strong impression on himself, as well as the drivers.
“Even though the latest trucks have larger and more power engines than the Stralis models they replace, they’re actually using less fuel, which is a great outcome,” Rick said.
“The comfort is also on another level; the trucks are so quiet and easy-to-drive, yet there’s still a familiarity to the controls and dash layout, meaning the drivers have made an easy switch.
“From Corio, we deliver Victoria wide and as far afield as New South Wales, covering metro, urban and regional areas. Increasingly, the sites we’re accessing are tight, the blocks are getting smaller, and the houses are getting bigger. The S-Way’s cab over configuration means manoeuvrability is great. The S-Way 8x4 rigids are fantastic in the more compact housing estates.”
Timbertruss’s S-Way fleet stands out on the road thanks to their blue and yellow livery. They also feature extended chassis to accommodate cranes at the rear of the cabin, along with outriggers and counterweights for additional stability when unloading on site. Aside from this, fitment of beacons and oversize signage are the only other modifications to the vehicles. The prime movers pull a variety of flatbed and skel trailers, using the Roadpod system, which involves modular pods being pre-filled for faster loading once the truck is available for the next delivery.
The Timbertruss S-Ways were purchased through leading Melbourne IVECO Dealer, Adtrans Truck Centre, who are also responsible for the support and maintenance of Timbertruss’s growing fleet.
