Owner of Victorian trucking company says European trucks are "far superior" to what is coming out of the US.
Since he purchased Freemantle Stock Feeds from his father back in 1992, Graeme Freemantle’s trucks have traditionally had a distinct North American flavour.
First it was International-branded trucks and, about 16 years ago, they were replaced with Kenworths.
But when it came time to make the latest update to the fleet, Freemantle’s gaze fell upon Europe.
“Eighteen months ago I decided it was time to update the fleet,” he says.
“I was going to go for American trucks again, and then I started looking at the European trucks and found that they are a far superior product.”
Freemantle’s fleet now includes three Volvo FH models, and his drivers love them.
“At first the drivers were a bit reluctant, but now they wouldn’t go back into the Kenworths again,” he says.
“As far as OH&S [occupational health and safety] goes, the Europeans have got it all over the Americans.”
Freemantle says the technology contained in the vehicles is a big advantage for his business, particularly in terms of being able to monitor a truck’s location and performance.
“With the new technology, we can monitor fuel usage and how the drivers operate…we monitored one of our drivers who didn’t touch his brakes for 240km and obeyed all the road rules,” he says.
“We don’t want to be big brother, but this technology can be a big positive for the drivers.”
You can read the full story in the July edition of Owner//Driver magazine.
Photography: Peter Schlenk