Steve Brooks

Truck Reviews

Mercedes Magic

While Covid-19 has shackled new product plans for some truck suppliers and excused others to cut staff and chop budgets to the bone, Daimler Trucks Australia appears determined to maintain the momentum of a vastly upgraded product portfolio. Among several offerings in recent times was a Mercedes-Benz 2663 SoloStar demonstrator housing a heap of hi-tech wizardry and a bunk with a big difference, in more ways than one.
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 Archive, Product News

Truck sales better than expected

While history may ultimately view 2020’s modest truck sales figures as something of a seismic slide caused by the economic impacts of COVID-19, it may also come to see the year as the first sign of significant shake-up on the market leader board. A new ‘normal’, perhaps.
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 Archive, Product News

Daimler delivers finer Fuso

While there’s no doubting the domination of Japanese trucks in rigid classes, the prime mover business has been historically a hit-and-miss affair for Tokyo toilers. There is, however, change in the air as global giants fashion a stronger future based on ‘family’ powertrains and advanced safety systems. But as Fuso’s new Shogun shows, there are limits on how much muscle corporate masters are prepared to give their Japanese comrades
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 Truck Reviews

Hinos shifting focus

Hino’s long wheelbase addition to its long-serving 700-series heavy-duty range certainly packs plenty of punch for a truck essentially designed for three-axle rigid work. It also packs enough extras to soften the view – at least for now – that time is starting to catch up with this stalwart of the Hino stable. Best of all, however, is the way ZF’s Traxon transmission adds new vim and vigour to a true toiler, uphill and down.
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 Archive, Industry News

Meaty big V8s

On the outskirts of Albany in WA’s deep south, Ken and Angela Zambonetti have built a dynamic livestock transport business based on reliability and total commitment to delivering cattle and sheep in first-rate condition. But in an age when long-term loyalty is often overshadowed by short-term satisfaction, this couple firmly believes in sticking to those things they know to be tried and true. When it comes to trucks, that means Scania.
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 Archive, Product News

Quiet revolution behind new DAF range

The recent launch of DAF’s Euro 6 range marks significantly more than the introduction of a smarter, stronger, safer and altogether more compelling crop of continental cab-overs. Critically, it highlights the escalation of a vast cultural shift at Paccar Australia, feeding all the way down the commercial food chain. Kenworth is king but have no doubt, the Paccar pendulum is swinging more and more to a Dutch touch
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 Archive, Industry News

True Believer

It can’t be easy moving into any executive role when you’re replacing a hard-nosed, high profile performer with a stellar record for success. Even tougher, perhaps, when your natural character is somewhat more subtle. Such was the early challenge facing Isuzu Australia chief Andrew Harbison. But beware! Behind the mild-manner exterior lurks a shrewd, highly driven individual with no doubts about where Isuzu needs to be. At the top!
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