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Burtchell Transport’s jellybean fleet

Burtchell Transport, which operates eight trucks, started out with a $15,000 second-hand Hino in 1994.

 

Tim Burtchell’s favourite truck is a dependable 1996 Ford Aeromax LTS9000 Kentucky Hard Runner.

“I call her my honey. She’s an absolute ripper,” says Tim who operates Burtchell’s Transport from Echuca, Victoria.

He has a mixed fleet of eight trucks. “The jellybean herd, I call it – all different shapes and sizes.” There are three Volvos, a Scania, a Sterling, two Fusos and the Aeromax.

In 1994 Tim and his wife Mandy paid $15,000 for their first truck. They used the 6 metre 1981 Hino tray truck to cart parcels and pallets between Echuca and Shepparton. Six months later the new business was attracting too much freight for the little Hino. Tim and Mandy were in their early 20s and were cautious about overcapitalising, so Tim sold his personal Toyota HiLux to add a second-hand Toyota HiAce van to his fleet.

He has resisted the temptation to run the newest and grandest machines on the highway, but he takes great pride in maintaining his small fleet. He enjoys working with his loyal staff, including six drivers.

Burtchell’s Transport still carts parcels and pallets, but now they also move containers and general freight. “Every day we’ve got a double and single in Melbourne,” Tim says.

He likes supporting local causes, and the business voluntarily carts recycled clothing to Melbourne for Echuca’s Community Living and Respite Services.

Tim and his team work long hours during the grain and grape harvests. During these months his trucks are on the road up to seven days a week. But most of the year his drivers only work from Monday to Friday. “A brilliant part of our business is we haven’t got the trucks on the road 24/7.” This means he can relax on Friday nights when all his trucks have returned to the yard. “I say they’re home to roost.”

Read the full story in the September 2017 issue of Owner//Driver magazine.

Photography: Tamara Whitsed

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