The very first Kenworth T320A truck in Australia has come off the production line, with the vehicle now working on one of Melbourne’s most well-known redevelopments.
The Kenworth T320A truck, which comes equipped with an Allison 3200 Series transmission, is hard at work since joining Piave Premix Concrete’s fleet earlier this year.
Now, it’s pouring the foundations at the $5 billion Jam Factory site in Chapel Street, Melbourne.
The new Kenworth model has joined Piave’s existing fleet of approximately 40 agitators that features 30 company-owned and 10 owner-driver owned trucks. Currently all of Piave’s owned vehicles are Kenworth trucks fitted with Allison transmissions.
“Piave was established in 1993 in support of Crema’s operations, which has been specifying fully automatic Allisons since the mid 1980s,” Piave general manager Maurice Moffa says.
“For more than 30 years we’ve found them to be robust and easy-to-drive, enabling us to put drivers of all manner of experience behind the wheel.
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“Personally, I’m not a fan of the AMTs as they’re just not as responsive. Our concrete plants are strategically located in Fairfield and Port Melbourne, but we still contend with a lot of stop-start traffic, so our entire company fleet is exclusively equipped with Allisons to enable us to move efficiently through the city.
“We don’t do a huge amount of high-precision work but, when we do, we’re confident the Allison will also allow for smooth pouring without any rollback. This accuracy is important when you need it – and supports the commitment we make to our customers to strive for perfection.”
Moffa says Piave has found the new Kenworth T320A to be performing “consistently well”, with plans in place to gradually replace the existing fleet of Kenworth T360s with the new model.
“Built to Euro VI standards (meeting the emissions requirements of the Australian Design Rule (ADR) 80/04 that came into effect on November 1), the new model offers us enhanced digital capabilities, Kenworth’s Fusion active safety technologies, exceptional manoeuvrability, a tight turning circle, short bumper-to-back-of-cab length, low tare weight and 180° visibility from the driver’s seat,” he says.
“Pleasingly, they also come with the power and reliability Piave has come to expect from Kenworth – especially when it’s paired with an Allison.
“We simply haven’t had any issues with this new truck, which is impressive given it’s the very first of its kind.”
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