The all-new UD Condor series will makes its WA debut at the Perth Truck Show

The all-new UD Trucks medium duty Condor series will be making its Western Australia debut at the Perth Truck Show from July 29-31.

On display will be the all-new Condor MK 11 250 as well as the Condor PK 16 280, which will be joined by the top selling Japanese heavy duty truck over 350HP, the UD GW470, featuring an Eaton AutoShift transmission.

Powered by UD’s new seven-litre ECO Fleet Euro 5 compliant engine, rated at either 180kW or 206kW, the Condor series is the first Japanese medium duty class truck to feature Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology.

Safety and driver comfort has also been a priority in the design of the new trucks, with SRS driver’s air bag now standard across the range, while UD’s Front Underrun Protection System (FUPS) has been integrated into all PK model trucks.
The cab interior of the Condor series has been completely redesigned, with the centrepiece being a new CVG driver’s seat, which features multiple adjustments, as well as an all-new touch screen communications / entertainment / navigation system.

The Condor series features a new powerplant, chassis and cab.

“UD Trucks have carved a highly respected reputation for trucks that perform well and return strongly on investment, and this new range is another big step up,” John Bushell said.
“Not only have we focussed on the performance of the trucks, but we have paid special attention to the truck’s exhaust emissions, as well as safety and driver ergonomics.
“With the adoption of our ECO Fleet exhaust emissions technology across the board, we are showing leadership inline with our position as a part of the greater Volvo Group.

“While some people believe that it was the European manufacturers who first introduced SCR technology for road transport, it was actually UD Trucks in Japan, and we are proud to still be further developing the system to this day.
“UD continues to also lead the way with Automatic transmissions, with our customers who have already converted to autos now reaping the benefits due to their ease of use, good fuel consumption and less maintenance downtime.”
The Perth Truck Show will be held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, with opening times from 10am 6pm Friday and Saturday, and 10am 4pm on Sunday.

For more info: www.udtrucks.com.au.

Brisbane Truck Show 2011 at the Brisbane Convention Centre

The Brisbane Truck Show 2011 has been an outstanding success with Thousands of visitors rushing the opening doors at the Brisbane Convention Centre on Thursday and Friday to gain entrance.

The face of the Brisbane Truck Show, the great Broncos, Queensland State Of Origin and Australian international rugby league player, Shane Webcke, was on hand fulfilling his role as the Brisbane Truck Show Ambassador and the role obviously pleased him as you could not miss his huge frame and welcoming smile.

If you are a “truckie”, a truck enthusiast or just want to catch up with the up to date changes within the trucking industry, the Brisbane Truck Show 2011 is a must for you. The Truck Show finishes Sunday 8th. May

(I still can’t figure out how they get those huge prime movers and trailers into position for display purposes and there is 3 levels of exhibitors, so give yourself plenty of time.)

Volvo FH 16 700

On Monday 9th of May, Andre Keune will drive his new Volvo FH16 700 horsepower truck off the Volvo stand at the Brisbane Truck Show and take it 4,500 kilometres across Australia to his base in Perth.

‘The journey to the mines is about 1,600 kilometres each way,’ says Andre, ‘and my drivers do that in 15-hour shifts in just under three days. They load ammonium nitrate from a fertilizer factory at Kwinana, south of Perth, which takes about four hours all up and then they’re off.’ The trucks go to the mines twice a week, every week.

The iron ore and gold miners of Western Australia use a lot of ammonium nitrate fertilizer, but it’s not for growing vegetables! They’re mixing it with diesel to make blasting explosives. Andre Keune’s Volvos deliver this most vital of mining tools, to some of the most remote and inaccessible parts of the country, in conditions that would challenge any truck. Meanwhile, Andre’s other trucks are hauling triple freezer trailers up to Broome, a 4,600 kilometre round trip.

Each of those trucks does six trips per month to Broome and are crewed by two-up driver teams. ‘They’re all long-distance trips and we’re hauling pretty big loads,’ says Andre. ‘The road trains carrying the nitrate are B-double tipper units with a 6-axle dogtrailer and a triple-tipper unit rated at 145 tonnes GCM, with a payload of over a 100 tonnes.

‘When we get the new (FH16) 700 out there we’re going to put a quad behind it rated at 168 tonnes GCM. With journeys this long, every tonne counts.’ So does fuel consumption. Having done the same journeys himself many hundreds of times and with the same drivers for many years, Andre has a very clear picture of the effect on fuel consumption of different engines and driver behaviours.
‘Two things I really like about the Volvos is their Volvo fuel consumption and Volvo supreme comfort,’ says Andre. ‘I ask my drivers to only have a 90 km/h cruising speed because I know that once you get above about 92 km/h, the fuel consumption goes up by about 7%. Couple that with Volvo’s economical engines and we’re talking about a lot of money saved.’

‘I’m thinking of taking the (FH16) 700 back to the hotel in Brisbane after the show and asking the valet to park it for me, ‘laughs Andre, ‘if this is going to be our swansong, we might as well go out in style.’

Taking place at the Brisbane Exhibition & Convention Centre, the CVIAQ event will showcase a huge range of trucks, trailers, transport equipment and technology, including the exclusive unveiling of the UrbanMax and Omnitrac tyres at the Beaurepaires stand throughout the weekend.

“While the Goodyear Omnitrac MSS 2 for steer axles and Omnitrac MSD 2 for drive axles offers mixed service vehicles the latest in Goodyear’s Max Technology platform packed with benefits including enhanced mileage and traction.” “We believe that these tyres set a new benchmark in the municipal and mixed service markets.”

Goodyear UrbanMax MCA

New UrbanMax Municipal Tyre Gives More Mileage

The UrbanMax MCA is a member of Goodyear’s innovative family of Max Technologies, which use latest technology materials, dedicated tread patterns and durable carcass construction for the new range of city buses, garbage trucks and other municipal vehicles. “The Goodyear UrbanMax MCA is a significant new product for our customers and the industry. The biggest improvement is in the mileage these tyres offer,” Mr. Hamilton said. “Tyres in municipal operation suffer from rapid wear rates caused by frequent stopping and starting, tight turning circles and casing damage from grinding against curbs.

“To address these common tyre issues, in addition to significantly higher mileage, the UrbanMax MCA features reinforced sidewalls, which provide increased protection against curb damage, and sidewall wear indicators to identify worn sidewalls. Low noise emission is a further advantage for passengers and the environment.”

The tread of the UrbanMax has a wide five-rib pattern for high mileage, low noise and good handling. Edge blading gives excellent wet performance as well as even wear. The hi-amplitude centreline gives the MCA its all position capability as it provides traction. Finally the shoulders are non-intrusive for damage resistance.

Omnitrac MSD II

Goodyear Omnitrac ‘Next Generation’ Mixed Service Tyres
Goodyear’s latest truck tyres for mixed service applications, the Omnitrac MSS II and Omnitrac MSD II, are the newest Max Technology products from the tyre manufacturer, and offer a wide range of benefits for operators of tippers, concrete mixers, mining vehicles and other vehicles in the construction world. “Enhanced mileage and traction with greater damage protection are the main benefits of the Goodyear’s Omnitrac MSS II tyre for steer axles and Omnitrac MSD II for drive axles,” Mr. Hamilton said.

The UrbanMax MCA and Omnitrac MSS II and MSD II will be unveiled at the 2011 Brisbane Truck Show from 5-8 May

Pic: Volvo FH16 700 at the Brisbane Truck Show

General Manager of Volvo Trucks says the Volvo Truck stand will be a showcase of Volvo innovation in technology and safety.

“This is why Volvo puts such a big emphasis on safety, because it’s fundamental to every moment behind the wheel. We know that our trucks might have to thread a city’s streets one day and do a 1000-kilometre line haul the next. There are different safety considerations for every operating environment, and Volvo trucks are designed to handle all of them.”

Also on display at the show will be a unique roll-over simulator that gives visitors the opportunity to experience the effect of a roll-over first hand. The simulator cabin is a static device that hydraulically rolls 45º to the left and right. It has all the accessories of a real truck and visitors can feel the effects of tilting the cab through 90 degrees. Gary says this simulator demonstrates how critical the seatbelt is for saving lives.

“In some 50% of accidents in which the truck driver sustains injury, a roll-over sequence is involved. And, in at least 60% of accidents the use of a seatbelt would have reduced the injury sustained by the truck driver,” he says. “The seatbelt is the single most effective system for reducing the risk of injuries and fatalities – so I encourage all adults to experience the value of a seatbelt first hand at the Volvo Trucks stand.”

See Volvo Trucks at stand 52 in hall three.

The popular Brisbane Truck Show is a sell out

CVIAQ Chief Executive Brett Wright has confirmed that every site available over all three levels of the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) have been booked and every truck brand available in Australia will be at the show to be held on May 5 to 8.

Get Real....can you believe this!

Some of the creative concepts on display at this years’ 2009 Brisbane Truck Show…..don’t miss out on seeing them.

police dream machine

Just a few surprises at the CVIAQ Brisbane Truck & Machinery Show, Brisbane RNA, Friday 14 to 17 May.

Fifi Box on Sunrise

American Team Jets In
For National TV Truck Make-Over!
The award-winning RealWheels Corporation of Chicago will fly in to Brisbane to team up with Western Star Trucks and Queensland based national accessory distributor TRADE ONLY to put on an amazing display of truck make-over magic!
This spectacular event aimed at promoting the forthcoming May 14 -17 Queensland Truck & Machinery Show will take place in the city centre at Brisbane’s Reddacliffe Place on Monday May 11 in front of a national audience broadcast live by Channel 7’s ‘sunrise’ breakfast show, hosted by the effervescent and irrepressible Fifi Box.
In a matter of hours a brand new truck will be transformed into a sparkling chrome and bodywork masterpiece that will enthrall the crowds.
The vehicle… aptly named the ‘Sunrise Express’ in honour of the TV show will then be transported to the Brisbane RNA Showgrounds to remain on display throughout the Queensland Truck & Machinery Show, now the largest event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.